Secular opportunism
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The fact is that from a secular dispensation to pragmatism, the PPP is a regressive party
After hearing of the announcement of celebrating “Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool” [Love for the Prophet Day] by our “secular” Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), one is reminded of the father-in-law of Mr. Zardari, the late Mr. Bhutto.
Z. A. Bhutto had gone to an extent which Jamaat-e-Islami and other Mullahs could only have fantasized. To perpetuate his rule and diffuse the tense situation obtaining then, he resorted to political opportunism, an initiative which later backfired; the Pakistan state and the nation was rendered hostage to persistent religious extremism and blackmailing for all times to come.
The present PPP leadership which is privileged to be the most seasoned one in political wheeling and dealing had two main objectives in mind while declaring September 21st as “Love for the Prophet Day”: To achieve better results in elections which are nearing and cashing in on peoples’ religious sentiments, in view of the “blasphemous” film.
Second, through official participation in agitation, the tense situation could be diffused. However, many with a little common sense could smell the impending dangers in the move; PPP would not only be badly defeated in achieving its objectives, it would also embolden mullahs and jehadi outfits. Pakistan’s economy and society would further suffer and drive the common man closer to religious extremism. It would also further damage Pakistan’s image at the international level.
Hence whatever happened on that day substantiated these apprehensions.
The fact is that from a secular dispensation to pragmatism, the PPP is a regressive party. Although not a rightist or a religious entity, it is incapable of playing a role in educating the common man in the secular perspective at any level viz; official, legal and social. As regards political expediencies and opportunism, it is far ahead of religious parties, let alone fighting extremism. However, history bears witness to the fact that the PPP gained nothing out of this policy and even on 21st September 2012, slogans were raised against Zardari.
Despite gaining nothing out of this deal, the PPP leadership keeps on serving the extremist elements and considers them to be helpful in remaining in the corridors of power. And no matter how much “religious” the leaders portray themselves; the religious right would never accept them nor give them any credit for anything. The rightist parties may never win a sizable majority in the parliament, however all what they have in their manifestos would be accomplished by the feudal PPP leadership. These acts further drive the nation into the abyss of obscurantism from where no turning back is possible.
As a consequence, every year, henceforth voices would be raised to commemorate “Love for the Prophet Day” and none could have the nerve to refuse. The PPP, earlier on, has performed miracles in transforming this state into a theocratic entity, while this time around they neither could foresee the implications nor forestalled the spate of violence which erupted through the length and breadth of the country. Undoubtedly, even today there are secular/liberal elements present in the PPP, yet the leadership could go to any extent in pursuit of its short-term goals. Remember, the Taliban menace was enacted by Mr. Z. A Bhutto when he called Hikmatyar from Kabul and assigned him certain “tasks”, while finally his daughter was instrumental in the establishment of Mullah Umer’s authority in the Islamic state of Afghanistan.
Governor Salman Taseer and Minister Shahbaz Bhatti were murdered nowhere else but in Islamabad and nobody knows what is in store for their murderers. Benazir’s murder case is dragging for the last five years as if she was a forlorn lady. The case of Rimsha Masih unfolded in Islamabad where all law enforcement agencies fall under the direct control of Zardari’s buddy Rahman Malik. However, without any investigation the police registered an FIR against the poor girl.
The minority community has been attacked in Islamabad and madaris are fast mushrooming in the capital city where none of the students belongs here. Now when PPP is incapable of establishing the writ of the state within Islamabad, how can we expect her to extend it to the rest of the country? It frequently retracts or renders itself a hostage to the extremists, at the same time dumping all secular/liberal elements in the country.
The other day, the leader of the largest secular cum liberal dispensation in the country MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain stated that even a catastrophe can be endured ,but insult to the prophet………never.
Another leader of the third largest secular party Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Bilour went a step ahead and revived the memory of Imam Khomeni by declaring a hundred thousand dollar head money for the maker of the “blasphemous” film. He even stated that if the “blasphemer” is brought to him, he himself would commit his murder; all this coming from the mouth of a person who is murdering Pakistan Railways for the past several years.
