KARACHI: We are commemorating Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s 70th birthday today. We are remembering her without her 15 years after her departure on December 27, 2007. She was only 54 years old when she passed away. Shaheed Benazir gave her life as a sacrifice for her nation and its citizens. Let’s give her the gift of dedicating our lives to our country and our people on her birthday.
Shaheed Benazir’s birthday: Shaheed Benazir turned 25 in 1978, and today, June 21, 2023, is 45th anniversary of that milestone. She received a letter from her illustrious father, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, on that day from Central Jail Rawalpindi. Shaheed Bibi was also incarcerated at that time. Later, this moving letter was released under the title “My Dearest Daughter.” Shaheed Bhutto reflected on the difficulties of their circumstances and shared his intense emotions in this moving letter. He asked, “How can a father who is both a convicted prisoner and a beautiful and intelligent daughter write a letter congratulating her on her birthday when both the father and daughter are in prison?” in his letter. This letter was more than just a means of communication. It communicated sympathy and love despite the bars and walls of the prison.
Permit me to impart to you one message that captures both the spirit of the present and the historical lessons: believe in the people and struggle for their equality and salvation. Almighty Allah’s message is to have faith in humanity. Your mother is standing on the paradise of Allah, and the populace is standing on the paradise of politics.
What gift can I give you from the limits of this cage, when even the act of just extending my hand is forbidden? the letter continued. I give you the gift of the people’s collective labour. What kind of event can I set up for you? I give you the gift of a sterling reputation and a memorial service that will live on forever. The Indus Valley civilization, which is the oldest civilization still in existence, has left you as its heir. Assist in advancing and empowering this prehistoric society to the utmost extent possible.
Shaheed Bibi gave her life to sustain her relationship with the people on June 21, 1978, when the respected Bhutto-The Great gave his beloved daughter to the populace. Shaheed Bibi not only stood with the populace until her death but also made the ultimate sacrifice.
In an interview with famed Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci a few years after her father’s death in battle, Bibi stated, “In the world of Pakistani politics, there are numerous trials, sorrows, and sufferings.” Given that I have everything, several members of my family persuaded me to give up politics and seek out a life of luxury in a Western nation. However, given that it necessitates breaking links with my nation and my people, how could I possibly find satisfaction in such a life?
The world then saw how Shaheed Bibi maintained this deep ties to her country and its people. Despite being born into a royal family and growing up in a wealthy environment, she had a kind and sympathetic personality and couldn’t stand to see other people suffer.
Shaheed Bhutto described an event from Shaheed Bibi’s upbringing in the same letter from the death cell. “We sat on the terrace of Al-Murtaza during the winter of 1957,” he recalled to his daughter. “You were four years old at that time.”
In the morning, the weather was really pleasant. I was holding a double-barreled gun when I fired and killed a wild parrot without thinking. When the parrot landed on the terrace and was near by, you shrieked. In your presence, you interred him. You wouldn’t eat anything, though, and kept crying.
In addition to contending with two military dictatorships in history, the girl who wept over the murder of a bird also confronted armed terrorists who received support from both internal and external forces.