Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged 43 years ago on 04 April 1979. He was accused of being involved in a conspiracy to murder. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to death. Although till now it is believed that the hanging of Bhutto was a political conspiracy, which was hatched by military dictator Zia-ul-Haq. Bhutto’s last words before being hanged were, ‘Ya God, forgive me, I am innocent.’ It is also said that this former Prime Minister of Pakistan was also beaten up at the time of his arrest. When he was to be hanged, he kept crying that night. They were forcibly carried on the stretcher till the hanging.
There was an appeal from all over the world to waive the death sentence of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Indira Gandhi was not in government at that time but she also appealed not to punish her but the then military dictator Zia-ul-Haq turned down all the appeals. Zia-ul-Haq was also the person whom Bhutto made the army chief. Later, he not only overthrew him but also brought him to the gallows. Then the Prime Minister of India was Morarjibhai Desai, who did not appeal for an apology by calling it an internal matter of Pakistan.
Later
Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash When Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash in 1988, it was also feared that there was a conspiracy behind him. However nothing was proved.
What happened on the night of the coup
Benazir Bhutto described the scene at the time of his father’s arrest in these words, “My mother came to my room screaming, wake up, wake up, get dressed, hurry”. My mother was crying. He asked the sister to wake up. The army had captured our house. Within minutes I came to my mother’s room. We could not even understand what had happened. Why did the attack happen? A day earlier, there was an agreement between the Pakistan People’s Party and the opposition. If the army overthrew, were the soldiers still doing drama? General Zia and other army commanders have come to my father two days ago and promised allegiance.
Benazir, who took the soldier to beat his father wrote, ‘My father was talking to the army chief General Zia and the ministers on the phone. By then the army had reached our house. Soldiers came. Beating his father and taking him out. I saw the soldiers’ cigars were shining outside. The sound of his laughter was coming deep inside. When my father was talking to the Governor of the Frontier, the phone connection was cut.
After the defeat of Bangladesh, the then Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to India in the year 1972 for a settlement. Then at the time of Simla Agreement, he was with the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Indira also appealed to waive Bhutto’s death sentence but it was ignored.
A policeman came from behind the door hiding,
‘My mother’s face turned pale with panic. Earlier, a policeman had seen the army encircling our Prime Minister’s residence. Taking the risk of his life, he somehow secretly came to our door. He said slowly to our servant Urs in a hushed voice, inform Bhutto sahib that the army is moving to kill him. He should immediately hide somewhere safe.
Bhutto had said– Let them come
‘My father heard this news patiently. He said that my life is in the hands of God. He told Urs that the army is coming to kill me, so there is no question of me hiding. There is no need for you guys to stop them. Let them come.’
