- ‘We, who were killed in the dark alleys’
At a time when elections are going to be held on 25 July 2018 we should not forget the saying of the founder as well as father of the nation, “Democracy is in the blood of the Muslims, who look upon complete equality of mankind, and believe in fraternity, equality, and liberty.” Nobody can disagree with the fact that the ideals of democracy can only be achieved through holding free and fair elections in the country.
Ironically Pakistan, a country which came into being as a consequence of the 1946 election, held under British rulers of the subcontinent, could not hold direct elections until 1970 in which PPP got clear-cut majority in the areas comprising today’s Pakistan. However, the dream for a better tomorrow was shattered once again due to the coup d’état committed by General Zia on 5 July 1977.
His coup dealt a severe blow to state institutions and thus inflicted an irreparable loss to the state itself. He conquered his own country by force against the people’s will, held the constitution in abeyance and suspended the civil liberties. The worst atrocity done by him on 5 July was nothing short of the dethronement of an elected government and managed to hang an elected prime minister. Unfortunately, his co-conspirators were seated on the venerated chair of justice. The then deposed prime minister was the one who had managed to retake five thousand miles from the enemy, got released 90 thousand soldiers from enemy’s prison, helped establish the nuclear program to make the country impregnable, gave the first consensual constitution (truly an unaccomplished task since partition), encouraged the burdened people to live honorably, infused political awareness, created job opportunities at home and abroad, etc. It was he who inspired the people to live respectably in the comity of nations and laid the first brick for a welfare state in Pakistan.
We know that Pakistan came into existence by democratic struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent. They started the movement for attaining social and political rights. There was clarity in their thoughts. They wanted to found a welfare state where they could create a society based on equality, and every citizen may enjoy social, religious, political and economic rights. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah addressed the first constituent assembly and issued the guidelines for the newly-born state in these words on 11 August 1947:
During the dark rule of the dictator Zia, political workers, labour and other deprived classes of the society suffered a lot
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
The father of the nation laid emphasis upon legislation and held that Pakistan would be a federal republic. Unfortunately, Pakistan could not be moulded in the light of his vision due to his untimely death. After him, the state remained without a constitution for a quarter century.
In fact, Zulifqar Ali Bhutto started his historic struggle for the people of Pakistan in 1967 and founded Pakistan Peoples Party. In 1970, general elections were held on the basis of one person one vote. However, General Yahya delayed transfer of power, hatched conspiracies and used violence as a tool. It led to the dismemberment of Pakistan. At this Yahya Khan had to hand over the government to Bhutto Sahib who started his journey of progress step by step. During his rule, the war torn country got on its feet within years. In 1977, general elections were held. The invisible hand helped form the Pakistan National Alliance but in vain. They were swept by the Bhutto’s wave of popularity but they blamed rigging in the election. Invisible hands were manipulating the situation. At a time when negotiations between the government and the opposition were about to take a positive turn, marital law was imposed and, thus, they sealed the fate of the peaceful and progressive Pakistan. The problems which we witness today are the direct result of that martial law. The seeds of intolerance, sectarianism, extremism, terrorism, Kalashnikov culture, heroin (drug), ethnic based politics, corruption and load shedding were sown in the country. Our centuries old social values saw a decline during Zia rule. Hypocrisy, double dealing, selfishness, greed and violence penetrated in the society and swelled unchecked. The era of wealth concentration and economic rule of the few revisited the country.
During the dark rule of the dictator Zia, political workers, labour and other deprived classes of the society suffered a lot. On demanding their due rights, they were awarded rigorous imprisonment and many were beaten to death in the darks cells of jails. Their protest was crushed with an iron hand. Thousands of people went into forced exile. Conservative and extremist forces became hands of the dictator to crush the people and run the society on extreme lines. Under the state patronage, a school of thought was promoted, trained and was armed with weapons in the name of strategic depth. Soon a network of extremism spread and took root across the country. Later, these extremists became a breeding ground for terrorism. All means were adopted to crush and destroy the Peoples Party. Instead for country’s development, the state machinery was used for destruction of one party. This led to a great misfortune which we all suffer today. Still, PPP workers did not surrender and decorated history with their selfless sacrifices. Owing to that struggle and sacrifices, the country is on the track of democracy today. The constitution of 1973 has been restored in its true form. For this act, the former president of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari’s role is laudable. He is the one who as a president of Pakistan handed over the carte blenche to the elected parliament — just to fulfil the pledge made by Quaid-e-Awam and Shaheed Bibi.
Now the election is near. I would advise all my readers to glance upon the manifesto of PPP which covers all aspects of state and society. In fact, it’s a recipe to bring this country out of crisis. The PPP has named its 10th manifesto, ‘BB ka Waada Nibhaana Hai Pakistan Bachana Hai’ (We have to fulfill Benazir’s promise by saving Pakistan). The vision mentioned in the preamble makes clear that they want to make Pakistan a peaceful, prosperous and progressive.
In the end, I would like to request the establishment not to interfere in the democratic process to promote their blue eyed chap. They need to learn a lesson from history. In retrospect, they bestowed their favour upon Mr Nawaz Sharif who in turn tried to become a god himself. Mr Fatos Nano, an Albanian statesman, says organising free and fair elections is more important than the result itself. This is the fact whose veracity one can feel in one’s bones. Democracy cannot find its way forward without knowing public opinion through free and fair elections.
