The PPP’s ‘victim cards’

Letter May 21, 2012
The article reflects on the writer’s superficial knowledge of our political history, its multi-dimensional aspects.

KHARTOUM: This is with reference to Shahzeb Khanzada’s article of May 21 titled “The PPP and its ‘victim cards’”.

I will agree with the writer’s opinion on the government’s performance during the last four and a half years but blaming the PPP for playing the so-called ‘victim’s card’ to win elections is a bit much to agree with.

It also reflects on the writer’s superficial knowledge of our political history and its multi-dimensional aspects. The PPP has governed this country in the most difficult times of our history. These include the post-1971 period, and the post-Zia and post-Musharraf eras. And in spite of all these challenges, the party has many accomplishments under its belt. Furthermore, it is the PPP that has always been at the receiving end of the ‘Deep state’s’ efforts to destabilise elected civilian governments, and despite that it has taken some important decisions, many of which proved to be beneficial for the country in the long run.

Those who want specific examples of this need to look no further than our nuclear programme, the 1973 Constitution, the Heavy Mechanical Complex, the Eighteenth Amendment, the Seventh National Finance Commission Award, the Benazir Income Support Programme amongst many others.

Khalid Aziz

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2012.