Pakistan

Deals with dictators: Javed Hashmi tells party chief to say sorry

PML-N leader’s statement comes amid reports of internal rift.

Zia Khan April 22, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

Prominent PML-N stalwart Javed Hashmi has apologised for serving as a cabinet member under former military dictator Gen Zia ul Haq and had advised his party’s leader, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to apologise to the nation for striking a deal with another dictator, Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Hashmi, who is the only prominent PML-N figure from the Seraiki belt, has been sidelined from the mainstream of the party despite the fact that his four-year detention during Musharraf’s rule kept the party alive when Sharif family was in exile.

The Sharif family accepted a deal to go into exile in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, after the PML-N chief was ousted by the general in a bloodless military coup in October 1999.

Hashmi said in a speech he delivered to the National Assembly on Thursday that it was a mistake to leave behind political workers to “face the tyranny of a dictator.”

It was the first public comment from within the PML-N against the party’s top leadership, though second-tier leaders often complain in private conversations about the way Sharif brothers run the party.

The Seraiki belt is widely seen as the decisive factor in 2013 elections and any resentment by PML-N members from the region can hurt its campaign to seek a victory. Hashmi was sidelined after he came out in support of a separate Seraiki province, something that the PML-N is opposed to.

However, the PML-N’s political opponents – the ruling PPP, the MQM and the PML-Q – now support a Seraiki province and have just formed a political alliance likely to stay intact until the 2013 elections.

Hashmi made the argument again on Thursday, justifying his stance by saying that it would increase the efficiency of government administration.

“Today, the population of Punjab is even more than what we had when Pakistan came into being…we should love the country and not the province,” said Hashmi. “What we have to do is to set a formula for new units and provinces should be formed following the wishes and aspirations of our people…we should decentralise powers to the grass-roots level.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (25)

Dforcent | 13 years ago | Reply i think he is old enough and old horse need to be treated as well. musharaf meet with musharaf and imran khan and hashmi meet to imran khan, i think now he is going for the chamak and criticising Nawaz Sharif. very bad hashmi sb you hurted all muslim leagies and pakistanis.

shahid | 13 years ago | Reply i think we should give way to new and motivated persons like IMRAN KHAN, these previous senior politicians are many times time tested and everyone knows what is PAKISTAN now just because of their own interests or mistakes or whatever. i definately like the boldness of Mr.Hashmi but PAKISTAN right now needs more than mere apologies for what someone did before. everyone is beging his pardon like Mr.MUSHARRAF did few months ago but is this enough, for GOD sake you people were running the country not handling a cup of tea that after breaking it you say "oh i am sorry, please forgive me next time it won't happen". please don't apologise let us give new people a try .

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Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Count down has begun.

Syed Hussain Jafri | 13 years ago | Reply Its appreciated but this one sorry is not enough because this appology has come out when he is been hurt personally, he should do more. The good thing is that he has leaked out the secret about the deal between sharifs and Musharraf. Unfortunately at the moment he is the only one in PML-N who is brave and have courage to say but he should tell the entire nation that why were you quiet since Dec 1999, you knew about the deal? We all need answer of this question.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Attar of Nishapur said; A true document may contain seven layers of truth. A writing or a speech which appears to have no significance may have as many layers of truth. What seems to be absurdity and is not, is better than the ignorance of the man who thinks it is absurd. Dear Moderator, Perhaps your team made a mistake in publishing my earlier comment, as there were words that I used which perhaps against the norms of our national psyche such as- Integrity, moral courage, conviction, truth, falsehood, reformation and hogwash.Since I received this in my email and nothing about my request to remove me from your mailing list as we difference in our thought of expression. I did not attack anyone in person with regards to my comments on some issues published in your website.I see this as Discrimination.

zubair azam khan | 13 years ago | Reply Mr.Hashmi u were top of list when u were speaking against Sir Bhutto in 1976 when zia came in you accpeted the ministership please keep quite now.U have no dignity no code u just a opportunist like your leaders Nawaz brothers.They will go to history as dishonest and opportunist rest of people like u will follow.

Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply According to the reliable and independent sources, Hashmi has no huge amount in any foreign bank, he has not been involved in any corruption case in the past. I am very happy to hear his views regarding the national politics, he is true in his views. Apologize,apologize about the mistakes have made by us in past by supporting the military dictators. World political philosophers predicted and predicting,democracy in Pakistan impossible, if we adopt his principles we can convert it into ''possible'' But you would see no one move forward to say sorry for his mistakes. On the contrary, a political party inviting to good general for moving toward the center of power corridors.

Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply He was real and stated reality. The fact is that there is no one like him in politics. What he said,all is right,yes i am absolutely agree with him when he saying the money reserved in the foreign banks must come back,it is good way to stabilize our economy. Yes,right, if you want to love with democracy,it is indispensable for you to apologize your mistakes made in the past.otherwise you can not put the train on the right track. Thank you, Mr.Hashmi, for good observation and suggestions. I like it very much,I have never seen you personally now I want to see you from very short distance.

Arshad Jamal Butt | 13 years ago | Reply @Imran: Mr. Imran i have right to say anything and you have right to oppose it. If Javed Hashmi said something about Faisal Abidi i don not agree with him because in my personal opinion he use to flatter a person who has most corrupt history in Pakistan to gain positions. He is living in PC hotel and PIA is paying and Javed Ch. said in his programme about him as Javed hashmi said something in his favour. if you like him or have some affiliation with PPP then you would obviously like Javed Hashmi's comment not Javed Ch comment. As a common man we all have to be partial and neutral then we can see things clearly. You may argue whatever i said but i will have my own arguments what you will say further, hence, we should not use ironic type of words as Mr. Abidi use in favour of President Zar dardi but he got senator ship. What you will get i do not know. .

arif | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Hashmi it does not matter, we in fact want a change, people cant be ruled through the law of the land but Law of Quran & Sunnah unless and untill all u people are not flushed out, things cant move on righ way. There is need of Removal of Evils from the system

S. H. Zaidi | 13 years ago | Reply The people should beware of both fake 'democrats' and the military dictators, whether of the 'islami nizam' or 'real democracy' and 'enlightened moderation' fame. The two so-called big parties, and the smaller but no-better parties that enabled the PPP to form the coalition government, are all filled with holes too big to plug. What are these fake 'democrats' up to? They are too busy either in senseless academic exercises such as calling for 'apologies,' ‘reconciliation’ with all and sundry without regard to present and past misdeeds, and revisiting trials and, on the ground, in projects like Benazir income support programs' or 'sasti roti' schemes to deliver anything of value to the nation. Apology or no apology, there is little likelihood of change in the current situation because what we have going by the name 'leaders' are pygmies whose sole occupation is to defend their political or pecuniary interests. What is the purpose of all such outbursts? Even before we decipher the purpose, what is the motivation? Obviously, Hashmi is merely giving vent to his feelings against his leadership, for reasons that are best guessed as purely personal. Another great statement from Hashmi: "One needs a doctorate to understand the president's political moves!" Since when have got into the PhDs business of decoding street smart people's moves? The problem with this country is that you can plunder and pilfer billions and then get 'pardoned' or make a straight face and start speaking of reconciliation a la National Reconciliation Ordinance -- Reconciliation without admitting or speaking the truth!

Saad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply 100 chohay kha k Bili chali Hajj ko... Well, how about we forget rather than forgive.We all forget Nawaz Sharif and his lot of cronies that they existed and vote for someone new.

