Salahuddin Haider
OPPOSITION, united in an 11-party alliance, called the Pakistan Democratic Movement succeeded in holding its anti-government rally at Baghe Ibne Qasim in Multan Monday, but emergence of Asif Bhutto in politics was a new and important factor. The government, ministers, federal and from the province of Punjab tried their best to keep leaders like Mualana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, and others away from fulfilling their objective.
They cited spread of Corona pandemics as the main threat, for it would endanger human lives, but nothing worked. After PML-N and PPP workers broke through the main gate and other entry points, and even removed huge containers from their way, the administration very wisely ordered ever hurdle which it itself had erected, ordered to be removed.
That was indeed a great gesture for it helped what may have turned into mayhem as over 4000 policemen were deployed to obstruct the gathering from being held. Maryam Nawaz reached the venue from Lahore, while Asifa, the youngest of Benazir’s or ASif Zardari’s children, took a chartered flight to Multan. She had to accept this responsibility because her brother Bilawal was still in isolation after being struck by pandemic.
He first had decided to join the speakers through video link, but probably was advised against to avoid extra labour for the virus hits the lungs which could prove fatal.It was better for him to watch silently the proceedings, like he did at the time of mangni ritual of his elder sister Bakhtawar last week. Experts seemed excited about Asifa’ new role, but waited for her performance. Whether she too could really be a firebrand like her grandfather Z A Bhutto, or mother Benazir, neither of them in this world now.
Bilawal too took a long time learning to be a speaker, reading from previously prepared texts, given to him by his speech writers. Bakhtawar is yet to be seen following the footsteps of her elders, but since hereditary politics is the name of the game in Pakistan, her entry into the fray, if really materializes would not be a surprise. Pundits recalled her and Bakhtawar’s role in opposing the entry into PPP of former Pervez Musharaaf conglomerate Irfanullah Marwat. Zardari had little choice but to bow before children’s demand, as any resistance or over-ruling them would have caused rebellion in the family, which no politician can afford.
Like-wise the three siblings were vehemently opposed to People Party shaking hands with former Punjab chief minister, and current speaker of the Punjab Assembly Chaudhri Pervaiz Ilahi so much so that Asif Zardari labeled the entire Q league as “qatil league”(the gang of the murderers). Benazir’s children have inherited politics from their grand father who founded the Peoples Party in 1967 after falling out from the grace of country’s first military dictator General Ayub Khan soon after the Tashkent declaration was signed in December 1965, between Ayub Khan, and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Bhutto cashed on the anti-Ayub sentiments by promising to bring the cat out of the bag about Tashkent treaty, but that promise could never be fulfilled.
