KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution welcoming the Supreme Court’s opinion on the presidential reference regarding the death sentence of former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Peoples Party Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and demanding from the federal government to officially declare the first elected PM of the country ‘Shaheed’ and ‘National Democratic Hero’.

Opening discussion on the resolution, tabled by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, PPP’s Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that the apex court had restored its credibility by giving decision on the reference filed by former President Asif Ali Zardari 12 years ago seeking re-opening of the Bhutto case.

“The SC has finally conceded to its mistake and admitted that Bhutto did not get a fair trial,” he added.

The resolution said: “As per opinion of the Honorable Supreme court of Pakistan 45 years ago, during the rule of a military dictator when Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death, justice and a fair trial was not granted in accordance with the constitution. The Supreme court has acknowledged, by its remarkable decision that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s execution was a judicial murder and he did not receive a fair trial according to the law.”

Passes unanimous resolution to declare him a ‘martyr’ and ‘National Democratic Hero’

It demanded that the verdict on the Bhutto’s case should be overturned.

The resolution also paid rich tributes to Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

It also acknowledged the efforts of the PPP chairman for pursuing the presidential reference in the SC.

“This Assembly demands the Sindh government to approach the federal government that Shaheed Zulifkar Ali Bhutto should be declared a ‘National Democratic Hero’ and this house demands from the Federal Government to officially declare Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as ‘Shaheed’. Also, the Nishan-e-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto” should be awarded to political workers and activists who have fought and sacrificed their lives for democracy“, the resolution concluded.

Speaking on the resolution, the chief minister said that Bhutto had been immortalized by his great sacrifice and now his innocence was proved by the SC opinion. He said that a cruel dictator had killed the former prime minister using the apex court of the country.

He said that every eye was tearful and people of the entire country were saddened when the great leader was martyred. “Many people even set themselves on fire after Bhutto’s execution,” he said adding that Bhutto was still alive today.

The chief minister demanded amendment in the constitution for overturning the SC verdict in the Bhutto’s case. “Constitutional amendment is necessary to end this cruelty,” he emphasised.

Fully supporting the resolution, Abdul Waseem of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan said those who had not done justice in Bhutto’s case must be given exemplary punishment symbolically.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s member Muhammad Farooq termed the death of Bhutto a national loss and urged the need for legislation to do away with such judgements.

Others who spoke on the resolution were: Shabbir Qureshi of Sunni Ittehad Council, MQM-P’s Sabir Qaimkhani and PPP’s Saeed Ghani, Jameel Soomro, Farooq Awan and Imdad Pitafi.

Four members take oath

Earlier, Speaker Awais Qadir Shah administered oath to four more PPP members Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Jam Mehtab Dhari, Surendar Valasai and Sunita Afzal.

The assembly session was later prorogued.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2024