Vultures Abound: The PPP Media Cell and Ministers – by Fawad Manzoor
Opportunists of the PPP will vanish as soon as the party is out of power
Dear friends and supporters of LUBP,
I am an ardent supporter of PPP and its democratic struggle. It is very clear that PPP is going into decline due to the fact that media is hell bent on doing that. I am exasperated at the PPP media cell, party’s media advisers and its media policy.
The media set up of the PPP is just to give some party workers portfolios and nothing else. It is 21st century and it does not work like that. We need to have proper media savvy people handling the media.
Also I completely fail to understand how come a minister of social welfare ends up talking about constitution and law. Why don’t they ask law minister to come on TV and defend governments stand on constitutional matters. Put a stop to ministers and elders of PPP to appear on any TV channel prior to approval and briefing by the media cell in charge on the topic of interest.
And other point is what we are writing here on LUBP? Does any of it get conveyed to any higher up or it is just trying to satisfy ourselves without any hope of mending the ways of the higher ups. Our readership is very limited. It will not have a wholesale effect on the public at large.
Government should step up its efforts to get media to rally around its achievements rather than its negatives. For example, if media was again and again portraying army as saviors during floods federal government should have used that opportunity and asked army to formally help in distress by channeling more federal money through them. This would have lessened the impact of failure of government and the media would not have much to talk against the federal government.
It is tough times and government should adopt some austerity campaign. Why dont these PPP MPAs try to pass the bill and reduce their salaries? Why don’t we reduce number of ministers, why don’t we bring one honest man to handle WAPDA? WAPDA if controlled properly and the electricity tariff is reduced, I tell you people will be dancing in the streets for PPP. It will have great impact on the overall standing of the pro poor PPP stand.
Raja Pervaiz of WAPDA, Rehman Malik of Interior, Babar Awan of Law ministry have too many skeletons to hide before they can be called real PPP. It is good to bring other people into PPP fold but dont completely ignore real PPP workers.
For God sake, don’t we have any lawyer in Pakistan supporting government’s view on all this judicial controversies? Where the hell is our IB and other Intelligence to reign in all these judges and journalists? If they can get information from unnamed sources from agencies why can’t we do the same. With all my love for PPP it pisses me off how media is being handled by immature ignorant people.
Believe me this NFC, 18th amendment, throwing out Musharraf, elections of Zardari, Gilani and Farooq Naek, control of extremism is no small feat; but why cant we capitalize on it? Because they dont really affect average man. Average man will vote not with his hands but he will vote with his stomach and that is where the strength of PPP lies.
People give a damn who the ruler is as long as they don’t have to spend too much on their food items and daily use utilities. People who are not affected by the taxes and expensive food items were never supporters of PPP and will never be.
It is job of media and opposition to malign government and its ministers but if it keeps getting repeated it means time has come for a change. Half of the five years have gone by, now time has come for a change / reshuffling in the minister’s portfolios. There are hundred of honest faces in PPP, bring them as their poster childs.
Bring Raza Rabbani, Taj Haider, Aitizaz Ahsan (even though I don’t like him) on the front positions. We can have any idiot manning unimportant ministries but we need strong and staunch PPP worker without any skeletons in the cupboards.
The ministers who don’t have grasp of the subject under discussion and have no speaking ability should be barred from appearing on talk shows. I also agree what media is saying is mostly lies but if you keep feeding lies to someone, a time will come when he will start believing in it.
If the current scenario continues, PPP will not be able to win even a single seat in the next elections whenever held. And PPP should not wait for last year to make some dramatic pro-poor changes but it should do it now I don’t think establishment will allow government to last that long.
Excellent article , Fawad.
a nice and to the point article Fawad – However I do have to take issue with your last paragraph – that the PPP wouldn’t win a single seat- Even all the might of establishment in the 1997 couldn’t ensure that
I can tell you now that PPP would win at least one seat- that of Makhdoom Amin Fahim, regardless what happens – also they would win seat of Makhdooms SM Quershi and Gillani. They would win from Larkana, from Khairpur at Qaim Ali Shah’s seat and so on and so on- Let people like Shahid Masood et al, make such stupid predictions
Overall you make a good point of PPP in power courting vultures, or rather jackals (who follow the lion and feed on their prey) – that is the nature of power
This Forum is doing its best to speak out, but obviously we won’t be heard now -nobody here has a notion of anything different-
but our goal is to speak truth – we are aligned with the Manifesto of the party, and not the personalities – though there have been many worth aligning to.
