The wash out?
LANDSLIDE DEFEAT BY NATIONALISTS IN KPK.
khurshidalam44@ hotmail.com Dated 17/4/13
In my humble opinion the total rejection by the masses of the nationalists is neither unexpected
nor surprising. You reap what you sow. Having a faith in the philosophy of Bacha Khan and my long and close relations with the top most leadership as a worker and student since 1962, I wished that my analysis and observations had proved wrong and we should have done a little better. It was the wish and prayers of all dedicated and ideological members that theirs fears of the known proves wrong I was no exception, but it was not to be.
What exactly I felt and analysed during five years of nationalist rule turned out to be more in conformity with fears and expectations. Service and deed stands high and nations rarely make mistake. Historians and analysts do speak lies but not the history and realities. When I was on election trail in Buner to smooth out the differences between the workers and local leadership, I was told by a ninety years old nationalist that for us it is a Pukhto but the fact, a common man is looking forward to a new election and they are sick and tired of us.
He told me a Pukhto tapa:
ملا به خداي شه ازان وايه. ده زني سر مي اشنا كندي كندي كو.
It shows the disappointment and dejection in the public. When the bigs left for homesl, the workers told me that it was the first time we saw our elected leader in one a half year and to shake hands with us because of your presence. They very frankly told that there will be a tough competition on Babak seat and no where else. One of senior member endorsed their views. The same was told about swat and Jandool. None Dr. Sb; none, it is all over . I was shocked but kept my nerves. I did convey it to a very selfless young leader and could feel his pain but he sounded as if he is helpless. (Conveyed to the party telephonically)
I don't feel sad nor having guilt complex. I have always been a strong critic of my party conduct. I raised my voice in all forums inside the party. I have been doing so the days of two babas and was always encouraged for constructive criticism. Rather it was one of my duty. I kept on trying this time as well but in vain, to invite the attention of the leadership towards the destructive process of thinking we were pursuing. Our colleagues of words and wisdom kept silent. I would agree with one of them who told me the two reasons, the crisis of confidence in our selves to lead and the fear to be maligned. Those who led the party betrayed the masses and corrupted the philosophy particularly on provincial level.
Our tragedy is that once we are in the government we are shut to reasons and suggestions, gag any un soothing voice, cruel to ideological workers and coward to those who could hit back.. Not only I confined my self to writing articles and blogs but kept on telling our responsible provincial leadership and had lengthy discussions with them here and Kabul but had to listen to their sweet commentary in return without realism. Some were aware but felt helpless. The central leadership was pleaded again and again to honour me to listen my point of view for the sake of rejection but was denied an audience. We ignored Wali khan advice. When we decided to take part in the parliamentary election and subsequently joined the coalition government with Maulana Mufti Mehmood he made a historical speech that we have two aims, to know the nucleus of power in Pakistan and to use the chair to further our aim and serve those who fought for freedom. Before his death he pointed out specifically who to be trusted and who not to be trusted. Unfortunately we did contrary to what he said.
I was told by a very senior member of the party that once he was told by another senior member to stop criticising, it upsets the bigs and added " why don't you keep quiet? It hurts all of us but neither it is the party of my father nor yours. At least they have the have one genuine claim." He said, I realised his logic and my fault.
To start with, we claimed to be the continuation of khudai- khidmatgar and were trusted. People expected us that we will complete an unfinished mission of 1948 this time, with honesty and zeal. In return we disappointed them more than our opponents and used it as a luxury ride, showed no difference of character and integrity than others. As we had none of the two. It was winter grand sale or better called loot.
People voted us to power to bring peace let us be honest to say that it was an international game and many players were involved, it was beyond the scope of a provincial government to deal with it. But no doubt enormous sacrifices were given by the party leaders workers and public. This is not a benefit of doubt but stark fact.
Thirdly I was begging for the last five years that if we better focus our attention to change the process of thinking of the masses by our deeds, it will be more paying in the long run. We could root out corruption and nepotism as it does not cost money or extra financial resources but it flourished, it needed honesty of purpose no one in the chair had it. We failed in it because a corrupt organisation can bring forward corrupt candidates.
As one of the minister said in confidentiality that God has offered us an opportunity and not to exploit the opportunity is a folly. We failed to take the power to the door steps of the masses nor we held our principles high that to serve the human beings is a service to God. To make the people realise that we are servants not masters and believe in service not political gimmick.
