Thursday, January 5, 2017
CHINA - Op-Ed: Trump's claim that China-U.S. business ties are 'totally one-sided' is nonsense
By Curtis Stone
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump started off the New Year with some more fearmongering in his latest round of threat inflation about China. He wrote on Twitter, “China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but won’t help with North Korea. Nice!” Trump’s words are alarming, but his claim is groundless.
The Boeing Company sees China as a $1 trillion market. Chinese President Xi Jinping toured the company’s commercial airplane factory in Everett, Washington, in September 2016. At the welcome ceremony, President Xi noted Boeing’s cooperation with China and praised the win-win results. The results are backed by solid data. According to a report by Bloomberg, the company has delivered 967 aircraft to China since 2000, worth about $60.2 billion at 2016 prices. The vice chairman of the company said deliveries to China by Boeing support approximately 150,000 American jobs every year.
Chinese companies create jobs and fight unemployment in America. Golden Dragon, a Chinese company based in Xinxiang, China, invested nearly $100 million to build a large copper-tube plant in Thomasville City, Alabama, employing about 150 people in one of the poorest regions in America. At the grand opening in May 2014, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley called Golden Dragon a “significant opportunity for the people of Wilcox County.” It was the first manufacturing project in the county in over half a century. If Trump wants to rebuild America, he will be happy to know that Chinese investors are making trade and investment between the two countries a two-way street.
According to a report by the Rhodium Group, the U.S. became the largest recipient of China’s outbound foreign direct investment in 2016, with $45.6 billion worth of acquisitions and investments, and direct investment by Chinese in the U.S. economy since 2000 exceeds $100 billion. China is the top market for Apple and GM, and Telsa and other companies are building their brands in China. Companies both big and small understand the importance of China’s huge market, including The Trump Organization. Trump Hotels plans to open 20-30 luxury hotels in China, according to a report by The Washington Post.
However, misunderstandings about the China-U.S. relationship persist, even within the President-elect’s small inner circle. Michael Flynn, who will advise Trump on important national security issues, believes China is allied with “radical Islamists.” In his book, The Field of Fight, Flynn makes the argument that China is a member of an “enemy alliance” in a global war against the West. His claim is not based on solid facts, and this type of thinking is dangerous if he advices the next President in this way.
Fortunately, most Americans do not share the incoming administration’s fondness for fake news and conspiracy theories about China. In June 2016, Flynn tweeted that he was “now following” China, and asked users to “please send me anything you get on China activities.” The humorous responses show the deep interconnectedness between China and the U.S. Below are some of them:
@stanleyfosha tweeted: “Sir, report from the field. Discovered a coded [message] on the label indicating China manufactured this keyboard.” @liguy743 tweeted: “They have a huge population. People in orbit. Lander on Moon. Nukes. Bigly army. Lots of US T-bills,” then added, “Chk CIA factbook for details.” @marvelle tweeted: “We’ve got 4 suspicious Chinese nationals under surveillance in DC,” and included a link to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Panda Cams. @BruceNV tweeted: “They just started non-stop flights to Vegas. Might be the start of the invasion,” then added, “[Can’t] tell if they are staying [at The Trump Organization].” @dtom_dangerzone tweeted: “There is an unusual amount of activity near the Shenzhen area. Lots of technology being made... investigating.”
Trump and his inner circle at the White House need to develop a realistic understanding of the China-U.S. relationship. The amusing comments under Flynn’s tweet show that China and the U.S. are in a deep, interconnected relationship; not just economically, but also on cultural and people-to-people exchange fronts. If random Internet users know the reality, Trump and his inner circle should too.
Is the BBC’s ‘Real Housewives of ISIS’ comedy sketch in poor taste?
In one scene, one of the housewives is seen pondering what to wear for a beheading.
Another character, named Hadiya, says: “I’m so glad I’ve moved over here. It’s everything those guys on the chatrooms told me it would be.” She is then seen scrubbing the floor of a house bombed to rubble.
Muslim comedy writer Faraz Ali told Al Jazeera: “For the few documented events where young girls, often under 18, have left the UK, there is no doubt this has been a result of dangerous grooming and misguidance.”
He later described the show as being in “poor taste.”
“Making light of this situation feels inherently wrong, almost capitalizing on the suffering of these young girls who acted without proper insight," Ali added.
Others took to Twitter to share their objections. One user, Hashashin Tag, wrote: “‘It’s about ISIS wives, not all Muslim women.’ Well that’s great except we Muslim women already get called ‘ISIS whores’ by strangers thanks.”
“So the BBC has aired a ‘comedy’ sketch in a show titled ‘Real Housewives of ISIS’. I need to make it clear that on no basis this even satire,” tweeted another user, Selin Kara.