The general mental condition of the people of Pakistan has now turned significantly religious. If we want them to think and act rationally we have to take corrective measures. The people should be informed that behaving violently is no solution as such incidents do not take place at the state level and are not a result of any planned conspiracy. These are individual acts and people indulging in such acts can be part of any society. By and large the West has a very tolerant culture where nobody is even interested in others’ religious beliefs. If some miscreants penetrate our ranks we cannot label the entire society as anti-social. Similarly we cannot blame the entire Western world for the “folly” of a few.
In our society, whenever religious issues are raised, everyone surrenders to the populist attitudes and avoids looking at things with an independent mind. Political expediencies and opportunism have contributed in pushing us to the edge. While the Mullah has taken us so close to self-immolation, the generals have infused militancy.
Let us see what is in store for us in the coming days.
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Arshad Mahmood is a columnist,freelance writer and a social activist. |
Comments
I have yet to read a comment so aptly written over the role of once popular party in embracing Pakistan to religious radicalism that is now sweeping across Pakistan taking that society back to medieval ages.
The leaders such as Bilor and Zardari and Altaf have no shame in throwing up hypocritical nuances that least believe in. Religion has become a handy tool to exploit the ignorant, taboo ridden and hapless people of Pakistan. Mr. Arshad is right in enunciating that they are paving way for the religious ascendency in this country and thus leave the people at the mercy of those heartless murderers who would kill the people for even minor mishaps at the drop of the hat. We have seen that gory things happening in Afghanistan and their replay would be enacted in Pakistan which the founder described as secular and not to be a theocracy.
Saeed Qureshi
The Bhutto's PPP was all about power and look at what he did to his political opponents as well as his personal rivals in Sindh. JA Rahim disagreed with him and the poor former civil servant was treated like the Bhuttos still treat Hari or kissan in Larkana. That is just one example. There are many unknowns that were the victims of Bhutto's feudal rage.
After Benazir took over, it was the other side of the PPP, the meek side of Zamindar who begs village thanedar for favors. Begging the US admins got Benazir in power. Benazir only got power first time because Pres. Reagan wrote a strong letter to President Ishaq. She signed on dotted lines to become the PM. Still within 18 months she was kicked out. Still she would not give up the politics of meekness and begging.
She even got killed after signing on dotted lines with Pres. Musharaf just to become the PM again.
The current PPP is five notches below Benazir's politics. At least she was educated and knew how to remain dignified in public despite humiliating treatment from the establishment.
What we are dealing here with an utterly unprincipled, unlettered and do anything for power political party. Which would try never to give up power no matter how big the humiliation is or how seriously it has failed the people. Its alliance with gangsters in Sindh shows how feudal deal with dacoits in their respective areas and gets their cut from the dacoits.
Now the current President of Pakistan, Mr. Zardari and Co-Chair of PPP is lecturing the rest of the world especially Western democracies ' to curb the freedom of speech'
in order to prevent future such violence.
Does Mr. Zardari who himself stole his position based on some 'note' written by his late wife, is able to persuade foreign democratic countries such as the US to amend their consitution based on his empty speeches?
As far as the image of Pakistan is concerned, the ruling elite composed of Pakistani military generals, ignorant and self proclaimed imams and the various political parties, have already succeeded in destroying it completely.
Based on the ongoing coverage of daily events in the foreign mass media and especially that of Europe and North America,
there is little goodwill if any, left for Pakistan and its people. It is extremely dangerous and also unfortunate.
Just imagine the nature of major economic and social damages to the Pakistani society if and when:
1. There is even 10% decrease in all
Pakistani exports to the outside world
if more and more people refuse to buy
items such astowels and shirts mad in
Pakistan?
2. As a result of tighter visa restrictions,
Pakistani nationals get lesser and lesser
opportunities to enter foreign colleges
and universities for higher studies?
