• About Us
  • The TFT Story
  • Team
  • Write for TFT
  • Online advertisement tariff
  • Donate To Us
The Friday Times - Naya Daur
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us
No Result
View All Result
The Friday Times - Naya Daur
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

From Chairman Mao To Benazir Bhutto: My Political Odyssey In MRD And Beyond

"During the struggle for the restoration of democracy and human rights, I was incarcerated 20 times," recalls Pervaiz Saleh

Pervaiz Saleh by Pervaiz Saleh
May 20, 2022
From Chairman Mao To Benazir Bhutto: My Political Odyssey In MRD And Beyond

As Prime Minister, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto visited Lahore and took out a rally, back in 1993/94: she is seen riding on a truck, accompanied by Farooq Leghari, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, the author (Pervaiz Saleh), Begum Ashraf Abassi, Nahid Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Aslam Gill, Samia Waheed and others

314
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

I was born to a poor father, who hailed from a Katcha village, known as Kitchi Baig Saryab. He was a Brohi by descent belonging to the Shahwani tribe, a subtribe of Sarawan (since Balochistan is territorially and tribe-wise divided into Jhalawan and Sarawan). He studied at the Sandeman High School, Quetta.

He was a classmate of Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo. They were together in the football team of the school and remained friends throughout their lives. Similarly, he was a childhood friend of Sher Mohammed Murree, later nicknamed General Sheroff after he commanded the Baloch rebellion in the early 1970s. My father joined the Army because he could not afford to study anymore. Later, he joined the Civil Service and became great friends with Nawab Akbar Bugti, Sardar Khair Baksh Murree, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Gul Khan Naseer etc.

As luck would have it – and the status that he had acquired – he got married to the daughter of Khan Bahadur Naqi (owner of the Naqi Building, Naqi Arcade and so on). He retired as Senior Member of the Board of Revenue. After retirement, he was appointed as the first Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Balochistan.

The author with Benazir Bhutto

It is very interesting to mention here that my paternal grandfather was the ‘Khalifa’ in Balochistan of Hazrat Bahu Sultan.

As a student, I got interested in politics. I was elected as the Secretary General of the Government College Students Union.

At Punjab University, I was converted into a Marxist-Leninist and Maoist activist. Driven by the miserable plight of the majority of my poor relatives living in mud houses in Balochistan, I intensely participated in the labour movements and left my law practice to become a full time political worker.

I was then vociferously involved in the unification process of the left-wing parties, but in vain. I merged my party, known as the Punjab Jamhoori Front, into the Qaumi Mahaz-e-Azadi (QMA) led by Comrade Mairaj Muhammad Khan, and was appointed as Senior Vice-Chairman in 1981.

It was then a bipolar world and the Cold War was at its zenith. Country after country was turning ‘red’ and socialist revolutions were in vogue.

With the formation of the MRD in 1981, a number of political parties gathered on a single platform with the common objective of fresh elections. Due to the ban on political activities by the martial law administration, it took a while to build momentum. In view of the prevailing political stagnation, Nawabzada Nasarullah Khan came up with the idea of hosting Iftar parties and dinner/tea receptions that led to the restoration of political discussions under the guise of social gatherings – eventually building up the momentum for the MRD

I got totally drowned in this conviction and struggle for changing our country’s exploitative system. My mother, as mentioned earlier, came from the elite and extravagantly propertied classes. Her assets included a house of around 100 kanals in Quetta, lands therein; a 6-kanal house in Model Town, Lahore with an annexe attached to it, 6 kanals with several outhouses in Garden Town, a Haveli in old Anarkali, a bicycle market at Nilla Gumbad, Lahore, a shop in new Anarkali, a 2-kanal plot in Cantt. Lahore; a plot in Donga Gali; and, in addition, fixed deposits in National Savings Centres and Post Offices etc.

I was convinced that after the revolution in Pakistan, all properties and auxiliary assets would be taken over by the state. So, I thought that it was futile to accumulate and save them. As such, I spent lavishly on politics – in fact, I took it as a religion. At least 60% of our assets became prey to ‘qabza groups’ too. But I didn’t bother about it.

