ISLAMABAD: A new book authored by a retired civil servant analyzes different aspects of the most charismatic and equally divisive politician from different perspectives in the broader framework of human psychology.

The book titled: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: The Psychodynamics of his Rise and Fall by Shamim Ahmed was launched at Islamabad Club on Thursday.

Mr Ahmad is an expert of psychology with a penchant for literature.This is his second book. His first book Torment and Creativity: a psychoanalytic study of literature and literati was well received and termed a pioneering effort in searching the truth behind the abnormal behaviour of great men and women of fine arts.

Veteran journalist and human rights defender I.A. Rehman, noted physicist, peace activists and intellectual Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy and poets Kishwar Naheed and Harris Khalique spoke about the book and the politician.

“It is too [soon] to judge Bhutto’s personality and legacy,” said Mr Rehman. It is most likely that for the acts that he is being loathed or praised today may prove as otherwise in history, he said.

He lauded the author’s efforts, saying that despite his association with and admiration for Bhutto, the author has analysed his personality as a human being who had some good qualities and some weaknesses, whose contribution in shaping the Pakistani politics and society is unparalleled.

Dr Hoodbhoy described the book as very balanced and said it reminds him of the 60s which was full of hope when the PPP was launched with a radical programme of social justice that captured the imaginations of the young and common people.

Giving a constitution to the country, nationalizing educational institutes and banking system, were some of the few notable steps taken in the early two years of the PPP government.

However, when Bhutto drifted away from his ideals, it took no time for the hopes of the working class to shatter. He cited three instances when the promise of land reforms were not fulfilled, labourers were fired upon and killed in industrial areas of Karachi for seeking rights, and the army was revived by ordering military action in Balochistan against nationalist groups and elected governments of NAP in the province of Pakhtunkhwa were dismissed followed by the Liaquat Bagh incident.

He also termed the formation of the Federal Security Forces and using them against political opponents a disaster that was the starting point of the downfall of the PPP government.

Bhutto had a great love for power and looked down upon his close associates and at times humiliated them, he said.

“Servility and drive for power makes such people narcissists,” Dr Hoodbhoy commented.

Harris Khalique said it’s not simply an inquiry of Bhutto’s person; his life represents the collective confusion of the Pakistani nation and the lopsidedness of policies. The book also highlights his vindictiveness, arrogance and contradictions but at the same time his contributions.

Mr Kahlique said Bhutto’s political career can be divided into four parts. First from 1965-67 when he joined the Gen Ayub cabinet and campaigned against Fatima Jinnah, the second from 1969-70, when he represented the West Pakistan mindset VS Bengal. The third phase was from 1971 to 1977 when he built institutions, nationalized industries but discarded his radical ideals and moved towards his landed aristocracy making him authoritarian.

The last phase, 1977-79, was when he refused to budge and redeemed his faults and stood up to dictatorship for the fundamental rights of the people.

Talking to Dawn Mr Khalique said: “Bhutto may not have succeeded in living up to his socialistic rhetoric. But he did change the consciousness of working class in definite terms. For that reason, alone he is still disliked by the elites and affluent urban middle class.”

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2019