File photo of President Zardari in front of Benazir Bhutto's portrait. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
It was not a love inspired by the motivation of self. Bashir Ahmed Malik, the man who ran Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) foreign affairs wing for a long time, recently quit the party after growing disillusioned with the direction it has taken under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari.
A stalwart for 40 years, Malik’s love affair with the PPP began when it was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1967. He admired the charismatic former prime minister and his daughter Benazir Bhutto. But everything changed when she was assassinated and Zardari became co-chairman of the party.
Malik identified the reasons which triggered his decision to quit the PPP and join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. For one, Benazir’s murder investigation has been swept under the carpet, he says. “How can the regime which owes its existence to the martyrdom of BB go to the people once again to sell the same sacrifice,” he questioned.
“Saying adieu to a party after four decades of active association is not a painless shift,” he told The Express Tribune. His decision to leave is now opening up doubts for other passionate and diehard members of the party who are still clinging to the past without understanding the realities of the present.
Malik argued that corruption had skyrocketed under the present government and the average citizen had not been provided food, clothing, shelter, education and health care. He felt that the government had also failed to tackle militancy.
The current policy on terrorism seemed to be one of appeasing extremist mindsets and fighting the root causes of terrorism was the only way progress would be made.
He argued that it failed to uphold the rule of law and establish its writ, which is why the country has been engulfed by turmoil. The present regime has no political will to spearhead a peaceful transfer of power after the general elections.
Malik said the elections would be a litmus test for the government and other political parties.
He claimed the uncertainty generated by the rulers had paralysed the nation beyond redemption. “Uncertainty is a weapon of war and it cannot be used by governments against their own people.
“The vision of Bhutto and Benazir will rule the hearts and minds of the people of this country forever, while the current crop of rulers are hell bent on demolishing the legacy of the martyrs. I find myself unable to be part of this subtle anti-people and anti-state conspiracy.”
However, PPP Senator Saeed Ghani said Malik’s allegations that PPP failed to deliver on its pledges since Zardari took over were baseless. He said the reason behind Malik’s resignation was that Zardari could not accommodate him in the party.
“If Malik thinks PPP backtracked on Bhutto’s vision then he should at least not join PML-N, a party whose vision does not match Bhutto’s vision.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Aamir - Toronto: I agree with you. His timing to leave the party just before the election is totally wrong. Even though he stayed with the party for forty yrs. He left PPP and joined PMLN right away is wrong step. How come he came to know about corruption just in the last few days or months?
Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me
PMLN should not give any ticket for election to this turncoat.
Disclaimer. I am not member of any political party.
And who is he again?
@san: What did you put in your cornflakes this morning?
@Aamir - Toronto: Shame on you for saying like that. Do you even know who is Bashir Malik??? He was in PPP for more than 40 years and he is not a Selfish Being. He was the stalwart of PPP and he took tough stance against Dictators and his life was threatened but he remained firm with PPP and with Bhuttos. If we wanted to win the elections then he would have left PPP during Zia's or Musharraf's time but he never did. Even many parties came in power and go but he remained with PPP all the time. Kindly do your research before talking like that. But sorry to say that is how to repay the services of more than 40 years to the party by calling him Opportunists.
The vision of Bhutto and Benazir??? what was that?
He most likely does not want to get into the ' bad books ' of his masters overseas ........the news item says he ran the party's foreign affairs wing.........now thats loyalty for you.
Ambassador Bashir Malik, by his resignation, has given credence to the saying: "abandoning the ship just before its' sinking." It would have given him some credibility had he taken this step right after Mr. Zardari had taken over the reins of the PPP. Also, it should be remembered that corruption reached its' height during Benazir Bhutto's tenure when she appointed Mr. Zardari as Minister for Investments after he was severely criticized for being "Mr. 10 percent." Also, it is not hard to forget that Tehreek e Taliban in Pakistan was created under Ms. Bhutto's watch. It is one thing to serve under a corrupt government and totally another to be unfaithful even to the party that has nurtured you. Better than Amb. Malik is Sher Afgan Niazi, in terms of loyalty, who stuck with Musharraf almost to the last while the dictator was breaking all norms of civility.
How ironic, he chosen PML N, who supports militancy form day first and make alliances with groups who are butchering Shia's. Going on right direction.
Now if this oppurtunist had joined PTI....
Only members with poor performance and no hope of getting party tickets are leaving and joining other parties in search of tickets.
And now just before the elections he suddenly realized that corruption had skyrocketed under the present government and the average citizen had not been provided food, clothing, shelter, education and health care..........remember the famous quote by Abraham Lincoln You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time