President pays glowing tributes to ZA Bhutto

ISLAMABAD (APP) - President Asif Ali Zardari said Quaid- i-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave pride to every Pakistani, irrespective of race, religion or gender and made them realise that they are the fountainhead of all political power.
The President and Co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Zardari said in a message on the eve of the 30th martyrdom anniversary of Pakistans first popularly elected PM Zulfikar Bhutto falling on April 4.
Zardari said, Shaheed Bhutto awakened the people to the realization that only they, and no one else, were the fountainhead of all political power. He said, for the crime of awakening the people Shaheed Bhutto was killed by the forces of tyranny. But he still lives and from his grave in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh haunts the dictators and enemies of democracy.
The realization that people are the source of all power has sunk so deep in the psyche of the people that no dictator has been able to erase it from their minds, he added. He said, Following in the footsteps of her father Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also laid down her life for democracy.
Perhaps nowhere in the world has two successive generations of political leadership laid down their lives in the cause of the people. This honour belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Bhutto family.
Holding his head high Shaheed Bhutto walked the stage of life like a colossus. Shaheed Bhutto gave the country a unanimous constitution which protected the country from implosion. He made the countrys defence impregnable by giving it nuclear programme, the Kamra Aeronautical Factory and the Heavy Mechanical Complex and held the Organization of Islamic Countries Summit in 1974 in Lahore, he added.
The President recalled that Bhutto Shaheed gave Balochistan provincial status and established a provincial assembly and high court for it.
Bhutto began the emancipation of the people in the tribal areas as well as the Northern Areas.
He established Pakistan Occupied Kashmir as an autonomous area with its own president, prime minister and judiciary, he added.
The Simla Accord that brought longest spell of peace between India and Pakistan also stands as a lasting monument to Shaheed Bhuttos negotiating skills.
The President said, Indeed the more one reflects on the life and achievements of ZA Bhutto the more one is amazed at the vastness of his achievements.
Let us on this day reiterate our commitment to carry on the Bhuttos vision to build Pakistan for the service of world peace and friendship. Let us also strive to shun extremism from all walks of life and to inculcate a deep awareness and respect for the principles and values enshrined in our constitution, the message concluded.