Polls sans realistic reforms make no sense: Chaudhry Shujaat

There is no use of holding general elections without bringing about reasonable and realistic reforms in the electoral system and in the functioning and organisation of the Election Commission on the pattern of successful electoral systems of the democratic world. However, things are moving in such a direction that there is little likelihood of the next general elections being held in 2018. In such a case, a national government can be formed at the appropriate time after “an injection is administered”.

These views were expressed by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief and former prime minister, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, while talking to The News.

Ch Shujaat was asked a number of questions about his efforts for unification of the Muslim Leagues, about the agenda and programmes of different parties and leaders and about the emerging scenario, following the disqualification of Mian Nawaz Sharif and the next general elections that are not very far away. 

Answering a question about unification of Muslim Leagues, he said there were 19 Leagues at present in the country and with the registration of Milli Muslim League, the total number comes to 20. “Our campaign is, in fact, ‘Find the Leaguers’ drive because there are millions of Muslim Leaguers in the country, some of whom are even present in parties opposed to the Muslim League. And they are present in every segment of society including business and trade and other sections. It is like a fresh countrywide enrolment set in a new, different direction. We have met a number of Muslim Leaguers who have expressed passionate support for our unification and ‘Find the Leaguers’ campaign. The PML-Q head gave an account of his latest meeting with former chief minister Sindh Ghous Ali Shah, Pir of Pagaro and Masood Khuhro, brother of PPP minister Nisar Khuhro. While the latter one abruptly joined the PML-Q, others lent complete support as a four-member committee has been formed with the participation of Ch Pervaiz Elahi, Tariq Bashir Cheema and Pir of Pagaro’s nominees for Muslim Leagues’ revival-cum-unification mission, which is headed by Syed Ghous Ali Shah, thus virtually bringing Mr Shah in the PML-Q fold at a higher pedestal.

When asked what were Ghous Ali Shah’s views after meeting PML-N leadership and then PML-Q top leaders immediately thereafter, Ch Shujaat informed The News that he (Ghous) still holds bitter memories when he was abandoned by Mian Nawaz Sharif in the midst of confinement. “Ghous Ali Shah raised a question whether Nawaz Sharif didn’t have one seat left for him (Shah) in his Saudi-bound plane that took the former premier abroad, following his pardon deal”.

Please let the readers know some details of this pardon deal, Ch Shujaat was asked. The Chaudhry said, “Things are by now quite well known. However, a very senior legal expert told me that he asked the Sharif family people on seeing the draft of the deal whether they had yet to sign it. The reply came that signatures had already been affixed on it. The legal expert told me further that he said to the Sharif family people that they have signed their own death warrants”.

And how will the national government scheme take any real shape, if at all it happens that way in the days to come? Ch Shujaat replied: “When the time comes, ‘Teeka’ (injection) will be administered.”

“In the past, we have been hearing of nexus at some levels of state apparatus. Do they exist even now or have the things changed altogether?” The reply was: “Some kind of (informal) understanding cannot be ruled out among certain echelons”.

Remembering his prime ministerial tenure, which was quite short, the Chaudhry said: “I made some good decisions during my incumbency. One of the decisions was up-gradation of nurses’ cadre which was meant at raising their social status; then I passed order for free transportation of bodies from abroad, which relieved the people of burden of heavy expenses.

“The most important decision was that I refused to send troops to Iraq, which was also given a lot of weightage in Saudi Arabia during my visit when HE King Abdullah was holding the fort. “Against the usual protocol, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia held my hand and came out to bid me farewell although normally they say goodbye to the guests remaining within their offices’ premises”.

When questioned about Mian Nawaz Sharif’s tirade against institutions, the Chaudhry said, “Furthering his personal vendetta/venom, Nawaz Sharif is maligning the institution of judiciary right from top to bottom.

“Why doesn’t he understand that while condemning some senior most office-holders, he is tarnishing the image of the very institution of judiciary at all its tiers, from lower to superior judiciary, thus creating widespread mistrust among the masses for the institution.” In the end, Ch Shujaat made a jovial remark when he was compared with other politicians and said, “Some of the politicians were just born when I was already active in politics”.