Vultures Abound: The PPP Media Cell and Ministers – by Fawad Manzoor
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Hussain Haqqani 🙂
Guess what 🙂 Hussain Haqqani was one of the commentator on PTV in 1988 with Azhar Lodhi after General Zia’s death 🙂
It is called Pragmatic Politics. Does the name of Tikka Khan ring bells 🙂 Here is a glimpse: 1960 Sardar Nauroz Khan’s sons and other relatives were hanged despite the fact that it was sworn on the Quran by the no other than Tikka Khan. The people of Balochistan cannot forget that General Tikka Khan commanded the troops against Mir Nauroz Khan in 1958 and he also had been Bhutto’s Commander in Chief during the initial years of Balochistaninsurgency ( 1973 – 77). REF: FINAL PHASE OF MIR BEZANJO’S POLITICAL STRUGGLE(FEDERALISM V/s REGIONALISM) Fast Forward – rank of General and appointed as the army chief in 1972. Following the retirement from the army in 1974, he joined the PPP in 1976, after going through two-year constitutional silence. In her first tenure, Benazir Bhutto made him Punjab governor in 1988.
Mawdudi, Bhutto, Tikka Khan, Benazir Bhutto & Soul Searching. http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/09/bhutto-tikka-khan-soul-searching.html
Let me refresh your memory. Did Benazir Bhutto support Ghulam Ishaq Khan or Nawabzada Nasrullah as President in 1988/89 and by the way what Bhutto did with “J A Rahim and his son” in a lockup in a Karachi Police Station. “Both Father and son were sodomized in front of each other”
That’s how “Democratic Bhutto” treated Bengalis [Bhutto addressed Bengalis “Suwar Kay Bachay” [Son of Swine]: Bangladesh with love!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51I1WWXH0Gc&feature=related
I toally agree with your analysis Sir.
This is the voice of every Jiyala. I agree with Fawad and must say it’s an exellent article and the points you raised are very important if PPP wants to rule in future.
Aamir Mughal says:
September 30, 2010 at 9:45 am
Vultures Abound: The PPP Media Cell and Ministers – by Fawad Manzoor
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Hussain Haqqani
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Once a Jamaati always a Jamaati 🙂
Correct the verse of Late. Munir Niazi and type it in URDU [please]
Kuj Shehar Day Looq V Zalim Saan
Kuj Sanoo Maren Da Shooq V C
کجھ شہر دے لوگ وی ظالم سن
کجھ سانوں مرن دا شوق وی سی
why do you unlike Aitzaz? fawad
Because Aitezaz is a victim of Ostrich syndrome….
First I would recommend Amir Mughal to be part of that media cell to prepare PPP minsters before appearing on TV Talk shows. He has excellent grasp of our political history. Sometimes I am in completely amazed at his knowledge and it is not that he gives his view point only but he has refrence available to prove his point. GREAT WORK Amir Mughal.
My dislike for Aitizaz is that he didnt follow party line during CJ’s restoration. When he was asked to take up job as governor Punjab he refused and there was offer for him of law ministry, attorney General. Even then he is not active in party matters either. He steped forward when Iftikhar Choudhry needed him but he didnt when party needed him. All that can treated as by gones are by gones and heshould be brought into the lime light of cuurent set up. Or better use him as poster boy of PPP. Aitizaz Ahsan enjoys very good image in public and Media so PPP should take advantage of it.
When I said, PPP will not win even a single seat I actualy meant a “poor show” in next elections and that has alot more to do with Incumbancy factor + poor performance. We need not to look at macro economic factors only but we need quick fix of micro ecnomic factors too. PML(Q) lost last elections due to the fact that roti which was selling for two rupees was shot up to five rupees in just six months. Now look at all the food item prices, can you imagine pulses(Chana Dal) is selling for over hundred rupees per kg, potatoes are slling for around seventy rupees per kg. These prices are not pro poor all. Imagine electricity & gas tarrifs they have doubled since PPP took over. In the begining it was ok to raise the prices as we could blame it on last government but this is fast becoming a lame excuse.