As one of the disgruntled senior member told me that intra party dictatorship has tightened the noose that it can ruin the life long struggle of an honest member by issuing an edict. It is a closed shop. Dissent is a very big leap but a small suggestion in right direction could ruin one's whole political career.
The youngster were totally ignored. They kept on begging for classes, corner meetings and reading material but were never heard. How could we expect them, not to vote for a directionless party. Did we armed them with knowledge, logic and a direction? One of highly placed student leader told me that there are 98,000 students in Peshawar university with forty five thousand supporting staff. In this little KPK they had 150 members divided in several faction as the leaders wanted it to be that way. He told me that the major split in Pk.S.F was due to allotting a Bacha Khan's seat in Indra Gandhi university to the son of a leader at the top with total disregard of merits and sacrifices rendered by others. The irony was the same top leader told me in confidentiality that we have only one minister who is honest, the rest all are corrupt.
To bring a little relief to the miseries of the general masses we added to them. Where ever we had the elected members, the masses were looted by both, the chosen and organisational bosses. And where ever we had no elected candidate the party leaders robbed the people. To grab the top post in the party at district level, one had to have two criterion, loyalty to provincial or central leaders and having 0.15 to 0.3 million rupees to pay for fake membership lists. It was astonishing that the provincial chief declared it historical membership drive. This is what I saw with my own eyes. Out of our five senses only seeing is believable hearing and speaking can cheat us. Since the structure of the organisation was based on money so instead of workers a cadre of servants was created whose loyalty was not to the party but to personalities.
I presume it is neither a personal attack, nor fabrication but pointing out our own collective failures. The bigs have a big share and the smallest have share according to the status like vital and non vitals organs in the body causing death. Unless we accept our failures and experiment with truth as Bacha Khan preached for a century it will show our dishonesty to his teachings and the sacrifices of his followers.
As Wali Khan used to say every Pukhtun has the right to criticise the party but must be proportionate to his sacrifices and contribution to the party. To qualify my statement should not be taken by the readers that I am trying to hide behind sand bags but I feel we must peel of the onion paw by paw to reach the core of the matter. It is not a trade organisation but a movement to shape our national destiny. If I am punished for my words, it will be a great honour for my faith in the teachings of Bacha khan, Wali Khan and Ajmal Khattak. To me they are history makers and histories in themselves, not just personalities. I detest personality cult. An English proverb at this point will may help us to chalk out future policy, "it is no point to adjust our minds unless we realise that fault is lying in reality."
We must stop personal and public mud slinging at each others, but in a proper forum with complete freedom of expression find out our weaknesses and the causes for our historical set back. The wisdom and knowledge teach us to find our weaknesses not of others. What the enemy did to us is of least significance the history will hold us responsible for our own silence. But we must keep in view that we as a party were under house arrest by Taliban, the actual election commission. Had we done better during our rule probably the result would have been different. But we had nothing to tell our people and the Taliban factor has covered up our full exposure that would have been disastrous.
Out political gains by our parliamentarians are worth to be commended but did we deliver its fruit to the masses?? But was our attitude and character dignity of that standard?
Those who didn't do well immediately responded to their setbacks. PPP has appointed an accountability committee under barrister Aithezaz. MQM has also started dissolution of certain committees and appointing probing committees. But ANP is sitting crossed fingers as if nothing has happened. A meeting of faithful think tank was considered sufficient.
Think tanks are not made of faithfuls though the word faithful is difficult to interpret. Do we mean faithful to the philosophy or personalities, it is to be clarified first? This knot must be undone. The think tank word is self explanatory. Unless we stop looking at facts with jaundiced or myopic eyes we cannot materialise the dream of Bacha Khan and his followers and will remain in debt to our history, soil and nation.
The total sweep in central Pakhtunkhwa particularly in Swabi by opponents is our doing. We could see that happening but failed to show flexibility or do away with our rigid posture in the name of party discipline. I really wish it that discipline was there and observed by all and not as a tool to gage the dissenting voices. Once again we became the handle of the axe in the hands of Ranjeet Singh.
