An excerpt from Syeda Hameed's biography of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
For all his bluster, Zia-ul-Haq was afraid of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In 1977, Lahore was abuzz with the syllogism 'Ek qabr do aadmi hain. Kaun jayega andar?' (There's one grave two bodies; which one will go inside?) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) or Zia-ul-Haq. They were to each other Master and his Minion before the Minion became Master.
Mubashir Hasan recounted anecdotes about their interpersonal relations. At the Murree meeting, ZAB had called Ziaul Haq a "dog". In Multan, Zia ran to bring a chair for him, ZAB was pleased. Then he turned around and asked Rao Rashid, "How did we select Zia-ul-Haq?" He replied that a team had come from USA. From the military list, they discarded Zia with the remark, "Useless fellow." That is why ZAB chose him, as in the story where the Prince was instructed to choose his new wazirs after slashing the capable ones. Mubashir Hasan said that Zia used to claim, "I am from St Stephens College." He never was. His father was a mulla, an imam in the army. ZAB made Zia-ul-Haq Chair of a tribunal which would ultimately try cases of conspiracy against his own government. Mubashir Hasan recalled Zia-ul-Haq speaking about the 23 June 1977 meeting of ZAB with Core Commanders. "At its conclusion, I told Bhutto Sahib, 'If you don't settle with the opposition parties we will have to step in.' When the army went to arrest him, he called me and said, 'Zia is that you?' I said, 'Yes Sir.' Then he said, 'Zia, together we will make government.' I exclaimed, 'Sir what are you saying?'"
"The moment he spoke these words, I knew he (Zia-ul-Haq) had lied. My Bhutto could not have said that," said Hasan.
For all his bluster, Zia-ul-Haq was afraid of ZAB. One PPP worker said to Mubashir Hasan. "Zia-ul- Haq ne Bhutto Sahib ke jootey saaf kiye hain. A few drops of tea had fallen on his shoe. Zia took out his handkerchief, bent down and carefully dabbed the shoe." Mubashir Hasan said, "I don't believe it." But the worker insisted, "I saw it with my own eyes."
Mubashir Hasan asked, "What did Sahib do?" "He placed his foot on a chair, as if telling Zia to do a good job." Mubashir Hasan relented, "Now I believe you; that was my Bhutto!" There is not a day when ZAB is not remembered in Pakistan today. While one by one all leaders are forgotten, Bhutto is recalled in all forums. Why? The day after the hanging, Peter Niesewand, Asia Correspondent for the Guardian, originally from Rhodesia, wrote what could be one answer to this conundrum. "Millions of Pakistanis mourn the fate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Widely revered by the mass of ordinary people, Bhutto was, to them, a world statesman who gave Pakistan confidence and respectability, a man who ensured, when he spoke, other statesmen listened. He was a politician who broke away from the gentlemanly cabals of wealthy landowners and bureaucrats who had previously ruled Pakistan between military dictatorships. Bhutto brought power to the people, campaigning in a western style. He promised food, clothing and shelter. He exchanged his Savile Row suits and silk handkerchiefs for baggy trousers and long Pakistani shirts, and he went electioneering in the bazaars and in remote areas previously shunned by his rivals. The people loved him."