Pakistan’s political history cannot be meaningfully understood without examining the sacrifices made by the Bhutto family. From Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto and later Asif Ali Zardari, this family has paid an extraordinary price for democratic continuity—through imprisonment, exile, relentless persecution and ultimately martyrdom. The Bhutto–Zardari legacy is not merely about winning elections or holding office; it is about enduring suffering with dignity and converting personal pain into collective political purpose. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto stands as one of the most consequential leaders Pakistan has ever produced. Emerging after the traumatic events of 1971, he took charge of a wounded nation facing psychological defeat and institutional disarray. Bhutto worked to rebuild national confidence, gave Pakistan its first unanimous Constitution in 1973, laid the foundations of the nuclear program, and empowered ordinary citizens by giving them a political voice. His emphasis on sovereignty, social justice and popular participation reshaped the political consciousness of the masses and permanently altered the country’s political dynamics.

Bhutto’s popularity and independent vision, however, placed him at the center of intense political conflict. His insistence on civilian leadership and national autonomy generated strong opposition within a polarized political environment. Following the political upheaval of 1977, Bhutto was imprisoned, tried in a........

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