Her face adorns the trucks that I saw on the motorway between Karachi and Gwadar, she has finally come home to rest in our public conscience. The comment about Asif Zardari and his role in her years in office is evidence that even in her death, people would not let it be.

A great tribute on your part. I also loved Zafar Hilaly’s series in the Friday Times in case you missed it

I have read a little about Late. Mr. Z.A. Bhutto and also about Ms. Benazir Bhutto. I have tried to be objective – but certain facts remain that have to find utterance.

The person of Z.A. Bhutto was not right for Pakistan and viceversa. Bhutto (and for that matter, even Mr. Jinnah) were made of clay that was perfect to challenge the hegemony of Hindutva in United India. They understood (in broad terms – forget the technicalities) the ethos of Muslim Civilisation. Their intent was a search for “equality” ! Jinnah was reasonable to the point of “fault” and talked sense. He never said, the British had taken India from the Mughals (read Muslims); and must surrender same to their original owners i.e. Muslims. He understood the principle of “equality” of man., and one-man-one-vote., and always sought for the rightful place for Muslims in United India. Equality… Equality… and Equality. That was what Jinnah sought. He never sought “supremacy” of Muslims vis-a-vis the non-muslim majority of India. It was the “reasonableness” of his demand and his sincere advocacy that led to Pakistan.

Sardar Patel replied to Jinnah’s reasonable-ness with brutality. Ethnic Cleansing has always been a successful tool in politics. Jinnah was taught the lesson that “Ethnic Cleansing” was real politics., by Patel. Jinnah was a Constitutionalist – not a rabble rouser – not one to lead Dharnas – not one to go for Hunger Strikes – and paralyse the Nation. He wanted “peaceful transition”. His counter-parts had OTHER ideas ! Even the worst enemies of Jinnah like RSS could never think or utter that Jinnah could plan communal riots. Jinnah could NOT do that. Jinnah could argue and win… but not use Ethnic Cleansing as a counter.

After Jinnah came Bhutto. Bhutto could not do much because Pakistan was a country with very limited funds and there was no tax-base. He spent 5.5 years in power giving great speeches – laying out policy (a great foreign policy). Fact of the matter is., in Jinnah’s time, there was no one to match his intellectual stature. In Bhutto’s time too., there was no one to challenge his intellectual stature. He fell in love with himself. He was afterall human. He had his flaws – yet – he was a great asset to Pakistan. He was not a person to get rid off. His mastery of Foreign Policy was great. He was embarassing the “mighty”., and a times even outsmarted them. They got rid of him.

Now comes Benazir. She did not have the intellectual stature of ZA Bhutto., yet., among her contemporaries she was outstanding. ZA Bhutto had read extensively. Bhutto truly admired Nehru – and had dreamt of Benazir being another Indira Gandhi. He had those dreams for her. He equipped her for it. ZA Bhutto had nerves of steel. Benazir inherited that quality from her father – but – again the environment was not conducive.

Afterall they were Sindhis., and Punjabis NEVER accepted the Bhutto Surname. Bhutto tried his level best., but could not. Neither his oratory, nor his strong-arm tactics (thru Ghulam Mustafa Khar and Rao Rashid) worked. He bruised the Punjabi egos.

ZA Bhutto was made to be a great Lawyer / head of a think tank / writer / Foreign Policy Expert but not an “Administrator”. Having intellect is one thing – having Administrative Quality is totally another. No doubt Bhutto worked hard and cleared the files in his office same day – he was not loved universally in his country, unlike Jawaharlal Nehru (his idol). In his earlier years, Mr. ZA Bhutto fashioned his life/career on the lines of Mr. Jinnah… and in his last years, he had Nehruvian dreams (esp. when it came to Benazir).

Basically, there was no money. There was no team. There were good people like Rafi Raza – but there was too much international intrigue. ZA Bhutto put too much on his plate and got involved in international intrigues. That undid him. Benazir came to power (limited power i.e.)., and gave speeches etc., but again could not revolutionise Pakistan., simply because IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

Land reform is key. Neither father nor daughter could accomplish it. I am told Bhuttos owned 250,000 acres (some said 100,000) of land. They should have surrendered same to the tenants and set an example. Bhutto Saheb nationalised industries (but not the Jagirdars). He alienated the Capitalists, the Army, the Maulvis, (Mullah-Military+Capitalist Trioka). That brought his downfall. Benazir pacified with the Capitalists., accepted the role of the Army and accomodated it., and even pacified with the Maulvis. Inspite of the 180 degree turn., the rhetoric remained similar.

Pakistan had (has) become too complicated., too contradictory to govern. ZA Bhutto understood it., but he hoped for miracles. He had that great quality which a leader must have. Even Benazir (who was “match-less”); couldnt do any solid ground-work. Both father-and-daughter gifted Pakistan its nuclear capability… armed Pakistan… no doubt a gr8 achievement for a poor country… but they could NOT bring about a societal change. Simply because it was NOT possible. ZA Bhutto and Benazir were the right material to be in politics – but not on the Pakistani Stage. In a United India., they could have excelled.

There was no money. India did exactly what Israel did in Gaza. Silent torture… India’s piling up of arms forced Pakistan to do its part. In this tussle., the big party (India) could somehow arm itself plus pull thru (economies of scale advantage) – but Pakistan was threatened from 14 Aug 1947 up to this day. To match this daily-threat., they had to starve to buy weapons. This is the reason 60 years were wasted. India forced and changed the “dreams” of Pakistanis.

ZA Bhutto and Benazir had great talents – and they were assets – that should have been preserved… atleast for advice… or for their intellectual rigor. They were not people to be eliminated. Even after they are gone., the problems remain. Half of Pakistan (NWFP and Baluchistan) are beyond the Government’s writ. What remains now is Punjab & Sind ! Sind is highly sensitive. What remains is Punjab and Lahore…. so why will the Punjabi and the Army not FEEL his importance and supremacy ? The Law is operational ONLY in Punjab.

Pakistan is simply not working (with or without Bhutto). It has got embroiled in the game of super-power poker. What is the solution now. I think a United India. India-Pakistan-Bangladesh., to be back as one nation. Any plan will do., just merge the 3 countries. (like a corporate merger). Otherwise the hatred manuals of RSS/VHP/DurgaVahini/Bajrang Dal., matched by the Maulvi-Military tie-up in Pakistan., plus the fundamentalist wave in Bangladesh will continue to lead to disasters, one after another.

The whole of SE Asia is fed hatred 24×7. Listen to Zee TV / Star TV / Gujarati newspapers/channels from India., listen to the Maulvi in Pakistan. They are in a rage 24×7 for years. The 3 countries must merge.

PS. The post is about Benazir., but i got swayed., as the canvas got enlarged and got blurred. But the macro world-view is more important than a technicality., hence this flaw.