The Musharraf takeover was the most stressful time in my
political career. I was terribly worried, especially when the Sharifs were sent
to jail. When they left for Jeddah, it became my responsibility to keep the
party intact and comfort the workers. At the same time, there was intense
pressure from the military regime to join the flock, so to say.
Throughout, I strongly opposed Musharraf’s actions and
defied his pressure when, like many others, I too could have joined the king’s
party he had launched; the Pakistan Muslim League, headed by Mian Muhammad
Azhar.
Despite so many sacrifices given in the party’s name and the
role I tirelessly played, the party’s leadership has disappointed me. They took
away from me the office of the provincial president, which Mian Shahbaz Sharif
assumed along with the Chief Ministership.
It is perceived that during their stay in Saudi Arabia, the
Sharifs cultivated the habits and temperament of the Saudi regency and
demonstrated this attitude after coming home. They literally discarded
dedicated workers of the party, those who deserved rewards for their
unfaltering allegiance and braving the wrath of military rule. And what’s more,
they got carte blanche to take every decision alone without consulting the rest
of us.
Every top office of the government and the party now lies
with the Sharifs or their kin. They simply don’t trust anyone else.
This really has not served the party well. This arrogance
has trickled down to the lower cadres of the party so much so that even ministers
and advisers don’t like to meet diehard workers. What’s more, I think the party
loyalists in south Punjab have been sidelined and the turncoats and
independents have been brought forward.
I remember 1993 when the PML-N’s strength was badly damaged
and only a thin number of party legislators could reach the Assembly against
the PPP. Now, despite winning the 2013 election with a thumping majority, the
party leadership is toeing the same old policies. There are fears of a 1993
repeat situation, and so much of what brought about October 12th is being done
once again.a
