Pakistan Peoples Party and Importance of its Founding Documents – by H.A. Khan
The PPP was launched at its founding convention held in Lahore on November 30 – December 01, 1967. At the same meeting, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was elected as its Chairman. Among the express goals for which the party was formed were the establishment of an “egalitarian democracy” and the “application of socialistic ideas to realize economic and social justice”. A more immediate task was to struggle against the hated dictatorship of Ayub Khan,who was at the height of his power when the PPP was formed. Basic principles of PPP enshrined:
Islam is our Faith
Democracy is our politics
Socialism is our Economy
All Power to the People
The Party also promised the elimination of feudalism in accordance with the established principles of socialism to protect and advance the interests of peasantry.Immediately after its formation, the PPP spread its message among the workers, peasants and students throughout Pakistan, announced elections for December 1970. The PPP contested these elections on the slogans of “ROTI, KAPRA AUR MAKAN” (bread, clothing and shelter) and “all power to the people.” and won the elections historically.
As a party and Bhuttos loylalist i always believe firmly that PPP should work to enforce the principles which it had laid down 42 years ago. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto clealry wrote in this famous book(If I am assassinated) that i am facing this situation because i wanted to reconcile the two classes(Poor&Rich)in this country,but i got this clear that this class reconciliation is impossible and victory of one will result in the lost for the 2nd.
PPP is now in sovereignty and majority of masses see to them with their dreamy eyes and hopes that now this time their problems will be sort out and must be resolved. As Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said in her last speech at Rawalpindi that time has come to deliver and to change this system and to empower the people of pkaistn and power belongs to them.PPP should work to enforce the founding principles as today it is needed the most to overcome the misseries and problems of the masses of Pakistan.
People will not hear any more excuses as they also had suffered alot and dreaming for a new dawn of hope and a dawn when all people will have the ROTI, KAPRA AUR MAKAN for themselves and they can live happily with the true honour which was promised in the principles laid down in the founding documents.
The time has come for PPP to truly implement their founding principles. Jeay Bhutto, Jeay Awaam!
With due respect, i would like to say that “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” is an old story now after a half century.. Can “Education” be added to this slogan? With education, at least in the next generation, people can earn their own living, get clothing and make a home for themselves. They need to be educated to not to become beggars, always relying on the government to provide the basic necessities of life. Let them make a competitive private sector, to serve as an aid to the development… Times have changed… We need education too.. we dont want to be mocked upon by our neighbours for not being able to even speak in any international language.
@Rumaisa
Agreed with you partially that “education” the most vital tool for the development of any nation demands itself to be included. However, the slogan “roti, kapra aur Makaan” is still very much valid for the most people of Pakistan. And of course if any government, is sincere to provide its citizen’s roti, kapra aur makaan it is going to provide these things by enabling its citizen through Education and skill. No government can possibly provide the fellow countrymen things like Roti, kapra, makkan in unsustainable manner. So may be you are taking roti, kapra and makaan in literal sense.
So coming back to your arguments on which we quite agree, i.e., Let them make a competitive private sector, which will ultimately serve the needs of roti, kapraa and makaan.
If the current leadership of PPP goes back to its roots, it can vey easily attract the Students, women, minorities, labour and peasants which are largely disillusioned from the PPP and I belive for the valid reasons!
Pakistan People’s Party, the largest political party of the country with a sustained and significant support base in all parts of the country. People’s Party is undeniably the most effective political outfit with a decidedly anti-establishment hue to emerge from the indigenous political discourse in the history of this country. The roller coaster politics of Pakistan has been through many upheavals since that chilly last day of November in 1967 when the party was founded. People’s Party too, has inevitably turned many colours to readjust to the changing ground realities and has earned thumping accolades as well as biting criticism for its policies and practices.
It is worth mentioning that Under Zardari, PPP may have undergone a metamorphosis from a left leaning to a liberal democratic centre-left outfit, but it has successfully engendered a pattern of political dynamics interweaving two distinct strands, i.e. unwavering commitment to the people and a series of courageous sacrifices by the leadership. While conceding the chequered record of successes and failures, People’s Party continues to signify the basic contradiction in the body politic of this country, the democratic dispensation embodying the economic and political aspirations of the people as against the national security narrative supported by the retrogressive forces of all hues and colours. Reassuringly, given the present political spectrum, the party seems wedded to carrying on in the spirit of national reconciliation and a pluralist polity. PPP was never ruled by the single leader but by the masses of Pakistan. It is the party of workers, downtrodden people and poor. For the first time PPP gave voice to voiceless. It gave voice to the muted turbulence of human spirit. PPP strength to the weak and gave motivation to the masses to strive for a goal higher than life.