I missed writing the pieces last week for I was travelling a lot.
After a weeklong absence, now I am struggling to knit sentences to write an obituary for Benazir Bhutto. Yes, tomorrow is her 16th death anniversary.
When Nawaz Sharif and his family were living in exile in London, those days, Benazir Bhutto would often come to London. In fact, she often commuted between London and Dubai. In those days, I was closely working with Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family.
I remember that in those days, the British press would publish Benazir Bhutto’s statements and her political engagements. I wished to meet her but could not get an opportunity.
This December, I am again in London and as December came with its wintry feels, a poignant nostalgia gripped my thoughts, harking back to the bygone days and an unfulfilled meeting with the late Bhutto. The specter of what could have been, a meeting with the stalwart leader, lingers like a gentle mist in my thoughts.
Benazir Bhutto, a name etched in history, stands as a symbol of unyielding courage and unwavering dedication.
She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a friend, and above all, a voice for the people. On her 16thth death anniversary, which will fall tomorrow is being marked with much grief and respect even today. The day reminds us of the woman who embodied hope, compassion, and relentless pursuit of justice.
Her story wasn’t just about breaking glass ceilings; it was about shattering walls of oppression and igniting a flame of democracy in a land yearning for freedom. She dared to fight against dictatorship, not just with courage, but with a heart brimming with love for her people, for Pakistan.
I take her not just as a political icon; she has many faces. As the young girl she faced exile with grace, as the mother who brought up her children while carrying the weight of a nation’s aspirations. It was this human touch, this empathy for the underprivileged, that made her the “Daughter of Islam,” beloved by countless souls seeking a champion for their rights.
Whenever I see the sufferings of Maryam Nawaz when she was in jail, while her mother was dying in London, it reminds me of Benazir’s struggle.
Benazir Bhutto was the firebrand orator, the strategist, the unwavering leader, but also the woman who wept for her father’s execution, who danced at her daughter’s wedding, who shared the joys and sorrows of her beloved party workers. Their dreams, their struggles, were her own.
Life has brought the same twists for Maryam Nawaz too.
Benazir Bhutto leaves behind her legacy. It’s not just about a political party or a family name. It’s about the countless girls who dare to dream big, the voices that refuse to be silenced, the fight for a Pakistan where dignity, justice, and human rights are not abstract concepts but lived realities.
When I see Bilawal Bhutto, Bakhtwar Bhutto and Aseefa Bhutto, I see them the carrier of the legacy of their mother. But the responsibility doesn’t lie solely on his shoulders. Benazir Bhutto’s legacy is a collective spirit, an unwavering belief in the power of the people. Each of us can be a torchbearer, carrying forward her ideals of compassion, service, and unwavering commitment to Pakistan.
Remember her not just as a political giant, but as the woman who dared to dream, who fought, who loved, who bled for her people. Benazir Bhutto may not be physically with us, but her spirit lives on in every heart that yearns for a better Pakistan, in every hand that reaches out to help, in every voice that demands justice. Let her 16th death anniversary be a call to action, a reminder that her torch illuminates a path towards a brighter future, a future where every Pakistani can stand tall, proud, and free.
This is not just an obituary, but a call to remember a woman who defied odds, whose legacy transcends politics, and whose spirit continues to inspire generations.
