"Today, we are observing the 18th martyrdom anniversary of a great leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. I had the honor of working closely with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed in various capacities — as a party office-bearer, as a minister, as the Speaker of the national Assembly, and as the Senior Vice chairman of the party.
The vision and political philosophy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were clearly reflected among the people. She was a deeply committed and highly focused politician. She carried forward the political legacy of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in an exemplary manner. I firmly believe that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s decision to appoint Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as his political successor was a wise and far-sighted one.
With her revolutionary thinking, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto not only upheld Shaheed Bhutto’s vision but also advanced his struggle further. She endured years of exile, faced immense hardships, suffered imprisonment, and bore great personal sacrifices, yet she never retreated. Through her unwavering struggle, she revived the Pakistan Peoples Party as the true party of the people, just as envisioned by Shaheed Bhutto.
When Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto returned to active politics, much of the senior party leadership had abandoned her and aligned themselves with the dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. In 1985, non-party-based elections were held, which the Pakistan Peoples Party boycotted. In hindsight, we believe that this boycott caused political damage, as many individuals elected on a non-party basis later joined the so-called King’s Party.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto continued her struggle relentlessly. She approached the courts and ultimately succeeded in restoring party-based elections. Following this achievement, the Pakistan Peoples Party emerged victorious, and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto became the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan and the first female Prime Minister of any Muslim country, assuming office at the young age of 35. She reorganized and strengthened the party further.
Her journey, however, was not easy. Many forces did not want a progressive, democratic, and globally respected leader to govern Pakistan. Conspiracies were hatched against her, acts of terrorism were carried out, and her elected government was dismissed. Yet, even after being removed from office, she resumed her struggle with renewed determination.
Through her international friends and partners, she exerted pressure on the military ruler General Pervaiz Musharraf to remove his uniform and announce free, fair, and transparent elections. Eventually, elections were announced. On 18th October, when she arrived in Karachi, she received a historic welcome attended by millions. On that very day, an attempt was made to eliminate her, but by the grace of Allah, she survived. Later, during the election campaign in Rawalpindi, the tragic incident occurred in which Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto embraced martyrdom.
I firmly believe that this was not merely a loss for the Pakistan Peoples Party, but an irreparable loss for the entire nation. At that critical moment, President Asif Ali Zardari demonstrated remarkable wisdom and statesmanship. The country was engulfed in grief and unrest. He could have allowed the situation to spiral into chaos, but instead, he spoke of unity, the federation, and the survival of Pakistan. He declared that Pakistan must come first. As a result, elections were held, and the Pakistan Peoples Party once again succeeded in forming the government.
I assumed the office of Prime Minister. In accordance with the Charter of Democracy — agreed upon by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif — we fulfilled our commitment to the rule of law and democratic stability. The 18th Constitutional Amendment was passed, even though Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was no longer among us. Its immediate beneficiary was Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, as it enabled a third term as Prime Minister. Despite this, the Pakistan Peoples Party honored its promise, because commitment to democracy was at the core of Mohtarma’s vision.
Across the world, leaders rarely relinquish their powers. Yet President Asif Ali Zardari, in line with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s vision and the Charter of Democracy, voluntarily transferred his constitutional powers to Parliament. Parliamentary supremacy was restored, democratic institutions were strengthened, and the parliamentary form of government was firmly re-established. We dismantled a hybrid system that was neither truly presidential nor parliamentary, and instead reinforced a genuine parliamentary democracy in Pakistan.
Let us remember the sacrifices of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and strive to build a prosperous and democratic Pakistan."
