Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his address at National Assembly said that today is historical day for nation. On this very day in 1973, foundation of Pakistan’s federal, democratic and Islamic Constitution was laid.  Bilawal Bhutto said that dialogue was only way to steer country out of constitutional and democratic crises.

People of Pakistan combatted dictators and faced plethora of obstacles to emerge as united nation. Glue that binds all provinces of Pakistan is its Constitution. This day should be included in our syllabus to apprise future generations of how basis of Constitution was laid on April 10, 1973. This is day when democracy triumphed and paved way for Pakistan’s constitutional journey. On this very day, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto united divided nation under Parliament to give country an Islamic and democratic Constitution and subsequently, voice to poor people of country. Penalty he received for this was being martyred. Irony is that those responsible for defending Constitution were very entities involved in this crime. Dictator was imposed on nation, who planted seeds of extremism and terrorism in country, aftermath of which is still being dealt with today. Dictator also introduced politics of hatred and vengeance that is still combated today.

On this very day in 1986, young woman had reached Lahore to call that dictator out and stood against him. Entire country stood shoulder to shoulder with brave woman. Dictator’s empire shuddered at her very arrival. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto lit torch of democracy and began journey of restoration of 1973 Constitution. She struggled for 30 years for restoration of 1973 Constitution. After Dictator Zia-ul-Haq, another dictator, General Pervez Musharraf planted same seeds of hatred and terrorism. Phony puppets who pretended to be politicians were created. Today too, those who have benefitted from undermining of democracy and Constitution are gathered under one flag, that of PTI. They are still following undemocratic politics that began with General Zia and continued with General Musharraf.  In 2006, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif signed Charter of Democracy to express their resolve to contest elections as per their respective manifestos and to face each other in one battleground, that of elections. They were determined to not let any third party benefit from competition among political parties. Undemocratic forces often benefit from enmity among political parties. Since CoD was signed and it was agreed that political parties would engage in politics and combat one another within boundaries, same undemocratic forces started concocting their own agenda. They realised that if democratic forces gathered together, they would be left with no space in political and economic spheres in society.

Through restoration of 1973 Constitution, provinces were not only given their rights but also their identity. This had happened for first time in history of country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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