National Assembly passes resolution demanding the overturning of the death sentence given to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

ISLAMABAD, March 13 (SABAH): The National Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the overturning of the death sentence given to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The demand was made in light of a recent Supreme Court of Pakistan’s opinion which ruled that former prime Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged 44 years ago after being convicted of murder, didn’t get a fair trial. The demand was made in light of a recent Supreme Court’s opinion which ruled that former prime Bhutto, who was hanged 44 years ago after being convicted of murder, didn’t get a fair trial.

The National Assembly resumed its session at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday with Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah in the chair.

The House offered fateha for the departed souls of fishermen drowned in a recent incident when their boat capsized in the open sea. The House also prayed for the departed souls of those, who died in different incidents across Pakistan.

The National Assembly passed a resolution demanding that the verdict given in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case must be overturned. The resolution moved by Shazia Atta Marri further demanded the Federal Government to officially declare former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a Shaheed and national democratic hero. It also called for conferring Nishan-e-Pakistan upon Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The resolution further demanded the establishment of Nishan-e-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Award for workers and activists, who have fought and sacrificed their lives for true democracy in Pakistan.

“Salutes the struggles of Begum Nusrat Bhutto Sahiba, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and the Pakistan Peoples Party workers who sacrificed their lives to establish this truth,” the resolution added.

The NA also appreciated the determination of President Asif Ali Zardari who filed the presidential reference to reopen the case 12 years ago and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who “single mindedly pursued it”.

The resolution lauded the Supreme Court of Pakistan for finally holding and accepting the glaring injustice meted out to Bhutto 44 years ago in its judgment. It mentioned that the proceedings of the trial by the Lahore High Court and of the appeal by the Supreme Court do not meet the requirements of the fundamental right to a fair trial and due process.

It demanded that in light of this historic judgment, the unjust verdict given in the Bhutto case must be overturned.

Further demanded that the federal government officially declare Bhutto as a “shaheed” and “National Democratic Hero,” and establish the “Nishan-e-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto” award for workers and activists who have fought and sacrificed their lives for true democracy in Pakistan.

The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Friday at 11:00 AM.