On October 1, Dawn published a letter from Shazia Marri, in response to a columnist who takes a close look at Zardari in the role of President of Pakistan. Her gushing support for Zardari prompted me to write a reply to her letter, and while I wait to see if Dawn will publish a letter from an ordinary Pakistani that criticises their beloved PPP, I thought I would share my questions to Ms. Marri with the Internet:
Dear Editor,
In response to Ms. Marri’s letter printed on Sept. 1, I have a few comments and questions to ask of the illustrious Minister:
I. You said, “Asif Zardari is the architect of national reconciliation”; was he the architect of the NRO that absolved him of the corruption charges against him? If he was, he should be ashamed of himself. The premise of reconciliation borrowed from Mandela lacks a basic necessity: truth. Please ask Zardari to step forward and tell us the truth about the $60 million released by Switzerland in his name (and if the money was legally earned, how much tax has he paid on it, and how did he earn it?). Please ask him to step forward and tell us the truth about the guilty verdict handed down in April 2003 against him and Benazir for laundering $10m through Swiss Banks – this verdict, incidentally was handed down by the Swiss Courts, and not subject to any laws or Ordinances passed in Pakistan, so that conviction stands. Based on this, please tell us how he is eligible for the Presidency or any office in the country, and on what premise do you claim to believe in him with such sincerity?
II. “Team PPP is Team Democracy”; Firstly, Z. A. Bhutto himself served as foreign minister to Ayub Khan, and his claim to fame is on the wings of a military dictator, not as a champion of Democracy, not unlike Nawaz Sharif. Secondly, is this your idea of Democracy? We have seen in 8 months (not to mention the several years of governance prior to the golden reign of Musharraf) what you think of the term. The representatives of the people have no say in corridors of power since all pertinent decisions come out of Zardari House. And the truth of the matter is that governance for any party in this country means governance and benefits for the followers of that party, not the entire country. Finally, how democratic is it to pass on a party to one’s own son as though it were personal property, an heirloom, a piece of family inheritance? As far as I understand it, nepotism is a dirty word in any democratic set up. And, if you are going to equate your party’s decision to that of the Congress Party in India, please know that Rahul Gandhi is a party member, and if he ever becomes a leader of the Congress party, he will do so having worked his way up through the ranks. Even they no longer work on the premise of nepotism that the PPP is so fond of imitating.
III. “The Pakistan People’s Party believes in actions speaking louder than words.” So true – in 8 months, you have passed 2 resolutions in the parliament: to switch to Daylight Saving Time, and to invite the UN to investigate BB’s death. I am a taxpayer, and as such, I deserve the answers to these questions:
- When our economy is crumbling, how much are you taking from the National Exchequer to pay for the UN commission to investigate here, especially in light of Rehman Malik’s recent comments regarding Pakistani investigative competence for the Marriot bombing?
- When people are dying of starvation, how much of our tax money goes towards providing you and your colleagues with six high-end luxury SUVs and 24 guards each in the name of security?
- When our reserves are diminishing, how much of the $4.5bn stolen from this nation has been brought back into the country to boost our Foreign Reserves?
- When we have a severe food shortage in the country, why, instead of removing subsidies and increasing GST on all items, have you not implemented a Capital Gains Tax on the richest 2% of the nation?
- With a severe food shortage in the country, why are hoarders and price gougers not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law?
- With crises looming around every corner, why are ministers and party leaders flying out of the country at our expense?
- If you really are torch-bearers of democracy, why have you made no move to abolish Feudalism, and to empower small farm-owners?
- The core foundation of democracy is representation. Other than taken a vote to be elected, which other issue core to the Pakistani people have you raised in Parliament?
Your actions do indeed speak louder than words – you spout democracy, but practice autocracy.
My last question to you is this: as ‘Team Democracy’ and representatives of the people, what avenues of communications have you established for us to air our grievances and hold our representative accountable for their mis-governances? The media should not be your only channel for these things. Around the world, democratic countries expect members of government to have offices, websites, telephone and fax lines, any and all channels open to their constituents, without which, representation means nothing. It means you will never know what the people you are representing stand for, which puts an end to any hope of a true democracy.
Please get off your bandwagon, Ms, Marri. As an educated woman, I would have expected more from you.
Ms. Marri’s letter:
I AM writing with reference to Cyril Almeida’s article (Sept 24). I am amazed at the writer’s negativity and persistent pessimism. He, like a child with a scab, insists on scratching till he sees blood, not allowing time to heal.
The writer doesn’t seem to remember that President Asif Zardari is the architect of national reconciliation. That for the first time in Pakistan all major political forces have set aside past differences in order to work together towards Pakistan’s well being. So much so that in Sindh, even the opposition voted Asif Zardari in as president. Such cohesion is just what Pakistan needs right now.
The Pakistan People’s Party has, since its inception, been the voice of democracy in Pakistan. Its leaders have laid down their lives for the people of this country – sacrificed all so we could live. Indeed, in Pakistan, Team PPP is Team Democracy!
The Pakistan People’s Party believes in actions speaking louder than words. In a man who, through his actions, convinced the people of Pakistan to be patient, even when he lost his wife, the most beloved leader of Pakistan.
In a man who delivered Pakistan from a dictator whose black reign lasted many years. In a man who took the reins of Pakistan’s largest political party at a time when a national tragedy threatened the very fabric of the nation.
I. for one, feel that such opinions the people of Pakistan can live without. Sarcastic criticism and acerbic wit may be entertaining for some, but the need of the hour is optimism and hope.
SHAZIA MARRI
Minister for Information,
Government of Sindh
Karachi