Begum Nusrat Bhutto, the former first lady who held the distinction of being the Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Minster, Member National Assembly and was appointed PPP Chairman for life after the execution of her husband Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto by a military ruler seems to have been forgotten by the present PPP Government with no mention of her made by it’s leaders in the opening session of the newly elected National Assembly.

Her position from life long Chairman of the People’s Party has been changed to “Rehbar Chairperson” with the position of Chairman and the Co-Chairman going to Bilawal Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari respectively (www.ppp.org.pk/party/cec.html).
The former first lady now resides in Dubai and is suffering from the combined effects of a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. In our troubled history she is the only women who has suffered the most and is the most unfortunate person who lost her husband, two sons and a daughter all dying un-natural death. A tribute to her by the new PPP Government should have been the right thing to do to honour this lady who continues to suffer the agonies of being left all alone.
—Islamabad

Pakistan Observer (24th of April, 2008)
Dr. Irfan Zafar
irfanzafar@msn.com