Other users backed the skit. Political Scrapbook editor Sunny Hundal said: “My opinion: it’s great!”
YouTube star Ali Shahalom, also known as Ali Official, wrote on his official Facebook page: “Personally, I found the content very funny and wasn’t offended at all. The sketch ridicules online grooming and draws attention to an important topic. The whole point of satire is to expose stupidity. From what I’ve seen, it doesn't offend religion. Satire like this highlights the absurdity of those that recruit and get recruited for ISIS.
“I see the context as a sensitive but relevant subject that writers should be exploring. Above all else, I would hope impressionable minds who could potentially be brainwashed/groomed, can see this and understand the ridiculousness of the whole thing and NOT be brainwashed or groomed.”
https://www.rt.com/uk/372753-real-housewives-isis-bbc/
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto initiated CPEC concept
Asif Zardari said that it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who initiated CPEC infinite concept and entered into dialogue with China and resolved borderline issue getting K2 for Pakistan with Chinese magnanimity.
Zardari was addressing the party lawmakers after Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah gave a briefing on CPEC with special reference to province's share in the mega economic project covering 64 countries.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh PPP President Nisar Khuhro, former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and Naveed Qamar were also present.
He said, "Several books are needed to cover the CPEC, whose imaginations go beyond thousand years and our future generations will continue to eat the fruits of this game-changer project."
He pointed out that more than 500 Chinese have completed their PhD on Pakistan and now they are communicating in Urdu.
"We have to give ownership to CPEC and every area being developed under this project is our own," he added.
He added, "Sea has gulped 350,000 acres of our coastal land and we gave the idea of Zulfikarabad to reclaim this land but some elements started negative publicity to unsuccessfully scare our future Chinese partners in the project."
"Shaheed Bibi also wanted a martial plan for our development and she planned 50,000MW power projects but the same were scrapped because her governments were dismissed in the half of tenures," he added.
The former president said, "We have followed indefinite concept and our thoughts and ideas cover also the time when we will not be here."
He said, "Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan is thinking to enter into currency-swap agreements with other countries now while we signed such agreements with China, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Iran a half-decade back."
Zardari reminded that he conducted his first-ever diplomatic visit as the president to China to follow up the strong relations developed with the friendly country by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
"If the federal government will not take provincial governments into confidence then we will raise this issue on every forum but we will not do politics on CPEC and will not allow anyone to victimised CPEC with there politics," he added.
The inclusion of Karachi Circular Railway, establishment of economic zone and development of Keti Bandar project is the success of Sindh government, the meeting remarked.
"The PPP would not allow anyone to do politics on CPEC. The federal government should immediately implement All Parties Conference resolution on CPEC. If the federal government ignored other provinces then PPP will raise its voice at all forums," the meeting decided.
Murad Ali Shah briefed the meeting regarding his recent visit to China and inclusion of three projects in CPEC. "CPEC is not a name of any road but it's a concept that connects 64 countries with each other. We have included so many projects of Sindh in CPEC. Two cities of Sindh were included in CPEC that is Sukkur and Karachi. In 1980s the foreign direct investment in the country was $1.2 billion now it is $40 billion. Thar Coal and Keti Bandar, Karachi Circular Railway projects were included in CPEC.
So many projects of Punjab province were excluded in the CPEC due to their inefficiencies."
"Sindh is the only province whose two cities i.e. Karachi and Sukkur are part of CPEC while Karachi Circular Railway has also reached the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of the two countries," he added.
http://paktribune.com/news/Zulfikar-Ali-Bhutto-initiated-CPEC-concept-Asif-Zardari-277948.html
Those who wanted Bhutto gone have vanished: Bilawal
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born to live forever in history and those who wanted to finish him have themselves vanished but Bhutto lives on in the heart and minds of the people of Pakistan.
In his message on the eve of 89th birthday anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP Chairman said Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto was the greatest human asset God had bestowed upon our nation after independence and he imagined and pursued a revolution to make Pakistan a strong, peaceful and prosperous country.
"From nuclear power to Heavy Mechanical Complex, Pakistan Steel Mills to Port Qasim, One-man One Vote, passport to every citizen and above all the first-ever Constitution of 1973 with the whole nation’s consensus, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did in a short period of few years, which many cannot even conceive of doing in several decades,” he added.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said even after 37 years of his martyrdom, politics in Pakistan still revolves around pro-Bhutto and anti-Bhutto concepts with former representing pro-people, democratic and a strong Pakistan and the latter anti-people, dictatorial and authoritarian rules and forces for weakening Pakistan and its original ideology laid down by the founding fathers.
