Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Unmatched brilliance

By Tanzeel Rauf Farooqui
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It goes without saying that Barrister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a politician who was unparalleled and it can confidently be argued that no modern politician equates anywhere near to his competence or pedigree.

Born during the British Raj of India, Bhutto had seen many different aspects of life early on. He was a determined man, a few all called him stubborn, but whenever he wished to achieve something in life, he put extraordinary efforts to reach the goal. 

He went to the University of California, Berkley to attain his under graduate education and then proceeded to the prestigious University of Oxford. 

Stanley Wolpret, an English academic who wrote perhaps one of the most detailed and unbiased books on his personality titled ‘Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan’ narrated that Bhutto was determined to achieve any goal in life and he had even challenged his interviewer at Oxford having told him that he will outperform all the British students. 

After studying at Oxford, Bhutto was trained as a barrister and was called to the prestigious Lincoln’s Inn. He always had the love for his nation at his heart and wanted to contribute in some way for his country. 

Determined, as he always was, he was able to join the cabinet of President Iskander Mirza at the young age of 30, which was indeed a stunning achievement. Recognizing his talents and capabilities, President Ayub Khan also included him in his cabinet and he was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan at the age of 35. 

God had been very kind to Bhutto as he was blessed with incredible qualities and he was able to accomplish his cherished goals at an early age. Who knew that this was all because he had been destined to a rather short life?

After forming differences with President Ayub Khan, he, along with a few of his colleagues, launched his own party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with a socialist manifesto with the aim to give back to the underprivileged segments of Pakistan.

Bhutto, although was a landlord himself, seemed to have compassion for the common man and he desired to bring about a change for them. An extraordinary orator that he was, he quickly appealed to the masses and already had a considerable support after his strong diplomacy skills had impressed not only the people of Pakistan but also many of the world leaders.

Stanley Wolpret recalled that once, when Bhutto had visited the United States, the President of arguably the strongest nation in the world expressed his gratitude to him and stated that if he had been an American, he would surely have been a part of his cabinet.

Bhutto, as egoistic as he always was, quickly responded that if he was an American, he would have been in the place of the President of the United States instead.

History has had its own distinctive ways to deal with world leaders, and as we witnessed, Bhutto was destined to be hanged by his own appointed Chief of Army Staff, General Zia-ul-Haq.

One could only wonder how, an incredibly stunning individual, exceptional diplomat and a sensational leader was sent to the gallows.

July 5, 1977 was the date when Bhutto’s government faced a coup from the military forces as the conditions of Pakistan, after the unfortunate fall of Dhaka, were deteriorating at a fast pace. It was perhaps his ego, which once had raised the marvelous individual quickly to the pinnacle of power in Pakistan, caused him to be hanged on April 4, 1979.

He will always be identified by history as an extraordinarily talented individual, who achieved what most people could only dream of at a very young age but perhaps could not handle all the success that had come his way far too soon.