Message from Mr. Asif Ali Zardari President Islamic Republic of Pakistan (On 32nd martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) April 03, 2011

Today is the 32^nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the Party’s founding father Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This is an occasion to celebrate the life and achievements of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

This is a special anniversary of our leader as the democratic Constitution he gave has been purged of the distortions inserted into it by successive dictators and restored to the people.

I wish to thank all those who made possible the nation’s march to restore the democratic Constitution, redeemed the place of our leader in history and made this anniversary a special one.

The restoration of the Constitution is indeed a befitting tribute to the leader who sacrificed his life for the people, democracy and the Constitution. It reaffirms the political philosophy of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that the people will finally reassert themselves and triumph.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto strides the land like a colossus. He awakened the people, gave them hope and made them realize that they were the fountainhead of all political power. It is because of this realization among the people that dictatorship has not been able to take roots in the country despite repeated subversions of democracy.

This is one of Shaheed Bhutto’s greatest achievements and no one can rob him of it.

It is indeed a lasting tribute to his memory that Bhutto and Bhuttoism still lives in the hearts and minds of the people. From his grave, Shaheed Bhutto haunts dictators. Reverberations of “Jeeay Bhutto” still send shivers in the enemies of democracy.

Shaheed Bhutto has left deep footprints in the sands of history. While his killers have been consigned to the dustbin of history, Shaheed Bhutto lives and dominates the political landscape of the country (Zinda hai Bhutto).

On the eve of his 32^nd martyrdom anniversary we have filed a reference with the Supreme Court to revisit the trial of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This is not to seek revenge against the killers but to correct a historical wrong, to heal the wounds of the past and to promote the cause of national reconciliation.

On this day I ask the Party workers to rededicate themselves to the ideals of democracy for which Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto lived and laid down his life. On this day we also pledge to continue our forward march to empower the people and make Pakistan strong and prosperous.