Bilawal’s speech at Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary offers hope but misses out on crucial issues
As critical supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party, we welcome and applaud Chairman PPP’s bold and eloquent address at Garhi Khuda Buksh. To millions of Pakistanis, a new PPP leader has clearly emerged and done so in an impressive manner. To the PPP jiyalas, he was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reincarnated –sending waves of positive energy in the party’s rank and file.
In particular, we would like to commend Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the following:
1. His clear denunciation of the atrocities committed by the Taliban and his appreciation of PPP and ANP martyrs like Shaheed Taseer, Shaheed Bhatti and Shaheed Bilour. In stark contrast to PML N and PTI leaders, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was clear and unequivocal in his stance against the Takfiri terrorists, i.e., Taliban.
2. His understanding of economics and his stress on continuing the internationally recognized social welfare programs by the current PPP lead government such as the Benazir Income Support Programme BISP and its various subsidiaries that have been proven to have done ground breaking work in income support, job creation, education, housing, health and skill development. Unlike the xenophobic chauvinist that is Pakistan’s educated elite, Bilawal’s progressive views were a breath of fresh air and reminiscent of 1986 when the late Benazir Bhutto returned to thunderous applause and offered a new vision for Pakistan.
3. Unlike Pakistan’s compromised, Pro-Taliban hyper-nationalist media and its choice of cranks and sell-outs, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stood out in stark contrast. His courageous denunciation of the selectiveness of a compromised Judiciary must be heeded to by all Pakistan. By denying justice to the common man and politicizing the Judicial institute, the current crop of dictator-facilitating, pro-Taliban judges have dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s social fabric. Bilawal called out the Chief Qazi (i.e., Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry) and we couldn’t agree more. In his disgusting selective morality and clear bias, Iftikhar Chaudhry comes across as a pathetic bureaucrat mullah with a God complex. This criticism regarding CJP was better articulated by Bilawal and reminded one of the courage of Shaheed Mohtarma.
http://youtu.be/f0qaudu3m6c
And now for the misses.
1. While Bilawal touched on Balochistan and was far more sincere than Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan on this topic, it was not enough. We know that these jaded chauvinist politicians of PML N and PTI only use the Baloch issue as a dishonest parallel for their aspirations against any substantive operations against the Taliban. But more was expected from Bilawal. As we speak, there is another military operation going on in Balochistan by the real rulers of Pakistan, the army, and the PPP has failed to put a stop to the increasing dead bodies of the Baloch.
2. The most glaring omissions by Bilawal revolved around the atrocities committed by the allies
of the Taliban such as Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ASWJ (aka Sipah Sahaba/Lashkar-e-Jhangvi). The ongoing Shia Genocide was not mentioned even once – Shia Muslims constitute between 15-20% of Pakistan’s population and many of them are the most loyal PPP voting bloc. Similarly, there was no mention of the continuous persecution of Christians and Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. Or the rape and forced conversion of Hindu girls in Sindh –some by low level and low life thugs who have been allowed into PPP. Similarly, there was no mention of the continuous attacks on Sunni Barelvi Muslims and anti-Taliban Deobandi Muslims by Takfiri Deobandi thugs of Sipah Sahaba. While one must commend Bilawal on his glowing tribute to ANP’s latest martyr, Bashir Bilour, he should have also mentioned the sacrifices of thousands of Pashtuns against the Taliban – especially the anti-Taliban Pashtun tribal chiefs and lashkars. For any starting steps to combat Shia Genocide, the 10,000 Souls petition to the Pakistan Embassy (USA) serves as a good starting point. http://soulsmarch.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/souls-march-delegates-press-issue-with-consul-general-faqir-hussain-providing-concrete-steps-and-suggestions/
While the passing of the 18th Amendment was a great first step in restoring the spirit of the 1973 Constitution, it is not enough. The Anti-Ahmadi muslim legislation (2nd Amendment + Draconian Zia Ordinance) needs to be struck down. So does the horrendous Blasphemy Law that aims to target our Christain Pakistanis. Article 2-A and Article 63 that were a result of General Zia-Judicial collaboration need to be taken out as well – Article 63 in its present form gives a Quasi-Divine status to the Army and the Corrupt, compromised Judiciary of Chaudhry Iftikhar.
3. Bilawal should have also condemned the targeted killings of polio health workers all over Pakistan, given the positive contributions in this regard by Shaheed Mohtarma and now Aseefa.
While Bilawal was a clear cut above the current political leaders in this country, more is expected from him. He not only carries a tremendous legacy and the following of millions – it is also because he himself has set a higher bar by his courageous statements and stands. The potential that millions of us were hoping for was there for all to see in the dying daylight at Garhi Khuda Buksh today – a potential that promises a better tomorrow. As critical supporters of the PPP, we will not falter in our duty to remind him of this as we will continue to support him in his trials while critiquing him for his mistakes.
