Happy birthday, Asif

Last week, Asif Zardari spent his seventh consecutive birthday alone in prison. He remains a hostage to his wife’s political career. A male spouse in a traditional society that elected the Muslim world’s first woman prime minister was bound to find trouble. And he did.
Many traditionalists see women as the extensions of men. They resent the women and target the man they think makes it possible. In their mind, a woman is a piece of property without free thought or action. If she violates their thinking, the fault lies with the man too. So Asif pays the price. Married for fifteen years, Asif has spent nine years in prison. Today, he is described as the Nelson Mandela of Pakistan. The sea change in attitude from criticism to respect is notable. People at large appreciate that the accusations of corruption are at odds with the resistance of a man who gave up everything dear for a political cause. His liberty, his family, his livelihood were sacrificed at the altar of the struggle to turn Pakistan into a democratic country. He symbolises the people’s struggle against fascism and military domination of the country.
When the PPP formed the Government in 1988 after defeating the establishment sponsored IJI, Asif became the centre of a smear campaign. A twice-convicted slum lord was lured (through his wife getting an expensive plot) to scandalously claim that Asif tied a bomb to his leg, holding him hostage for ransom. Research by an English detective firm helped get the evidence that ultimately led to acquittal in that case. The worst case fabricated against Asif was blaming him for the murder of his brother-in-law Murtaza Bhutto. This was fabricated despite the conclusions of a high-powered judicial committee that the evidence against Asif was based on speculation. It could not be relied upon. In fact, Murtaza was murdered to overthrow the democratic government in 1996. Asif was blamed to cover up the tracks of the real murderers.
Asif’s life is full of interesting stories. In 1989, a corp. commander met him with a message from the armed forces. He was asked to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan in place of his wife. The excuse was that the military could not salute a woman. In 1993, an Arab prince made the same offer to him. Asif Zardari is a humble man. He rejected attempts to get him into a leadership contest. This humility endears Asif to the PPP workers. No matter how difficult life gets, Asif manages to smile, making a victory sign, even when in crutches and limping with pain.
Prison stole his youth and right to happiness. Under gruesome conditions, facing several murder charges, thrice tortured, Asif developed high blood pressure, diabetes, spondylytis, tumours in his nose and on his hand. Recently he underwent tests for a prostrate ailment. Stressful conditions cause such diseases which are aggravated by lack of proper medical treatment. In 1998, a court ordered the release of Asif on medical bail. The regime refused to free the valuable hostage. No one can compensate Asif for time with his mother before she left this world, time with his children as they grew from infants into teenagers. Asif made the sacrifice because he cares for a cause. He believes freedom and fundamental human rights can bring development and modernity to those caught in the chains of poverty and military exploitation.
When on duty during official overseas visits, Asif enjoyed best his conversations with other male spouses. He compared notes with male spouses including Britain’s late Sir Denis Thatcher and Ciller of Turkey. In fact, Ciller and he spent all night talking, making their wives wonder where they were. Asif claims that when he retires he will write a book called The Male Spouse. There could have been nightmare consequences for the cause of democracy if Asif lacked courage and had broken. This is what the establishment, hijacked by pro-Zia extremist forces since 1977, banked on. They hoped that attractive financial incentives would get him to dump his family and his party. Believing their own propaganda, they thought they could buy him. They were wrong. With his courage, Asif defeated the anti-people forces targeting a male spouse for political purposes. Their lack of integrity darkly stains their names and reputation.
When the lights on the stage of life go out, those names shine brightly that were dedicated to the people, God’s agents in this world and its true masters. Asif’s name will be one of those shining stars while those of his tormentors will fade from history. And so, through prison walls and oceans, I reach out to say: ‘‘Asif, Happy Birthday’’ to a man who gave his liberty to win a people’s love.