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Complete text of address of Bilawal Bhutto |
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NAUDERO, April 3 (APP): Following is the complete text of the speech of Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari delivered during the Central Executive Committee meeting of the PPP on the eve of 33rd death anniversary of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on Tuesday.
Text beings:
Bismillah-ir-rahman Rahim
When we mourn Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, we mourn, more than just a
great man, the first popularly elected Prime Minister and first ever
Sindhi President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
We mourn the murder of democracy.
We mourn the murder of justice.
We mourn for our country.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan sentenced Shaheed Bhutto to death by
hanging for a crime he did not commit. This judicial murder was not the
first nor the last flawed decision our courts have made.
Unfortunately our courts have often stood on the wrong side of history.
From the Doctrine of Necessity, to the judicial murder of Shaheed Bhutto
and the continued legitimization of violations of our constitution our
court shave not performed the role required of them by the constitution
of Pakistan.
In 2007, in the final months of the Dictatorship of the day, our courts
gave us hope. The brave stance adopted by our judges and the support of
the lawyers movement gave us hope that Pakistan would have a truly
independent and impartial judiciary.
The restoration of these judges by our Prime Minister was a truly historic milestone for our country.
Now it is up to the courts to redeem their institutions sullied
reputation in the eyes of history. Was their brave stance evidence of
the beginning of a new era in Pakistan where the judges of our courts
will be remembered for dispensing justice, supporting democracy and
refusing to do the bidding of our establishment? Or was their stance in
2007 just the exception that proves the rule, were our hopes raised for
naught? Must we learn the hard way that once a PCO judge always a PCO
judge?
Time will tell. I am confident that the PPP will finally get the justice
we deserve in the eyes of history. I am confident the Supreme Court
will deliver us this justice. I am confident the Supreme Court will not
stand in the way. The Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference case is a
golden opportunity for the Supreme Court. I expect the Supreme Court to
finally provide us justice. Justice in the eyes of history - the court
must set the record straight. Justice in the eyes of the law - the
unholy judgment and the precedent set by it must be revoked. Justice in
the eyes of the People, the PPP and Shaheed Bhutto’s family - we expect
the Supreme Court to apologise for the role it played in the judicial
murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The Supreme Court once told us Shaheed Bhutto was
Guilty. The court of history is on our side and has proved his innocence.
There have been some positive developments in the decisions taken by the
court to right the wrongs of the past. These developments give me the
confidence to believe that the Bhuttos of Larkana will also get the
justice they deserve.
The Sharifs of Lahore have had their trumped up charges squashed by the
courts. I do not believe there will be double standards. I do not
believe that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Larkana is hanged but he
does not get justice from these courts while the Sharifs of Lahore are
vindicated.
Similarly the Asgar Khan case has finally been taken up by the Supreme
Court. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto fought for more than a decade for this
case to be heard. It is a positive development that following Imran Khan
of Lahore’s demand the case has finally been heard. I have no doubt the
forces that conspired against the PPP and Shaheed BB shall finally be
exposed.
Despite these positive developments there are also some worrying signs.
More than 50% of terrorists presented before our courts have been freed.
I am told there is a lack of evidence and the fault lies with the
prosecution.
The rapists of our sister Mukhtara Mai have been freed by the courts.
Presumably for the same reasons. How can there be enough evidence to
hang SZAB but not enough evidence to keep terrorists and rapists in
prison. How can there be enough evidence to keep Benazir Bhutto Shaheed,
President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani in prison for so long
without a conviction but rapists and terrorists are set free. How can
there be enough evidence to attempt to try the grave of Shaheed
Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto but rapists and terrorists are set free? I urge
the courts to proceed with caution. I urge the courts to revisit their
flawed decision in the Mukhtara Mai case. I urge the court to help keep
our country safe by convicting terrorists for the atrocities they have
committed. I urge the court to remember how they got where they are
today. On May 12, 2007, 40 members of my party lost their lives
supporting this Chief Justice and the cause of an independent judiciary.
Is this what they deserve? When will we get justice?
The courts are dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of the past.
They should resist the temptation to obey the dictation of the
establishment.
We cannot allow the court to dig up my mothers grave and put her martyred corpse on trial.
Mr. Prime Minister you will not violate Vienna convention, you will not
violate the Constitution of Pakistan, you will not desecrate the graves
of our martyrs. You may lose your office. You may lose your government
but you must do what is right. There is not only the Supreme Court,
there is also the court of the people and the court of history.
The Supreme Court told us Shaheed Bhutto was guilty. They hanged
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Larkana, but the court of the people and the
court of history was on our side and we have been vindicated. Just as
Shaheed Bhutto was vindicated, you too shall be vindicated.
They can threaten to send Yousuf Raza Gillani of Multan to prison but he
is a follower of Bhutto Shaheed. We do not fear prison cells. We do
not fear death cells. As Shaheed Bhutto said. We would rather die at the
hands of a dictator than at the hands of history.
Let us pray that cooler heads prevail. Let us pray that our Supreme
Court will once again choose to stand on the right side of history. Let
us pray that there will not be double standards. That Shaheed Bhutto of
Sindh was hanged but another Prime Minister from Punjab is freed. That
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto fought in every court in this country
and around the world to maintain her innocence. While a former Prime
Minister from Punjab, a self confessing, convicted accused is
vindicated, while Shaheed BB is put on trial from her grave.
That a Prime Minister who ransacked the Supreme Court is given better
treatment over our Serikie speaking prime minister who obeys the
constitution and presents himself before the court is stripped of his
constitutional rights.
I have faith in the Pakistan Peoples Party. I have faith in democracy. I
have faith in Pakistan. I have faith in you Mr. Prime Minister. You
will make Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto proud.
We will get justice. If not now. If not by this court. We will be
vindicated in the courts of history.
The people have spoken. We are all agreed.
“Hum Benazir Bhutto Shaheed ki Qabar ka trial nahi honay den gay” “Ya Allah, Ya Rasoolh, Benazir Bayqossor.”
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Chinese Premier Visit to Pakistan |
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Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament |
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