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Benazir Bhutto on Reconciliation By: Dr. Maqsood Jafri
The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Ms. Benazir Bhutto wrote a book
titled" Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West." On the flap
of the book a brief introduction of the author and the book is inscribed. It
says that the book is from the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, who finished
writing this extraordinary book just days before her assassination, comes a
ground breaking vision for how to bridge the widening gap between the Islamic
world and the West. Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007, after
eight years of exile, hopeful that she could be a catalyst for change. Upon a
tumultuous reception, she survived a suicide bomb attack that killed nearly two
hundred of her countrymen. But she continued to forge a head, with more courage
and conviction than ever, since she knew that time was running out-- for the
future of her nation, and for her life.
In Reconciliation, Benazir Bhutto recounts in gripping details her final months
in Pakistan and offers a bold new agenda for how to stem the tide of
Islamic radicalism and to rediscover the values of tolerance and justice that
lie at the heart of her religion. With extremist Islam on the rise through out
the world, the peaceful, pluralistic message of Islam has been exploited and
manipulated by fanatics. Benazir Bhutto persuasively argues that America and
Britain are fueling this turn toward radicalization by supporting groups that
serve only short time interests. She believed that by enabling, the West was
actually contributing to the frustration and extremism that lead to terrorism.
With her experience governing Pakistan and living and studying in the West,
Benazir Bhutto was versed in the complexities of the conflict from both sides.
She was a renaissance woman who offered a way out.
In this riveting and deeply insightful book. Bhutto explores the complicated
history between the Middle East and the West. She traces the roots of
international terrorism across the world, including Western support for
Pakistani general Zia-ul-Haq, who destroyed political parties,eliminated an
independent judiciary, marginalized NGOs, suspended the protection of human
rights, and aligned Pakistan intelligence agencies with the most radical
elements of the Afghan Mujahideen.
She speaks out not just to the West, but to the Muslims across the globe who
are at a cross-roads between the past and the future, between education and
ignorance, between peace and terrorism, and between dictatorship and democracy.
Democracy and Islam are not incompatible, and the clash between Islam and the
West is not inevitable. Benazir Bhutto presents the image of modern Islam that
defies the negative caricatures often seen in the West.
As she was martyred on December 27, 2007 after addressing a public meeting at
Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, the book got published after her assassination. Mark
A. Siegel under the caption" Note to the Reader" observes:"
Benazir was convinced that the battles between democracy and dictatorship, and
between extremism and moderation, were the two central forces of the new
millennium. She believed that the message of her cherished religion, Islam, was
being politicized and exploited by extremists and fanatics." The eminent
writers, intellectuals and politicians paid tremendous tributes to the
political struggle and vision of Benazir Bhutto. Senator Edward M. Kennedy
opines: " This is a powerful and insightful analysis of the formidable challenges
that confronted an extraordinary woman who paid the ultimate price for daring
to bring democracy to Pakistan. President Kennedy would have called her a
Prolific in Courage. Her vision of Islam in the modern world sets a standard of
peace, prosperity, equality and reconciliation. It's a major contributor to our
understanding of the challenges we face, and it underscores why the United
States must get it right in dialoguing with the Islamic world." I would
like to quote the opinion of the former American Secretary of State Ms.
Madeleine Albright on the book. She write:" This is one of the most
gripping and important books of our era. it's a powerful personal narrative of
an astonishingly brave woman. it's also a brilliant manifesto for challenging
radical Islam. Benazir Bhutto was an intense but charming woman driven by a
crucial mission. Her death makes this beautiful book all the more poignant, and
also more necessary."
After this introduction it seems more appropriate to briefly comment on the
book chapter wise. The book consists of 6 chapters. In Chapter 1 titled "
The Path Back," she writes about her return to Pakistan after a long
exile. On October 18,2007 she landed at Quaid-e Azam International Air port,
Karachi. She was received by three million people who enthusiastically chanted
slogans. She write that with the collaboration of the government agencies and
the terrorists the bombs were blasted in which 179 zealots of the Pakistan
Peoples Party were bestially killed. It was a planned sabotage to kill her but
luckily she survived. In Chapter 2 titled" The Battle within Islam:
Democracy versus Dictatorship; Moderation versus Extremism," she she sheds
light on the cardinal causes of the political trouble in the Muslim world. She
maintains that Islam is a progressive religion. It keeps pace with human and
rational trends of all times. Islam promulgates modernity and weeds out
regressive and retrogressive moves. She compares Islam with other religions and
concurs that no religion except Islam provides democratic principles. The
Quranic verses exhort "Shoora"( mutual counseling). Islam rejects
monarchy, militarism, dictatorship, autocracy and plutocracy. Islam promots
democracy and personal freedom. She blames America and the West for supporting
the fascists and dictators in the Muslim world. She is of the opinion that
dictatorship breeds terrorism and extremism. In this chapter she discusses
Islamic political thought and supports democracy, moderation, pluralism and
modernity. She claims that Islam and democracy are integral and inseparable.
She frequently quotes from the Quran to support and supplicate her thesis. It
is a very thought provoking chapter and establishes her profundity as a well
read scholar.