The PPP Chairman said that the party leadership and workers will follow the vision and mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and they won’t rest until accomplishment of his cherished dreams.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/176968-Those-who-wanted-Bhutto-gone-have-vanished-Bilawal
Remembering Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his 89th birth anniversary
The 89th birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is being observed on Thursday (today), ARY News reported.
One of the most charismatic and renowned politicians in the history of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born on January 5th, 1928.
He received his early education from Bombay’s Cathedral High School. He was admitted in the prestigious University of Southern California in 1947 and went on to join University of California at Berkeley in June 1949. He was conferred an honors degree in Political Sciences from the prestigious Oxford University.
He got married to Begum Nusrat Isphahani on September 8, 1951 and their first child, Benazir Bhutto, was born on June 21, 1953.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto started his political career when he became a member of former President Iskander Mirza’s Cabinet in 1958, where he served as the Commerce Minister. After Iskander Mirza’s government was toppled by former Army Chief General (Retd.) Ayub Khan, Bhutto became the Foreign Minister after succeeding Mohammad Ali Bogra from his position.
Bhutto’s first accomplishment of his political career was to complete the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement in 1963. He also stressed upon Ayub to form economic and social ties with Turkey and Iran which later formed the Regional Cooperation for Development (R.C.D) in 1964. He later quit as member of the Cabinet over political differences with the military dictator over Tashkent Agreement.
After his resignation from Ayub’s government, he formed the Pakistan People’s Party. He won the majority seats in the general elections of 1970 in the West Pakistan but did not come to an agreement with Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman who had the majority in East Pakistan now known as Bangladesh. Ex-military dictator General Yahya Khan stepped down and Bhutto became the President on 20th December, 1971.
Ten major industries of Pakistan were nationalized in 1972 during Bhutto’s reign and Pakistan also cancelled its membership from Commonwealth of Nations and South East Asian Treaty Organization (S.E.A.T.O) as many of the western countries had recognized Bangladesh as a state.
He introduced land reforms and Simla Agreement was signed with India on July 2nd, 1972 which paved the way for the return of 90,000 Prisoners Of War (P.O.W) and the lands which were lost in the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War.
Bhutto also passed a constitution of Pakistan in 1973 and became the Head of the Government.
The PPP founder laid the foundation stone of Pakistan’s first steel mill at Pipri on 30th December, 1973. All banks were nationalized on the first of January 1974. He also organized the second Islamic Summit in Lahore on 22nd February, 1974 which was attended by over 38 heads of Islamic states.
Then Army Chief General Zia-ul-Haq imposed Martial Law and ousted Bhutto in July 1977.
