By Dr Asim Hussain

Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the valiant daughter of the epic Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, staunch believer of democracy, a lady with a high moral character and attitude of optimism at pinnacle made  her ascend to  singular honour of  being the  first woman prime Minister of any Muslim country.

At the very young age she shouldered the huge responsibility of holding the Prime Minister office after getting elected by a massive crowd of supporters, believers and other factions of the society.

Benazir Bhutto Shaheed tremendously proved her aptitude by leading the country and the people with a positive approach along with the optimum level of her political and diplomatic skills and services twice in 1988 and in 1993.

She whole-heartedly headed the masses and received an incredible amount of votes throughout Pakistan. Her untiring efforts, hard-work, devotion and dedication to resolve the public issues by improving the standard of living of the poor and underprivileged people of the country made her way ahead in becoming Prime Minister again for the second time in 1993.

Her dominant personality and her broader vision for making Pakistan multitudinously strong, stable and emphatic was admired by the entire nation as well at international level.

Yes, her assassination was so bewildering and appalling that still today it is difficult for me to believe that Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto is not with us but her doctrine, vision and contemplations will certainly reside for an unending time.

A strong-willed figure, instantaneously identifiable in her usual emblem of white headscarf, Benazir Bhutto was the best person who led her nation towards the path of democracy, progress and prosperity. Yet followed the same legacy and foot-prints of her father.

After eight years of self-imposed exile, finally on 18th Oct 2007, the day when Mohtarma returned back to Pakistan her motorcade was targeted by the perpetrators by exploding a huge car bomb at the time when her procession was passing Karsaz which took lives of at least 180 innocent people, mostly PPP workers.

Subsequently, in another attempt after two months of the Karsaz incident, the second attack was deliberately planned at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi in which the assassins finally succeeded in assassinating Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.

The audacious and self-confident Benazir Bhutto Shaheed greatly contributed to political history of Pakistan and the entire Middle East.

Now, it is the responsibility of Pakistan People’s Party to  follow her mission in the same direction as set by her for making prosperous, peaceful and technologically advanced Pakistan by eradicating poverty and accelerating literacy via employment opportunities throughout Pakistan.

Undoubtedly, she was always of the view that the education of the highest standard should prevail across the board, every kind of basic amenity should be provided to the citizens, predisposition of any kind at the workplace should be eliminated, unity and harmony should proceed at every place, and last but not the least formation of an egalitarian society was the dogma implemented by her at every moment irrespective of the fact that PPP was in government or not.

Yes it is true that 27th Dec 2007 was the darkest day in the history of Pakistan. No one can ever fill the gap  Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto left. But those who thinks that after the death of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, PPP has become feeble and divided in sections must correct themselves and accept the reality that Pakistan People’s Party emerged more stronger than before.

A strong-willed figure, instantaneously identifiable in her usual emblem of white headscarf, Benazir Bhutto was the best person who led her nation towards the path of democracy, progress and prosperity. Yet followed the same legacy and foot-prints of her father.