In Chapter 3 of the book titled" Islam and Democracy: History and
Practice," she high lights the prevalence of democratic spirit in the
early era of the Muslims. She admires the political freedom of the early
Muslims who could challenge the decisions of the caliphs on their face with out
any fear, fright and furor. It was because of the democratic Islamic spirit.
Then she sheds light on the deplorable political situation of the Muslim states
such as Iran, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Indonesia, Senegal, Mali, Central Asia,
Middle East, Africa,and The Persian Gulf States. She very judiciously analyses
the political situation of these states and blames the Western colonialists for
the backwardness of these states. She opines that colonialism is one of the
major causes of terrorism in the world.
In Chapter 4 titled" The Case of Pakistan" she opines that General
Zia-ul-Haq usurped power and cunningly managed to hang her father Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto who was an elected premier of Pakistan. Mr. Bhutto was an enlightened
and progressive leader. He was a great democrat. On the contrary, General Zia
was a religious maniac and a fundamentalist. It was General Zia who had sown
the seeds of religious extremism, sectarianism and terrorism in Pakistan. to linger
on his undemocratic, unconstitutional and illegal rule, he very tactfully
pushed Pakistan in the Afghan war and turned it in to the war between Islam and
Communism. With the help of America, the West and Saudi Arabia, General Zia
succeeded to defeat the Soviet Union. Then in 1999, General Pervez
Musharraf toppled the democratic government of Mian Nawaz Sharif and imposed
martial law in Pakistan. Again America supported this undemocratic regime. This
time America got Pakistan involved in the fight against Al- Qaeda and Taliban.
Pakistan became the hub and haven for international hard liners and terrorists.
Today, Pakistan is bleeding because of the policies of America and the West.
Had America and the west not supported callous military dictators of Pakistan,
there would have been no extremism and terrorism exported from the territories
like Waziristan. She concludes with very strong arguments that to eliminate
extremism and terrorism we have to support democracy world wide.
In chapter 5 titled" Is the Clash of Civilizations Inevitable," she
outright rejects the toxic and malicious theory of the clash of civilizations
propounded by Professor Samuel Huntington and supports the Theory of
Reconciliation. She also rejects the hate theory of Oswald Splenger propounded
in his book titled" The Decline of the West." She fortifies her
thesis by the supporting notions of eminent western thinkers such as Stephen
Walt and Richard Rubenstein. These intellectual giants have also refuted the
theory of clash of civilizations propounded by Professor Huntington of the
Harvard University of America. It is interesting to mention here that Benazir
Bhutto also remained student of the same university.
In chapter 6 titled" Reconciliation," she cites eminent Muslim
thinkers to validate her stance. They are from different Muslim countries. She
quotes the views of these prominent Muslim thinkers and proves her plea. They
are Dr. Allama Iqbal, Dr. Fazlul Rehman, Nurcholish Majdid, Abdul Karim
Soroush, Dr. Mohammad Arkkoun, Abdurrehman Wahid, Moulana Wahiduddin Khan and
Dr. Khalid Masud. These Muslim thinkers hailing from different Muslim countries
have supported democracy and regarded it compatible to Islam.They are the
stalwarts of moderation and have condemned religious extremism and terrorism
regarding such inhuman acts quite antagonistic to Islam. She frankly admits
that in Pakistan there are some religious seminaries that promote terrorism.
She names them as " militant madrassas." About this plight on page
295 of the book she observes: "Extremism, militancy,terrorism, and
dictatorship feed off one an other, thriving in an environment of poverty,
hopelessness, and economic disparity among social classes. This symbiotic
relationship of extremism, militancy, terrorism, dictatorship, and poverty is a
direct threat to international and national stability and a clear danger to
world peace."
In the end she gives some very wise and sound proposals for the eradication of
terrorism and extremism. She proposes the creation of Muslim Investment Fund
structured in a manner similar to the Alaskan Fund or the Norway Fund to
elevate povert in the non- oil producing Muslim states who face the demon of
poverty. She also suggests to the Americans and the westerners to promote Youth
exchange programs by granting the youth scholarships. Englisg teaching programs
and Computer coursed be also expanded. She stresses on the need of formation
of" Reconciliation Corpss" modeled on " Peace Corps." She
stresses on the need of education and emancipation of the women. She preaches
the fortification of the Human Rights Organizations. She further opines that
the long standing issues of Palestine and Kashmir must amicably be resolved for
permanent peace. she calls for the " Association of democratic Nations."
She praises the formation of " Marshall Plan" and suggests such plans
to economically help the poor nations.
It was in 2007 when I had a detailed meeting with her and she asked me to
promote Bhuttoism. She wished that I should write a book on the mission of her father
Mr. Bhutto who was a great visionary. It is my proud previlege that at her wish
I wrote the book titled" The Ideals of Bhutto." This book has been
recently re published National Book Foundation, Islamabad Pakistan. I am
thankful to President Asif Ali Zardari, who very kindly gave his aispicious
message that is included in the book. This book also shed light on the issues
discussed by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her book" Reconciliation." I
strongly recommend this book to the youth of Pakistan to read it and promote
its' democratic, moderate and universal mission.
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