Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto called Indians dogs, at the United Nations. A suit wearing jehadi, he was essentially a thug who was possessed by intense hatred of Hindus. His life ended worse than a street dog.
– by Rakesh Krishnan Simha
1. In the 1965 War, Pakistan faced a major setback as the Indian Army burst across the Ichogil Canal and reached Lahore and Sialkot, sending the local residents fleeing from these cities. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was Foreign Minister of Pakistan. At the United Nations, as the Indian delegation led by Sardar Swaran Singh was leaving, Bhutto remarked: “The Indian dogs are leaving.” Other UNSC members condemned the language, and refused to agenda Kashmir discussions for decades.
2. In 1977, Bhutto was overthrown in a military coup by General Zia ul Haq. He was hanged in 1978. Here is how the ‘brave’ Pakistani behaved in the days before his execution.
3. Bhutto spent his last days in a grim death cell at Rawalpindi Central Jail, enduring solitary confinement, poor conditions and health issues like dental problems and weight loss that left him frail and skeleton-like, weighing just 28 kg.
4. He read extensively and wrote his will, but on the evening of April 3, officials informed him of the impending hanging — set for 2 a.m., against standard prison rules for early morning executions.
5. According to Lt. Col. Rafiuddin, the special security officer present (detailed in his book “Bhutto Ke Akhri 323 Din”), Bhutto initially appeared calm when the warrant was read at around 6 p.m., even smiling, but his face soon turned pale and yellow with shock. He protested procedural flaws, like lack of 24-hour notice, and requested to see his lawyers and dentist. His voice grew weak, and he stumbled when trying to stand, needing support.
6. As the night wore on, Bhutto shaved, spoke tearfully to his helper about his legacy for the poor, before lying down. He called out his daughter Benazir’s name while trying to sleep. Officials noted he seemed unresponsive at times, possibly feigning it. His eyes looked fearful, and he complained of stomach issues.
7. Around 1.35 a.m. on April 4, with time running out, Bhutto was resting on his mattress, pale and barely audible. When asked if he could walk to the gallows, he murmured something about pity for his wife Nusrat and seemed unable or unwilling to move. A stretcher was brought in, as he was too weak to walk the distance (about 228 metres through mud and rain).
8. Four warders lifted him by the arms and feet, despite his weak protest of “leave me.” His body sagged, his back nearly brushed the floor at times, and his shirt tore slightly — perhaps he was resisting. Accounts describe his feet as yellow and bloodless, suggesting his legs had given way from shock. He didn’t walk unaided to the site.
9. At the gallows — a 5 ft high platform — warders helped him stand on the plank. His hands were cuffed behind his back, a black mask placed over his face (prompting a muffled complaint), and the noose adjusted. At 2.04 a.m., the lever was pulled by executioner Tara Masih. Bhutto’s body dropped, swinging briefly; he was pronounced dead after 30 minutes. Post-hanging, his limbs were massaged to straighten them for burial.
10. His body was flown secretly to Larkana, Sindh, for burial. Thus ended the life of a Pakistani jehadi who promised to wage a 1,000 year war against Hindu India.