Bhutto was charged on a murder case of and was hanged on 4th April 1979 in a trial after the Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld the capital punishment sentence awarded by the Lahore High Court.
He was laid to rest at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in his native Larkana district where his wife and children are buried as well.
PPP leaders along with citizens are visiting Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Larkana to pay their respects to Bhutto.
Functions will be held across the country whereas the main function will be held in Larkana. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari along with other party leader will address the gathering today
شہید ذوالفقارعلی بھٹو- سابق وزیراعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی کا اپنے لیڈر کو خراج عقیدت
آج 5 جنوری 2017ءکے موقع پر جہاں میں ذوالفقار علی بھٹو شہید کو یاد کر رہا ہوں اور سوچ رہا ہوں کہ جن لوگوں نے بھٹو کو پھانسی گھاٹ تک پہنچانے کی سازشیں کیں وہ نفرتوں کے طوفان میں آ کر نیست و نابود ہو چکے ہیں جبکہ بھٹو زندہ ہے
قائد عوام ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی آج89ویں سالگرہ ہے۔ 5 جنوری 1928ءکو پیدا ہونے والے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے پاکستان کی سیاست میں انمٹ نقوش چھوڑے ہیں۔ ان کی سیاسی زندگی پر بےشمار کتب اور مضامین لکھے گئے اور مستقبل میں بھی ملکی و غیرملکی مورخین ان کی زندگی اور کارناموں پر قلم اٹھاتے رہیں گے کہ بھٹو صاحب کے ذکر کے بغیر ہماری تاریخ نامکمل رہے گی۔ میں بطور سیاسی کارکن کے جب بھٹو صاحب کی شخصیت کا جائزہ لیتا ہوں تو مجھے ہمیشہ ان کے افکار سے رہنمائی ملتی ہے۔ 1970ءکے عام انتخابات کے نتیجے میں مشرقی پاکستان سے عوامی لیگ اور مغربی پاکستان سے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی نے بھاری اکثریت حاصل کی۔ سقوطِ ڈھاکہ کے بعد ملک کی باگ ڈور پیپلز پارٹی کے سربراہ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کو سونپ دی گئی۔
قائد عوام ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی آج89ویں سالگرہ ہے۔ 5 جنوری 1928ءکو پیدا ہونے والے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے پاکستان کی سیاست میں انمٹ نقوش چھوڑے ہیں۔ ان کی سیاسی زندگی پر بےشمار کتب اور مضامین لکھے گئے اور مستقبل میں بھی ملکی و غیرملکی مورخین ان کی زندگی اور کارناموں پر قلم اٹھاتے رہیں گے کہ بھٹو صاحب کے ذکر کے بغیر ہماری تاریخ نامکمل رہے گی۔ میں بطور سیاسی کارکن کے جب بھٹو صاحب کی شخصیت کا جائزہ لیتا ہوں تو مجھے ہمیشہ ان کے افکار سے رہنمائی ملتی ہے۔ 1970ءکے عام انتخابات کے نتیجے میں مشرقی پاکستان سے عوامی لیگ اور مغربی پاکستان سے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی نے بھاری اکثریت حاصل کی۔ سقوطِ ڈھاکہ کے بعد ملک کی باگ ڈور پیپلز پارٹی کے سربراہ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کو سونپ دی گئی۔
ذوالفقار علی بھٹو ایک عہد ساز شخصیت تھے۔ وہ یونیورسٹی آف سدرن کیلیفورنیا، لاس اینجلس میں 1947ءسے 1949ءتک زیر تعلیم رہے، انہوں نے یونیورسٹی آف کیلیفورنیا، بارکلے سے 1950ءمیں بی اے کی ڈگری حاصل کی اور یونیورسٹی آف آکسفورڈ، برطانیہ سے ایم اے کی ڈگری 1953ءمیں حاصل کی۔ اسی سال انہوں نے لنکنز ان، لندن سے بار ایٹ لاءکی۔ انہوں نے اپنی عملی زندگی کا آغاز وکالت سے اور اپنی سیاسی زندگی کی ابتداءاقوامِ متحدہ کے وفد میں بطورِ رکن شمولیت سے کی۔ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو عام انتخابات کے ذریعے پہلے منتخب وزیر اعظم بنے۔ تعلیم یافتہ اور ذہین ہونے کے ساتھ ساتھ وہ بہترین مقرر بھی تھے۔ اپنے سیاسی کیریئر کے دوران وہ وفاقی وزیر اُمورِ خارجہ رہے اور انہوں نے اس دوران انقلابی اقدامات کئے۔ وزارت عظمیٰ کے عہدے تک پہنچنا اُن کی کامیاب شخصیت کی علامت ہے۔ کہنہ مشق سیاستدان ہونے کے باعث ملکی سیاست کے ساتھ ساتھ عالمی سیاست پر بھی گہری نظر رکھتے تھے۔ قائداعظمؒ کے بعد انہیں سب سے بڑا راہنما مانا جاتا ہے۔ سیاسی اُفق پر اُن کی قدآور شخصیت کو نظرانداز نہیں کیا جا سکتا۔
