Backgrounder on Bhutto

Occasionally, something comes up about which I know nothing. It happens. Lately, I have been reading about Ms. Bhutto who is fanning the flames of public opinion in Pakistan these days. I sense a mild pro Bhutto feeling in stories, but no fawning over a victimized woman forced out of office by the generals.

Ms. Bhutto is interesting, indeed. What Pakistan is doing today is what her father did some time ago to his critics. The circle always turns. From the NYT:

THE BHUTTO MILLIONS; A Background Check Far From Ordinary

By JOHN F. BURNS

Published: January 9, 1998

On Feb. 27, 1995, a Swiss lawyer filled out an application to open a Citibank account in Geneva for an obscure company from the British Virgin Islands known as Capricorn Trading.

The handwritten document identified the company's owner as Asif Ali Zardari and listed his address as Bilawal House, Karachi, Pakistan.

Opening the account was the sort of discreet service performed daily by Citibank's private banking department, which prides itself on ''white gloved'' treatment of well-placed clients, many of them from poor, politically unstable countries in the third world. But Mr. Zardari was no ordinary client and this was no ordinary account. Although his application did not say so, he was the husband of Pakistan's Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. The address on the form was her personal residence, so well known in Pakistan, and to most of those doing business with Pakistan, that it was akin to writing ''Hillary Clinton, The White House.''
At the time, Pakistani investigators say, Mr. Zardari was amassing a fortune of more than $100 million in bank deposits and luxury properties abroad, much of it bought with payoffs from foreign companies doing business in Pakistan. The largest single portion -- more than $40 million -- coursed through Citibank account No. 342034, according to the investigators....

So, maybe, she is not such a good person.

Monday, July 27, 1998 Published at 11:59 GMT 12:59 UK

World: South Asia

Bhutto background

Several former Pakistani prime ministers in addition to Benazir Bhutto have had to face criminal charges.

Her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was deposed as prime minister in 1979 and hanged by the army after a secret trial.

But the wide range of charges faced by Miss Bhutto and her public court appearance makes her case unique.

As well as the current trial, at least six similar cases are pending.

There are also separate charges against her husband, Asif Zardari, who is already in prison accused of playing a role in the murder of Miss Bhutto's brother, Murtaza.

They have been accused of receiving large pay-offs in numerous foreign business deals, but Miss Bhuttos's supporters say the charges against her are politically motivated and are designed to draw attention away from Pakistan's economic crisis.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

The key to a broad background understanding is to look at old man Bhutto - trained in Berkely (yes CA) in socialism, nationalized industry, founder of the first Muslim A bomb, creator of a mess that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, friend of China, and executed for murder after a dubious trial.....whew. Here is some detail:

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
10th Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office 14 August 1973 – 5 July 1977
President	Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry
Preceded by	Nurul Amin
Succeeded by	Muhammad Khan Junejo
4th President of Pakistan
In office 20 December 1971 – 13 August 1973
Prime Minister	Nurul Amin
Preceded by	Yahya Khan
Succeeded by	Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry
5th Foreign Minister of Pakistan
In office 15 June 1963 – 12 September 1966
Preceded by	Muhammad Ali Bogra
Succeeded by	Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada
Born	5 January 1928(1928-01-05) Larkana, British India
Died	April 04, 1979 (aged 51) Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Political party	Pakistan Peoples Party
Religion	Shia Islam

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی بھٹو, IPA: [zʊlfɪkɑɽ ɑli botɔ]; Sindhi: ذوالفقار علي ڀُٽو) (January 5, 1928 – April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician who served as the President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973 and as Prime Minister from 1973 to 1977. He was the founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), one of the largest and most influential political parties of Pakistan.

His daughter Benazir Bhutto has also served twice as prime minister. Bhutto was executed in 1979 following a controversial trial for apparently authorizing the murder of a political opponent. The move was largely seen as being politically motivated under the directives of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.....

During this time, Bhutto's father, Sir Shahnawaz, played a controversial role in the affairs of the state of Junagadh (now in Gujarat). Coming to power in a palace coup as the dewan, he secured the accession of the state to Pakistan, which was ultimately negated by Indian intervention in December, 1947.^[3] In 1949, Bhutto transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned an honours degree in political science. Here he would become interested in the theories of socialism, delivering a series of lectures on the feasibility of socialism in Islamic countries. In June, 1950 Bhutto travelled to England to study law at the Christ Church, Oxford. Upon finishing his studies, he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1953....

As foreign minister, Bhutto significantly transformed Pakistan's hitherto pro-Western foreign policy. While maintaining a prominent role for Pakistan within the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and the Central Treaty Organization, Bhutto began asserting a foreign policy course for Pakistan that was independent of U.S. influence. Bhutto criticised the U.S. for providing military aid to India during and after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, which was seen as an abrogation of Pakistan's alliance with the U.S. Bhutto worked to establish stronger relations with the People's Republic of China.^[4] ...Bhutto also signed the Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement on March 2, 1963 that transferred 750 kilometres of territory from Pakistan-administered Kashmir to Chinese control.

