Bhutto stands vindicated: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week said that first democratically elected Prime Minister, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been vindicated after the Supreme Court declared the trial unfair.

“July 5, 1977: A Black Day in Pakistan’s History. On this day, Pakistan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was overthrown by General Zia-ul-Haq. This coup planted the seeds of extremism, violence, sectarianism, Kalashnikov culture, and societal decay that plague us even today,” he said.

The PPP leader added: “Bhutto’s legacy remains unmatched. From the creation of Pakistan’s constitution to making the country a nuclear power, his contributions continue to inspire. His dedication to empowering every segment of society ensures he will forever reign in the hearts of the Pakistani people.”

Earlier, the PPP called for the annulment of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence.

A PPP spokesperson, while welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision on the presidential reference, emphasised that it took 40 years to seek justice for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

“The PPP leadership and the party workers have waited to get justice. The PPP workers have not attacked the military installation or the courts, but taken the pain themselves,” the spokesperson said.

This week, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had issued a detailed opinion on the presidential reference regarding the execution of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, acknowledging that an innocent person was hanged without a transparent trial.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa penned the 48-page opinion, with additional notes provided by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. The opinion highlights that Bhutto’s trial occurred under martial law, compromising the constitutional integrity of the courts at the time.