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Political parties being run as family limited companies
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharifs re-election as the president of the Punjab chapter of the PML-N is a fresh reminder on how the major political parties have turned into family concerns like Sharif Limited, Zardari Limited, Chaudhrys Limited and the Khan Limited, otherwise called the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Going by this scheme of leadership, one finds Pakistan divided into two types of families: a few families are blessed with born leaders and the rest of Pakistanis produce born followers. And if the followers raise claim on leadership, they are either sidelined or sacked from the parties and the rest of workers are warned if they try to follow.
Right from the PPP, claiming to be the only national party, down to PML-N, PML-Q, PTI, JUI-F, MQM and ANP, the top leadership emerges from single families the said parties and the rest have to wrestle all the time to exhibit loyalty. Only the Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM hold the exception of being major non-family parties.
Starting from the PML-N that on Monday held elections of its Punjab chapter and re-elected Shahbaz Sharif unopposed. Other reported aspirants like Khwaja Saad Rafique and Zulfiqar Khosa failed to figure in, let alone defeated in contest. Khosas son, Dost Mohammad, was made Punjab CM, only as a stopgap arrangement, in wait for Shahbaz Sharifs election who subsequently replaced him.
Nawaz Sharif has already been elected central president of the party. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz, and Hamza Shahbaz, the son of Punjab CM, are already in politics and being touted as the next generation leadership produced by the Sharif family.
When the Sharif brothers were jailed by Musharraf, Kulsum Nawaz, the wife of elder Sharif, led the party that was later handed over to Javed Hashmi as amanat when the family was forced into exile to Saudi Arabia. Abbas Sharif, third son of Mian Muhammad Sharif, was also an MNA in the parliament when Nawaz Sharif was PM and Shahbaz CM.
Ishaq Dar, the prominent PML-N stalwart and potential opposition leader in the Senate, is also closely related to the Sharif family. Likewise, Omer Sohail Butt and Abid Sher Ali are relatives of Sharif family, to name a few.
The situation is not different in PPP either. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was hardly 19-year when nominated the partys chairman after the death of his mother, Benazir Bhutto who succeeded her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The late Nusrat Bhutto, the wife of Zulfikar Bhutto, seized party leadership as a stopgap arrangement, until Benazir Bhutto was grown up.
Bilawals sister, Assefa, is being touted as budding party leader. She is goodwill ambassador for polio eradication campaign. Bilawal-Assefas father, Asif Ali Zardari, is simultaneously PPPs co-chairman and President of Pakistan.
Zardaris sisters, Faryal Talpur and Dr Azra, are sitting MNAs. The former is calling shots in all important party-government affairs. The PTI chairman, Imran Khan, who criticises the PPP and PML-N for dynasty politics, is also different in what he preaches and practices. His senior vice president, Hamid Khan, is his cousin.
Hafeezullah Niazi, Imrans brother-in-law, calls the shot at the Punjab level. His brother, Inamullah Niazi, is a new addition into the party from within the family. Hassam Niazi, Hafeezullahs son, was looking after the affairs of Insaf Students Federation (ISF), the PTIs students wing, until recently when he went to UK for further studies. Imrans sister, Aleema Khan, is also politically active, though she does not hold a party office. Saifullah Niazi, Imrans cousin, is PTIs additional secretary general. Only Imrans two sons are not adults.
Like other parties second tier leadership, the PTI leaders have their second generation in politics. Shah Mehmood Qureshis son and brother are being prepared for next elections. Javed Hashmis daughter has already served in the parliament until recently when she resigned together with her father after joining PTI. Owais and Jamal Leghari are sons of Farooq Leghari. There are many other such examples in PTI as well but not limited to this party only.
The PML-Q is controlled by Chaudhrys of Gujrat. Ch Shujaat is partys central president. His cousin Pervaiz Elahi heads the PML-Q Punjab chapter in addition to being senior federal minister. MPA Moonis Elahi, son of Pervaiz Elahi, is being groomed as next party leader. Shujaats brother, Wajahat is federal minister together in PM Yusuf Raza Gilanis cabinet.
