Revolution is just a word – what we want is a revamp, says Sardar Assef

Former foreign minister joins ranks with PAT; predicts ‘landslide victory’ for Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD:

‘Revolution’ is just a word – what we want is a revamp of the existing system as the ruling elites have occupied the country through rigged elections and maintained the status quo, explains former foreign minister and veteran politician from Kasur, Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali.

Speaking with The Express Tribune, Sardar Assef says he is waging a war against the very system he has been a part of for the last three decades by supporting the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Assef, an Oxford University graduate, has been elected to the National Assembly in the general elections in 1985, 1990, 1993 and 2008 from his home constituency, Kasur. He served as foreign minister during Benazir Bhutto’s first stint in power in 1990 and later as deputy chairman Planning Commission and minister for education and training in Yousaf Reza Gilani’s cabinet.

Assef joined the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for a brief period and left after he was not awarded a party ticket for last year’s elections. He lost the elections as an independent candidate. Despite parting ways with Imran Khan, Sardar Assef says he holds no grudges and fully supports the Azadi march.

Justifying his departure from the PPP, he claims the Zardari-led government sabotaged development projects recommended by him as deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and as education minister.

Assef describes himself as a ‘coalition partner’ with PAT, saying he is ‘disillusioned’ with traditional political parties who have failed to deliver on their promises for the last 35 years. “Having been a part of the system, I know how the present status quo deprives poor people of their rights,” he maintained.

“This is the first time that the poor have come out onto the streets to break this status quo.”  He describes Dr Qadri as the only leader after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who has ‘challenged the system’.

“PAT workers are victims of state brutality,” he says. “Why is the prime minister reluctant to resign from office for just one month if it is in the interest of the people?” he asks. He feels the PM and CM Punjab must leave office until the completion of the investigation into the clash at Model Town in June that left 14 PAT workers dead.

Condoning the storming of Pakistan Television’s headquarters last month, he said ‘some strangers’ were responsible for the incident. “PAT workers did not enter the Parliament building, they just staged a sit-in on the lawn, which I do not think breaches the sanctity of the Parliament,” he feels.

Describing Dr Qadri as a ‘long term’ leader, Sardar Assef says, “We want a revolution now or never. We will protest as long as Nawaz Sharif is in power.”

He added, “Not only am I optimistic that we will change the system, I am fully confident that this movement will bring revolution in the country.” He predicted that PTI leader Imran Khan will have a ‘landslide victory’ in the next elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2014.