CONTENTS Preface .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Chapter One The First Day .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Chapter Two The Second Day .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Chapter Three The Third Day .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 Chapter Four The Fourth Day .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 69 My Execution; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 2 Preface I am reproducing the statement given by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the Supreme Court of Pakistan during the murder trial of Mr. Ahmed Raza Kasuri. The statement is divided in four chapters each one covers his deliberation for each day he appeared in front of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Shaheed Bhutto’s initial trial began on October 24 th on charges of “conspiracy to murder” Ahmed Raza Kasuri. The prosecution produced a witness in Masood Mahmood, who had been the chief of the Federal Security Force under Shaheed Bhutto. A very questionable and dubious witness, Mr. Mahmood testified that Bhutto had ordered the killing of Kasuri. Four men who were arrested and charged as Kasuri’s assassins testified to confirm Mahmood’s testimony. It was evident that the army had fabricated the evidence and installed the Justice Maulvi Mushtaq Ali an old enemy of Bhutto as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court. The Lahore High Court sentenced Bhutto to death on March 18 th 1978; he was also ordered to pay Rs. 25,000 in fines or face six months rigorous imprisonment. While this was going on General Zia published a white paper accusing Bhutto of rigging the 1977 elections, the Supreme Court of Pakistan agreed to hear Bhutto’s appeal. Chief Justice S. Anwarul Haq adjourned the court until the end of July 1978, supposedly because 5 of the 9 appeals court judges were willing to overrule the Lahore verdict. One of the pro-Bhutto judges was due to retire in July. Chief Justice S. Anwarul Haq presided over the trial, despite being close to Zia, even serving as Acting President when Zia was out of the country. Bhutto’s lawyers managed to secure for Bhutto the right to conduct his own defense before the Supreme Court. On December 18 th 1978, Bhutto made his appearance in public before a packed courtroom in Rawalpindi and addressed the court for four days continuously. This book is based on his deliberations. On February 6 th 1979 the Supreme Court, in an ethnic split, upheld the verdict by a narrow 4-3 vote. Bhutto appealed to the court to review its decision, but the plea was rejected on March 24 th 1979. Now most of those who were involved including the generals and judges regret their support for Zia and admit their mistake. If you go through these pages you will yourself find that Bhutto was innocent and was framed by Martial Law authorities. He gave more then one reasons to the judges to believe his innocence. The introduction of this book is written by Piloo Mody a childhood friend of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who has also written a book “Zulfi my Friend” on the earlier period of Bhutto’s Life. My Execution is also published under the title “Witness to Splendour” Sani H. Panhwar November 6, 2009 Lawndale California My Execution; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 3 Introduction On two occasions I have been in a state of discomfiture when confronted by the press on matters concerning my childhood friendship with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The first time was when he became President of Pakistan; and the second occasion was at his death. Both situations were such that I tried avoiding the press. In fact, I have always wanted to keep my friendship separate from politics; however, journalists do not believe in such sensitivity and will not spare one. The second situation was so difficult for me that I felt I was unable to speak or write a word. All those days that we had spent together kept flashing back and forth before my eyes. I could never subscribe to the kind of image that used to be projected of Bhutto in the press in India after he became President of Pakistan. That is why I finally accepted the challenge of writing a book to acquaint people with Zulfi’s true nature, character and personality. The book, I believe, has to a large extent served its purpose. Colleagues and journalists kept asking me in 1971 if I had sent my congratulations to Bhutto on his becoming the President of Pakistan. I kept replying: “Why is it necessary? He knows I wish him well.” With him also it was the same. Bhutto really understood his friends. Friendship to him was total. That is why there remained no rationale for formality. Soon, thereafter, I received Zulfi’s letter. Besides many other things, he wrote: “I do not have to tell you that our friendship remains unaffected by the passage of time and all that comes and goes with it. Our association is too deep-rooted to be disturbed by lack of communications. On numerous occasions I have recalled our happy days together in School and at the University. Recently, when I took charge of my country’s affairs in its most critical moment, I was tempted to telephone you but, on second thoughts, I refrained from doing so as there is no dearth of petty and stupid people on both sides. I do hope that we meet soon. I think events are pulling us inexorably in that direction. I believe that people in both countries are now anxious to turn from the path of hatred and suspicion to that of friendship and peace. The great pity, nay the great tragedy, is that we have lost many valuable years and in the process the poor in India and Pakistan have had to suffer an insufferable ordeal.” In another letter he wrote: “On the personal level I would like to assure you, my friend, that we will spare no effort to seek this long denied modus vivendi. My Execution; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 4 Naturally I will spare as much time as I can for discussions between you and me. But with all the tall orders of an Indo-Pakistan conference and the attendant factors associated with it I doubt we will find a tranquil enough atmosphere for the sort of discussions we both have in mind. May I suggest an alternative. After meeting in Delhi at your own convenience I would like you and Vina to come to Pakistan to stay with us for a while. It will be a kind of reunion with the family. I would like you to meet my children and get to know them. My eldest daughter now at Radcliffe will also be with us for the summer vacations. We can go for two or three days to one of the hill stations that your army has not occupied in Kashmir. We still have some beautiful places left but I better not describe them else it might further whet your expansionist appetite.” As it happened I had many relaxed hours with Zulfi at Simla. The Summit was making no progress and the three hundred strong press corps was getting restless. In fact the only news that Simla was producing was that Zulfi and I were meeting constantly with violent speculations as to what we were conspiring. It finally dawned on me that I must call a press conference to state the Swatantra Party’s views on the Simla Summit. We had always been in the forefront in advocating deep, abiding, and firm friendship with Pakistan and it was suggested by me that Bhutto and Mrs. Gandhi should be locked up in a room and the key thrown away till the smoke was seen coming out of the chimney. As we know the Summit almost failed and but for the after-dinner diplomacy of the two leaders India and Pakistan may well have continued their hostile confrontations. After the treaty had been signed Zulfi took me and my wife up to his room for a round of celebration and a jam session on the treaty. It was then that we discovered the thoroughness of Bhutto’s operation. Three plans had been carefully worked out for Zulfi’s return to Lahore depending on whether the Summit was a success, a partial success, or a failure. As Lahore was contacted on the hot line the message went: “Implement Plan B with emphasis on point three”. Obviously the man at Lahore was greatly relieved because he had by then assumed that the Summit had failed and was preparing to proceed with Plan C. I mention this incident because it is typical of the thoroughness of Bhutto’s operating style. I think I can say with some confidence that Bhutto’s attitude towards India had changed and the responsibilities of office had forced him to face reality. Zulfi was a many-dimensional personality - an excellent orator, a wise statesman, an attractive personality, a charming companion and my friend. My Execution; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 5 . .Zulfi my friend is here no more. He is dead. Only his memory lingers - the late evening strolls, the constant banter and the hot sessions, talk and more talk, endless argument on political matters, the flash in his eyes, the constant effort to understand political problems and to use them to his advantage, his tolerance, my anger, his loyalty, my disdain, little quarrels and serious fights, all melting away in the cauldron of friendship. All those happy days are over. As a young boy Zulfi would come to my house and whistle at the gate to call me. I still hear that whistle. PILOO MODY Benazir Bhutto receiving condolences from people after her release from confinement few weeks after Z.