بھٹو صاحب نے 1967ءمیں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی بنیاد رکھی جو اس وقت کے مروّجہ سیاسی نظام کےخلاف کھلی بغاوت تھی۔ انہوں نے عوام کو اظہارِ رائے کی آزادی، اعتماد، مقام اور حیثیت دے کر انہیں اُن کی طاقت سے روشناس کروایا۔ پہلی مرتبہ ’قوت کا سرچشمہ عوام ہے‘ کا تصور پیش کیا جس سے عوام کو عزتِ نفس ملی جو اُن کی بحیثیت عوامی قائد کارہائے نمایاں ہیں۔ بھٹو صاحب نے ملک میں سیاسی ترقی کا عمل آگے بڑھا کر جمہوریت کی بنیاد رکھ دی۔ جب انہیں اقتدار ملا تو انہوں نے ملک کو متحد رکھنے میں اہم کردار ادا کیا۔ بلوچستان کو صوبے کا درجہ دینے کے ساتھ ساتھ آزاد کشمیر کو خودمختار حیثیت دی اور شمالی علاقہ جات میں اصلاحات نافذ کر کے وہاں کے عوام کو بنیادی حقوق فراہم کئے۔ بھٹو صاحب نے ایسے تاریخی کام کئے جو ملک و قوم کی ترقی اور خوشحالی کی ضمانت بنے۔ ملک کو اسلام کا قلعہ تسلیم کروایا۔ عالم اسلام کا تشخص اُجاگر کرنے، مسلم بلاک کے قیام اور اسلامک ورلڈ بینک کے قیام کےلئے اسلامی سربراہی کانفرنس کا انعقاد کیا۔ غریب اور محکوم طبقے کی خوشحالی اور تحفظ کےلئے زرعی اصلاحات اور سول سروسز اصلاحات نافذ کیں۔ اپنی پارٹی کے نعرے ”روٹی، کپڑا اور مکان“ کو عملی جامہ پہناتے ہوئے غریب عوام کےلئے 5 مرلہ سکیم کا اجراءکیا۔ انہوں نے مزدور یونینوں کو بحال کیا اور انٹرنیشنل لیبر آرگنائزیشن کے چارٹر پر دستخط کئے۔ بھٹو صاحب کے دورِ حکومت میں تیل کے نئے ذخائر دریافت کروائے گئے۔ ملک کو دفاعی لحاظ سے مضبوط اور ناقابل تسخیر بنانے کےلئے ایٹمی پروگرام کا آغاز کیا۔ کامرہ ایروناٹیکل اور ہیوی میکینکل کمپلیکس کی تعمیر کروائی۔ 1971ءکی جنگ کے بعد 90 ہزار جنگی قیدیوں کو رہا کروانا اور بھارت سے 5ہزار مربع میل رقبہ واگذار کروانا اُن کی سفارتی سطح پر بڑی کامیابیاں ہیں۔ انہوں نے نازک ترین حالات میں اقوامِ متحدہ کے سامنے پاکستان کا موقف جس جرا¿ت سے پیش کیا اُس سے نہ صرف اُن کی اپنی شخصیت بلکہ پاکستان کی حیثیت اور قدر و منزلت میں مزید اضافہ ہوا۔ پاکستان کو عالمی منڈیوں تک رسائی دلوانے کےلئے پورٹ قاسم، سٹیل مل اور شاہراہِ قراقرم جیسے بڑے منصوبے تعمیر کروائے۔ اُن کا سب سے بڑا کارنامہ ملک میں قابلِ قبول 1973ءکا متفقہ آئین تشکیل دینا ہے۔
وزیراعظم ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے 1977ءمیں قبل ازو قت عام انتخابات کا اعلان کر دیا جس پر حزب اختلاف کی تمام جماعتوں نے متحد ہو کر پاکستان قومی اتحاد تشکیل دیا۔ پاکستان قومی اتحاد نے قومی اسمبلی کے نتائج کو قبول کرنے سے انکار کرتے ہوئے صوبائی اسمبلی کے انتخابات کا بائیکاٹ کر دیا۔ حکومت کےخلاف ملک بھر میں تحریک شروع کر دی۔ حکومت اور قومی اتحاد کے درمیان مذاکرات ہوئے۔ اس سے پہلے کہ حکومت اور حزب اختلاف کے درمیان معاہدہ طے پاتا جنرل ضیاءالحق نے بھٹو حکومت برطرف کر کے قومی اسمبلی تحلیل کر دی۔ ملک میں مارشل لاءنافذ کر دیا اور خود چیف مارشل لاءایڈمنسٹریٹر بن گئے۔ بھٹو صاحب کو گرفتار کر کے ان پر مقدمہ چلایا گیا اور 4اپریل 1979ءکو انہیں پھانسی دے دی گئی۔ اُن کو پھانسی دینا نہ صرف ملک بلکہ عدلیہ کی تاریخ میں بھی ایک سیاہ باب کے طور پر یاد رکھا جائے گا۔ اُن کو پھانسی دینے کا فیصلہ ازخود متنازعہ تھا کہ فیصلہ کرنے والے جج بھی متفق نہ تھے۔ اس بارے میں جسٹس نسیم حسن شاہ جو فیصلہ کرنے والے ججوں میں شامل تھے کا بیان کہ اس فیصلے کےلئے حکومت کا سخت دبا¶ تھا ایک واضح ثبوت ہے کہ بھٹو کو قتل کیا گیا۔ اُن کے قتل سے پیدا ہونے والا خلا پر نہیں کیا جا سکتا لہٰذا اس مقدمے کی دوبارہ سماعت کی جانی چاہیے۔