While some of our criticism may be harsh, it is important to realize that the inability to talk on some (not all) crucial issues is probably due to the presence of urban civil society sycophants. This class presents a liberal veneer but dig a little deeper and they are no better than the Sipah Sahaba Taliban thugs. It was these type of sell outs like Mairaj Mohammad Khan, Mumtaz Bhutto, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, Naheed Khan, Sherry Rehman and Shah Mahmood Qureshi who betrayed three generations of PPP leaders. We have full confidence that in due course Bilawal will be able to see through such sell outs in the media and civil society sycophants. In particular, be should careful of the for-hire propagandists and the known double dealers such as as Najam Sethi, Sherry Rehman, Jinnah Institute, The Friday Times and their affiliates and proteges. We really hope that instead of opportunistic flattery by urban elites, Bilawal and other PPP leaders will pay attention to sincere, critical feedback by the PPP jiyalas.
We will continue to remind PPP to take urgent action against Takfiri terrorists of Taliban, Sipah Sahaba, JuD and their sponsors in Pakistani establishment. We are tired of collecting the dead bodies of the Pashtuns, Balochs, Shias, moderate Sunnis etc. Action, not rhetoric, is lacking.
Comrades, friends, Husseinis, jiyalas: just watched Bilawal Saaein’s speech and my feelings regarding the text are well reflected in your post.
A particular positive for me was how Bilawal referred to Shahbaz Bhatti as `mera Shahbaz Bhatti’; quite a feat in a country where Native Christians have such revolting sobriquets as `churra’ and `karanta’ and much worse besides.for that alone Bilawal be blessed.
I; and my parents before me; were staunch supporters of the Asli tey Wahdi PPP; madly critical during the Ahmadi Travesty and that root of many evils; the Islamic Conference..and again vocal supporters throughout the dark years that followed.
So you see; it all has a very `plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme’ feel to it. All things being equal, the PPP remains the only viable political party in Pakistan. Barring the ANP and certain MQM people; all else is ersatz..(that is jaali to you, PTI vulgarians).
As for the haramis within the party ranks, the very worst are the ersatz well-heeled liberals. But then you all know that anyhow- to add to any foul taste in your mouths: spotted Sherry Rehman in the video, in pride of place of course.
P.S: Yeh hamarey Imam ka kia kamal hai keh Bilawal nay jahan bhi masoomeen ki janib ishara kia to goya jalsa Majlis dikhai dia!
Very well written article. All the best for Bilawal. Honesty, fairness, absolute justice to all and good governance are key factors for his success. Being well educated man should read current affairs more deeply specially of developed, developing and under developed countries. Wiht his education, age, boldness and sincerety of cause likely to make him successful leader. Setting aside family differences if he can convince his cousin Fatima also now to join the politics will be a big boost to PPP.
I was elated to say the least. It was a very well written speech.
And he gave reference to Husseiniyat along with mention of patience in a clear enough manner to say that the only reason we are quite is to save the system. There is no point in fighting unprepared battles only to lose and have another round of Shia genocide every ten years.
Mentions of Shahbaz Bhatti Shaheed, Salman Taseer Shaheed, Bilour Shaheed and Malala was heart wrenching and very welcome.
Well written & well delivered speach, good to mention Shahbaz as my Shahbaz, should have included condemnation of Shia genocide & massacre of polio worker.
For Mark Siegel December 27 is always going to be a difficult day to get through. This year, on his friend Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary, however, he felt a sense of pride as he saw her son make his first major political speech.
“I believe there is going to be a shift in politics now,” he told The Express Tribune over the phone from Washington. “Bilawal is an emerging politician and will be successful.”
Siegel is an American lobbyist who was the former prime minister’s speech writer for two decades and helped her update her autobiography ‘Daughter of Destiny’. “It’s been five years, and I still don’t believe it,” he said. “The term ‘jeay Bhutto’ means a lot to us, it means that she is still alive.”
Siegel, who caught snippets of Bilawal’s speech which was in Urdu, has known him since he was a child. It is a little strange for him to call him a man now, he remarked, adding, however that the speech should not be seen as the ‘launch’ of his public career as Bilawal has been participating in politics since his mother was assassinated.
Siegel did not comment about his relationship with the young politician but said that Benazir always wanted Bilawal to be happy and have choices. “His happiness was her first priority,” he said. “If he wanted to go into the civil services, she would have supported him with her whole heart. This is why in her handwritten will she left the chairmanship of the party to her husband and not Bilawal – because she wanted him to have choices.”
Siegel also knows Bakhtawar and Aseefa. “I am proud of all three of them – with their father in jail and their mother running a party alone and watching her die in front of their eyes – I cannot imagine a more traumatic childhood. But they survived and flourished into kind and compassionate human beings. I see a lot of their mother in them. All three of them are devoted to make sure that she did not die in vain. They want to fight for what she believed in and stood for.”
Siegel, a partner at Locke Lord Strategies has worked with former American President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Hubert H Humphrey. He collaborated with Benazir on Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West, which was published after her assassination.
