Fatima Bhutto, niece of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and the grand daughter of PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, has commended the efforts put together by the students and staff at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. The University, popularly known as LUMS, is the premier institute of higher education in Pakistan.
LUMS has been at the forefront of news for initiating and supporting political activism within the student body all over Pakistan, ever since Musharraf declared an emergency on Nov 03, 2007. In a message sent to the students at LUMS, Fatima Bhutto mentioned:
“Having read that the police surrounded LUMS this past week on blogs online, I am very pleased to receive your email - our thoughts have been with you and your fellow students at this horrific time. Your bravery, in pursuing action against this injustice, is very noble and inspires all the rest of us Pakistanis watching this circus unfold at a distance.”
Fatima Bhutto further said:
I have always believed that the first step to enacting change, positive change, is to raise our voices. Only by speaking out, by writing, demonstrating, signing petitions, organizing can we truly speak truth to power. The current situation poses a great danger to this country and to our future. But of certain things we must be clear - demanding a return to the Constitution is not enough. We must call for the restoration of the 1973 constitution. The time for short term solutions is over, they have always betrayed us at the end. We need to restore the 1973 Constitution because its amended versions only propagate the powers of the state over the people. Power must not rest with the President, it must not be handed to the Prime Minister - they have the same interests at the end. It must be handed back to the rightful rulers of this country - the people.
Secondly, we know today that elections have been called. The time frame, being extremely short, is intended to benefit the government and their allies - they are after all the only forces with enough funds (and a distinct lack of moral grounding) to manipulate the time table to their own ends. They will bus people in to vote for their corrupt and disingenuous candidates because they can afford to, they will bribe polling agents and presiding officers with political favours, they will use illegal and invalid ID cards to push the vote to their favour.
This we must fight. We do that by voting. By using our votes we deprive this government and their cronies of stealing the election. We do fight by volunteering, by organizing students to campaign or to work as polling agents or to keep records or to write and tell the world what we are facing. This is crucial. We cannot give them this election, they do not deserve our complacency any longer.
Lastly, please let me know what I can do to help you - this is my request. If there is any information you’d like to get out please forward it on to me. I will forward you now an account from a lawyer in Karachi who has written about living under this emergency, information is key to our survival.
Keep your morale high, the fight is going to be a long one. We’ve got to get rid of the old guard and they’ll be stubborn about surrendering. But time is on our side. We’re the youth of this country, our future is in our hands, not theirs.
In solidarity,
Fatima Bhutto
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43 responses so far ↓
1 guyFromLondon // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:18 am
Are we talking about a new PPP leader in the making? If so, I just wish that she is not like her aunt.
2 guyFromLondon // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:20 am
Isn’t LUMS supposed to be a private institution — far from any politics? Since when they started student political parties at LUMS? Have things changed suddenly or am I out of PK for a long time now?
3 WellWisher // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:24 am
I think that LUMS has always promoted freedom of speech, within its entire community. It is probably time that those teachings of free speech are put to practice. For expressing yourself, there has never been a need as great as this one. This “sudden change” at LUMS is not really sudden — it was always there, just got triggered by the external events.
4 Saqib Majeed // Nov 13, 2007 at 8:32 am
I appreciate Ms.Fatima Bhutto’s efforts to fight for rights of true pakistani people. Ever since I started reading her articles, I found true sincerity and pain in her heart for the future and present of our great nation (our nation is of course great though there is no great leadership). I can see the veru enthusiasm in this the brave daughter of Pakistan speaking loud for the sake of truth without having any fear of results. This is very much fortunate that the students are now backing her well as she deserves. She is a true successor of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto inspite of Benazir. At least the sincere benches of PPP’s leadersdhip should look forward to her as their leader in future if they have any morality left with them.
5 Tell U Truth // Nov 13, 2007 at 9:32 am
To be honest and straight forward, no one ever thought about Pakistan. Every person including Ms. Fatima, is concerned about his/her gains. Even this political drama at LUMS was created by the students belonging to the families of high class of political parties to serve their political purposes. In other words, everyone is busy in befooling another person…….come on!…be realistic……rulers come from within our society, not from heavens above…..Lets accept it and start eradicating this self-deception game and first bring transparency in our thoughts and actions as per teaching of Islam in broader perspective…..Although i know that there are hardly few people (muslims) who know anything about their religion (Islam) beyond offering prayers five times a day:):)
6 sajida Awan // Nov 13, 2007 at 10:39 am
its very informating site
7 Amir // Nov 13, 2007 at 2:45 pm
For god sake, leave these corrupt and non-serious political parties (PPP, PML, etc…) as only few families has been governing since Independence of Pakistan. They didn’t give us any thing except deprivation, injustice, double standards, un-employment, inflation……………….
