Judicial Hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for all his faults was a popular leader of Pakistan. He headed the Peoples party of Pakistan and became Prime Minister after the breakup of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh. Bhutto however fell afoul of the military establishment as he refused to share power with them. The military used to an eminent position after the coup of General Ayub Khan in 1958 was loathe going back to the barracks.
This penchant for politics had its effect and the army lost the 1971 war and over 100000 soldiers surrendered to the Indian army and Bangladesh was created. The army lay low for some time after its humiliating defeat and bided its time. It saw the surge of popularity of Bhutto as an obstacle and the corps commanders led by General Zia Ul Haq decided to remove Bhutto.
In 1978 a military coup was executed by general Zia ul Haq and Bhutto arrested. He was tried for a murder which he had neither committed nor ordered, but on a vague statement by one of his opponents. The Supreme Court of Pakistan in a supine decision justified the coup of General Zia under “doctrine of Necessity”.
Armed with this, the general proceeded with a farcical trial and in a final verdict the Supreme Court accepted the dictate of Zia and upheld the death sentence awarded to Bhutto by the high court. It was a travesty of justice and the Pakistan judiciary showed to the world that it towed to the army. This was a sad day for Pakistan when Bhutto was hanged like a common criminal and the generals rejoiced. I wonder how the army in Pakistan can have any face or self-respect, as even now it is hell bent on ruling the country. Alas the people of Pakistan suffer.
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