Apoor man, all he could afford two pieces of bread and curry of potato, cheapest dishes. Even at the cheaest drives hotels a poor man needs minimum of fifty rupees for a single meal. That makes it one hundred and fifty rupees for a day needed for one person to feed himself. What do you expect him to do if he has one wife and two kids. It is really tough out there for a poor man.
All above criticism doesnt mean doesnt mean that Nawaz or anybody will do a much better job but what I want to say is it is PPPP’s responsibility this is where maximum of its votes comes from poor down troden people
I am sure they will manage to win much more than won in 1997 but it is huge insult even if they win thrity or forty seats after staying in power fo five years. The seats my firend Sindhyar mentioned are never in question. They are sure win fo PPP and its candidates. But how will it look after having over 130 seats in current parliament PPP is reduced to only 30.
Dear Fawad,
Thanks for the compliment but I was just posting “Old News Clippings” 🙂 Once weekly Takbeer Karachi had published a column on Aitzaz Ahsan “quote” the bungalow he is living in Lahore was constructed with the “Help” of “Ahmed Riaz Sheikh” 🙂 What I don’t like in this Elite Class [e.g. Like Naseerullah Babar and Aitzaz Type] that they want work done and don’t want to blacken their hand. In my humble opinion Rehman Malik and Ahmed Riaz Sheikh are far better then these masquerade who hide behind excuses whereas during their hey days they ruthlessly used the services of Rehman Malik and Ahmed Riaz Sheikh.
Fawad says: – September 30, 2010 at 4:03 pm First I would recommend Amir Mughal to be part of that media cell
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Idolaters [Butt Parast] cannot afford blunt and out spoken vagabond 🙂
Only solution for PPP is to “Resign en masse” from Assemblies, Senate, and Presidency and Transfer Power to Iftikhar M Chaudhry, Khalil ur Rehamn Ramday, Khawaja Sharif Mir Shakil Ur Rehman, Shaheen Sehbai and Ahmed Shuja because they can take out country from Crisis.
@Aamir, your last comment is not a bad idea.
@Fawad, interesting article and I agree with most of it.However, Aitzaz is not just lazy, he is back stabber and establishment stooge. Was he ever really a loyal PPPliya!
Big sign should be posted on SC building “Iftikhar Choudhry for President”. You cant change if he wants to be president. First his domicile should be verified. Is he gona be Punjabi president of Balochi president. Ramday, how abnoxious can he get. It is astonishinghow people just ignore their past.
What Fawad wrote is an excellent piece. It can be taken as some one who is against PPP like rest of the media or at the same time it can be taken as genuine PPP wala writing from the depth of his heart.
Rulers or ruling elite need to have lots of changes if they are looking for future elections. He is right PPP has honoured Rehman Malik & Babar Awan more than they deserved and now it is high time to move on. Bring young, fresh blood, new faces with high tech thinking. We also need People who understand what new century is about. If you want to rule successfuly even in a third world country you have to go high tech. Capture media wizards, throw your own people in the media who can speak with logic. Get rid of people who rode on the coat tail of BB’s shahdat. PPP has dispicable show of talent on the talk shows. At leats impose a ban on the women parliamentarians from appearing on talk shows. Only credible woman I would like to see on talk show from PPP is Sherry Rehman, at least she has some logic when she speaks. Get rid of Fazia Wahab & Firdous Ashiq Awan they both are annoying.
We are willing to look other way if they want to get some monetary benefits but damn it get something done at least. Now corruption is there and no work to show for.
I would suggest editors and owner of this LUBP to take a delegation and meet with PPP high ups in a frank, man to man discussion about current and futur situation.
@plutonic66 said: “I would suggest editors and owner of this LUBP to take a delegation and meet with PPP high ups in a frank, man to man discussion about current and futur situation.”