Hafsah Karachi | 13 years ago | Reply Selfish politicians , we can expect anything from them to be in power.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Arshad Jamal Butt sahab, why should Raza Abidi criticize his party leadership when Javed Hashmi praises him by saying: "Mr Hashmi said he had told “friends” they had to do a doctorat...e degree to “understand the politics of Asif” (Ali Zardari). “Friends, you need a PhD degree for this,” he said, and added: “The way he has played the game of politics, no one else can.”

salim | 13 years ago | Reply 'MAAFI" doesn't cut it! Law of the land should be applied. Our jails would be empty if 'MAAFI' concept was applied all round!

ArifQ | 13 years ago | Reply Hashmi Sahib showing real spine, welcome call.

All BS | 13 years ago | Reply I do not doubt his sincerity, we have seen him stand by his words despite spending four years in jail, he is outspoken and puts peoples interest ahead pf his personal and party interests. But Mr Hashmi.... how do you explain the fact that you are still in the Sharif brothers party despite everything?? We want you to be a lion, who leads rather than a sheep that gets sent to slaugther

Asmat Jamal | 13 years ago | Reply Javed Hashmi is in a wrong company. He needs to reconsider his political priorities. I would suggest to him to join Imran Khan insted and take a new start.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply I simply detesit PML-N and its leadership, to use the term loosely. They are now a local Punjab party and an off spring of Zia's dictatorial rule. However, I have a great respect for Hashmi. If I have to do it, I would vote for Hashmi no matter what party he belongs to. Honesty is the reason he was in jail in Mush's era, while Sharifs were living in palaces. He kept the party from further break up and ran it like a tiger. I salute him for his honesty and independence. Who says politicians are bad people? He can be favorably compared to any military dictator in Pakistan. Mirza, USA

Arshad Jamal Butt | 13 years ago | Reply I think he is the only Tiger in Pakistan who can speak truth. Rest of the politicians are just spoons of so called top leaders. You can see Faisal Raza Abidi, Fozia Wahab, Khursheed Shah, Babar Awan, Farooq Sattar, Waseem Haider, Pervaiz Elahi, Sheikh Waqas Akram and even all of them are just praising their top leaders to gain senator ships, Ministries and other facilities. What these people have given to masses inflation, most expensive electricity and all consumable things are out of reach of a common man. What was slogan of PPP Roti, Kapra or Makan. Its time to think and CHANGE. We need a leader who just have 1 quality which is sincerity then we shall see INSHALLAH change.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Only persons with Integrity have Moral Courage to speak with conviction the facts that bare the difference between truth and falsehood. This is not the first time that Javed Hashmi has spoken to bring real changes in the political system. In these columns I have written that our political parties are MOM and POP stores and need radical reformation. The Sharif Brothers have two choices accuse Hashmi and sack him from the party or hod free and fair elections to elect members of the Central Committee where no member of Nawaz family should contest for next five to ten years. But do the two brothers have the moral courage to accept such terms or their talk of democracy is only hogwash. We will not be surprised if Hashmi is shown the door and left to seek a new shelter in this wilderness. But if they decide to act upon the changes we would know that they do possess some solid material.

Concern Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply Its good that he apologize but unfortunately they only say sorry when they are personally hurt by party. Why it took him 25 years to say sorry. but i still appreciate that he say sorry and demand same from his party leadership.

SAIF | 13 years ago | Reply Its about time uncle...If anyone could stand up to those two wannabe dictators it was you...We need you to go on and not back out and they will offer you everything but I know you are better than the Sharifs Best of luck and fingers crossed for the new Muslim League

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply This man javed hashmi, i always admire even though i dont like his party at all. Brave stance and now it is crystal clear that why he is being sidelined from mainstream,,,shareef brothers are more dictators than the "dictator" and they can not tolerate anyone voicing against them irrespective of rationale,,

Shahryar Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Hahahahaha, a good one. But unfortunately Mr. Hashmi, a sorry for serving Zia-ul-Haq is not good enough. Please we all should remember that we are in this mess today because of him. As for Musharraf, he was & is more democratic than most our present day's leaders. All Hail Democracy!!!!!!!!!

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