In a landmark decision, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not receive a fair trial before his execution 44 years ago. Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was hanged in 1979 after being convicted of murder under the military regime of late General Zia-ul-Haq.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, speaking on behalf of a nine-member bench, declared the trial unfair and lacking due process. The ruling came in response to a judicial reference filed by Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s son-in-law and former president, in 2011 during his presidential tenure. The reference sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on revisiting the death sentence imposed on Bhutto.
Bhutto’s grandson and current PPP leader, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, expressed his family’s relief and waited generations to hear such words. The court’s decision signals a potential redress of what is viewed as a monumental miscarriage of justice under Zia’s martial law regime.
The detailed order from the Supreme Court is awaited, marking a significant step towards recognizing and rectifying historical injustices inflicted upon Bhutto and his legacy. Yousuf Nazar, a London-based political commentator and close aide of the late prime minister, described the ruling as an acknowledgment of the colossal miscarriage of justice under Zia’s regime.
Zia-ul-Haq’s 11-year dictatorship was characterized by an assault on democracy, with widespread persecution and imprisonment of PPP members. Additionally, the regime’s policies contributed to the rise of extremism and militancy in Pakistan by supporting militant groups during the Afghan-Soviet conflict, according to Nazar.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Bhutto’s murder conviction signifies a significant step towards justice and accountability for past injustices in Pakistan’s political history. It opens the door for reevaluation of cases from the Zia era, shedding light on the darker chapters of the country’s past and paving the way for a more just and transparent judicial system.
Sources By Agencies
