From PPP to PML-N: Bashir Malik disgruntled by party course under Zardari

The veteran politician served PPP selflessly, but it all changed when Benazir was killed.

ISLAMABAD:

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 3^rd, 2013.