Today, we observe the 47th anniversary of the martyrdom of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party, whose life was brought to an end unfairly on 4 April 1979 following a trial conducted under the martial law regime of General Zia-ul-Haq.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto occupies a central place in Pakistan's political history. His leadership during a difficult period after 1971 helped restore national confidence and chart a new constitutional course for the country. The adoption of the Constitution of 1973, which continues to guide our parliamentary system, remains one of the most enduring achievements of that period. His government also laid the foundations for policies and institutions that shaped Pakistan's strategic direction and national outlook in the years that followed.
Nearly half a century after his unfair, unlawful and unconstitutional execution, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in its opinion delivered on 6 March 2024, held that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had not been afforded a fair trial and due process. The court observed that legal proceedings "destroyed any semblance of due process and fair trial, and revealed that innocent” man was “rushed to the gallows."
The Court's opinion identified several serious departures from the requirements of fair procedure. The investigation into the murder had been officially closed in May 1976 after the police and investigative agencies failed to identify the perpetrators. It was reopened without legal authorisation soon after 5 July 1977, "immediately after General Zia-ul-Haq's coup d'état overthrowing Mr. Bhutto's government."
The case was transferred to the Lahore High Court for trial in an unprecedented manner, without notice to the accused, depriving him of "one right of appeal" and making redundant important procedural safeguards, including the statutory requirement under section 376 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that every death sentence be confirmed by the High Court. The Court noted that this provision "has only once been disregarded, which was in this case."
His execution in 1979 also drew concern beyond Pakistan, with a number of international leaders and observers expressing unease about the circumstances surrounding the trial and sentence. The episode therefore occupies a place not only in Pakistan's domestic political history but also in wider discussions about justice, law and political authority.
This day is a reminder that justice and due process are not abstract principles. Their presence or absence is felt in the everyday lives of citizens in their dealings with courts, public offices, workplaces and schools. When institutions act fairly and according to law, citizens have confidence that their rights will be protected. When those standards are weakened, ordinary people feel the consequences most directly.
Let us also remember the courage and sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who initially with the support of her mother, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, carried forward this struggle during years marked by political repression, imprisonment and exile. Through perseverance and democratic resistance, including movements such as the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, she continued the effort to restore constitutional rule in Pakistan and ultimately gave her life in the service of democratic ideals.
As a nation, we must draw clear lessons from this chapter of our history. Our institutions carry a lasting responsibility to uphold the rule of law, protect due process and ensure that justice is administered fairly and without prejudice. These principles remain essential for the strength of our democracy and for the trust that citizens place in the institutions of the state.
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