These people are playing with our emotions they are enjoying their life while giving painless life to their people. Isn’t it true to say that Musharaf is enjoying his sleep comfortably and people can not sleep due to power shortage.
any thing, they just want their chair and if there is an increase in the price, but a poor man has to think many times how he will afford his family. Even they can not provide the basic necessities to their people on expensive prices.
I suggest we need to
Throw away this dirty politics & their people away from Pakistan by
Developing new vision, new dynamic & honest leadership (even from yourself)
Any one, able to feel the pain of hopeless people (only poor man or middle man can understand our problem)
Plz Plz get together and make a force against these corrupt politics.
8 sam // Nov 13, 2007 at 3:51 pm
haan yes fatima is not only active in politics but she has great views as well regarding “enlightment” of pakistani culture and society. but after all she is sexy
9 John Harding // Nov 13, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Get rid of the old guard? Exactly. Get rid of Fatima Bhutto.
10 Dirty Harry // Nov 13, 2007 at 8:05 pm
completely agree with ‘Getting rid of the old guard’. I would go one step further.Get rid of anyone who thinks they can get rid of the old guard because of thier name which depends on the old guard and thus are part of the old guard (willingly or unwillingly). I.E. get rid of this author.
Furthermore, even if we do not go that far because many of you were sycophants before you even knew it; enamoured by the very name you despise and she intends to rid herself off (or maybe she doesn’t but that would make her statement self defeating which brings the phrase ‘biting off more than one can chew’ to mind)…We can at least question the author about who she expects to take out her laundry every morning if there is no more ‘old guard’. I certainly couldn’t leave it to an incompetent younger who is yet to learn the intricate arts of wringing, ironing and folding.’
11 Dirty Harry // Nov 13, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I meant a dishonest idiot.
12 Noman Baig // Nov 13, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Indeed, it is encouraging to see students at LUMS taking a lead in protesting against emergency. In this time of state suppression and brutality, I wish for their safety.
My request to Fatima Bhutto, if she can hear me, is to first stand against the tradition of feudalism that her family has perpetuated for so long on the people of Pakistan especially of Sindh. Although I do not want to waste my time on chiding track record of Bhutto’s family, it would be ignorant and naive by our side if we become oblivion of the crimes committed by her family.
If writing and signing petitions had changed anything then Pakistan would not have corrupt people like Zardari.
13 Bingo Zooom // Nov 14, 2007 at 1:49 am
Wake up Nation;
Get rid of the old parties and leaders; choose new leaders; new parties; experiment something new! and remember Bhutto broke up this country and seperated us from our brother Bangladesh (there is historical evidence, I have from eyewitnesses and accounts).
we need to get rid of landlords and people who are exploiting our country’s resources for personal gains. I agree somewhat with Tell u Truth.
14 Laila // Nov 14, 2007 at 7:36 am
Today’s Opposition Leaders are real fraud. It’s a farce as far as they are concerned. Everyone is busy in befooling another person…….
It is because of these rich leaders that poor person finds himself in problems and bad condition. The government and the ruling party leaders have learned a lot under the influence of President Musharraf, and these governing leaders have truly been behaving as common man’s servants.
It is the opposition leaders who have been eating, sleeping and drinking well, driving in big cars, living in big houses, and has found politics as their hobby to give vent to their zeal. They have found political platform to show off, talk, do their fashions, and wield influence by working on the innocent who will fall for them and their fashionable talk. They visit beauty parlours and come to impress and get self-satisfaction.
A man like Imran Khan who has a big appetite for pleasures has indulged in every sin under the sun. If he thinks he has not been stealing, I would say that he is wrong, because he, in his own status has indulged even in that. What else is tax evation?
His marriage broke because of having children out of wedlock, and having relationships with women. Drugs is his another indulgence. After doing all that, he as an old man has now stepped into politics.
He had no success when he first took part in politics. He was good in only cricket and teaching his boys ball tampering and all other crooked things. It worked and because of his influence in those days in cricket, his other activities outside the cricket also worked.
