KARACHI: 45th death anniversary of Peoples' Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto observed. On April 4, 1979, Bhutto was hanged at Central Jail in Rawalpindi after Gen Ziaul Haq upheld death sentence on murder charges.

He was reportedly tortured in, leading to vomiting and severe chest pain. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Sindh.

Zulfikar Bhutto, who gave first unanimous constitution to Pakistan, was born in Larkana, Sindh on January 5, 1928. His father Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto was dewan (prime minister) of princely state of Junagarh.

He received his higher education from University of Southern California and Oxford and took up law as profession but later joined politics. He became member of Iskandar Mirza's cabinet and Foreign Minister under Gen Ayub Khan.

He parted ways with Gen Ayub and founded Pakistan Peoples' Party in 1967. He gained popularity among masses in short span of time and won their confidence. He raised slogan of roti, kapra aur makan and swept 1970 general elections in West Pakistan, as it was known then.

He gave first unanimous Constitution to Pakistan in 1973, enacted land reforms and labour laws, implemented series of reforms in industrial sector, started nuclear programme and set up Pakistan Steel Mills with assistance of erstwhile Soviet Union. However, his policy of nationalisation of industries drew widespread criticism.

Bhutto was declared innocent by Supreme Court on presidential reference. Meanwhile, Sindh government announced public holiday on occasion of his death anniversary.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 05 2024

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