Dialogue with History, a collection of 39 interviews by Zahid Hussain with national and international leaders and social scientists, casts a spell on the readers, especially those keen to uncover historical facts buried beneath perspectives rarely accessible to the public.

This 623-page volume, featuring a striking cover and published by Lightstone Publishers, carries interviews originally published in Newsline and Herald magazines, where the author worked for decades. The roll of interviewees is impressive, all of them have left a significant mark on national or international politics and social structures.

Each interview is preceded by a brief introductory note from Hussain, providing helpful context for the reader. Of the 39 individuals featured, several, including Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Syed Fakhar Imam, Gen Aslam Baig, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Hamid Karzai, are alive. The rest have passed away.

The case of Masoud Rajavi, leader of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran, is unresolved: his disappearance in 2003 continues to be shrouded in mystery. Some believe that he is dead; others claim that he is alive but living underground.

While reading the book, the readers find themselves in conversation with each interviewee. They can assess their intellect and insight firsthand. For Pakistan’s Generation Z, this volume offers a rare opportunity to engage with historical figures such as the late Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, a symbol of resistance against tyranny; the late Muhammad Khan Junejo, the former prime minister who dared to challenge Gen Zia-ul Haq’s hegemony, knowing it could cost him his government; Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, a stalwart against dictatorship and a defender of democracy and the constitution; the late Rasool Bux Palijo, a powerful voice against Sindh’s feudal elite; the late Mairaj Muhammad Khan, a principled politician who walked away from power without hesitation, rejecting lucrative offers from Zia-ul Haq; and, of course, Habib Jalib, the iconic poet of resistance.

The book also features an interview with Abolhassan Banisadr, the first elected president of Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Banisadr recounts how the revolution succeeded, how the clergy consolidated power, why he was impeached and how he managed to escape to France.

Masoud Rajavi, who either died or mysteriously disappeared, discusses similarly weighty themes: the influence of the clergy in Iran and the assassination of President Muhammad Ali Rajai.

In his interview, Rajiv Gandhi comes across as deliberately ambiguous, perhaps due to policy considerations. One thing is clear, however: by 1989, he was eager to establish a more cordial relationship with Pakistan.

The readers finds themselves in conversation with each interviewee. They can assess their intellect and insight firsthand.

The collection holds numerous hidden truths and valuable lessons for students of Pakistan’s political history. In a 1987 interview, Makhdoom Talibul Maula, a founding member of the Pakistan Peoples Party and close friend of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (and father of the late Makhdoom Amin Fahim), claimed that the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy was launched following a message from the United States, suggesting that a strong movement could bring an end to Zia’s martial law. According to him, both Sindhi peasants and feudal lords joined the MRD, which still failed to achieve its objective following the deaths of several key leaders.

Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, in a separate 1984 interview, offered a different perspective. “Yes, there are some people in the MRD who, for their vested interests, do not want the involvement of the masses in the struggle beyond a certain limit. This is an inherent characteristic of the bourgeoisie and middle-class leadership,” he observed.

Likewise, Syed Fakhar Imam discusses the circumstances surrounding his victory in the race for the National Assembly speakership in 1985, defeating Khawaja Safdar, father of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had the backing of Gen Zia. Imam recalls that his candidacy was a spontaneous decision, taken by a group of newly elected parliamentarians within the span of four to six hours. The result was a surprising defeat for Zia’s chosen candidate.

The book includes three interviews with Nawaz Sharif, conducted in 1988, 1989 and 1994. These trace the evolution of his political maturity and acumen. However, the tone across all three conversations remains pro-establishment.

Of particular interest to Imran Khan’s supporters is an interview from 1986, when he was captain of the national scricket team. The discussion focuses on cricketing matters, team structure, players and shortcomings in the cricket board. Khan praises Mudassar Nazar, Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja, while indirectly criticising Saleem Malik and Mohsin Kamal.

The interview’s punch line may amuse some readers. When Zahid Hussain asked Imran Khan about his preferred candidate for the Board of Cricket Control for Pakistan (BCCP, now PCB), Khan replied that he wanted someone like Syed Fakhar Imam, someone who understood cricket and the affairs of the board. Interestingly, Imam won the 2018 general election as an independent candidate and joined the PTI. Yet, despite his stature as a former speaker of the National Assembly, Imran Khan failed to put his experience to good use. He was instead given the largely ceremonial portfolio of Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination.

This book is essential reading for young journalists and students of media studies, as it offers a master class in the art of conducting effective interviews.

As Rehana Hakim, the former editor of Newsline, aptly notes on the back flap: “This book is a vital historical document, preserving the voices of the past for future generations.”

A Dialogue with History

Author: Zahid Hussain

Publisher: Lightstone

Publishers, 2024

Pages: 625

Price: Rs 3,500

The reviewer is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. His X handle: @BukhariMubasher