Photo courtesy The News International
An Hour with Dr Ghulam Hussain
By Dr Asif Javed
Williamsport, PA
He is eighty-seven now and considers himself retired from politics. He keeps himself busy by writing a diary (he has already completed 170 of them that he intends to publish one day) and running a charity eye hospital in Islamabad. Only a few remember that he was one time Secretary General of PPP, special advisor to Khar (when he was Governor of Punjab), and Federal Minister for Railways. This scribe approached Dr Ghulam Hussain through his nephew, and he graciously agreed to tell his story of fifty years in politics.
The aged politician who was elected to NA twice, is probably the only one still around from the committee that had drafted the 1973 Constitution and was from Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's (ZAB) 1977 cabinet. He was the youngest member of the Pakistan delegation that went to Shimla in 1972 and was the most high profile PPP leader released and sent abroad by military government as demanded by the hijackers of PIA airplane in 1981. Having spent several years in exile in Sweden, he returned to Pakistan in 1988. He has recently written his autobiography Meri Dastan-e-Jaddojuhed. Although less famous than some of his former PPP colleagues, he has been a witness to several historic events from the 70s and 80s. This interview was conducted via telephone.
Q. Why this book now?
A. Just to remind the poor and downtrodden that if Ghulam Hussain, from a blue-collar background, could do it back in the 70s then they can do it too. The feudals and the rich do not have the exclusive rights to represent us. They should be challenged as I did successfully.
Q. What were ZAB's greatest accomplishments?
A. There were several-Shimla Accord for one. At Shimla, ZAB was representing a defeated nation with hardly anything to bargain with. Indira Gandhi held all the cards. The talks remained a stalemate until the very last day. It was at that point that ZAB used his supreme diplomatic skills during a one-to-one meeting with Indira. He warned her that leaving without accord will make his position back home precarious. Despite the setback in East Pakistan, Pakistan still had a fairly large army, that most invaders to India had come from NW and that he would have no option but to make the world at large, and the Islamic countries in particular, aware of India’s sinister designs against Pakistan. This argument carried the day. It is unfortunate that ZAB quite never got the credit for Shimla Accord that he deserved.
There were many others like hosting the Islamic Summit and getting the 1973 Constitution approved almost unanimously.
Q. Why did Mahmood Ali Kasuri, the first law minister, who was spearheading the work on the new constitution, resign suddenly in 1972?
A. He wanted feudalism abolished, there and then. That was not the time for it.
Q. What do you consider ZAB’s big mistakes?
A. Great leaders make big mistakes and ZAB made several too. The dismissal of Khar as Governor of Punjab was a colossal error of judgement by ZAB, as big as the dismissal of Nawab of Kalabagh by Ayub that contributed to Ayub's downfall. Khar was personally loyal to ZAB and was an excellent administrator. I saw that firsthand as his advisor. Khar's execution of ZAB's orders was flawless. Unfortunately, ZAB was misled by some who made him believe that Khar was trying to take over Punjab - that was not the case at all. I pleaded with ZAB - thrice - not to let go of Khar but without success. The creation of FSF was another blunder as was Zia's promotion as COAS.
Q. How do you see Khar as a politician?
A. He has made several bad decisions over the years. There were allegations that while abroad, in the late 70s and early 80s, he used ZAB's name to collect funds from PPP sympathizers and was living lavishly. He has discredited himself by jumping ship and moving through several political parties. Reached a political low during the last election by getting only 8,000 votes and losing his security deposit. Khar is a spent force.
Q. Who was responsible for so many political murders in ZAB's tenure?
A. ZAB was not to blame for any, including that of Dr Nazir of JI or Ahmad Raza Kasuri's father. There was no need for ZAB to do this type of thing. These were all made up allegations against ZAB. Most of these murders were due to personal feuds.
Q. Was there corruption in the ZAB government?
A. ZAB was absolutely incorruptible as were most of his cabinet members. Except for some low-ranking leaders and political workers, there was no monetary corruption.
Q. Your opinion of Federal Security Force (FSF)?
A. It was so unnecessary-another big mistake of ZAB. There was no need for it. Masood Mahmood, director of FSF, turned out to be a traitor who testified against ZAB in the murder trial and then vanished in the USA.
Q. Why was NAP (ANP now) and JUI's coalition govt in Baluchistan dismissed by ZAB?
A. This was the right thing to do for they were receiving funds from India and were involved in subversive activities.
Q. Who killed Hayat Mohammad Sherpao?
A. Wali Khan was responsible.
Q. Were the 1977 elections rigged?
A. ZAB did not order it and had no knowledge of it. It was DC Larkana (Khalid Kharal) who went overboard in order to to get ZAB elected unopposed. ZAB would have won big anyway. (This interviewer did not get the opportunity to ask the interviewee how on earth did all four provincial PPP CM's get elected unopposed as well!)
