Owaisi Reminds Bilawal of Pakistan’s Past, Urges Accountability Over Benazir’s Assassination

Owaisi Reminds Bilawal of Pakistan’s Past, Urges Accountability Over Benazir’s Assassination
Jitendra Kumar
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In a striking and emotionally charged response, Indian MP Asaduddin Owaisi took aim at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after his provocative remarks regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. Rather than simply condemning the rhetoric, Owaisi redirected attention to a painful chapter in Pakistan’s own history: the assassination of Bilawal’s mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, by extremist elements from within Pakistan.

Context: Bilawal’s ‘Blood for Water’ Remark

While addressing supporters in Sukkur, Sindh, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lashed out at India’s recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty process—a diplomatic agreement that has ensured water sharing between the two countries since 1960.

Standing before the Indus River, Bhutto declared with fiery passion: “The Indus belongs to us—it was ours, it is ours, and it will remain ours. If someone tries to steal our water, their blood will flow.”

His words quickly went viral in South Asia, sparking a wave of responses. Though aimed at India’s policies, Bhutto’s language crossed a line for many, invoking violent imagery during a time of already heightened tensions following a deadly terror attack in Kashmir.

Owaisi’s Sharp Counter: “Look Within First”

Asaduddin Owaisi, known for his unapologetically direct style, offered a rebuttal during a political rally in Maharashtra. Addressing Bhutto’s comments head-on, Owaisi urged the Pakistani leader to recall his country’s internal struggle with terrorism, particularly the murder of his own mother.

“Your mother—Benazir Bhutto—wasn’t killed by any Indian hand,” Owaisi stated. “She was killed by terrorists you refused to confront. Before you speak of rivers and blood, speak of the blood already spilled inside your own borders, by your own people.”

The remark drew applause from the crowd and was quickly picked up by Indian news outlets and social media. Many saw it not as an attack on Pakistan, but as a sobering reminder of the real enemy both countries continue to face: violent extremism.

Benazir Bhutto: A Victim of the System She Tried to Reform

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, just weeks before Pakistan’s general elections. She was leaving a campaign rally in Rawalpindi when a gunman opened fire and a suicide bomber detonated nearby. The blast killed Bhutto and at least 20 others.

Initial suspicion fell on the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), and over time, evidence mounted pointing to extremist elements within Pakistan. However, to this day, no one has been held fully accountable, and the investigation has remained incomplete and mired in controversy.

The United Nations, which launched a fact-finding mission into the killing, concluded in 2010 that Pakistani authorities failed to protect Bhutto and that intelligence agencies “hampered the investigation.” That conclusion only reinforced the belief that powerful forces within the state were either negligent or complicit.

The Importance of Historical Honesty

By bringing up Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Owaisi aimed not to exploit a personal tragedy but to highlight the hypocrisy in Bilawal’s political posturing. For decades, Pakistan has struggled with the consequences of tolerating militant groups for geopolitical leverage—particularly in Afghanistan and Kashmir.

This policy has repeatedly backfired, as homegrown terrorism has targeted the very institutions and leaders meant to uphold Pakistan’s democracy. The death of Benazir Bhutto is just one of many such examples.

“Pakistan must recognize that the enemies of peace are not always outside its borders,” Owaisi said. “Sometimes, they grow in its own soil, in its madrassas, in its shadow agencies, and in the silence of its politicians.”

Political Rhetoric vs. Real Threats

Bilawal’s speech, widely seen as an attempt to stir nationalist sentiment, reflects a growing trend among South Asian politicians to weaponize water, history, and identity for political gain. However, such inflammatory rhetoric comes at a cost—potentially undermining peace and diplomatic negotiations that have been painstakingly built over decades.

Owaisi warned against “reckless words that ignite flames,” urging leaders in both countries to prioritize dialogue over threats. “This region has already bled enough,” he said. “We don’t need more martyrs. We need more bridges—real and diplomatic.”

His words resonated with civil society members across the region, many of whom are increasingly concerned about the erosion of democratic discourse in both India and Pakistan.

Reactions and Repercussions

While Bhutto did not publicly respond to Owaisi’s statement, members of the PPP dismissed the comments as “irrelevant” and “politically motivated.” However, the Indian public and media interpreted the remarks as a much-needed intervention in a debate that had veered into dangerous territory.

A prominent South Asian affairs commentator wrote in an editorial, “Owaisi may have delivered a political blow, but more importantly, he delivered a reminder of how much both nations have lost to terrorism. His words shouldn’t be dismissed—they should be reflected upon.”

The Broader Message: Lessons From Loss

The symbolism of Owaisi invoking Benazir Bhutto’s name goes beyond political rivalry. It touches on the deep pain that terrorism has caused in South Asia—across national, ethnic, and religious boundaries.

India, too, has lost countless civilians and leaders to terror. From the 2001 Indian Parliament attack to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the trauma of terrorism is a shared one. Owaisi’s appeal, therefore, was not just to Pakistan, but to all leaders in the subcontinent to remember the lives lost—not just as statistics or tools for propaganda, but as human beings whose deaths must not be in vain.

Conclusion: Choose Accountability Over Aggression

Asaduddin Owaisi’s response to Bilawal Bhutto serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership lies not in stoking fires but in extinguishing them. His reference to the tragic loss of Benazir Bhutto wasn’t just a rebuttal—it was a plea for accountability, reflection, and maturity.

The Indus Waters Treaty, a symbol of cooperation even during wartime, must not be reduced to a weapon of political intimidation. Instead, it should inspire both nations to resolve their disputes through legal frameworks and sustained dialogue.

For Bilawal Bhutto, the legacy of his mother remains a source of strength and caution. And for Owaisi, using that legacy to call for peace—not just across borders but within them—marks a moment of rare political courage.

Journalist Details

Jitendra Kumar
Jitendra Kumar is an Indian journalist and social activist from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is known as the senior journalist and founder of Xpert Times Network Private Limited.