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Today's News
Today is:
Tuesday,December 22, 2009, Muharram 04, 1431 A.H. |
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| Sindh card |
| Gulsher Panhwer |
| Sindh is stronghold of PPP, its founder Z. A. Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto were from Sindh. It is assumed in political and intellectual circles especially those with nationalist trappings that when in power PPP has damaged the cause of Sindh more than the rulers from other provinces. Whilst according to neutral observers emerging of middle class in Sindh was the major achievement of ZA Bhutto. Development and prosperity in Sindh during 70s and 80s was due to the policies and schemes initiated by Bhutto.
During his premiership educated Sindhis were provided opportunities in politics, economic and diplomatic spheres. if, ZA Bhutto hadn’t come to power and hadn’t facilitated the development of Sindh, we had been more backward. Whereas the ardent nationalists/separatists are of the view that if the ZA Bhutto had not come into power or compromised on the political and economic rights of the Sindh to please Punjab, people of Sindh would have been able to gain the freedom from Punjab dominated Federation or at least achieved provincial autonomy.
This tug of war between two strands of thinking continues till today. PPP is certainly a largest federalist mainstream political party. In majority general elections it has secured votes from all federating units. As Punjab is bastion for PML-N, the second largest political party likewise Sindh is for PPP. But dilemma with PPP is that Punjab the largest province in population is also decisive factor in every election due to its exceedingly large number of NA seats.
Thus PPP has remained cautious in its policy statements and actions for not to antagonize Punjab. At the same time PPP would not like in anyway to lose its stronghold Sindh, by posing as ardent pro-Punjabi party in its public statements. The most contentious and sensitive issues causing bitterness between the people of Sindh and Punjab are sharing of water and financial resources. Sindh continues to accuse Punjab for stealing the water of its share and insisting on construction of large water reservoirs to turn Sindh into perpetual desert. Moreover the people of Sindh claim that Sindh earns 75 per cent in revenue but has been thrown into rampant poverty and dependence on Center for doles as its resources are devoured by Punjab dominated Center. PPP’s stand on these two main issues has remained paradoxical; when out of power it positions itself as the nationalist or the torchbearer of the rights of Sindh.
During 90s along with nationalist political parties, Banazir Benazir participated in the largest sit-in on the Punjab-Sindh border against the construction of the Kalabagh Dam.
During the Musharraf’s rule PPP was seen in forefront, leading the struggle against Kalabagh dam and Thal Canal. Qaim Ali Shah now the CM of Sindh was chairman of the anti Thal canal Committee.
The PPP MPAs moved the bill in Sindh Assembly demanding the NFC Award on revenue collection. But as soon as PPP assumed power it staged a U-turn in its policies vis a vis Sindh. Zardari’s exchange of Sindhi caps with the leaders of MQM was resented by a significant majority of Sindhi population.
The stand of PPP on new NFC award has been fiercely criticized by nationalists and Sindhi electronic and print media as it was accused of changing its previous stand from revenue collection to multiple criteria and tried to sell it to the people of Sindh as its grand success.
The people of Sindh particularly nationalist parties believe that ZA Bhutto and BB were brought into power when the Punjab dominated Centre and its army faced challenges and PPP and Sindhi popular leaders were used to improve the fledgling and battering image of the state. Sindhi nationalists as well as PPP hardcore leadership also accuse Punjab for sending two dead bodies of popular Sindhi PMs after sapping all their energies.
This perception real or imaginary was on its height, on December 27 when news of assignation of BB reached the nook and corner of Sindh. The people of Sindh were up in open revolt. There was no sign of state and the province was engulfed in the state of anarchy. Arson, loot and plunder was pervasive.
At this juncture Zardari emerged as statesman and doused the flames of rebellion among his party workers who had joined the nationalists in raising the slogans of nakhapay, nakhapay Pakistan nakhapay (we don’t want Pakistan any more) by chanting the slogan of Pakistan kahpi (we want Pakistan).
Political commentators of all strips and political leaders hailed Zardari, another Sindhi leader as a staunch federalist and compared him with ZA Bhutto who saved the remaining Pakistan after the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971 and raised the moral of the demoralized nation.
But soon presidency was under siege from all sides. Even coalition partners deserted and stabbed Zardari on Kerry-Lugar bill and NRO. And one section of media continuously demonized the president.
Thus there is once again the realization and resentment among common Sindhi that establishment needed Zardari on the sad event of the assassination of BB to save the country from disintegration and now he would be either disgracefully removed from power or liquidated like his father-in-law and his spouse.
When one of the host of a TV channel uttered some “derogatory” remarks against the president wearing the Sindhi Cap on his visit to Afghanistan the party chapter of Sindh promptly and conveniently joined the call given by one sindhi TV channel to celebrate the December 6 as cultural event. A while earlier Sindh Home Minister on the occasion of the MQM’s stabbing PPP on NRO had spoken about using Sindh Card. President himself talked about the victimization and assassination of Sindhi premiers.
After second day of the verdict on NRO and demands by some political parties and media for the resignation of President Zardari, Sindh Assembly passed a resolution reposing full confidence in the person of Zardari. The CEC meeting followed suit in expressing full confidence in Zardari. These are tiring times for PPP and its top leadership seems determined to face these challenges and the signs of confrontation and clash among different institutions of the state have become imminent after the PM Gilani’s press conference in which he showed no sign to implement the verdict of SC instead his defence of Defence Minister and sacking of the official who blocked China visit due to the name of the said Minster in ECL.
Zardari has made his mind to fight back by announcing that no ministers would resign. And if he fails in shoring up his ship he would make full use of Sindh card. He knows very well that despite disenchantment among the people of Sindh against party they would strongly response if another Sindhi leader is put into jeopardy.
gulsherp@yahoo.com |
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