Q. What made ZAB choose Zia as COAS?
A. ZAB had worked with Ayub who had a towering personality: he was tall, handsome and graceful. In selecting ugly, bow-legged Zia, who was anything but graceful, ZAB hoped that a grateful and meek COAS would be loyal to him. Zia was a flatterer. I have personally seen him kissing ZAB's hands. Promoting Zia over six senior generals was an unfortunate decision of ZAB.
Q. Was ZAB really serious about ending feudalism?
A. Sadly, no.
Q. Who killed Shah Nawaz Bhutto?
A. His Afghani wife poisoned him. She and her sister, who was married to Murtaza Bhutto, were both working for intelligence agencies.
Q. Why did you leave PPP?
A. I have been a dedicated worker and a lifelong soldier of ZAB. I only moved to PPPShahid Bhutto after the murder of Murtaza. I have never considered joining any other party despite several offers.
Q. What is the future of PPP Shahid Bhutto?
A. Zero, and entirely because of Fatima Bhutto. I met her for several hours a few years ago. We had high hopes of her, and expected her to carry on the legacy of her esteemed grandfather. I had made several suggestions to her, including doing regular press conferences and to address the bar associations in order to stay politically active and relevant. I told her that we, the PPP workers, would do the rest. To my utter surprise, she responded, "70 Clifton is not a factory that should continue to produce one martyr after another." She had no fight left in her. That was enough for me. Disappointed, I decided to retire from politics.
Q. What was your opinion of Sh Rashid (senior vice chairman of PPP)?
A. He was a dedicated and sincere leader though somewhat self-centered. Remained loyal to PPP to the very end.
Q. What about Meraj Khalid?
A. He too came from a blue-collar background. Was self-made, absolutely incorruptible, and a thorough gentleman. Did not move into PM House when appointed caretaker PM.
Q What do you think of Hanif Ramay (former Chief Minister of Punjab)?
A. He had no political constituency of his own and that was his Achilles heel; he was a flatterer par excellence. He replaced Khar as CM Punjab but left the PPP when he was removed as CM by ZAB.
Q. What about Raja Anwar (advisor to ZAB on youth affairs)?
A. There were rumors that he was planted by agencies. Did some work for PPP in Europe while in exile but was considered a suspect by many. His book (The Terrorist Prince) was written by agencies and is not his own.
Q. What is your impression of Kausar Niazi?
A. He was a friend of mine. Had come to PPP from JI. ZAB used to say that there is nothing in the world that a maulvi cannot survive. Eventually, he too left PPP forming his own party that soon fizzled out.
Q. What made ZAB appoint a mediocre like Sadiq Hussain Qureshi Chief Minister of Punjab?
A. Qureshi was a rank opportunist who had no loyalty to PPP and left the party after the military takeover. He used to be ZAB's host in Multan during the 1970's election campaign that brought him close to ZAB. He was a poor choice as CM Punjab - another error of judgement by ZAB.
Q. Who was responsible for the PIA airplane hijacking?
A. The martial law authorities wanted to get rid of imprisoned PPP members by sending them abroad. Many of us, myself included, did not want to go. The hijackers were working for intelligence agencies.
Q. Brig Usman Khalid - a serving army officer - and his sister Dr Kaniz Yousaf had joined the PPP leadership in exile. How come?
A. Brig Usman Khalid used his sister's position in PPP to gain influence among the exiled PPP leadership. He was planted too (by intelligence).
Q. How do you rate Benazir Bhutto as a politician?
A. She was head and shoulders above other politicians of her time. She had everything that a politician needs: highly educated, name recognition, a lot of respect in the world in general and the West in particular, charismatic, intelligent and a good orator. It is a travesty that Zardari's rampant corruption damaged her reputation. And yes, she was definitely aware of it and made no serious attempt to stop it.
Q. How do you see the politics of today compared to the 1970s?
A. What is being practiced today is not politics. It is deceit, money grabbing, and power seeking enterprise. Our politicians today have neither the ability nor any desire to lead the country in the right direction. The dedicated political worker of the 1970s, who worked for a political ideology, is long dead. Today’s worker is after money only.
Q. Pakistan's future?
A. I am really worried. It appears dark. But Allah has His own plans. China will do its utmost to help in order to gain access to Gwadar. China needs Pakistan in South East Asia like USA needs Israel in Middle East.
After the last question, Dr Hussain expressed apprehension that this relatively long interview may not get published. The interviewer assured him that his thoughts and memories - even if controversial and disputed by some - will find space in Pakistan Link.
Now in his twilight years, the veteran politician represents a vanishing breed. His candid views need to be heard and paid attention to. He reminds one of the times when Pakistan had hope. During the interview, he sounded despondent about the never-ending turmoil in Pakistan.
Smitten by nostalgia, he too keeps wondering about what might have been! As the interview ended, he recited a verse of his own that adequately summed up his mood:
Lambi Hey Gham Kee Shaam Magar Shaam Hee To Hey
(The writer is a physician in Williamsport, PA and may be reached at asifjaved@comcast.net)
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