Later on, no matter what he tries, he just beats about the bush and nobody takes him seriously. He gets carried away and as a habit keeps predicting, but thank God nothing he says comes true.
Benazir is another one of the same type, cunning clever, but seeking attention. This fashionable lot who indulge in plastic surgeries from chin-tuck-ins to liposuction to some major ones, and like Sheikh Rashid says they regularly are visiting beauty parlors and appearing on the stage of politics, coming on the electronic media to get the attention from the public at large.
15 Laila // Nov 14, 2007 at 7:39 am
Today’s Opposition Leaders are real fraud. It’s a farce as far as they are concerned.
It is because of these rich leaders that a poor person finds himself in problems and bad condition. The government and the ruling party leaders have learned a lot under the influence of President Musharraf, and these governing leaders have truly been behaving as common man’s servants.
It is the opposition leaders who have been eating, sleeping and drinking well, driving in big cars, living in big houses, and has found politics as their hobby to give vent to their zeal. They have found political platform to show off, talk, do their fashions, and wield influence by working on the innocent who will fall for them and their fashionable talk. They visit beauty parlours and come to impress and get self-satisfaction.
16 Laila // Nov 14, 2007 at 12:19 pm
How and why I think that the people of Pakistan are backward as hell? Even the affluent and the students are backward. There is lack of realism here, and absence of understanding of Pakistan’s situation.
It was shocking to see the other day that the LUMS students although were protesting, but their spokeswoman, one Zahra Sabri could not tell, when asked by a CNN interrogator, that why are they protesting and what do they want?
I say that all the people are beating about the bush without having any clear future policy, a defined agenda or a specific goal in front of them.
They say they don’t want Benazir woman as she looted the nation; they don’t want an ex-womanizer Imran Khan, who they advice should do Pakistan a favor by serving in the cricket field as that’s alone where he is needed being a misfit everywhere else. Then they do not want MMA because they think they are extreme fundamentalists who are distorting Islam, and neither do they want Nawaz and Shahbaz brothers back in power, as they will only do revengeful politics besides again expanding their own Empire where their industries can flourish.
Then my question is, that if they don’t have a clear and defined goal in front of them, then why have they decided to agitate at all? Why can’t they think a little more clearly, set a definite goal for themselves, or plain and simple, just stop this nonsence of getting carried away and coming under the influence of stupid people like Imran Khan, or Miss American Benazir, who herself says that she will do everything that the Americans want her to do. In other words, although she is a Pakistani, but has got ready to serve the Americans and is sent by them to colonize this area again, very cleverly, subtly making full use of the stupidity of the people here.
That’s why I call the people of Pakistan stupid, dopey, lost and backward. It is because of them that this country is so backward. Can they deny this backwardness? Am I wrong? Can they tell me they are living in a progressive society? If they say yes, they are lying. If they say no, then aren’t they responsible?
I have just said what I have been observing for a long time.
17 Fatima Bhutto // Nov 16, 2007 at 11:45 am
I am not a politician in the making. I am not a carbon copy (or any copy) of Benazir. I am not trying to get votes. I’m a writer and a young citizen and my message to the brave students of LUMS was one of solidarity. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to speak to you and my solidarity stands regardless of the many colourful names some of you have thrown out - feudal/oldguard/idiot was it?
Stay stong and stay safe.
P.s Dirty Harry - why are you so interested in my laundry?
18 Shahid Virk // Nov 17, 2007 at 9:40 am
I agree with Laila that Pakistanis have to bring about change in their attitude and whatever they are doing in their daily life. These leaders are from us they are not coming from abroad. I have heard Zahra Sabri this weak on CNN, she posted the video on I-Report and really she was unable to answer when she was asked about her future leader.
I appreciate what Lums students and other people of Pakistan are doing to restore democracy in country. But we should have clear vision about our future leaders and party to vote for. If we are not supporting old thugs then we should have new substitutes to fill their boots, because we don’t want to leave the vacuum. Pakistan always lacked patriotic and peoples servant leadership.
We always had dictator leaders even our elected including Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif who became dictators in their periods of governance. Instead of serving people they started dictating people and ran away after robbing the country.
And most importantly we have to be aware of these feudal people like Fatima Bhutto who are using these unfolding events for their own rise. If she is so loyal to the country, why she is not raising her voice against the feudalism and writing about that? .Feudalism is keeping our country backward and uneducated.
