Benazir Bhutto Shaheed-An icon of struggle and democracy
BB Shaheed sacrificed her life for a cause to make Pakistan a democratic, tolerant, progressive and peaceful country
14 years
have passed since the assassination of the charismatic chairperson of the PPP
and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. She was martyred near Liaquat
Bagh Rawalpindi soon after addressing an election rally on December 27, 2007.
The
reactionary forces silenced the loudest voice for democracy, rule of law,
supremacy of the constitution and parliament, human rights and freedom of
expression. She was a symbol of resistance and struggle in her life and became
an icon of democracy, courage, and sacrifice after her assassination.
Benazir Bhutto stood against the rising tide of religious
extremism and terrorism. She wanted to see a peaceful, prosperous and
violence-free Pakistan. It is important on this day to reaffirm commitment to
continue the struggle for the ideals she sacrificed her life for.
Her sudden
departure created a huge political vacuum not only in the PPP but also in
national politics. This vacuum can even be felt today. It was a huge setback
and shock for the party. The PPP never fully recovered from that great loss.
Her
assassination was a big blow to the democratic, liberal, secular and
progressive forces in the country. Pakistan lost a courageous, progressive and
popular leader. She was a symbol of national unity and the federation. “Charon
sooboun ki zanjeer, Benazir Benazir” was not a mere political slogan. She was a
symbol of hope for the poor, downtrodden and working people of this country.
She was – and still is – an icon of resistance, struggle and democracy.
She earned
the respect of her party workers and leaders through relentless struggle and
sacrifice. She twice returned from exile – first in 1986 and then in 2007 – and
on both occasions a sea of people from across Pakistan came to receive her.
Benazir
Bhutto Shaheed had returned from a long exile, with a clear vision to take
Pakistan forward. Her agenda was to introduce reforms in the system to improve
the lives of ordinary people. She was determined to defeat the extremist
narrative.
She had
promised to provide employment, social and economic justice, basic services and
equal rights to the people. She received tremendous response to her election
campaign and once again proved that she still enjoyed massive support. “Benazir
ai hai- Rozgar lai hai” was the popular slogan in the election campaign.
Her 14th
death anniversary is being commemorated at a time when democratic rights are
under attack. Declining incomes, worsening living conditions, rising inflation
and unemployment are all making the lives of working people miserable. The
media too stands censored and controlled.
The current
situation demands an alternate political and economic narrative and programme
to address these issues. The political heir of BB Shaheed, Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari, has taken a clear stand on democratic rights. Like his brave mother,
he has refused to bow down before the forces of tyranny and authoritarianism.
But he lacks an alternate economic narrative and people-centric programme based on social and economic justice and equality. Bilawal is progressive and forward looking. He has the charisma of his mother and grandfather but he needs a radical economic programme to connect with young people and other sections of society.
The PPP needs to abandon the neoliberal economic model so as to serve the
economic interests of the working masses. Neoliberalism and ideals of a welfare
state cannot go hand in hand.
Benazir
Bhutto fought most of her life against military dictators and rightwing
reactionary forces. The establishment never accepted her and tried everything
to discredit her.
She spent
five years in power with a very weak position. The powers that be never gave
her a free hand to implement her policies. Her five years in power were used to
malign her politics and agenda of reforms. Circumstances never allowed her to
show her full potential as prime minister.
Benazir
Bhutto Shaheed came to power in the era of the crushing domination of world
markets and capitalism. She saw the collapse of the Soviet Union and the crisis
of social democracy. The collapse of the Soviet Block and right wing turn of
the social democracy was a setback for the working class movement and left
politics.
She emerged
as a political leader in the era of the free market and neo-liberalism, which
impacted her political views and ideology as well. The era of the decades of
the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s were completely different from the era of the 1960s
and 1970s.
She
represented her era. She was an idealist like many other popular leaders but
became more pragmatic with the fast-changing realities. It was a journey from
idealism to pragmatism – in order to embrace the realities of her period.
But everyone
was not happy with her. All those who believed in the social transformation of
society were not happy with her politics and policies. The more radical
elements who wanted to see the PPP as an anti-imperialist and anti-elite party
were left disappointed by her policies.
The PPP was the party which genuinely stood for rights of peasants, workers and the labourers. But the party that once promised the elimination of feudalism to further the interests of peasantry now banks on candidates from strong feudal backgrounds, especially in Sindh.
The struggle
for freedom, democracy, fundamental rights and for political and social
transformation, to solve the problems faced by Pakistan’s working class and
poor masses, is a struggle to change the system.
This means a struggle against capitalism,
feudalism, imperialism and rightwing reactionary forces both within and outside
the state structures – all at the same time. These are interlinked with each
other; any effort to defeat one of them will fail because the others will come
to its rescue.
Benazir
Bhutto stamped her authority on the party during this struggle, becoming an
icon of democracy and resistance. The PPP went through many highs and lows
under her leadership. She managed to maintain a certain degree of charisma and
popular support among the people.
She was a
brave and charismatic leader who stood for the democratic, constitutional and
fundamental human and economic rights of the people. She was a true democratic
leader who fought against dictators for democracy without any fear.
Khalid Bhatti
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