Asif Ali Zardari: the most misportrayed man

By Barrister Mian Aamir Hassan

While going through history of Pakistan, the readers are bound to make a pause on two certain points of time when Pakistan stumbled like that of a rudderless boat in a stormy sea: the first in 1971 when Pakistan was dissected in two halves, and the second in 2007 when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was martyred.

On both the occasions, leaders of the PPP came forward to drive the country out of the crisis. We know much has been said about the former, but the latter has been highlighted little because a specific mindset, in the media or elsewhere, is shy of giving any credit to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari who raised the slogan Pakistan Khappay (Long Live Pakistan) at a time when the southern part of Pakistan was echoing: Pakistan Na Khappay. One can safely say, had there been no Zardari, there would have been no slogan of Pakistan Khappay any longer in Sindh.

As a matter of fact, President Asif Ali Zardari is the most misportrayed man in the media and elsewhere. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, is a law of propaganda often attributed to the Nazi Joseph Goebbels. Mr. Zardari is the victim of the same.

During era of dictatorship, General Zia tried his level best to defame Bhutto family and find fault with them but failed. At that time Zia backed media used to raise finger at Benazir Bhutto for not marrying. Her marriage with Asif Ali Zardari was a severe blow to their propaganda. They found it appropriate to make Asif Ali Zardari as their next target to fulfill their heinous designs. Since then Asif Zardari is their punching bag in one way or another.

His political life can be divided in two halves: prior and after the death of Benazir Bhutto. In the first half, Benazir Bhutto was his leader and Asif Zardari faithfully followed him. It would be appropriate to mention here that following Benazir Bhutto was not an easy task. It was the path of martyrs such as Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto and their martyred followers.

During his political journey accompanied by Benazir Bhutto, he was politically victimized and suffered the most in person. All kinds of charges were leveled against him. Propagandists portrayed him as corrupt person who has accumulated wealth from every source, traitor, land grabber, killer and what not. Interestingly, no charges were ever proved against him despite decades long trials and imprisonment. Benazir Bhutto had to name him as “the Nelson Mandela” of Pakistan.

After every illegal and immoral dethronement of Benazir’s elected government, he was arrested and subjected to third degree torture. He was forced to part ways with Benazir Bhutto both politically and matrimonially.

However, he did not come up to the expectations of his opponents. He preferred torture and jailed life to the estrangement with his life partner. He stood by his spouse through thick and thin despite lure and torture to part ways with her. Despite physical and mental torture, his tormentor could not snatch the smile for a while. Soon retributive justice of nature worked and his tormentors were in the jail. However, their sufferings were fraction of those suffered by President Zardari but they started crying literally.

They used to complain of their transportation in armoured car and could not come out of the care on their own without the help of security personnel. President Zardari too was transported to court in armoured car but he would jump down from the armoured car, stand tall on the ground and would twist the corners of his moustache. That was the reason; Benazir Bhutto bequeathed him legacy of love for the people of Pakistan. In fact, his marriage with Benazir Bhutto was a bond inked in blood.

Despite propaganda, the sane and sagacious part of media and intellectuals began to acknowledge Zardari’s courage and innocence. Soon the world found former Chairman Ehetasab Commission, Mr. SaifurRehman touching the feet of Asif Zardari while seeking forgiveness for afflicted torture during investigation. Unlike his opponents, President Zardari faced the trial and tribulations with a difference. During the first half of his political life, he was the perfect example of ‘no retreat no surrender’.

The second half of his political career was even more challenging. After martyrdom of Benazir, the wrath of common man was unbridled. The whole country had been in the grip of terror for three days. There was no rule and no law across the board. All over the country, the protestors were out to trample down everything in their way. At last President Zardari held a press conference and cooled them down with his charismatic address. At that time he rejected Pakistan naKhappey and voiced Pakistan Khappey.

He did not let the leadership crisis created and kept the party united, won the election, nominated the best available choice as prime minister, showed Dictator Musharraf exit door, fashioned politics based on reconciliation, made alliance with former opponents, condemned terrorism without any fear, introduced Benazir Income Support Program, increased wages of the labourers and government employees’ salaries, restored the spirit of 1973 Constitution, got passed 18th amendment which ensures provincial autonomy, changed the name of NWFP as KPK, protected the oppressed classes of society, joined hands with MQM, restored judiciary, conducted Swat Operation and above all handed his presidential powers to Prime Minister.

In a country where there are a lot of checks on doing politics (without any sort of balance), Asif Ali Zardari resorted to one-of-its-kind art of doing politics to take on the challenges. For this purpose, he involved all the stakeholders and gave them free hand to deal with the problems. In other words, the people or institutions responsible for creating fuss were asked to sweep before their own door.

His nominated Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani issued orders for the release of house arrested judges in his first address and in return these judges disqualified PM Gillani later on. President Zardari had option either to go with Dictator Musharraf or side with democratic forces. He liked to go with the latter. President Zardari did not lose his cool even at the worst criticism. Certain part of media started concocting stories against his government even on daily basis but he along with his fellows let them go tolerantly. There is no vestige of political victimization throughout his tenure in power. One of his worst critics had to give him title as Mard e Hurr.

He is the most misportrayed hence misunderstood. The people close to him take him as a wise and patriot politician, a friends’ friend, generous to the core, forgiving but not forgetful, politically tolerant but socially cautious, a staunch democrat and a character decorated with heroic qualities. He is the gifted political leader who can choose right man for the right job. He did not make a mistake in nominating Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani as Prime Minister instead the one who left him in the lurch. He allowed his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to grow to the level of a mature politician from a talented adolescent. He is able to see through the mist of future. The best example in this regard we see in the case of his decisions as president of Pakistan and co-chairperson of PPP. He showed no reluctance to oppose religiosity and terrorism at a time when terrorists were unbridled here and there.

Of course he closely watched Shaheed Mohterma Benazir Bhutto whether in government or opposition and learnt the political chemistry of Pakistan in which nobody can claim to surpass him in national politics. His opponents and critics are compelled to appreciate his art of doing politics in Pakistan. During his days in jail, he found time to ponder over the nature of the people and the politics of Pakistan. Political victimization as well as physical and mental torture laid very bad impact on his health but strengthened his will never to surrender and yield in adverse circumstances.

He is well-aware about the role of invisible hands in national politics. That’s why he does not believe in destroying political but democratic opposition with the help of a third party. He strengthens the hands of democratic forces whether in government or opposition. It is customary not to appreciate a person for his deeds in his life in our country. The political history is prolific of such examples; however, the latest example we see in the case President Asif Ali Zardari who has proved his allegiance to the motherland, his spouse, his party workers and the masses.