End of an era

Mairaj Muhammad Khan symbolised that generation of activists and politicians, whose members spent their entire lives fighting for a just, egalitarian and democratic Pakistan. In his death, Pakistan has not only lost a committed politician, but an institution of democratic politics. Mairaj Muhammad Khan’s active political struggle lasted for over 40 years and came with a heavy price. He spent over 13 years in the jails of various military governments as well as during the government of his own Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). As a student leader, he led the struggle against Ayub Khan’s regime, stood up to Yahya Khan, witnessed the break-up of Pakistan, lived through Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s tenure and execution, and played a central role in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy, which was a united front of political parties against the military dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq. He was among the few honest storytellers — and writers — of Pakistan’s political history.

Although his role in the PPP, of which he was a key founding member, was most prominent, he realised there was little space left for him in a party that he felt had veered away from its original goals and he resigned from its executive committee in 1973. He also joined the PTI as a founding member, but left it following differences with Imran Khan and termed his association with it a great mistake. Mairaj Muhammad Khan’s close association with these mainstream political parties and inability to cope with the way they operated is reflective of the failure of our system, where leftist politicians have negligible space, if any, in mainstream politics. His death is a reminder of how many people have given their entire lives to the cause of justice and democracy. It is also a reminder of how so much remains unchanged despite the long-drawn struggles of these dedicated men and women. His death marks the end of era because not only have we lost someone who struggled for democratic and political rights of the common man all his life, but also because the nurseries of politics — colleges and universities — have been systematically disintegrated to prevent the emergence of such leaders. Pakistan has lost an honest caregiver, the presence of whom will be deeply missed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2016.

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