Random thoughts
The recently-held local bodies elections have shattered many myths/expectations. As expected, the PML-N was victorious in Punjab. Independent candidates did a wonderful job, winning a large number of seats.
The PPP was almost routed out (but came second) and the PTI came third. The independent candidates will probably join the ruling party since they will be needing development funds.
First, a few remarks about Imran Khan’s visit to India where he disclosed that more than 50 percent of our people are living below the poverty line. That may be so, but why did he not take the trouble to inform us how many Indians are living below the same poverty line? Did he bother to go and see the masses sleeping on the footpaths and answering the call of nature on railway tracks, etc.
Khan also magnanimously declared that he was not interested in becoming the PM while many of us have heard him say, on a number of occasions: “When I become PM, I will...”. While in India, he even raised accusations against the Election Commission of Pakistan.
However, that has not stopped him and his colleagues from sitting in the assemblies or running the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If one has complaints about the elections, then approach the Election Commission; if one is not satisfied with the outcome, go to the courts; if still not satisfied, then concentrate on organising your party and wait for the next elections.
After the Second World War, Churchill was flying very high. He was convinced he would win the elections on the basis of having won the war. But the British were well aware that winning a war was quite different to building a country up from the ruins of war; and Churchill was defeated by Attlee. After some time he went to the US.
Journalists there tried to provoke him into saying something negative about his country and the public. He just stared at them and growled: “Gentlemen, you don’t expect me to say something bad or negative about my country on foreign soil, do you?” Some of our leaders, on the contrary, have no hesitation in ridiculing our country and our leaders and institutions while abroad.
The fact is that the local bodies elections have taken the wind out of Imran Khan’s sails. He must have realised that those who enjoy dancing and merrymaking at rallies are not necessarily in the majority when it comes to voting. Most of our voters are poor and needy and monetary incentives play a major role in deciding elections.
Imran Khan also stated that he was not a diplomat politician. One wonders, how can one become a politician if one is not diplomatic.
The word ‘diplomat’ means an official representing a country abroad – a person who uses his/her skill and tact in dealing with people. A politician without such skills can never be a good politician. He also said that a good leader keeps an eye on all matters. True, but he seems to have lost touch with the feelings and needs of the people.
We had all hoped that he would bring change to the two-party system and infuse fresh blood and ideas into politics. Unfortunately, not so. His policies are as slogan-based as that of the other parties.
The success of the PML-N owes much to the hard work of Shahbaz Sharif and Hanif Abbasi. The CM is turning Punjab into an exemplary province and Hanif Abbasi has done an excellent job by completing many important projects. He had defeated Shaikh Rashid by almost 62,000 votes. In the last election, he lost to Imran Khan, but the latter has not been able to deliver, hardly even visiting the people who voted for him.
Hanif Abbasi has the following major projects to his credit: the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, Technical Training Institute, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus Service, Shahbaz Sharif Sports Complex, Chandni Chowk Flyover, Hockey Stadium, Government Viqarun Nisa Post-graduate Women College, Cricket Stadium, Pavilion Muslim High School for Boys in Satellite Town and Janiah School Dhok Kashmiri in Rawalpindi.
Abbasi sits in his office for two hours in the morning to meet the people of his constituency, listening to, and solving, their problems. I get quite a few people from Rawalpindi who require some sort of help, whom I then pass on to Hanif Abbasi, who often solves their problems. Just recently, some money was needed for a Christian Community Centre. At my request, he immediately helped them. May Allah shower His blessings on him and his family – Ameen.
Contrary to the excellent work and popularity of Hanif Abbasi, the CAD minister, has the reputation of not doing any work for the public – note the pitiable conditions of many roads, of the sewerage system and the lack of gas connections in Iqbal Town, Rawalpindi. Many requests made to him by the local people have been in vain. His eulogy of Mian Nawaz Sharif has paid off in the form of his CAD ministry.
As was to be expected, the PPP won the majority in the interior of Sindh while the MQM won a majority in Karachi. Imran Khan managed, with some difficulty, to retain Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
If the MQM wants to win more votes, they will have to drastically change their policies of strikes, threats, use of foul language, etc. The PPP should also take note of the changing times. Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s success in Badin is a warning written on the wall.
Tailpiece: Fellowships are available on Ghalibiat. The Ghalib Memorial Trust is offering these for research on Ghalib’s works. It is also for the promotion of the Urdu language.
Those interested can contact Tasleem Ahmad Tasawar at 21/12 Mian Chambers, 3 Temple Road, Lahore. Applications should reach by December 31, 2015.
Correction: In an earlier column on the conflict between religion and terrorism, I had wrongly identified Hazrat Ishaq (son of Hazrat Ibrahim) as having the name of ‘Israel’. Jews are the descendants of Hazrat Ishaq, but the name ‘Israel’ was used for Hazrat Yaqub (Ale-Imran, 93).
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khangmail.com