The Tragedy of 27 December 2007 - Shahadat of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto

On 27 December 2007, Mohtarma had to address a public rally in connection with the upcoming elections at the Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. I was in the Netherlands and had just switched on the TV for hearing her speech. The event by then had concluded and she had boarded her vehicle for going back when all of a sudden I heard reports of fire and sounds of blast. I could see people screaming, wailing and crying in a state of utter chaos.
After sometime the sad demise of the great leader of Pakistan was announced from the hospital. Tears were flowing from my eyes as a reflex action. My wife standing besides me was in a state of shock. She screamed: "what a tragedy"! Which has brought to an end the life of a great visionary leader who came back after a long exile to lead the nation in its quest for the return of democracy and rights to the people which had been eclipsed for almost 9 years. The whole nation went into deep mourning. In a state of helplessness the nation was visualising a bleak future for Pakistan without her. Her assassination was a conspiracy against the state of Pakistan.
When Bibi returned after her education and was working in an honorary capacity at the foreign office she organised a TV serial "the encounter". I had the honour and privilege of being one of the participants. A special programme was arranged on the occasion of the assassination of the Banglabandhu. I could see Bibi in deep grief with others present in the study of the Prime Minister House at Rawalpindi where the programme was being arranged by Mr Aslam Azhar of PTV. No one then thought that she too will be meeting a similar fate. Alas! the assassins have no respect for the lives of great leaders. The sudden Shahadat of Bibi was undoubtedly a great loss to the people of Pakistan.
Their beloved leader was assassinated. This was yet another Shahadat in the Bhutto family. People were expressing skepticism about who will in future extend to them such caress and respect which they had hitherto received from her. The western press and media paid her rich tributes for her relentless and brave struggle and her sacrifice for the cause of democracy.
To mark this anniversary I have culled some of her famous sayings which continue to guide us all. "We are determined to build a just and forward-looking society so that Pakistan can enter the 21st centaury as a progressive and self reliant member of the international community - a nation free of discrimination and backwardness".
"We want to end poverty and exploitation, and to establish a society in this beautiful land in which everybody - be he from Punjab or Sindh or NWFP or Balochistan - is able to lead an honourable life and earn his bread with dignity". "Doctors heal physical wounds but not the wounds of deprivation inflicted upon our people. It is these wounds which the political government is seeking to heal".
"A new era has set - the era of freedom; the era of rule of law; and the era of human dignity" "peace within the peace without is indivisible. The flourishing of democracy and economic prosperity are possible only when there is peace on the borders and peace within the country" "My government understood the potential for destabilisation of the region. We are willing to take risks, to invest in the political and economic capital to take on the extremists and the terrorists .. ".
"Knowledge is power, (My) government wants to see that the people of Pakistan receive knowledge so that they can have power and take pride of place in the international community". "We believe that the people must fully participate in the task of nation building and share in the fruits of progress". May Allah Almighty bless her soul and assuage the anguish of this nation on this bereavement and may Allah strengthen democracy in Pakistan which was her ultimate mission.