Yusuf Raza Gilani has also expanded his political empire after becoming the premier. His sons are parliamentarians - Abdul Qadir is MPA and Ali Musa Gillani is a newly elected MNA. Gilanis daughter, Fiza, is a goodwill ambassador of women empowerment.
As for as the ANP is considered, the top offices are kept within the family. Asfandyar Wali is the political heir of his father, Abdul Wali Khan, who had succeeded his father, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. Even Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti is closely related to Wali family. His father, Azam Hoti, has now been elected as a senator.
PTI's response:
PTI strongly decries the trend of dynastic leadership of political parties; Shafqat Mahmood contradicts report published in The News > Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf > Insaf News
PTI contradicts The News story;Umar Cheema issues rejoinder to clarification
ISLAMABAD: The information secretary of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf has contradicted a story printed in The News on March 6. The PTI secretary in a statement said; this is with reference to the Omer Cheema story Political parties being run as family limited companies published in The News on 6th March 2012. While the facts given about other parties are uncontestable, the information provided about Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf is plainly wrong and needs correction. Senior Vice President PTI Hamid Khan, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is not a relative of Imran Khan. To imply that he holds this position because of any family connection is ridiculous.
Hafizullah Niazi, Mr. Khans brother-in-law, is not an office bearer of the party at any level. The suggestion that he runs the Punjab party is not only incorrect and without foundation but an act of complete disinformation. PTIs Additional General Secretary Saifullah Niazi, while belonging to the Niazi tribe is only a distant relative of Imran Khan. Hassam Niazi, Khans nephew, used to head the Insaf Student Federation in the past but is no longer in the country as he has gone abroad to pursue higher studies.
Chairman Imran khans sister Ms Aleema Khan does not hold any designation in the party and it is grossly unfair of Cheema to drag those family members of Mr. Khan into politics who have no connection with it. Unlike other parties where fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, nieces and nephews hold major party positions, there is no senior office bearer of the PTI directly related to Imran Khan. This includes the Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi, Secretary Information, all provincial presidents and General Secretaries or indeed any other national or provincial office bearer.
Pakistan Tehrik Insaf strongly decries the trend of dynastic leadership of political parties and its stand on it is well known. For Mr. Cheema to lump PTI with other political parties that are nothing more than family enterprises is unfair and frankly an attempt to deliberate undermine Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf.
Umar Cheema adds: The contradiction in fact has confirmed all details listed in my report other than Hamid Khan. Before explaining Hamid Khans ties with Imran Khan, Id like to explain the rest of details that brought to light some vague facts. Starting from Hassam Niazi, for instance, the spokesman has confirmed that this maternal nephew of Imran Khan was head of Insaf Students Federation and not just looking after the students wing affairs as noted in the report. He has only been replaced since he was to proceed abroad for study meaning thereby Hassam would continue to keep the position had he not flown abroad. The spokesman further explained that Hafeezullah Niazi, Imrans brother-in-law doesnt hold any party office. Our report didnt claim this either. However, can the spokesman bother to explain that in what capacity Niazi appears in different talk shows as PTI spokesman. His being a man-behind-the-face role has frequently been featured by different columnists.
As for as Aleema Khans role, we never said she holds any political office either. But she is not only politically active; Aleema is prominent director of Shaukat Khanum Hospital placed at 3rd position in the list after Imran Khan and Nosherwan Barki (presumably a relative).
As for Hamid Khans relation, a family member claims that Hamid is cousin of Imrans mother, late Shaukat Khanum. Hamid also lives in the famous Zaman Park, housing Imran Khan. Hamid Khan didnt completely disassociate himself from Imrans family when asked by The News Tuesday. Though he denied any close relationship, he acknowledged ties with Imran family through inter-marriages.
The PTIs contradiction isnt without comic explanations also. It said while the facts highlighted in the story about other political dynasties are uncontestable except what has been written about the PTI.
The spokesman said Imran Khan has always opposed family oriented parties.
