Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the fourth President and ninth Prime Minister of Pakistan, a highly influential and controversial figure in the country's politics as the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Although he gained widespread popularity in West Pakistan through his sharp oratory and philosophy of 'Islamic Socialism,' his role during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh was extremely negative. By refusing to accept the absolute majority of the Awami League in the 1970 elections, he conspired with General Yahya Khan to pave the way for military operations against Bengalis, which ultimately led to the breakup of Pakistan and the emergence of independent Bangladesh. Later, he laid the foundation for Pakistan's nuclear program and enacted the 1973 Constitution, but was eventually ousted in a military coup and sentenced to death by hanging in 1979 following a controversial trial during the regime of General Zia-ul-Haq.
