Taimur,

Bhutto a `follower?’ That’s like calling Imran`Taliban’ Khan a gentleman or the Takfiris members of the human race.

Some of us are old enough, honest enough and have less selectively leaky memories to tell how it really was.
The cosmopolitan, aristocratic Bhutto was not a Muslim in the Tableeghi Jamaat/Nazria-e-Pakistan brigade-approved mould. Unlike the majority of urban Pakistanis, he did not suffer from an identity crisis. His Sindhi heritage defined him. The syncretic version of Islam that he grew up with and doubtless followed,is widely practiced even today in rural Sindh.
Despite his entirely conventional classical Anglo-Indian schooling, he was anti-colonial and Marxist in his outlook at University. He gravitated to progressive politics; which back then was the natural milieu for a post-colonial nationalist. However, Leftism in West Pakistan had its limitations, being restricted to a few educated urban elite or left-over proletarian cadres of the Syed Sajjad Zaheer aka Bannay Bhai camp, the National Awami Party and various nationalists…the progressive deficit lay in the Panjab. Dictates of demography demanded that Panjab be carried by any national political party for it to achieve overall majority.Hence Panjab had to be pandered to at the expense of the regional nationalists and theoretical Marxists.

Bhutto, and BB after him were loathed and mistrusted by the Fauji-Jamaati establishment and the urban `Asli Momineen’ of the middle classes; the latter including the civil bureaucracy, professionals and the (Sunni) Mohajir adherents of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Now does that not fit the description of an embryonic stage of today’s so-called `civil society?’

ZAB was routinely called `Kafir Bhutto’, the vilest and craziest lies about Begum Nusrat Bhutto were bandied about..the jist being that they were insufficiently Muslim, too Westernised hence a threat to `Qaumi Ghairat’, and Bhutto was popularly believed to be a Hindu. I know of at least one testimony whereby Bhutto was humiliated by the `difa-e-Pakistan’ thugs even in death; where the body was examined to assess whether or not he had been a cicumcised Muslim.

And you dare suggest this was the man who was a `mullah follower?’ Those who have served the Mullah’s cause in Pakistan have ever been well-rewarded. I have yet to meet an impecunious Jamaatia family, and why do not the Sharifs and Imran Khans of this land ever need to fear for their lives?

Bhutto’s capitulation to the Islamist impulse was most unpopular with the jiyalas back then, indeed many turned against him and only returned to the fold after the coup- The middle-class Pakistani ghairat brigade, not content with the Islamisation `sweetmeats’ thrown at them, wanted the full Monty. There was NEVER the requisite quorum in the country in order for a progressive agenda to function. I say this with the benefit of hindsight, my elders and betters in the PPP cadres were incandescent over the patronage of Islamism under Bhutto, and to this day we have never justified it.

The worst moment was arguably the Ahmadiyya `excommunication’which will forever be a black mark on the Party’s record. The declaration of an `Islamic Republic’ was little better, as it facilitated the invasion of the public arena by the `State Religion.’

`it was a grievous fault
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it’

Finally; if ZAB and the PPP were such stooges of the establishment; why then have they and ONLY they had to bear the brunt of an orderly, systematic and well-orchestrated victimisation; why are their reputations maligned with impunity, even while they hold office?

It is a sick, fragmented psyche which seeks to destroy that in its environs which is refined and good simply because the comparison reveals the former’s deficiencies.
This is one explanation of the visceral anti Bhutto/PPP hatred within the ghairat brigade, in addendum to the obvious strategic motivations.

The faults of the PPP are legion, the elevation of worthless individuals to high ranks over the heads of better men is nauseating and the `Realpolitikal’ pandering to demonstrably evil entities cannot be condemned enough.

Having said that,whose interest do you choose to further, since you so obviously want the PPP out of the playing field? The way the turf looks, you will presently have your desire fulfilled: The PPP out of power, its leaders imprisoned, exiled or liquidated, its workers scattered,its supporters disillusioned.

Whomsoever the Vardi Wallahs then install in office,be they hirsute or clean shaven, will render active,de jure support to the Islamists. In effect, it will be Ikhwani Egypt redux, with nukes thrown in.

Be cautious what you wish for.

@Asma,

Excellent comment. I could not agree more. Why don’t you write this. These comments are going to waste. Well not totally as you realize that even the comments are hyperlinked. Click on the date below your name for accessing the link. But you should seriously publish this. Send it to [email protected].

Asma, y u fishing 4 compliments 🙂

I think ur comments r interesting and I am sure u agree that wasted efforts r so frustrating.

Why don’t u write on how the Supreme Court has accepted a petition on Sherry Rehman that blames her for Blasphemy. This is the same Sherry who ditched PPP in favour of these Islamofascist judges when she resigned in March 2009 on the eve of Chaudhry being restored via an executive order. The order was issued under pressure from Gen Kiyani and Hilary Clinton. Then Sherry got Money out from Pak, US govt. for her Jinnah Institute where their first project was why the Mullah Omar and Haqqani network must be accommodated in Afganistan once Natp pulled out. She was rewarded with the US ambassadorship after the sting operation involving Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Gen Pasha of ISI and Supreme Court got rid of anti-army Haqqani. Now she is being attacked by the same SC for whom she stabbed PPP for. Kind of like Aitzaz Ahsan who also ditched PPP for these extremist judges until he became adrift and was gracefully re-integrated at Garhi Khuda Buksh in 2011.

PPP has made many, many mistakes and continues to do so but u can’t fault them for being forgiven. As for Sherry I hope she has realized the malignant nature of these judges. Just ask the ex-amb Haqqani.