Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Recollections and remembrances

A. We got there under great surveillance. We were made to stand, outside thedoor and Bhutto Sahib stood behind the bars. He was put in a small cell. His bedwas on the floor. He had one blanket only, a wooden commode and a plasticbucket of water. His sister who brought him up and his nephew were alsopresent there to meet him but the time of meeting was very short. We met himlast on the 30th or 31st of March. They searched us thoroughly before the meeting.From there I went to Rohri, from where my vehicle picked me up. Enroute toNaudero my driver told me that Police and Military had raided and searched ourhouses in Naudero. Four days after our last meeting they hanged him.Q. What did they search in your home?A. I don’t know. They had got hold of box containing documents of our land.Q. Did they take anything with them?A. No. They didn’t take anything with them. Since nothing was there, whatwould they take?Q. How did you find Bhutto Saheb?A. He was a great man. I never saw him angry. Sometimes I used to get annoyedand would criticise him. He would laugh and say. “I am what I am.” He was thebest man. I would say to him, “You may be Prime Minister of your people but for usyou are only same Zulfikar.” He always respected elders. He would respect andwelcome my foster mother, too.Q. Did you two quarrel?A. No. Never. Why should I lie. I fought with him sometimes. I used to tellhim, “You have come clandestinely to me.” He would reply, “You are my wife, don’tfight with me.”Q. Didn’t you ever appear before his friends?A. No. Never. We observe strict Purdah.Q. Is polygamy allowed in your family?A. Yes. For want of children. Bhutto Saheb joined politics. He needededucated life partner who may go accompany him every where. In our familygirls were not allowed to go to school. We got only Quranic education. Now girlsZulfikar Ali Bhutto, Recollections and Remembrances; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 26