19 Zahra Sabri // Nov 29, 2007 at 1:55 am
People are missing the point of the LUMS movement. Its really about civil liberties and their blatant blatant abuse. After a long time, we were actually happy that someone powerful finally brought up the missing persons issue. Its something we should have made a greater fuss about earlier. Really - its so embarassing to face one’s Baluchi aquaintances and know that we didn’t come out on the streets when people they know were being treated so brutally left right and centre. Leila - would you say that because there is no grand alternative for a leader, we shouldn’t bother protesting against the messing up of an institution which was finally doing more good than harm? Of course, we don’t know who to rally around. At the moment, no one seems overwhelmingly worth it. At election time, each of us will no doubt choose settle on who we think is the lesser devil, the best compromise. But can the student movement of any campus actually collectively rally around a particular individual… Not in the present structure… people have very different opinions about which leader will be the better option - some think BB’s won’t be that bad, some thing Nawaz would be the most benign, some have great loyalty for Imran, some even think Altaf is the most efficient and least elitist and guess what some still have a lot respect for Musharraf hows that? But this does not stop all of us from coming out in protest against the abuse of civil rights. we consider that a duty - when such increasingly blatant brutality is taking place, we have to try to stop the regime - using both domestic and international moral or merely expedient pressure. its not about overthrowing a regime by the way - if an overthrow results as a byproduct of our agitations, then that is due to the regime’s stupidity in being too rigid to give in to the people. we haven’t really set out with that EXACT purpose in mind…
Being unsure about who should be leader is only natural given the sad options available. New faces are the ideal option - one hopes they may emerge to some extent even through this movement, but given that elections are around the corner, that does not seem likely to happen any time soon. So doubt is only natural, to pretend a confidence one doesn’t really feel is what would be unrealistic. Realism at this point more about knowing who one definitely wouldn’t like to vote for than knowing who one would want to vote for… However, whatever regime we find ourselves living under, whatever leader we find ourselves faced with, we surely surely have to voice our concerns about the right or wrong policy. when most of the self-serving opposition leaders don’t seem to be very good at trying to check governmental heavy-handedness, it’s the students who have to fill the vacuum… and the journalists… and everyone else in civil society.
20 Sarfaraz Abbasi // Dec 3, 2007 at 1:47 am
It’s a truth that generation has to wakeup to its rights. What’s wrong wth Mohatarma so people are cautious about her?
Mohatarma has been here for Pakistan in dire needs of this state. If you people think yourself to be true-promoter to democracy why not to jump in the politics and change the scenario that you always find disapprove of but never bother to do something just coming on blogs and sites like these to stick out your tongue. It means those brats General Ayub General Yahya and General Zia Ul haq were honest descent and democrate who nobody speaks against here. They just gave and gave to this country ruling for decades. I feel sorry for shit-heads like you all.
21 Rafique Rao // Dec 10, 2007 at 9:11 am
Hello everyone:
First of all, being Pakistani we should use language that is decent. These posting are read all over the world.
I have never been on the side of Bhutto or PPP rather against its philosophy and especially what Zardari-Benazir had done to the country. There ia nothing good about left about Zardari-Benazir duo that can bring good to the country.
Having said that Ms. Fatima Bhutto is definitely a good writer and critic and before making any negetive comments being grand-daughter of Mr. Bhutto Sr., one should read all her articles mostly available on internet and her books also available on internet or in Pakistan. I believe she is talking from her heart and a sincere PAKISTANI. As far as leadership is concerned, we have to have leaders to get out this mess. Allam Iqbal, Quiad-e-azam were leaders. If Ms. Famita Bhutto continue to work as a sincererity, she may a leader in making not from PPP plateform or out of enemosity of Zardari-Benazir but because she sincerely loves to change Pakistani system.
Love to all becuase everyon is concerned for Pakistan. We all have to work together to create a better Pakistan.
22 PPP Hater // Dec 23, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I Hope she does’nt divide Pakistan any more. PPP is People Propaganda of Pakistan they have stolen and taken more than any other. I hope she is not like that but for the all the PPP leaders except Bhutto(that is the founder not his daughter) we have seen they are the crowned lairs and decievers of the highest eminence. I can only hope she is not like that but I don’t want to trust any PPP leader because they all turn out to be robbers.
