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Bhutto vs Kaptaan

Till 1947 there are 9 general elections held in Pakistan. Now or never is what we heard each time.

Same is the case with 2013 elections. These elections are no doubt of immense importance but the

social media has made it a do or die situation for Pakistan. This supposition is far away from reality.

The major battlefield is Punjab where 148 constituencies out of 272 are decisive. The real competition

in Punjab is between PMLN and PTI. Both are considered as right-wing parties. If we look at the previous

elections PMLN is the party which won majority of the seats in Punjab. But in this election the

competition is severe. PTI, lead by cricketer turn philanthropist turn Politian Imran khan has the support

of youth. On the other side PMLN has support of conservative people. IK has never been into a

government. While Nawaz shareef who is the head of PMLN has been elected as a prime minister two

times (each time he was not allowed to finish his term).

PTI claims to bring a change in Pakistan. They are using the term Naya Pakistan as a political slogan.

This slogan seems attractive to those who have no or a little knowledge of Pakistan history. Zulfiqar Ali

Bhutto the ex-prime minister of Pakistan also won elections on this basis. He also claimed that he would

bring revolution in Pakistan and give the people the Quaid e Azams Pakistan. In a radio and television

speech in 1971 he once said:

My dear countrymen, my dear friends, my dear students, laborers, peasants... those who fought for

Pakistan... We are facing the worst crisis in our country's life, a deadly crisis. We have to pick up the

pieces, very small pieces, but we will make a new Pakistan, a prosperous and progressive Pakistan, a

Pakistan free of exploitation, a Pakistan envisaged by the Quaid-e-Azam.

So the terms new Pakistan, Quaids Pakistan is not new to Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto promised to

bring a revolution, revolution which was not only against the then dictator General Ayub Khan, but also

against the status-quo and the elite / military establishments control over Pakistans resources. The

revolution was to realize the social and economic justice and the liberation of the economically poor

classes of Pakistan. But nothing changed except the army chief plus president Ayub Khan.

Bhutto cheated the people of Pakistan. On one side he was against the feudal lords but on the other and

real side his major partners in politics are popular feudal lords of Pakistan. And he failed to free people

from the tyranny of the wadeeras. He failed to bring the revolution in Pakistan. He didnt do anything to

liberate people from the exploitation of so called ruling elite. In fact he brought the dirty politics in

Pakistan. People loved him and some love him even today. Same is the case today; IK is using the same

manners which were used by Bhutto. He used the term new Pakistan to attract the people. He revived

dirty politics in Pakistan. He claims that he will change the status quo. He is against the feudal lords,

despite the fact that his many party colleagues are wadeeras.

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Bhutto used the sentiments and emotions of the people to gain support. His speeches are full of

emotional dialogue and show his love for the people but today we realized that it was not the love it

was the malice. IK is doing the same thing, he is arising the feelings and emotions of the people. He is

saying what people want to listen. Most of the things are not even practical.

Bhutto has the edge over IK. Bhutto had the knowledge and experience of how to run the government,how to deal with the civil and military bureaucracy how to deal with foreigners. And IK doesnt have

such experience and even knowledge. Bhuttos influence in 1970s is not only limited to urban areas he

had a strong vote bank in rural areas. But the support of IK is confined only to cities. Both are considered

as leaders and reformers by their respective followers. So we must see what the first leader did

with the country. He nationalized the private institutes and resultantly the industrial and educational

system collapsed miserably. His experiments destroyed the industry. He raised the slogan of idhar ham

udhr tum just to make his government in West Pakistan and consequently Pakistan suffered huge loss.

He may be credited with the making of 1973 constitution and some other things but overall his

government failed miserably and the slogan of new Pakistan buried in the grave of time. IK has once

again raised the slogan of change and new Pakistan. But history has proved that never ever thisslogan brought the real change. We have the example of Obama. His slogan in the 2008 elections is

Change we can believe in. Can anyone please tell me any significant change in American policies?

With the above mentioned experiences we must say that the slogan of change is only a political one,

just the encashment of the sentiments of the people. History is the best base to form an opinion and

sentiments are the best way to destroy our thought process. I wish that the people of Pakistan will form

their opinion not on the basis of their sentiments but on the grounds that which party will comparatively

serve better than others during next 5 years and even beyond.