ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari paid tribute to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for his services, struggle and sacrifices and vowed to carry forward his mission of making Pakistan a developed, sovereign, and people-friendly country.

In their separate messages on the 46th death anniversary of Mr Bhutto to be observed on Friday (April 4), they reiterated their resolve to take every possible step to protect the country’s sovereignty, democracy and the rights of the people.

Remembering Mr Bhutto as a great statesman, a courageous leader and the true representative of the people, the President said that Mr Bhutto set Pakistan on the path of development, sovereignty and public welfare.

“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the nation its first unanimous Constitution, laid the foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and gave the country’s foreign policy an independent and sovereign identity,” President Zardari said.

He said that under Mr Bhutto’s leadership, Pakistan hosted the Islamic Summit Conference, paving the way for the unity of the Muslim Ummah.

The President also lauded Shaheed Bhutto’s empowerment of workers, farmers and the underprivileged by granting them their due rights.

In his message, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said: “On this solemn day, we pay tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first directly elected Prime Minis­ter of Pakistan, whose leaders­hip resurrected a defeated na­­tion from the ashes of despair.

“At a time when the people were despondent, and Pakistan had suffered a crushing blow in 1971, Shaheed Bhutto took charge with an unbreakable resolve. He (Bhutto) stabilised a broken country, uplifted the nation’s spirit, and set Pakistan on the path of progress,” the PPP chairman said.

His (Bhutto) diplomatic brilliance brought back 90,000 war prisoners from Indian captivity and reclaimed 5,000 square miles of our land through the Simla Agreement, an achievement unparalleled in our history,” Mr Bhutto-Zardari said.

He said that Mr Bhutto revolutionised Pakistan’s economy, agriculture and industrial sector and empowered the working class and gave them their due rights.

“His (Mr Bhutto’s) visionary labour and land reforms gave the common man dignity and ownership,” the PPP leader said.

He said Mr Bhutto gifted Pakistan a progressive and unanimous Constitution to ensure democracy and fundamental rights in the country.

His (Mr Bhutto’s) contributions to nuclear technology strengthened Pakistan’s defence and his dynamic foreign policy made Pakistan a respected voice in the Muslim world and on the global stage, the PPP chairman said.

“Today, as we remember his ultimate sacrifice, we reaffirm our commitment to his vision of a democratic, strong, and prosperous Pakistan. Shaheed Bhutto lives on in the hearts of the people,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025