The Sindh Moorat March, which was held at Karachi’s Frere Hall on Sunday as part of a global march being observed by transpersons, was attended by politicians, lawyers and human rights activists, including artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, who won hearts for telling people not to cheer for his family.
The event saw hundreds of people carrying placards and chanting slogans calling for the rights of the transgender community. Shehzadi Rai, a protest march organiser, told Dawn.com that the main aim of the march was the implementation of the trans rights law. “This year, we have adopted the slogan of ‘Zan, Zindagi and Azad’ (woman, life and free) to show solidarity with women in Iran,” she added.
There were also several speeches on stage. When someone began chanting “Jeay Bhutto”, Zulfikar made his way to the front of the stage and countered, “Jeay Bhutto choro, jeay awaam, sada jeay awaam, jeay khwajasira, jeay aurat [forget ‘long live Bhutto’, long live the people, long live the transgender community and love live women].”
Zulfikar, the only son of the late Murtaza Bhutto and the only grandson of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who carries the Bhutto name, said that Sindh belongs to the people. “Sindh is yours. It does belong to my family, it belongs to you,” he told the crowd. “You’re the heirs of Sindh, khwajasira are the heirs of Sindh. I’m the only heir of my grandfather but you all are the heirs of Sindh,” he said.
One Twitter user called him “a genuine human being” and a “pure soul”.
Another admired his resolve and how he encouraged people to “realise their worth.”
Respect and love was also sent his way.
This user was glad to find that Zulfikar “doesn’t consider himself to be a ruler”.
He found some fans online.
He also won some hearts.
For some, Zulfikar gives off “positive and genuine vibes”.
Zulfikar has never really shown an interest in politics. This year, he and his sister, author Fatima Bhutto, set up multi-event series called The Indus Relief 2022 with Menaal Munshey to raise funds for flood affectees in Sindh. It auctioned experiences to raise money for flood victims in Pakistan.
Among the many experiences auctioned was a private screening of Jemima Khan’s new film What’s Love Got To Do With It and an hour in the studio with British musician and producer Nitin Sawhney.
Photographs of Zulfikar walking in floodwater in Sindh went viral online in August and was instantly compared to the way mainstream politicians were handling the floods and meeting flood victims.