The Murtaza Factor
Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Co-Chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, has announced that her self-exiled son Murtaza Bhutto will contest in the October Elections for both the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly from Sindh for several seats. While it is expected that he will return to the country after the Elections, speculation had been rife for some time that Murtaza would return and take his place in the political life of the country. The only deterrent to his immediate comeback being apprehensions about possible arrest for the many allegations of terrorism that have been preferred against him over the years.
Anticipating the worst for the father, the two sons, Murtaza and Shahnawaz were sent out of Pakistan by the family for the sake of their personal safety while barely out of their teens. As the sons of any father should, they vowed vengeance on Gen Zia and his Martial Law Administration for what they perceived to be murder. The terrorism issue surfaced in the early 80s after the PIA hijacking in which Capt (Retd) Tariq Rahim, formerly ADC to late Mr Bhutto, was brutally murdered at Kabul Airport by the hijackers. Since the hijacking was done in the name of Al-Zulfikar and the sons of Mr Bhutto had come to Kabul Airport to meet the hijackers a conclusion was drawn about their collaboration. It may be remembered that Ajmal Khattak of NAP, who was in self-exile in Kabul at that time, was also alleged to be involved. This was more conjecture than direct evidence but it did serve to establish Al-Zulfikar as a terrorist organisation and the “smoking gun” at Kabul associated Bhutto’s sons with the planning and execution of its operations in the 80s decade. There is always a fine line dividing terrorism from a fight against oppression. At various times, Afghan KHAD, the KGB, Libyans, Syrians, Indian RAW, etc have been identified as financing and controlling Al-Zulfikar’s operations. Murtaza and Shahnawaz (till he died) roamed around as international refugees unable to return home. The terrorism charge made it increasingly difficult for them to travel between countries.