On January 2, 1972 Bhutto announced the nationalisation of all major industries, including iron and steel, heavy engineering, heavy electricals, petrochemicals, cement and public utilities.^[7] A new labour policy was announced increasing workers rights and the power of trade unions. Although he came from a feudal background himself, Bhutto announced reforms limiting land ownership and a government take-over of over a million acres (4,000 km²) to distribute to landless peasants. More than 2,000 civil servants were dismissed on charges of corruption.^[7] Bhutto also dismissed the military chiefs on March 3 after they refused orders to suppress a major police strike in Punjab.

Pakistan's nuclear program and its militarization was initiated in January 1972 and in its initial years was implemented by General Tikka Khan. Under his leadership, Pakistan developed into the first Muslim State with a nuclear capability....

Muslim leaders such as Maulana Maududi called for the overthrow of Bhutto's regime.^[13] Intensifying political and civil disorder prompted Bhutto to hold talks with PNA leaders, which culminated in an agreement for the dissolution of the assemblies and fresh elections under a form of government of national unity.^[15] However on July 5, 1977 Bhutto and members of his cabinet were arrested by troops under the order of General Zia.^[7]

Criticism and legacy

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remains a controversial figure in Pakistan. While he was hailed for being a nationalist, Bhutto was roundly criticised for opportunism and intimidating his political opponents. He oversaw Pakistan's nuclear programme, held peace talks with neighbour India and was more of an Internationalist with a secular image.^[7] His socialist policies are blamed for slowing down Pakistan's economic progress owing to unproductivity and high costs. Bhutto is also criticised for human rights abuses perpetrated by the army in Balochistan.^[7] Many in Pakistan's military, notably the current president Gen. Pervez Musharaf and former martial law administrator of Balochistan General Rahimuddin Khan condemn Bhutto for having caused the crisis that led to the creation of Bangladesh. In spite of all the criticism -- and subsequent media trials -- Bhutto still remains the most popular leader of the country.^{[20] [7]} Bhutto's action against the insurgency in Balochistan is blamed for causing widespread civil dissent and calls for secession. ^[21]

It is not so easy to figure out which horse to back in Pakistan. The curious Bhuttos (capitalist, socialist, militarist shiites who move in a world of murder, rioting, and wealth), the Military, the fundamentalist Muslims.

At least we know that we don't know much about the dark future facing Pakistan. .

Shia "assassin" tradition: terrorism as a duty

Assassin Founder Sabah: Nothing is true, everything is permitted

Alphonse Karr: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

The news from Pakistan is that, as a result of the recent attempted assassination of Ms Bhutto, the government is battling militants based in the northwest, where it sent 2,500 troops into a remote valley Wednesday to combat followers of a militant cleric calling for Taliban-style rule. But the cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, appeared to be unruffled, and thousands of his supporters gathered to hear him speak just a few miles from where the soldiers were deployed.

Authorities have accused Fazlullah of links to Islamabad's radical Red Mosque, which was stormed by army commandos in July in an operation that left more than 100 people dead. That incident and the deployment of army reinforcements to Swat and the North Waziristan region touched off a wave of violence that has left more than 1,000 people dead.

I thought it would be interesting to look back into history to understand the culture of the "assassin," which is an Islamic tradition, originally Shia and based in Syria. You will see nothing has changed regarding the religion of peace and how it spreads power, sorry faith.

Click on the title to do to the lexicorient.com source.

