Book on the life of Benazir Bhutto launched

Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he could not have the courage to write about martyrdom of his mother despite over 12 years have passed. It is very difficult for a son and she was not only my mother but my leader as well.

He was speaking at the launch of a novel on the life of Benazir Bhutto by Turkish writer Yasar Seyman. The novel has been published in three language, Turkish, English and Urdu.

He said that it was tried to stop her story but no one will be able to do so. The name of Islamabad Airport was Benazir International Airport but the name was changed. Similarly it was tried to change the name of Benazir Income Support Program. But no one will be able to erase her name from the hearts and minds of people of Pakistan.

She has been targeted for being a woman. When she was campaigning for her first election it was said that a woman cannot be a Prime Minister. Her haters had gathered together and fatwas were issued against her. It was said from the mosques that a woman cannot become Prime Minister and if one votes for her then his or her marriages will be annulled. She confronted and fought against all of them and became a Prime Minister.

He said massive rigging took place in 1988 elections and it was first experience that how selected are chosen. The then President came to Asif Ali Zardari and asked him to become Prime Minister because they did not want to salute a woman. But the people had voted for Benazir Bhutto and not Asif Ali Zardari or anyone else. Man and woman are equal and women should get their due rights. Benazir Bhutto proved to the world that a woman can do better than man.

She remained in prison in General Zia’s time and refused to get ice in Sukkur prison saying that until her workers do not get ice she will not take ice. Now there are leaders who rule Punjab and they recite poems as well but run away when police comes to get them. Same action is taken by the leaders of this selected government. Benazir Bhutto did not bow before the dictatorship of General Zia and General Musharraf. She was leading from front during the long march. She was fighting tear gas and baton charges. Workers became shield for her but we have witnessed selected leaders waved from containers. These leaders call themselves revolutionaries. Our dictators also shied away from taking action against terrorists because they feared these terrorists. She was the only leader who spoke against these terrorists without any fear. The entire Pakistani political leadership was silent at that time.

Benazir Bhutto stood against these terrorists because she knew that the future of children of her country is at stake and she was martyred fighting against these terrorists. She did not compromise on her principles. Now the so-called leaders say that one cannot become leader without taking U-turns.