Heavy Lies the Crown
By Saroop IjazPublished: December 29, 2012
The writer is a lawyer and partner at Ijaz and Ijaz Co in Lahore saroop.ijaz@ tribune.com.pk
Once one gets past the arresting beauty of the graveyard of martyrs in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, the realisation that it should never have been there sinks in. Indeed the mausoleum has tales of incredible courage and loss; however, it also is a story of shame. Our collective shame; had we not as a country, as a people killed them, there would not have been a graveyard of martyrs. The graves of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto are a scathing indictment of our murderous state and complicity of its people.
In my opinion, the best piece of writing by a Pakistani political leader is Dearest Daughter, the last letter written by ZAB to BB on her twenty-fifth birthday. It is written as a father, yet by a father who is also, perhaps, the greatest leader Pakistan has ever had. Read it and weep, not only because ZAB was ‘murdered’ soon after. Weep, not only because no Pakistani leader today can write or speak with this eloquence. Never mind that when it was written he had been in solitary confinement for 12 months and in the death cell for three. Weep, the daughter to whom it was addressed was to be murdered and the father knew that she probably would be.
There is disturbing prescience in that letter. Writing about Indira Gandhi and BB he writes, “One thing you have in common; both of you are equally brave. Both of you are made of pure damascene steel. But where will your talent take you? Normally it should take you to the very top. But we are living in a society where talent is a drawback and suffocating mediocrity an asset… if things do not change, there will be nothing left to change. Either power must pass to the people or everything will perish.” Nothing changed, suffocating mediocrity won, at least that round.
They never gave BB the chance to write that last letter. Yet, the message seemed to have been communicated and communicated well. I do not claim to be objective on the matter; neither do I feel the need to be objective on murder. Differences in political leaning and grievances with this government aside, Bilawal Bhutto spoke with moral clarity and fearlessness, a phenomenon becoming rarer by the day. Who else today can mention the Bashir Bilour, Sher-e-Punjab Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti or even Malala without apologetic fumbling? One major criticism that whiskered veterans can find is that he is ‘too young’? And that somehow is supposed to be a bad thing. Bhagat Singh only lived for all of 24 years. One would expect that ‘national’ political leaders twice his age would have been ashamed at their failure to condemn in the same tone and lucidity the murderers of Taseer, Bhatti and those who attempted to kill Malala. Yet, they have the nerve to mock him for being young. They did that with BB. The same frustration, the same burning is palpable today; the response now as it was then is “Dilan teer bija”. She was supposed to be too young to take on Ziaul Haq and his cohorts. She did and defeated them or at least went down fighting.
A more serious criticism is that of dynastic politics. Let us not pretend now that almost all politics in Pakistan is not dynastic. Those, whose kids are not old enough, have brothers and brothers-in-law at the helm. Admittedly, this is no excuse. Yet, it might be instructive to look at this dynasty. Is it a coincidence that all members of a family (barring one) are murdered? Even now, only members of PPP and the ANP are murdered. It is not because of their ‘corruption’ and ‘poor governance’; they have been punished and still continue to be punished for their courage. Whatever their other faults maybe, they die for affirming their resolve of looking the terrorists in the eye and not backing down. Unfortunately for them, and for us, we live in a country where cowardice is a virtue and valour punishable by death. In the words of Faiz, “Nisar mein teri gallion pay aay watan, ke jahan chali hai rasm kay koi na sar utha kay challay,” (“I give my life to your alleys, O nation, where custom now dictates that one walk with head bowed”).
It is a dynasty of blood. It is a cursed throne. Bilawal Bhutto knows that, he after all, was speaking in the graveyard of martyrs, all from his own family. BB did not inherit this country. Her father was ‘murdered’, she and her mother jailed and persecuted. She was ‘elected’ (helpful to remind oneself from time to time) by the people of Pakistan after a decade-long struggle. What smooth transfer of ‘dynastic’ power? Bilawal is too young and in politics because her mother was martyred. Some price to pay for the throne. Who would choose that for themselves? If we want to end dynasties in Pakistan, or as it seems more particularly this dynasty, we can start by stop killing the Bhuttos.
The speech of Bilawal Bhutto came soon after the circus recently conducted in Lahore and the general atmosphere of fear and confusion; this is fresh air. It was the best, most clear headed speech made in Pakistan in the last five years. This will not solve all the problems that this country faces. The legitimate grievances against the present government remain and have to be repeated. However, his speech does mean that the blood of Bilour, Taseer and BB has not been in vain. We are not completely dead yet. There still remains hope. He has giant shoes to fill and we will know in due course how he fares. Nonetheless, he is off to a very promising start. BB would have been proud. Let me end by quoting again from ZAB’s letter to BB, also something Bilawal Bhutto would hopefully remember. “Your grandfather taught me the politics of pride; your grandmother taught me the politics of poverty. I am beholden to both for the fine synthesis. To you, my darling daughter, I give only one message. It is the message of the morrow, the message of history. Believe only in the people, work only for their emancipation and equality.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2012.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/486366/heavy-lies-the-crown/