If we look at the rest of Pakistan there is hardly an un expected change. In Punjab there is a big swing towards Nawaz sharif. He has been in power himself three time and his brother ruled 64 percent of Pakistan. This will be an exaggeration that it was a corruption free society but deliverance to the masses was unabated..
It was a swing to JAG PUNJABI JAG. The shadows of death were at harmony with them. Being an industrialist the industrialists support was unwavering and the elites of Punjab could see better job opportunities. They ran their electoral campaign with co-ordination and maintained a sustained pressure and focused on the interest of Punjab, the only party who supported Hazara province without mentioning saraiki and Potohar. I assume they had convinced the military bosses for better behaviour. Imran khan slogan of change failed to make a deep bite in JAG PUNJABI JAG. He swept away PPP from the Punjab and ANP from KPK.
We knew almost well in advance the feelings of the people and their dejection . We also knew what will be the security state of our candidates and workers. We knew who is the real election commission. What steps were taken to counter it. I was told by well informed that there were two party organs and two governmental organisation in the field to feed back those with powers.
What steps were taken to counter the enemy design. Why the criminal were projected as "INNOCENT" and fielded to contest in such odd circumstances. Bacha khan did not make a political party in Pakhtoon to divide the nation but a brotherhood to unite the nation. We are all heir to him if we have pat and nang and kill our ego and talk of national ego.
The Interior sindh did not abandoned their loyalty to Bhutto family. The Sindhi nationalists with punjabi vested interest failed to break that bond. Their campaign was exactly like ours, leaderless and the candidates with leaders under house arrest. But constant touch with masses paid the dividends.
Baluchistan mandate is as usual fractured and provided room to the others to put their house in order or disorder it beyond repair. Pakhtoon milli party did better in Pukhtun belt. It is for the first time that JUI has no chips to play in either province or in the centre to keep on cashing. I feel sorry for him but offer no advice. Wish him best of luck. He was damaged by his symbol, kitab, denied him the opportunity to present it to the voters as Quran. In previous campaign they fooled the people that prophet is counting their votes this time that role was taken over by Taliban.
Just to accept defeat with reservation and congratulate the opponents is giving us a moral edge over the others but does not solve our problem unless we probe our weaknesses and rectify them. We need a thorough analysis and without fear, guilt to point out the responsible for wrong policies and wrong doing like corruption and nepotism. We have five years to reconstruct our shattered house if we decide to think frankly. We must desist to personalise the criticism but approach the problem that it was a collective set back, but the vitals will have big share than non vitals. They have to accept but of course those who are eroding the philosophy must be asked to show their back and walk towards exit.
I feel it is easy to criticise but it is difficult to accept others's criticism. It is easy to write an article without showing the exit from the mess. In my humble opinion the following procedure if adopted will enable us to do justice to our selves.:
To select a think tank of people which is think tank in spirit, knowing the back ground of the whole movement and present circumstances. Once again I must emphasise that as for as they have the ache for Pukhtun should be included and personal faithfulness should be flung out. Students and youngster must be an integral part of this tank.
In second stage the base should be broadened and represent every district and all section of the society.
Out of these two sessions a committee should be formed who should discuss with the provincial and central leadership followed by the executive committee. And sit till we reach a decision.
We must cleans the party from mentally corrupt. The cleansing should be across the board and not limited to a person or section. We must abandoned to say it is right but keep quiet this is wrong. Honest is honest and thief is a thief. It is of no significance if this exercise cost us two elections.
The early we start when the wounds are fresh and the pain is sharp than to postpone it as usual when the feelings are blunt with the passage of time the better it is. THOSE WHO ARE SCARED OF TRUTH CAN NEVER MAKE HISTORY.
Let us break this silence of fear before the history hold us for our silence. If you see the truth and cease to speak is equal to be stake holder in the crime.
The intra party phobia and dictatorship must be smashed, to have a moral base to ask others for democracy in the country. There is a sharp edge between intra party dictatorship and discipline. A disciplinary and accountability committee will ensure its proper execution.
Let us be stake holder not shoe shiner. If we must break the chain of fear there remain nothing to stop us to tell the truth about ourselves and others. The dirt and filth must be cleaned but we are clean ourselves? Let us have increase depth of wisdom, not the expertise of buttering. WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THAT UNFINISHED MISSION LEFT TO US BYMERTYRS.
