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LONDON,( Agha Tanveer Iqbal)- Chairman, Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Zardari Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan and the lead the party while saying that his mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a woman of accomplishment who transformed Pakistani society.He was speaking at a memorial lecture Monday evening in the Grand Committee Room of House of Commons before a select audience coinciding with the third death anniversary of his mother.The event was arranged by the Conservative MP Rehman Chishti, who also worked as an advisor and researcher to the slain PPP leader.
It was also attended by Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Gerald Howarth MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defence, Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP, diplomats and socialites.
Bilawal, who is studying a law at the Oxford University, highlighted his mother’s achievements for Pakistan and said during her two tenures she established 86,000 more primary and secondary schools, providing electricity to villages across Pakistan, quadrupled foreign investment, exports boomed, female health workers fanned across Pakistan, women were admitted to courts, banks and police stations for the first time.
He said that it was under Bhutto’s leadership that international channels were introduced in Pakistan and software industry blossomed, prisoners were freed and civil liberties introduced after dark period of dictatorship.
Bilawal said her accomplishments were more remarkable because of the resistance she faced from the hostile elements.The PPP Chairman focused on what his mother could have achieved if she was not assassinated on December 27, 2007 in a bomb attack in Rawalpindi. Bilawal said he was flooded with emotions talking about his mother who was ‘ripped from our lives and our future’ but resolved that he will help preserve her legacy.
“Three quarters of a billion Muslim women all around the world would have felt empowered, almost two billion Muslims around the world would have seen a modern face of Islam belying the caricature of our great religion in the West and the demagoguery of the jihadists within our own ranks.
He pointed that moderate and tolerant Islam would have a true leader not afraid to challenge dictators, generals, jihadists and the terrorists. Bilawal referred to Benazir’s words in her autobiography and said her
views are his rallying cry and her words will lead him to Pakistan and pledged that he will never give up on his mother’s homeland.
Other speakers described the Shaheed Mohtarma a brave leader who was visionary and had a strong commitment to build a modern and democratic Pakistan.They said Benazir was the world class leader who inspired new hope in politics and democratic engagement and her commitment with the cause of democracy was unflinching and she gave her life for the sake of Pakistan.
Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who studied with the Shaheed Mohtarma at Oxford University and whose 21st birthday Benazir attended, said that it was important to remember what she was trying to achieve for her country including the establishment of the rule of law, payment of taxes and curbing corruption.
He said Benazir had a clear understanding of what to do to bring positive change for Pakistan.
Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan speaking on the occasion said slain leader had dared to challenge obscurantist forces and she braved nearly three decades of persecution and prosecution. She had proven her political prowess by holding the PPP together and its enormous vote bank intact while in exile.
Her sustained popularity rudely shocked her opponents both in and outside the corridors of power when she received an unprecedented welcome on her return to Pakistan as “the daughter of their destiny”.
Mr.Hasan said Shaheed Mohtarma laid down her life for her convictions and faith in the people. “I am confident about the future of Pakistan. I believe that a nation that is inspired by democracy, human rights and economic opportunity will turn its back decisively against extremism. Indeed, I look forward to the day that a truly democratic Pakistan, unhindered by extremists and military rule, takes its place on the world stage were some of her last words that I remember she spoke to me,” said the High Commissioner.
He said by sacrificing her life and nurturing the fragile sapling of democracy with her noble blood she has undoubtedly laid the foundation of a sustainable democratic order in Pakistan.
Mr.Hasan said the best tribute to the memory of martyred Bhutto would be to thwart all anti-democratic machinations and not to allow the dark history to repeat itself. |