ہم بھی وہیں موجود تھے ہم سے بھی سب پوچھا کیے
ہم چپ رہے ہم ہنس دیے، منظور تھا
………
I just fail to follow how the axis evil Judiciary-Media-Lawyers is keeping the government hostage. Governmet cant even capitalize on the incidents where lawyers have beaten up on the judges. Right now there was a breaking news that chairman LBA Abdul Qudoos met with CJ LHC and he has ordered the release of all the arrested lawyers. Well done CJ this is how you uphold the law. The corrupt and dishonest lawyers always get the break from the juiciary. KEEP IT UP.
Totally agreed. Mail it to bilawal.
Who wants to listen to logic on TV shows? In a 43 minute program having 4 participants and TV talk show hosts who are in love with themselves, how do you think logical discussions can take place? No one wants to listen to new ideas or out of the box thinking. They want to draw your people into an argument and nothing else.
One also has to look at positives of the current scenario: the PPP still hasnt had a division which is what the media is trying to do. Dissent is one thing which is good to have. division is something which gives a lot of power to your enemies.
One can questions the “principled” people of the party. Raza Rabbani left his ministry because he wasnt made Chairman Senate. Safdar Abbasi is still a senator and member of CEC. What is making him a principled man is because himself and Naheed Khan (his wife) were part of the kitchen cabinet of MBB. Now they are not. Sherry Rehman left the cabinet because she was expecting the party government to go. The list goes on and on!
One has to realize that there is a time for everything and everyone.
For us it is most important that we see what our enemy wants us to do. They want us to fight amongst ourselves and weaken.
PPP loses elections and seats 50% because of internal laraiyan than the power of the opponent.
Although Asif Zardari appears to have signalled his refusal to leave quietly, pressure seems to be building up for quasi-constitutional change. Once this happens, and the powerful establishment swings into action, any mid-term elections will not reflect the popular will. Charges of rigging will be largely ignored, and hey, presto! Musharraf will be back in the saddle.
As opinion polls indicate, this government has done little to endear itself to us, so few tears will be shed over its demise. One way of saving the system is for Nawaz Sharif to accept the PPP’s long-standing offer to enter into a coalition with it. This would send out a powerful signal to all those who seek to hijack power. Indeed, a strong coalition might also improve governance.
Both parties have a vested interest in blocking the ongoing moves to sideline them, and in a rational world, they would join hands to save democracy. But as we know to our cost, common sense is a most uncommon commodity in Pakistan.
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http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/irfan-husain-musharraf-on-the-comeback-trail-200
Dear Fawad – taking PML Q – that lost the election because it is PML Q! given a free election, they would always lose
I agree that people care about themselves, and are likely to vote accordingly- not based on manifesto etc
however that is the burden of doing politics in Pakistan – What PPP needs to do is get on with governance, and not think of the next election.
Btw Mughal Sahib I disagree you need people who get their hands dirty to be ministers – that is such a bad placement- its always otherway around
as the proverb goes, saamp bhi marr jaye aur lathi bhi na tuthay
Dear Fawad – taking PML Q – that lost the election because it is PML Q! given a free election, they would always lose
I agree that people care about themselves, and are likely to vote accordingly- not based on manifesto etc
however that is the burden of doing politics in Pakistan – What PPP needs to do is get on with governance, and not think of the next election.
Btw Amir Mughal: I disagree you need people who get their hands dirty to be ministers – that is such a bad placement- its always otherway around
as the proverb goes, saamp bhi marr jaye aur lathi bhi na tuthay
Dear Sindhyar,
Kindly explain I didn’t get you and by the way wasn’t it Naseerullah Babar who boasted on Operation Cleanup in 1995/196 and in 20007 he was bad mouthing Rehman Malik and Rehman was his right hand man in 90s.
Sir, What I mean is that politicians need to have their hands clean – the whole job of a minister is to dictate – give orders and make proper decisions. He is not a worker- others have to work for them
If a worker becomes, orderer, then his fingerprints are all over and that could be lethal to a political career
I am not too aware of Malik’s past – I only know it from his Cv – Bureaucrat – Immigration officer, then FIA officer – Headed FIA under BB. Don’t know anything about him being his right hand man, especially since has no training in such operations.