جنرل ضیاءکے مارشل لاءسے قبل جب میرے سیاسی سفر کا آغاز ہو رہا تھا تو دور سیاسی مدّوجزر کا دور تھا۔ بھٹو حکومت کےخلاف جدوجہد کرنے والا سیاسی جماعتوں کا اتحاد پاکستان قومی اتحاد ابھی میدان میں تھا۔ ملک کے نامور سیاسی مدبرین اور منجھے ہوئے سیاستدان میدان سیاست میں تھے اور مجھے سیاسی کیریئر کے آغاز ہی میں نازک اور اہم فیصلہ کرنا تھا۔ چچا حامد رضا جو مختصر عرصے کےلئے وزیراعظم ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی کابینہ میں وزیر صنعت اور کینیا میں سفیر تعینات رہ چکے تھے، اپنے دوست ملک اکرم خان بوسن کے ہمراہ میرے گھر آئے اور کہنے لگے جب میں برطانیہ بار ایٹ لاءکرنے گیا ہوا تھا تو اس وقت آپ کے والد وفاقی وزیر مملکت تھے، ملک میں پہلا مارشل لاءجنرل ایوب خان نے لگایا تو مجھے آپ کے والد نے اپنے حلقہ¿ انتخاب لودھراں سے قومی اسمبلی کی نشست طشتری میں رکھ کر دی، وہ نہ صرف میرے بھائی تھے بلکہ میرے آئیڈیل بھی تھے۔ چچا نے مزید کہا کہ مجھے آپ کے والد کی گراں قدر خدمات کے نتیجے میں قومی اسمبلی کے انتخاب میں مغربی پاکستان سے نواب آف کالاباغ کے بعد سب سے زیادہ ووٹ ملے اور دوسری مرتبہ ایم این اے بلامقابلہ کامیاب ہوا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ آج میں آپ کے پاس چل کر آیا ہوں کہ آپ پیپلز پارٹی میں شمولیت اختیار کر کے اپنے سیاسی کیریئر کا آغاز کریں، پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی بھی یہی خواہش ہے کہ میں آپ کو پیپلز پارٹی میں شمولیت کےلئے آمادہ کروں۔ والد کی وفات کو بمشکل دو تین روز ہوئے تھے، میں نے اُن سے والد کی قل خوانی تک مہلت چاہی۔ اسی دوران ماموں حسن محمود بھی ملتان تشریف لائے اور مجھے مسلم لیگ میں شمولیت کی دعوت دی۔ میں نے انہیں بھی وہی جواب دیا۔ میں نے اپنے سیاسی مستقبل کے بارے میں والد کے دوستوں اور چچا رحمت حسین، جو کہ والد کے قریبی ساتھی بھی تھے، سے مشاورت کی۔ ان کی متفقہ رائے تھی کہ والد کی مسلم لیگ کےلئے گرانقدر خدمات اور اُن کے مقام کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے مجھے اپنی سیاست کی ابتداءمسلم لیگ ہی سے کرنی چاہیے۔ وہ الگ بات ہے کہ میں نے اپنے سیاسی سفر کا آغاز مسلم لیگ سے کیا۔ یہ جماعت پاکستان کو بنانے والی ہے لیکن پی پی پی میں شمولیت کے بعد کئی مرتبہ میں نے یہ محسوس کیا کہ اگر مسلم لیگ پاکستان بنانے والی جماعت ہے تو پی پی پی پاکستان بچانے والی سیاسی پارٹی ہے۔ اس پارٹی کی مرکزی قیادت ہمیشہ زیر عتاب رہی ہے لیکن اس کے باوجود پی پی پی نے پاکستان کا پرچم بلند رکھا۔
آج 5 جنوری 2017ءکے موقع پر جہاں میں ذوالفقار علی بھٹو شہید کو یاد کر رہا ہوں اور سوچ رہا ہوں کہ جن لوگوں نے بھٹو کو پھانسی گھاٹ تک پہنچانے کی سازشیں کیں وہ نفرتوں کے طوفان میں آ کر نیست و نابود ہو چکے ہیں جبکہ بھٹو زندہ ہے۔ انہی لمحوں کےلئے جوہر میر نے کہا تھا:
کبھی تو سوچنا یہ تم نے کیا کیا لوگو
یہ کس کو تم نے سر دار کھو دیا لوگو
سلا دیا جسے زنداں میں تم نے موت کی نیند
جگائے گی اسے حالات کی صدا لوگو
https://ppppunjab.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/%D8%B4%DB%81%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B0%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DA%BE%D9%B9%D9%88-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82-%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B8%D9%85-%DB%8C/
Asif Zardari pays glowing tributes to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
On the eve of the 88th birthday of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto I urge the people particularly the youth to stand together in foiling the designs of the religious fanatics and extremists who are out to destroy the state and its democratic structures that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had strived so hard to build and for which he laid down his life.
This indeed is the best way to pay homage to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his birth anniversary this year. Shaheed Bhutto was an icon of democracy and a firm believer in peoples’ power, he said.
