Comments Zubair Qureshi
For all the tall claims and promises made by the leadership of the newly born Awam Pakistan Party (APP) at a local hotel in the federal capital here on Saturday, one could not help recalling former President Farooq Laghari’s Millat Party (MP), that too was carved out of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a conglomerate of the like minded.
However, in the case of the MP, neither the former president nor his party could last long and his son today is a key minister in the government of the PML-N.
What makes the APP distinct from the MP, is its Convener, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was neither ‘betrayed’ nor thrown out of the party by his leader Mian Nawaz Sharif, rather the latter had recently in a speech acknowledged his contributions and called him an asset for the PML-N.
In his speech, too, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi admitted he had very good relations with the Sharif Brothers and his only difference with the party leadership was their insistence to stay in power at all costs.
“This is something I could not come to terms with because for me staying in power by making compromises and risking democracy and constitution is like ruining my entire political career,” said the ex-PM in his long speech.
He hit the government hard for ignoring the poor and salaried class in the Federal and Provincial Budgets 2024-25 and questioned whether in the world there was a precedent of imposing tax on milk. Such things take place only in Pakistan, he regretted.
According to a political analyst, Ahmed Ejaz, the birth of a new party is always good for democracy and political stability. It is like a whiff of fresh air and therefore you can see a large number of journalists, members of civil society and academia to welcome this change in society, he said.
There were however those too who did not agree with Ahmed Ejaz’ point of view. It is like an assembly of the outdated politicians whom people have observed, examined, tested and rejected, said another journalist, editor of an English newspaper wishing not to be mentioned. While they (Abbasi, Miftah Ismail and Zafar Mirza) were in power why they didn’t do something for the good of the community, he asked.
Former Finance Minister and current Secretary General of the APP, Miftah Ismail in his speech admitted he could not deliver as Finance Minister. I was not free and was part of a government that largely benefitted the ruling class, he said. “A government that cannot provide relief to the masses and protects the rights and privileges of the upper class is useless,” he said.
He also made it clear that none of the APP members would occupy important positions in the government for more than two tenures. This would be an important step towards the evolution of real democracy in the country.
“This is why today we have reached such an abysmal state of affairs that our 20.6 million children of school going age are out of school and sadly it doesn’t bother the government.” Former KP governor and Chief Minister Sardar Mehtab Abbasi also criticized the traditional politics and mindset in Pakistan saying in our country, unfortunately, a political party’s policy revolves around the leader of that party and the party members have little say.
Former Health Minister, Zafar Mirza tried to dismiss the notion that APP was established under the aegis of the Establishment. We are at the crossroads of history and it is time we take a firm step towards restoration and supremacy of the constitution and rule of law, he said.
