Islamabad, April 4: Followers of Pakistan's first elected Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto today mourned his execution 21 years ago, while ousted premier Nawaz Sharif awaited a verdict on charges that could bring him a death sentence.Thousands gathered at Bhutto's graveside at his native Garhikhuda Bakhsh village in the southern province of Sindh to pray for his soul, and to agitate for a return of democratic rule, which was suspended when the army ousted Sharif on October 12.They met as Sharif waited in a Karachi jail for Thursday's verdict on charges he attempted to murder the man who overthrew him in a coup, General Pervez Musharraf, chief executive of the military-led government.The coincidence of the two events underlined Pakistan's turbulent political past in which the army has ruled for more than half of its independent history and no elected government has successfully completed its term.``The obvious differences in their charisma and calibre aside, the tale of both Bhutto and Sharif when they were flying high has striking similarities which sum up the moral of the last 30 years. Story of National politics,'' commented an editorial in the news.``Powerful leaders squander unique opportunities to put the country on the road to real progress and durable democracy.''The message seemed aimed as much at Gen Musharraf as two of his elected predecessors, who are accused by historians of amassing power to protect themselves against being ousted rather than using it to better the plight of 130 million Pakistanis.Gen Musharraf says his coup represents Pakistan's ``last chance'' to build an uncorrupted democratic society, but says democracy will only be restored when he has revived the economy and rebuilt political institutions damaged by the abuse of power.Gen Musharraf has promised to hold local elections by the middle of next year while the economy is repaired and the corrupt purged, but has given no clue as to when Parliament and democratic rule will be returned and the army sent back to barracks.Sharif sacked Musharraf on October 12 but the then army chief returned from a visit to Sri Lanka and took over. He accused Sharif of refusing to let his plane land, allegations reflected in charges of hijacking and attempted murder which the deposed Prime Minister now faces.Mourning meetings were being held across the country to mark the hanging of Bhutto, who was toppled by an army coup in July 1977 and hanged on April 4, 1979 after a disputed conviction on a charge of conspiring the murder of a political opponent.Bhutto's execution, ordered by then military ruler General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, defied world calls for clemency and plunged Pakistan into a long period of intense political polarisation.Many politicians - including US President Bill Clinton - have warned Musharraf against repeating the same course. The chief executive has said only that he ``is not a vindictive man''.The toppling of Bhutto after five and a half years as Pakistan's first elected Prime Minister was followed by 11 years of rule by Gen Zia, who was himself killed in an unexplained plane crash on August 17, 1988.After Gen Zia's death, Bhutto's daughter, Benazir Bhutto, won elections to become the first elected woman leader of an Islamic country, only to see her two prime ministerial terms cut short by ousters on disputed charges of corruption. Each time she was replaced by Sharif, a former Zia protege.Gen Musharraf has said he has no political ambitions but has rejected international calls to give a timetable for a return to democratic rule until he has carried out a promised programme for economic revival and political and administrative reforms.
