The author of the article, Wajid Shamsul Hasan is close friend of PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari and late Pakistan prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. He was a former UK ambassador from Pakistan and has also written Benazir Bhutto's last will. The views and ideas expressed in this article are entirely his own.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has promised dawn of a new era that will be manifested in the new parliament by its assertive role as the sole arbiter of power.
Suave and soft-spoken Mr Gilani fits in a description for a man who is considered good in a world where deceit is the order of the day. Elected as the 24th Prime Minister— whatever contact I have had with him ever since I met him first in 1988 – I have found him to be a perfect gentleman. Why not—he has a Sufi background and comes from a well-reputed political lineage.
I met him through the courtesy of late Pyar Ali Allana—a PPP stalwart— at a lunch in Karachi where we three discussed politics and future course of events in General Zia’s height of power. This was a sort of precursor to his meeting with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and his subsequent joining of PPP the same year.
YRG made his mark at first in the PPP hierarchy as a Federal Minister. Later as Speaker he earned more laurels for being an upright man who earnestly believed in the supremacy of the Parliament, rule of law, justice and fair play. I found him to be a man who would go out of the way to take a stand for a cause.
I was with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Islamabad when many names were being mooted for NA speakership in 1993. She did not want to make a wrong choice because an upright Speaker was—according to her—the need of the hour for a strong Parliament in a polity that had been hijacked by politics of divide-and-rule pursued by General Zia.
After great deliberations Mr Gilani was chosen to be the PPP candidate for the NA speakership. Some seniors thought he was too young for the job (in his thirties) but Ms Bhutto had known his sterling qualities as a man who was well-versed in high stake human management skills. YRG disappointed his critics by his outstanding performance.
He set new traditions for strengthening the parliamentary norms. And in no time he was recognised as the most outstanding Speaker that the National Assembly ever had after late East Pakistani parliamentarian Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan. His assumption of the office of Prime Minister is not only the acknowledgement of the confidence that his late Chairperson had in him but also the entire party and its leadership.
The office of the Prime Minister in Pakistan has never been a bed of roses. It takes the incumbent onto a path that is strewn with thorns. The conditions now are even more deplorable than ever before. YRG has taken over at a time when the country has been rendered in to Augean stables.
His election with an overwhelming majority (264 votes) is more predominantly recognition of his leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifice in blood for the restoration of democracy, rule of law, independence of judiciary and media. While emphasising on the need for an enormous changes in the socio-economic order for equitable distribution of wealth, bridging up of the widening gap between rich and the poor—he new Prime Minister hit the right node in reasserting Parliament’s supremacy as the sole arbiter of people’s power.
In this context I would like to underscore the major contributions by SZAB and his daughter for the empowerment of the people. SZAB by his populist politics and establishment of PPP—unshackled the chained masses, gave them a strong voice and self-respect hitherto muted by the establishment. His gifts to the toiling masses has endeared him with the successive generations of the poor that he continues to rule the country from his grave and his vote bank has remained in tact despite the worst possible oppression, persecution and prosecution of his followers.
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His daughter picked up the pieces from where he left in 1979. Her labour of commitment to him and his toiling masses, Pakistan has crossed the Rubicon. Ms Bhutto put the entire nation onto a transformation course. She gave it renewed hope in itself and the destiny of Pakistan. She could have launched an armed struggle to get rid of Zia following Bhutto Sahib's execution and stormed the GHQ on her tumultuous return in April 1986 with millions in the streets.
Yet she preferred to establish supreme power of the vote against the barrel of the gun. Indeed, her father gave voice to the muted majority, gave them self respect and by walking to the gallows head high imbibed in them never to bow to the usurper.
SMBB by laying down her life the way she did make death look small before her. Her lasting contribution--from where there would not be a turning back--is to make the people and parliament the sole arbiters of power. Now the people will not let any usurper to get away with it. YRG’s reassurance that there would be no compromise on the supremacy of the Parliament is the best tribute to her supreme sacrifice.
The military-civil and judicial troika backed by the vested interest did not allow her to complete her two elected tenures. She single-handedly overcame all hurdles—big and sinister--put in her way and took on her opponents from the front —mobilising the masses from within and networking with leaders and think tanks abroad—to defeat the anti-people ruler at his own game. She was staunchly supported by the fathomless perseverance of her supporters in the masses, poor PPP workers and the dauntless determination of persons like her husband Senator Asif Ali Zardari (11 years in detention) and Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani (over five years in prison) -–to name some-- who braved long periods of incarcerations-- shunning all offers of pelf and power as compared to others stealthily pursuing their selfish interests.
The machinations of the known enemies and their quislings within could not destroy her steeled determination to challenge the dictator. I must put it on record that there was no deal whatsoever with him. The negotiations were aimed at doffing his military uniform, holding of free and fair elections at the earliest under an independent election commission, restoration of 1973 constitution, doing away of 17th Amendment, independence of judiciary and media, return of all political leaders in exile and their participation in elections, doing away of the third-time condition limiting the election of the prime minister and quashing of all politically motivated cases. And not to create any hindrances on the return of leaders in exile.
It was clear he was stalling to gain time and to strike nearer the date of elections. And that is what he did on November 3 when he imposed emergency, sacked the Chief Justice and 60 other judges and planted his own puppets to instantly legalise all his actions including his election as president from a parliament that had no mandate.
Mr Gilani has a long way to go in most difficult times. Under the guidance of PPP Co-Chairman Senator Asif Ali Zardari, YRG too is also doing the right thing by seeking co-operation from all political parties. After all Pakistan is in a total mess and YRG shall need total support of the nation to pull it out of the quagmire of problems inherited by his government.
Pakistan has come to a stage when we all will have to swim or sink together—irrespective of one’s political affiliations and loyalties. The first test of the supremacy of the Parliament will be when it debates and reviews Pakistan’s policy against terrorism according to the wishes of the people that it represents and not the dictates that it had been receiving in the past.
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