Assassins
Arabic: hashshāshīn, plural of hashshāsh

Sect inside Shi'i Islam, more specifically the Nizari Isma'ilis, in the period from the 11th to the 13th century. Most significantly, the Assassins are famous for their fearless murders especially during the times of the Crusades.
There are many legends connected with the Assassins, and many are of dubious origin, more a result of medieval European story tellers' fantasy than facts (among these story tellers is Marco Polo). The main theme is that the Assassins performed their deeds under strong intoxication from hashish, resulting in their own deaths, but with the promise of immediate entry to paradise — a paradise that had been staged for them during their training at the Alamut, a paradise of sweet food and wine and beautiful and willing women.
These stories have never been confirmed by any investigations of contemporary Isma'ili sources, and there is good reason to believe that such a shortcoming is a clear indication that such stories are fabrications.
From the original sources, we learn that the Assassins changed the original Isma'ili doctrine, so that terrorism became a religious duty. Growing out from their centre in Kazvin, the Assassins built a number of strongholds all over Iran and Iraq.
The idea of a paradise constructed around Alamut was probably based upon the sayings of imam al-Kahir, where he talks about a Paradise that man has already entered. However, al-Kahir's paradise was meant as a spiritual one.
They had a system of terrorists as well as secret agents positioned in enemy camps and cities. The Assassins often worked closely with certain leaders of Muslim states, as their services were attractive: no one else was better able to kill important persons in enemy states. They were for long periods allied with the Christian crusaders, not because the Christians sympathized with them, but because they had common enemies.
One of the most important Muslim allies of the Assassins was the Seljuq ruler of Aleppo, Ridwan. Through this cooperation, they were able to establish themselves in the Syrian mountains, where several fortresses were erected. Without being recognized in the same way as other temporary states, the Assassins had in reality, their own state here. But the Assassins's influence over Aleppo came to be immense, and they effectively ruled the politics and economy of the city and its surroundings for a couple of decades.
Even Saladin came to treat the Assassins as allies, although he intended initially to eliminate them. The reason for this alliance, was that Saladin, following two assassination attempts, feared for his own life, and had more imminent enemies.
The Assassins were ranked according to intelligence, courage and trustworthiness. They underwent intense education as well as physical training.
When the Assassins were out on mission, they generally worked alone. Rarely did two or more of them work together. They dressed up as tradesmen or ascetic religious men, and spent a good deal of time in a city, in order to get well-acquainted with the houses and streets, as well as the daily routines of the future victim. The actual murder was performed with a dagger and in public, often inside the mosque on a Friday. By doing it all in public, the information about the deed was soon well known, and people were frightened. In general, the Assassin murderer himself was killed immediately thereafter by guards of the victim.

HISTORY
1071: Hassan-e Sabbah moves to Fatimid Egypt, as the Shi'i orientation in Islam is no longer tolerated in his native Persia.
1070's: A movement in opposition to the weak Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir is headed by the caliph's son, Nizar. Hassan joins the organization, and becomes central in planning how the caliphate shall be rejuvenated with Nizar as caliph.
1090's: Hassan captures the hill fortress Alamut near Kazvin in Iran, whereupon he forms the organization soon to be known as Assassins.
1092: The famous Seljuq vizier Nizam al-Mulk is murdered by an Assassin in Baghdad. He becomes their first victim.
1094: Al-Mustansir dies, and Hassan does not recognize the new caliph, al-Mustali. He and his followers transferred their allegiance to his brother Nizar. The followers of Hassan came to be at odds with the caliph in Baghdad too.
1113: Following the death of Aleppo's ruler, Ridwan, the Assassins are driven out of the city by the troops of Ibn al-Khashab.
1110's: The Assassins in Syria change their strategy, and start undercover to build cells in all cities around the region.
1123: Ibn al-Khashab is killed by an Assassin killer.
1124: Hassan dies in Alamut, but the organization lives on stronger than ever.
— The leading qadi Abu Saad al-Harawi is killed by an Assassin killer.
1126 November 26: Emir Porsuki of Aleppo and Mosul is killed by an Assassin killer.
1131 May: Buri, the atabeg of Damascus, is seriously wounded by two Assassins. He dies 13 months later.
12th century: The Assassins extend their activities into Syria, where they received much support from the local Shi'i minority as the Seljuq sultanate had captured this territory.
— The Assassins capture a group of castles in the Nusayriyya Mountains (modern Syria). The most important of these castles is the Masyaf, from where the "The Old Man of Mountain", Rashideddin Sinan, would come to rule practically independent from the main leaders of the Assassins.
1164: Hassan, the Assassin leader, declares that a new millennium had started, and that his followers were freed from the Sharia, thereby also Islam. He allowed all exesses, and had his followers turn their backs on Mecca while praying.
1173: The Assassins of Syria enter negotiations with the king of Jerusalem, with the aim of their converting to Christianity. But as the Assassins by now were numerous and often worked as peasants, paying high taxes to local Christian landlords, taxes that Christian peasants were exempted from, their conversion was strongly opposed. In this year the Assassin negotiators were murdered by Christian knights, resulting in the end of talks of conversion.
1175: Rashideddin's men make two attempts on the life of Saladin, the leader of the Ayyubids. The second time, the Assassin came so close that wounds were inflicted upon Saladin.
Early 13th century: The new Assassin leader, Jalal ad-Din retracts the expressing independence of Hassan, bringing the Assassins officially back to the fold of Mulims.
Å1256: Alamut fortress falls to the Mongols under the leadership of Hülegü. Before this happened, several other fortresses had been captured, and finally Alamut becomes weak and with little support.
1257: The Mongol warlord Hülegü attacks and destroys the fortress at Alamut. The Assassin library is completely destroyed, hence eradicating what would have been a crucial source of information about the Assassins.
Around 1260: Assassins seek support from the Christian Crusaders, offering to convert to Christianity, but this is refused by the Knights Templar.
Around 1265: The Assassin strongholds in Syria fall to the Mumluk sultan Baybars 1.

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Where are the Mongols when you need them?