In 1981, the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) had already been established, with the QMA as one of the 11 component parties. Our Chairman, Mr. Mairaj Muhammad Khan was in jail then. Thus, I had to represent QMA in the central executive of the MRD. Since the Convenership was in vogue through rotation, I happened to officiate as Convener thrice. I also voluntarily courted arrest during the movement. On instructions by the MRD, I remained underground for three months and ran the movement (this assignment was given to me because all the stalwarts had been arrested by then).

Left to Right: KH Khurshid (former Secretary to Quaid-e-Azam and President Azad Kashmir), the author as Special Assistant to the PM, Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo, Hanif Ramay (former Chief Minister, Punjab) and Arshad Chaudhry (former federal minister)

During the struggle for the restoration of democracy and human rights, I was incarcerated 20 times: which includes twice at the Lahore Fort, twice at the Mianwali ‘katcha jail,’ various imprisonments at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore and luckily a few times at Changa Manga, Ravi rest houses and some house arrests.

I joined the PPP in December 1986. Shortly thereafter, I was appointed the party’s vice-president for Punjab. Soon, I was awarded the portfolio of Secretary, Records and Events (a portfolio that Benazir Bhutto had innovated) — i.e. an ex-officio member of the Central Executive Comittee. I was simultaneously appointed to take charge of the Foreign Desk of the PPP.

In 1988, I won the elections and became an MPA, and moreover, was made Spokesman of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

In 1995, I was appointed as Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Literacy Commission. Before this, I had already been appointed as a member of the National Finance Commission (NFC) to represent Punjab. In 1996, I was elevated to the Cabinet as Special Assistant to the PM (SAPM).

Also Read:

Consuming Politics: Of Love, Comedy, Action, Drama And Tragedy

Conversations With Europe’s Legendary Chief Rabbi

Tags: pervaizsocialismrestorationPakistanmovementpppleftdictatorshippartyziabhuttobenazirsalehpeoplesunityMRDBalochistanmarxismdemocracy
Share126Tweet79SendSend
Previous Post

How A Pakistani Professor At Rutgers Faces Attempts To Drive Her Out

Next Post

Imran Khan’s Sexist Comments Against Maryam Nawaz Widely Condemned

Pervaiz Saleh

Pervaiz Saleh

Next Post
How A Pakistani Professor At Rutgers Faces Attempts To Drive Her Out

How A Pakistani Professor At Rutgers Faces Attempts To Drive Her Out

Comments 1

  1. Kaleem kundi says:
    1 year ago

    Absolutely words About history of benazir bhutto .
    I read every word.

Recent News

The Boundaries Of The Cantonment

The Boundaries Of The Cantonment

May 30, 2023
Where Is The Real Accountability?

Where Is The Real Accountability?

May 30, 2023
Arfi Alvi Surprise To CJ Bandial | Tareen New Party | Nawaz Disqualification Ends? | Imran Fake News

Arfi Alvi Surprise To CJ Bandial | Tareen New Party | Nawaz Disqualification Ends? | Imran Fake News

May 30, 2023

Twitter

Newsletter



Donate To Us

The Friday Times – Naya Daur

THE TRUTH WILL OUT


The Friday Times is Pakistan’s first independent weekly, founded in 1989. In 2021, the publication went into collaboration with digital news platform Naya Daur Media to publish under a daily cycle.


Social Media

Latest News

  • All
  • News
  • Editorials
  • Features
  • Analysis
  • Lifestyle
The Boundaries Of The Cantonment

The Boundaries Of The Cantonment

by Umer Farooq
May 30, 2023
0

Military sociologists predict that the militaries with prolonged...

Where Is The Real Accountability?

Where Is The Real Accountability?

by Abdul Rauf Shakoori
May 30, 2023
0

Though the political situation of Pakistan will remain...

Social Feed

  • About Us
  • The TFT Story
  • Team
  • Write for TFT
  • Online advertisement tariff
  • Donate To Us

© 2022 All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us

© 2022 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist