Days of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto revisited

Head of PPP Media Cell
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) demonstrated its typical popular appeal in a mammoth rally at Lyari (Karachi) during the last week of April which was addressed by Asif Ali Zardari, Co- Chairman of the Party. Jiala’s lively presence in large number carrying party flags and chanting well known slogans in Lahore on 1st of May, known as International Labor Day, was a pleasant surprise of joyous proportion. Such enthusiastic rallies, both in form and substance, have become almost relic of the past. The environment at the Lahore station and throughout the route was indeed heart-warming for the leadership present there as their faces were glowing with the re-visited delight. PPP workers, office bearers, members of trade unions, farmers and poor segments of the society thronged to Lahore Railway station for the rally led by President PPP Punjab Central, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo. It was reflecting the hard work and renewed vigour of the organisers and the party leadership that yielded pleasing results.
It is being described by the independent observers as the biggest rally of PPP representing workers, peasants and the daily wage earners. It was indeed a befitting reminder of the times of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto when big processions like this of the have-nots were the sole distinction of the PPP. The PPP has proved itself as the sole party of the down trodden and its commitment to them remains unwavering. It has staged come back even in the face of extreme odds. The ideological basis of the party as a democratic, liberal and progressive party is enough guarantee of its co-relationship with the political landscape of the country. Dictators of the worst kind like Ziaul Haq could not finish the party. It came to power through elections after dictator’s withering away in an air crash. PPP is a political force of the country to be reckoned with. It will remain so for all times to come because ultimate sacrifices rendered by its leaders and workers will continue to nurture it eternally to withstand the whirlwind generated by the foes and the improvised friends.
Co- Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, while addressing the PPP grand meeting in Karachi, announced the development package for the residents of Lyari. But at the same time his focus was the national interest. He declared in no uncertain terms that Chinese investment in the country will not be allowed to become controversial. His whole-hearted support for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) entailing more than forty billion dollars of investment dissipated the fears of the people in the country who were keen to seize the opportunity that was going to be a “game changer”. Our immediate neighbor is feeling uncomfortable and may unleash its instruments of power with the connivance of other potential affected parties to manipulate the slipping away of the opportunity. Pakistan has to be on vigil to capitalise on this opportunity because its seizure and culmination will effectively put Pakistan on the economic radar screen of the international economy. Its implementation will measure up to the cashing up of the geographical location of Pakistan that has been on the slippery slope to become liability than an invaluable asset. Fortunately, most of the political leadership of the country is on the same page. They will convince others to extend their support because stakes are very high.
Asif Ali Zardari’s other inspirational assertion in his address was his expression of solidarity with the people of Kashmir urging India stop fiddling with ‘my Kashmiris’ adding if Indian Muslims decided to take the fate of them in their own hands it will lead to the predictable consequences. PPP, through the annals of it history, has been great supporter of the Kashmiri people. In fact, it was the immediate cause of the emergence of the Pakistan People’s Party on the political horizon of the country. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people begs all descriptions when he said “ marsson marsoon Kashmir na dasson.” Shaheed Benzir Bhutto declared while addressing a rally in AJK, ‘slogans of Azadi are louder than the bomb blasts.’ Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s unparallel advocacy to the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people at the international level was undoubtedly outstanding.
Reverting to the topical (CPEC), fully realizing the importance of the Chinese massive investment in Pakistan, Co- Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, as a leader of national thinking, immediately came forward to tone down the dissidents voices those were airing their conflicting views regarding the Economic Corridor between China and Pakistan. The government was saying that there was no change in the route but some nationalist politicians were insisting that the new route will deprive the provinces from the due benefits accruing from the completion of the Corridor. They alleged the alteration of the route to benefit the Punjab, the political base of the ruling party. Smelling negative outfall against the historic opportunity, co- chairman immediately took the imitative and called the meeting of all the parties to do the spade work for building consensus. He firmly believed that economic development would remain a distant reality without political support of the political parties of all spectrums to the national economic projects like Economic Corridor. The meeting of the all parties was the step in the right direction at the right time because it echoed the importance of addressing the reservations of all the political parties on the Economic Corridor and the government was urged to take up the matter urgently with matching seriousness. Prime minister has assured the political leadership that their complaints would be given due weightage measuring up to their satisfaction.
The prime minister is reportedly meeting the parliamentary leaders on May 15 to take them into confidence. There is no doubt that when the political leadership will get together it will evolve requisite consensus because they know the art of possible. Democratic dispensation provides the enabling environment for meaningful consultations. Unilateralism, inexorably preceded by bellicose approach, is the abhorrent characteristics of dictatorship that negates collective wisdom and erroneously believes in its unblemished wisdom regardless of the gloomy consequences that invariably follow.
Co-chairman is also deeply committed not to let the anti-people forces rock the boat of democracy. His acceptance of the results of 2013 elections despite reservations speaks volumes of his level of commitment to democracy and its continuity. It is futuristic and indeed national politics by any criterion because democracy and the bright future of the nation are intertwined. Pakistan will steer through the testing times facing now if democracy survives and thrives in the country. Pakistan’s federation cannot withstand the ramifications of any other system in the face of the prodigious political and economic mess created by successive dictatorships. His opposition to the sit-in politics also sprouted from the same commitment to democracy, and as such he put his whole political weight behind the system and succeeded in saving the democracy. The history will acknowledge his role as the saviour of democracy that was under immense pressure generated by the religious zealots, non-state actors and the impatient political forces. But, following the Charter of Democracy (CoD) in letter and spirit, he stood his ground along with the political system and those who were determined to obliterate it had to eat a humble pie at the end of the day. His support for the system played a decisive role to ensure continuity of the democratic system.
Independent observes are unanimous in their views of ill-fate of democracy if PPP had joined the disruptive political forces. The CoD’s principles of respecting the mandate and the policy of reconciliation and tolerance, bequeathed by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, were the motivating forces to follow the course of action to save democracy because ‘it is the best revenge.’ He never pushes the political opponents against the wall and thus has emerged as a leader who can go around across political divide with ease to build unanimity on important subjects of national importance. Ideological differences were put in the periphery by him to stop the advancement of those who were doing the bidding of others. It was in pursuit of his same commitment that he had been urging PTI to return to the Parliament because it was an effective forum to address their complaints. His party welcomed their return to the Parliament because it led to strengthen the Parliament — mother of all institutions and repository of the aspirations of the people. The PML-N stalwarts’ conduct was analogous to petty party politics. They should have manifested the win win situation syndrome instead.
He also announced in the rally that the PPP would commence election campaign to get ready for the elections those are going to be held after two and half years. His politics is full of surprises devoted to energize the political system. He has given the clear signal that he would favour this government to complete its constitutional tenure and would resist any attempt in the future of those who may resort to old tactics of intimidation and coercion in the country’s politics. He did not care of allegations of friendly opposition or merger of PPP with PML-N when the question of democracy and its future is at stake. He is very clear in his mind.
Democracy and its continuity is the only way forward for a prosperous, stronger and democratic Pakistan. Coming true of his vision of Pakistan will be in complete harmony with the visions of the founder of the nation and the founder of the PPP. ‘A country at ease with itself and the world out there.’
muhammadshaheedi@yahoo.com