This is with reference to the embarrassing verbal abuse indulged in by our elected President while addressing a select gathering within the confines of his fortress located at Naudero, on the occasion of his Oxford-educated late wife Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s birthday.
A man is known by the choice of his words and a leader by selection of his advisors and kitchen cabinet.
Zardari has done no justice to Sindh, a land of sufis and saints, nor to the memory of his late wife, nor his late father-in-law, the legendry Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, by his style of poor governance and the multitude of financial scams that cling to him and members of his party that misrule Pakistan in coalition with others.
He has betrayed the dignity of the high office of President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. His rebuking and ridiculing of a blacksmith represents the sick feudal mindset of the nouveau rich who have acquired thousands of acres of land recently, in sharp contrast to the respect shown to workers by the founder of PPP.
ANEELA CHANDIO
Sukkur
(II)
The President’s choice of words in his address at Naudero, on the occasion of Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, was unbecoming of a man holding such a high office.
It only further emphasises the necessity and importance for the need that a man/woman holding the office of President, must resign from all political offices, so that he/she can do justice to the post, which symbolises the federation. His ridiculing of a blacksmith makes a mockery of the manifesto of a party that considers itself a workers’ party with a leftist ideology.
This mindset is reflective of the discriminatory class distinction practiced by Hindu Brahmins with a feudal background, but has no place in a Muslim society, which considers all men equal. In any case a blacksmith earns his bread and butter through hard work or sweat and not through plundering and robbing the state, which is a detestable crime against the people, whatever their religion.
The pioneers of Pakistan Movement were men like Maulvi Fazal-e-Haq, known as Sher-e-Bengal, who stood up in 1906 and opposed the British colonial Raj, while many others took the easy route to serve the occupying power and earn for themselves titles and lands.
The title of a Maulvi was bestowed on men of letters and character in the subcontinent, men such as Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. Allama Iqbal often used the title of Maulvi when he addressed those whom he respected for their knowledge, character and integrity. With exceptions of few, the title of “Sir” was given by the British to those who preferred to serve the crown, instead of loyalty to their motherland.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