A thought that crosses the mind on this occasion is this; due to the incompetence of some and greed of some others the power that belongs to the people has been stolen by the un-elected individuals and institutions. This assault on peoples’ power and re-writing of the state-citizen relationship is pregnant with serious consequences and must be checked. Party workers and indeed all democracy loving people should give a serious thought to it and force a course correction before it is too late, he said.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto symbolized the power of the people on the one hand and resistance against tyranny and dictatorship on the other. The need for standing up for those ideals is as great today as it has been any time before.
Shaheed Bhutto strengthened internal political cohesion by giving the nation a unanimous Constitution and strengthened the defense forces to protect against external aggression, he said adding “for this he has earned a place in the history of this country that will always be his”.
On this occasion we also pay homage to the leaders and workers of the Party who have made enormous sacrifices in the course of our historic democratic struggle for peoples’ power.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/asif-zardari-pays-glowing-tributes-to-shaheed-zulfikar-ali-bhutto/
PPP terms CAO a ‘democratic dictatorship’ of ruling Sharifs
Strongly opposing the Civil Administration Ordinance (CAO) 2016 that has recently been imposed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab Chapter said that it is an act of the ruling Sharifs for establishing their ‘democratic dictatorship’ in the province.
PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday said that it was unfortunate that the Sharif brothers used democratic tactics to establish their dictatorship after coming into power, and that the recent ordinance was a reflection of their undemocratic mindset and dictatorial way of rule.
He was addressing a cake-cutting ceremony held at Charing Cross on The Mall in connection with the 89th birthday celebrations of PPP founder and former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The Asif Ali Zardari Rehai Committee (ZRC) organised the ceremony, which was participated by some of the prominent figures of the PPP, including Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, Arif Khan, Ch Munawar Anjum, Malik Sohail, Ashraf Bhatti, Afnan Butt, Bushra Malik, Naseer Ahmad, J Victor, Amna Malik, Waseem Shahbuddin, Khalid Butt, Yasmin Farooq and a huge number of workers.
Addressing the gathering, Kaira said that work to launch an anti-government campaign was underway, and soon the party would announce the protest, as the sitting rulers did not believe in democracy. He said that ZA Bhutto had given rights and awareness of the rights to the poor, but the Sharifs were snatching those rights, which was a big injustice to the masses.
He said that through the CAO, the PML-N government had imposed bureaucrats on the elected democratic representatives of the district governments in the province, which could not be accepted in any case.
On this occasion, other speakers said that they were ready to come out on the roads on the call of the party leadership to push for the accountability of the rulers. They also said that they had faced military dictatorship in the past, so they were not afraid of the sitting democratic dictators.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/05-Jan-17/ppp-terms--cao-a-democratic-dictatorship-of-ruling-sharifs
Article - #HappyBirthdaySZAB - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto!!!! - (January 5, 1928-April 4, 1979)
By M Waqar
January 5, we celebrate birthday of Z A Bhutto, a leader, politician, revolutionary, who after his execution in Pakistan on April 4, 1979, still lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Pakistanis, and the party that he founded still possesses the largest permanent voting bank in Pakistan.
The possibility of the secular, democratic Pakistan that he had in mind, like Pakistan 's founder, Jinnah has earned ZAB the title of Quaid-i-Awam . Z. A. Bhutto has still more charisma than any politician in Pakistan. Mr Bhutto was inducted into office as the President of Pakistan in 1971 and was removed in 1977, both events took place around midnight; one in the wake of a war and the other in the shadow of a civil war. In between he gave the country what even his sympathizers and admirers would concede was a 'strong' government, he mobilized his country's first mass-based political party around a socialist ideology and highly independent foreign policy. Pakistan's modernizer Zulfikar Ali Bhutto left deep footprints in the sands of history.
To his lasting credit remains the 1973 Constitution of the country, the Shimla Accord of 1972 which brought the longest peace between India and Pakistan, the social reforms to build an egalitarian society, the non-aligned foreign policy, the nuclear programme and the building of the social, economic and military infrastructure of the country. He was a thinker, author and orator. He was deliberate, discreet, and competent; honest, upright and keeper of his covenants. He was a friend of the poor, downtrodden and oppressed. Fearless in his beliefs he refused to bow before any man or power other than the Almighty. His courage was such that he preferred to face death for his beliefs and embraced martyrdom. He had profound faith in freedom and the liberation of humanity. Under his government, Pakistan gave overt and covert support to the African nations than under apartheid and minority rule. He rejected fanaticism. He gave pride to the poor.