23 ansar // Dec 29, 2007 at 2:42 pm
she is hot!!!
24 Ali Kaifee // Dec 30, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Benazir Bhutto…Assasinated….the whole country in grief…a perpetrator? a martyr? Hundreds disagree with her, disregard her, say her family took Pakistan down the black hole….Yet thousands are shedding tears, chanting slogans “Jiye Bhutto”… A woman, who only saw bloodshed through out her life, a woman striving for democracy being trained by herself into politics after her fathers “assasination” by a general, her brother’s assasination by “the enemies of the state” within the state and now when she was mature enough to lead the country after a good 20 years of experience, (to which most would say, chewing on Pakistan and gaining monetarily for her own gains) now when she was ready to lead, to bring Pakistan back to democracy, she has been laid to rest by some elements that didnt want a free Pakistan.
Suggest one name to lead this country…People shed tears, had a feeling for BB, saw a leader reemerge once again…and for the first time, felt a commitment … I dont see a leader anywhere better than she couldve been at this point, atleast for a “Smooth transition of to democracy” to Pakistan at one stage.
Im not an activist or a party member of any political party…
25 farah // Jan 8, 2008 at 5:05 pm
She is not only hot and also v sexy…..i like toooo much..
26 ansar // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:11 am
I wonder how could Banzir her son or anyone , for that matter, who is unable to understand the pathos in Jalib’s and poor old Faiz’s work can claim to be a voice for voiceless Pakistanis.
27 ansar // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:18 am
and i appreciate Fatima Bhutto’s efforts for the earthquake victims in Kashmir, but I wonder what her views might be on this Kashmir ordeal.
28 Murtaza // Jan 14, 2008 at 2:34 am
I would like to say only one thing……………….. FATIMA BHUTTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U ROCK GRL!!!!!!!!!! AND UR VERY VERY VERY SEXY
29 Dirty Harry aka John // Jan 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Zahra
Shut eet.
Big words for little girls
30 jasmine // Feb 14, 2008 at 10:22 pm
what’s happening here….
Jasmine Rafique
http://pkFocus.blogspot.com
http://BollywoodScandal.blogspot.com
http://HackStart.blogspot.com
31 Media Maven // May 5, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Why do you people only look towards Bhuttos and Chaudhries :S
Social Media Mavens
http:\\socialmediamavens.wordpress.com
32 pash uk // May 29, 2008 at 4:39 am
sallam hi fatima i do not believe your a politician or trying to obtain votes, but i believe you have the main ingredients of becoming a good politician like me. I find true sincerety in your words and the way you express yourself. I think you could become a true brave daughter of pakistan if you could respond to this message my keep upyour good work. Stay strong,stay safe and stay solid “from passionate pash”
33 leo // May 29, 2008 at 9:11 am
fatima is our choice
she will be our shining star if she starts now
she will be prime minister of pakistan with in 5 years
fatima bb plz listen to ppls voice
34 budardeen ahmed // May 30, 2008 at 5:59 am
“from passionate pash” what is this why leave messages like this
but i think your very right but dont go towards the left
35 ansar // Jun 11, 2008 at 4:46 am
it’s been a while but she is still hot…..however, accountable democracy in Pakistan remains an unattainable fantasy….
36 gulzar kaka // Jul 8, 2008 at 11:34 pm
fatima ur r the best writer i will pray for u to get success in the life because ur my ideal
37 Ahsan // Oct 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Fatima Bhutto you are very good
38 rita // Oct 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
really.how would u know ahsan.u meet with her.
39 INAYAT // Nov 27, 2008 at 8:36 pm
fatima is our choice
she will be our shining star if she starts now
she will be prime minister of pakistan with in 5 years
INSHALLAH
fatima bb plz listen to ppls voice
40 rita // Nov 27, 2008 at 8:55 pm
inayat assif phele kursi sorega ……………………………….per bolna who is next………..bilawal/fatima.
41 leo // Nov 28, 2008 at 12:20 am
ALLAH HUM SABKO HER EXAMS MAI KAMYAB KARAI
AMEEN
42 INAYAT // Nov 30, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I appreciate Ms.Fatima Bhutto’s
for her courage, struggle
she is a brave girl
Fatima bb I want to join your party
43 rita // Nov 30, 2008 at 9:22 pm
bilawal is also good man.struggle
o uski khun mai hai……….
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