—Book encompasses political journey of veteran politician spanning over half a century
—Ceremony attended by Arif Nizami, Hasan Nisar, Hamid Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ch Pervaiz Elahi among other notable personalities
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday alleged that the 2008 general elections were rigged and that “America wanted Benazir Bhutto to come to power.”
The shocking disclosure and other such revelations were made by the former prime minister in his book ‘Sach To Ye Hai’ which was launched in Lahore on Tuesday. Shujaat, while speaking about his book, said, “I have written nothing but the truth in it.”
The PML-Q president also mentioned how Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had asked him to frame Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in a “fake narcotics case”, however, he (Shujaat) refused to go ahead with the proceedings.
Chaudhry writes in his book: “Before Nawaz was sworn in as prime minister for the second time in 1997, he visited me and promised to make Pervez Elahi the chief minister of Punjab.” However, when Nawaz came to power he appointed his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif on the post.
Continuing with his shocking revelations, the PML-Q leader alleged that former prime minister Shaukat Aziz complained about the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry to Pervez Musharraf.
“When Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated, I advised Musharraf to settle differences with him and he was ready to do so, however, his aides did not allow the relationship between the two individuals to thaw,” he added.
Shujaat further claimed in his book that Musharraf used to say that former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was “extremely lazy”.
“He [Musharraf] used to complain that Jamali wakes up at noon and had reservations with him so I advised Jamali to resign,” he wrote in his book.
Regarding the Lal Masjid operation which he vehemently opposed, the PML-Q leader wrote, “Thinking about that day still worries me.”
Meanwhile, journalists and prominent personalities from the media attended the book launch ceremony while also sharing a few thoughts on the book.
Speaking on the occasion, distinguished journalist and political analyst Hamid Mir said that a politician could be ousted from the government by being disqualified in the name of accountability but he cannot be completely ruled out of politics.
Mir said that he derived this lesson from Chaudhry Shujaat’s autobiography in which he narrated an incident from his father’s political life when Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi was disqualified under the Elected Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO) introduced by military dictator Ayub Khan, adding that history shows that Zahoor Elahi remained alive in the political arena despite the fact that he was disqualified by the military dictator.
Hamid Mir further said that Zahoor Elahi had also emphasised to give respect to the vote in the wake of the first general elections of Pakistan conducted in 1970. During those times, the military establishment was reluctant to give respect to the votes of East Pakistan due to which we lost half the country, thus leading to the creation of Bangladesh, he added.
“Chaudhry Shujaat has written in his autobiography that Nawaz Sharif betrayed him eight times during his political career on different occasions. I would like to ask Chaudhry Shujaat why he was deceived so frequently despite the fact that he himself is a veteran politician?” Mir questioned. He pitched another question to Shujaat and said, “Why didn’t Shujaat resign from the post of the interior minister when some PML-N workers attacked the Supreme Court in 1997?”
Shujaat has written in his book that Nawaz Sharif wanted to arrest then Chief Justice of Pakistan Sajjad Ali Shah. Mir also lauded Shujaat for being a bridge between Punjab and Balochistan.
Political analyst Ayaz Amir said on the occasion that everyone having interest in the politics of Pakistan should read Shujaat’s autobiography as it encompasses the political history of the country in detail.
“The real success of Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi lies in the fact that they are carrying forward the rich political legacy of their father in a befitting manner,” he said.
Awami Muslim League President Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on the occasion that the recognition that Shujaat earned in his political career was due to the support of Zahoor Elahi, who was a mentor to many budding politicians, especially the student leaders of that time.
Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said on the occasion that even though his father was elected to the provincial assembly five times on a PML-N ticket, but he advised him not to join Nawaz Sharif’s party since it did not respect parliamentarians.
The book launch ceremony was attended by a large number of notable journalists and analysts, including Pakistan Today editor Arif Nizami, analysts Hasan Nisar, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, and Iftikhar Ahmed.
I have not read the book. Has he mentioned about the co-operative scam that he and his family perpetrated to rob the poor people. My father was one of the huge no. of people screwed by them. I am sure he is “dudh ka dhula” and every else is corrupt. Also anything about all the Pervaiz Ilahi and his son’s scams in the book?
Hamid mir is not a distinguished journalist he’s a bee jamaloo type of a journalist. He puts the two opponent side together and laughs as they both fight. Typical like an old bag
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