3. Pakistni passport holders are unable to
migrate to the US, Canada, Australia and
other Western countries?
4. Pakistani citizens get lesser chances to
go on business visits, as tourists or just
to visit their relatives now settled
abroad?
5. Because of uncontrolled violence and
ongoing dangers to the safety and security
of foreigners, businness men and women,
seniro academics, diplomats etc. outside
experts, professors,teac hers and technical
experts etc. stop coming to Pakistan?
Some Pakistanis may feel very proud for having shown " ISHQ-E-RASOOL " in an unlawful and violent manner for just one day.
However, the resultant consequences may cause tremendous harm and permanent damage to the entire nation for a long,long time to come.
As some Urdu poet has already said:
IBTDAIYE ISHQ HAEY ROTA HAEY KIA:
AAGEY AAGEY DAKHIEY HOTA HAEY KIA;
( It is just the beginning of love. Just wait
waht is coming next).
Obviously,membe rs of Pakistani elite do not worry about such consequences.
The well-known fact is that all Pakistani top figures suh as Mr. Zardari. Mr. Imran Khan and Mian Nwaz Sharif and their respective families have lived or are still residing abroad.
Obviously, these families also have large bank accounts, real estate and other assets abroad.
Consequently, when in trouble, they all will follow General Musharraf's example and move out quietly to live comfortably in London, Paris, New York or Los Angeles etc.
The rest of Pakistanis - more than 180 millions of them- will be left behind to find ways to survive as they have done since the birth of Pakistan as an 'independent' nation.
Mr. Bhutto was a great intellect and might be a precious asset for the poor nation if he honoured his pledges made with his nation during his election campaign. After wielding power, he began to play a big game on the chess of world politics. He began to live in fools’ paradise. He was like Shelley a restless soul,’ beating his wings in void’, and was always on the fight of his imagination to become more and more powerful and famous.
Mr. ZAB was a tremendous intellect but his intellect became hazy to understand the might of the Western World and America. His common malady of being a Muslim is narcissism and superiority complex which drove him to his ruination.
Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari [ Bhutto Legacy]
I could not find out any reason in the marriage of an well educated lady such as Benazir Bhutto and a vulgar and cunning person such as Asif Ali Zardari. And I also feel anguished to find such an educated lady a plunderer of wealth of a poor nation. It seems the President of the immortals has tricked her to make her plunderer of the wealth of the poor nation. Her big deposits in foreign banks are a black spot to every educated lady.
Why the fate maker did play sports with such a delicate lady? Whenever I see her picture I remember Desdemona, who is destroyed by jealously of Iajo, the villain in famous drama of Shakespeare : OHELLO. Miss. Benazir was ruined by the evilness and iniquity of her husband, Zardari.
He fell a victim to a religious fanatic who shot her dead because he thought her Kafir. Her husband Asif Ali Zardari and his accomplices, who are considered by the majority of the people the murderers of Benazir Bhutto exploited the embarrassingly emotional attachment of PPP electorate with her and won the general election.
The period of Zardari is notorious like him, for plunder, favouritism, nepotism, corruption, price hike, load shedding and bad governance. He played well on the chess of politics and defeated many seasoned politicians in acquiring the seat of President.
Why the common men of Pakistan are poor and backward. The main cause of poverty and backwardness of common people is owing to the corruption, nepotism and greed of the politicians, elite, beau racy white and khaki. Pakistan is full of the wealth of mineral, intellect and labour force. It is pity that the politicians in league with the civil and military elite have plundered our beloved country ruthlessly and beefed up their bank accounts in the foreign banks.
It is strange that the elite of Pakistan do not pay income tax and accept other obligations. For example: Hafeez Sheikh, the finance minister who claimed that he would forced the rich to pay income tax etc, but he himself has not paid a penny in context of income tax. More surprising is that our Prime Minister has shown in his returns at the time of election that he is so poor that he cannot afford to have a personal care.