Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 35th death anniversary today

Today marks the 35th death anniversary of the founder of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, ARY News reports.  

Founder of Pakistan Peoples Party and one of the most charismatic and renowned politicians in the history of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were born on January 5th, 1928.

He acquired his early education from Bombay's Cathedral High School. He was admitted in the prestigious University of Southern California in 1947 and then joined University of California at Berkeley in June 1949. He joined the Oxford University after he was conferred an honors degree in Political Sciences.

He tied the knot with Begum Nusrat Isphahani on September 8, 1951 and their first child, Benazir Bhutto, was born on June 21, 1953. After returning to the country, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto started his law practice.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made his entry into politics when he became a member of former President Iskander Mirza's Cabinet in 1958, where he served as the Commerce Minister. Iskander Mirza's government was overthrown by former Army Chief General (Retd.) Ayub Khan. Bhutto became the Foreign Minister after succeeding Mohammad Ali Bogra from his position.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's first accomplishment in his political career was to complete the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. He also stressed upon Ayub to form economic and social ties with Turkey and Iran which later formed the Regional Cooperation for Development (R.C.D) in 1964. However, due to political differences with the military dictator over Tashkent Agreement, he quit as member of the Cabinet.

He formed the Pakistan Peoples Party shortly after his resignation from Ayub's government. He won the majority seats in the general elections of 1970 in the West Pakistan but did not come to an agreement with Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman who had the majority in East Pakistan now known as Bangladesh. Former military dictator General Yahya Khan resigned from the post and Bhutto became the President on 20th December, 1971.

In 1972, ten major industries of Pakistan were nationalized. Pakistan cancelled its membership from Commonwealth of Nations and South East Asian Treaty Organization (S.E.A.T.O) as many of the western countries had recognized Bangladesh as a state. Land reforms were introduced and Simla Agreement was signed with India on July 2nd, 1972 which paved the way for the return of 90,000 Prisoners Of War (P.O.W) and the lands which were lost in the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War.

He also passed a constitution of Pakistan in 1973 and became the Head of the Government.

The foundation stone of Pakistan's first steel mill at Pipri was laid by Bhutto on 30th December, 1973. All banks were nationalized on the first of January 1974. He also organized the second Islamic Summit on 22nd February, 1974 in Lahore in which more than 38 heads of Islamic states attended the conference.

Then Army Chief General Zia-ul-Haq imposed Martial Law and ousted Bhutto in July 1977.

Bhutto was charged on a murder case of and was subsequently hanged on 4th April 1979 in a trial after the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld the capital punishment sentence awarded by the Lahore High Court.

He was laid to rest at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in his native Larkana district where his wife and children are buried as well.