Z A Bhutto is the first person in Pakistan who has given voice to the common people. Z. A. Bhutto remains alive in hearts of millions of Pakistanis. It was a miracle that in less than half a decade a defeated nation had become a significant entity in the comity of nations. Pakistan had friends all around the globe from Africa to the far corner of Asia and from Europe to South America. We were regarded as a nation which had proved itself. Pakistani manpower was exported in the Middle East and the statesmanship of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had started bearing fruit. Under Z A Bhutto's rule, a new vision of Pakistan was born. Within a few years of the defeat in 1971, Pakistan began to see itself not as some beleaguered non-entity in South Asia, as the Indian establishment was prone to see it, but as a strategically located middle-sized power straddling the two worlds of South and West Asia, uniquely poised to take advantage of a host of geopolitical possibilities and enjoying widespread support among the Islamic states. He is one of the few Pakistani leaders that energized the nation and gave it a sense of optimism. Z A Bhutto, saw the future of Pakistan.
Like Jinnah he outwitted Indira Gandhi at Shimla and formed alliances with various world leaders, from Sadaat, to Boumediene to Qaddafi to Faisal. Pakistan survives today because of those alliances that enabled him to build the Nuclear bomb. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto understood the geo-political realities of the region. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has earned a place in the pantheon of leaders from the Third World who earned everlasting fame in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism. He had the privilege of interacting with many of those leaders who played a great role in the epic struggle for national independence in the 20th century, including Mao Tse Tung, Ahmed Soekarno, Chou-en Lai, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Salvador Allende. During the period between the end of the Second World War and the end of the Cold War, the world was divided into two blocs: The Capitalist West and the Socialist East. All these leaders aspired to aspects of a socialist pattern of economy. Bhutto shared their faith in a leading role for the public sector as an instrument of self-reliance. Bhutto's foundation of the PPP was a setback for the reactionary forces in a country long dominated by the Right. The slogan of "Food, Shelter and Clothing" shifted the focus of Pakistan politics from theological to economic issues. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had the courage of his conviction to decide to lay down his life rather than compromise or seek appeasement.
There was a sense of purpose and direction in the country in pursuit of peace and prosperity. The economic growth rate increased and money poured in from expatriates who got the universal right to passport. The Muslim countries donated roughly $500 million annually to Pakistan, freeing it of international financial institutions. The people got jobs and opportunities. Women of the country were emancipated entering the police force, Foreign, Civil Service and subordinate judiciary for the first time in the country's history. There is a story that the American President John F. Kennedy was much impressed with the then Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. When they met, Kennedy walked with him in the Rose Garden and said, "Bhutto, if you were an American, you would be in my Cabinet". To which Zulfikar Ali Bhutto smilingly replied, "No, Mr. President. If I were an American, you would be in my cabinet". Z A Bhutto, was highly skilled negotiator and an international statesman, he secured the agreement between USSR and Pakistan, he signed an agreement with China on demarcation of the Sino-Pak boundary. When he became President, Pakistan had innumerable problems, but he was not a man to be cowed down by knotty problems, he was in fact, a dynamo of inexhaustible and boundless creative energy, he was born to solve problems , he had to tackle the problems of shattered country by a methodical system of fixing priorities. Bhutto the adroit politician and statesman tackled the difficult problems of his country one by one with devotion, determination and patriotic zeal and solved them successfully. Since his assumption of power this great man of vision and destiny, equipped with resolute will, extraordinary intelligence and seething patriotic zeal fought successfully against the landlords, capitalists, industrialists, religious fanatics, corrupt bureaucrats, saboteurs, foreign intriguers and spies, he stood like a rock against all odds and achieved national unity, he worked hard for the emancipation of the exploited working class and illiterate masses. His cruel and barbaric murder by military despots caused revulsion across the globe, Z A Bhutto dedicated his life to remove the sorrows from the hearts of the poor and the oppressed, to remove the tears from the children of his poor nation. He lived consciously to make history and to leave a legacy in the form of the development of his nation, his fight was a fight against the policies of IMF, which serve to perpetuate the backwardness of the developing nations.
Bhutto is rightfully credited with saving Pakistan at this dark moment in its history, as French President Giscard d'Estaing said, "he was the man who incarnated Pakistan at a dramatic hour of its history. Tolstoy in the last volume of his War and Peace expressed that history is a movement of ideas in which political leaders play a minor role. Sometimes the movement of ideas is indeed rapid. Yet, at times, the movement of ideas is slower than the melting of the glaciers. The movement of ideas is facilitated in a vibrant political and democratic culture, which gives room for dissent and disagreement. In dictatorial societies, history remains static in a cold freeze. And so it was in Pakistan before Quaid-i-Awam. He was the one who converted that static and decayed dictatorial polity into a vibrant and dynamic democratic society; the cost of which he paid with his own life. He who gave his blood, and the blood of his sons and daughter,
Long Live Bhuttoism….