The best tribute to the memory of martyred Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be to thwart all anti-democratic machinations and not to allow the dark history of obscurantism to repeat itself said Pakistan High Commissioner Wahid Shamsul Hasan.
He was speaking at a function organised by the UK Chapter of Pakistan People's Party to observe 3rd death anniversary of Shaheed-e-Jamhoriat, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at the Ilford Community Centre, East London, here on Sunday evening, Wahid Shamsul said Bibi laid down her life for her convictions and faith in the people.
He said that by sacrificing her life and nurturing the fragile sapling of democracy with her noble blood she undoubtedly laid the foundation of a sustainable democratic order in Pakistan. The Benazir phenomenon dyed in her pure blood will continue to fight the dark forces of dictatorship and obscurantism and protect Pakistan for ever and ever," Hasan emphasised.
He told the gathering that Shaheed Mohtarma will be remembered eternally for her unsurpassable contribution for the cause of democracy, empowerment of women and less privileged. "She was a dauntless leader, a role model, who was unafraid to speak her mind even in the face of death."
The High Commissioner spoke about her two terms as the Prime Minister and said her social and economic reforms were cut short by dismissals of her two governments much before she could complete her tenures. It is an irony that while she sowed the seeds of peace, progress and prosperity others that succeeded her reaped the rich harvest.
He noted how she dared to challenge obscurantist forces and 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" on October 18, 2007.
Hasan said her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and herself desired to complete the mission of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to free Pakistan from the stranglehold of an obscurantist establishment and well-entrenched forces of status quo that treated the masses as slaves.
He added that Shaheed Mohtarma wanted to transform Pakistan into a modern democracy with equality for all its citizens, irrespective of caste, creed or colour as envisaged by the founding father. Hasan recalled her last book "Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West" and said she made a dedicated effort to reclaim Islam from the abuse of the extremists and succinctly brought out the difference between al Qaeda's and Islam's real concept of Jihad.
He said the tragedy of Bhutto's assassination actually amounted to the demolition of the only bridge of sanity between East and West. She had emerged as the prophet of peace and reconciliation in a divided world. The High Commissioner cautioned the people of Pakistan not to turn blind eye to the machinations of the vested interest sprouting in various shapes and forms and stated that this was the last chance to consolidate and strengthen democracy in the country.
He also spoke on the misuse of blasphemy law for settling personal scores and said it's abuse is bringing bad name to the country abroad. About the killers of Shaheed Mohtarma, Hasan pointed out that everybody knows who never wanted her to come to Pakistan before the 2008 general elections and how evidence to her assassination was hosed down.
The PPP UK President Hassan Ahmed Bukhari in his speech said after the Quaid-e-Azam and Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan, only Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the Shaheed Mohtarma were the true representatives of the people who gave up their lives for the cause of poor and downtrodden.
He said Pakistan's salvation lay in democracy and this process must continue. He was of the view that had there been no military intervention in Pakistan, the country would now be a mature democracy. He said good governance comes with the passage of time and not something done overnight. Bokhari pointed out that it took Britain hundreds of years to adopt good governance and consolidate democracy.
He urged all the political stakeholders to unite and carry forward the mission of Shaheed Mohtarma of making Pakistan a truly democratic, liberal and progressive country. The party's general secretary Tariq Ayub, deputy secretary general Ibrar Mir, and a large number of party activists including Khadim Hussain Nasir, Chairman, PPP UK Federal Council Mian Afzal Khalid, Syed Taqi Shah, Chaudhry Manzoor Hussain, Chaudhry Mahboob, Mushtaq Lasharie, Chaudhry Maqbool Hussain, Dr Khalid Bajwa, Chaudhry Nadeem Qaiser, Chaudhry Shabaan, Hafeezuddin Sheikh, Muhammad Sarwar, Sardar Hayat, Tahir Chaudhry, Gul Mowaz Khan, Syed Shahzad Kazim ex-mpa Chaudhry Tasleem Nasir and others also spoke on the occasion and reflected on the various aspects of Shaheed Mohtarma's personality and her endeavours to modernise and develop Pakistan. They also urged her killers to be brought to justice without further delay. The Quran Khawani was also held on the occasion and dua offered for the departed soul.