One has to look into the record. Only Imran Khans sons arent in politics and probably for the reason theyre not grown up to that stage. Also the fact remains that being the only brother, Imran cant be compared with Sharif brothers. Who knows Imrans other brothers would have been in politics should he have any as his other relatives are into this business as explained earlier. Arguing that his brother-in-law and sister dont keep any party office, is not a plausible idea as same explanation can be offered by PML-N and PML-Q leadership about their second generation leadership namely Hamza Shehbaz, Maryam Nawaz and Moonis Elahi respectively as they dont have any political office either.
Nevertheless, these parties and others are attacked for encouraging this trend. The dynasty politics is not an enviable practice and Imran has rightly criticized this but he will have to come clean himself first. Last but not the least, the author of this clarification, Shafqat Mehmood, has his familys footprints into different parties. While he is in PTI after serving with PPP and Musharraf, his one close relative is in the PPP government given important position. His sister and brother-in-law are in PML-N. This is called politics.
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Not sure if this was posted before. Interesting read.
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharifs re-election as the president of the Punjab chapter of the PML-N is a fresh reminder on how the major political parties have turned into family concerns like Sharif Limited, Zardari Limited, Chaudhrys Limited and the Khan Limited, otherwise called the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Going by this scheme of leadership, one finds Pakistan divided into two types of families: a few families are blessed with born leaders and the rest of Pakistanis produce born followers. And if the followers raise claim on leadership, they are either sidelined or sacked from the parties and the rest of workers are warned if they try to follow.
Right from the PPP, claiming to be the only national party, down to PML-N, PML-Q, PTI, JUI-F, MQM and ANP, the top leadership emerges from single families the said parties and the rest have to wrestle all the time to exhibit loyalty. Only the Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM hold the exception of being major non-family parties.
Starting from the PML-N that on Monday held elections of its Punjab chapter and re-elected Shahbaz Sharif unopposed. Other reported aspirants like Khwaja Saad Rafique and Zulfiqar Khosa failed to figure in, let alone defeated in contest. Khosas son, Dost Mohammad, was made Punjab CM, only as a stopgap arrangement, in wait for Shahbaz Sharifs election who subsequently replaced him.
Nawaz Sharif has already been elected central president of the party. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz, and Hamza Shahbaz, the son of Punjab CM, are already in politics and being touted as the next generation leadership produced by the Sharif family.
When the Sharif brothers were jailed by Musharraf, Kulsum Nawaz, the wife of elder Sharif, led the party that was later handed over to Javed Hashmi as amanat when the family was forced into exile to Saudi Arabia. Abbas Sharif, third son of Mian Muhammad Sharif, was also an MNA in the parliament when Nawaz Sharif was PM and Shahbaz CM.
Ishaq Dar, the prominent PML-N stalwart and potential opposition leader in the Senate, is also closely related to the Sharif family. Likewise, Omer Sohail Butt and Abid Sher Ali are relatives of Sharif family, to name a few.
The situation is not different in PPP either. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was hardly 19-year when nominated the partys chairman after the death of his mother, Benazir Bhutto who succeeded her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The late Nusrat Bhutto, the wife of Zulfikar Bhutto, seized party leadership as a stopgap arrangement, until Benazir Bhutto was grown up.
Bilawals sister, Assefa, is being touted as budding party leader. She is goodwill ambassador for polio eradication campaign. Bilawal-Assefas father, Asif Ali Zardari, is simultaneously PPPs co-chairman and President of Pakistan.
Zardaris sisters, Faryal Talpur and Dr Azra, are sitting MNAs. The former is calling shots in all important party-government affairs. The PTI chairman, Imran Khan, who criticises the PPP and PML-N for dynasty politics, is also different in what he preaches and practices. His senior vice president, Hamid Khan, is his cousin.
Hafeezullah Niazi, Imrans brother-in-law, calls the shot at the Punjab level. His brother, Inamullah Niazi, is a new addition into the party from within the family. Hassam Niazi, Hafeezullahs son, was looking after the affairs of Insaf Students Federation (ISF), the PTIs students wing, until recently when he went to UK for further studies. Imrans sister, Aleema Khan, is also politically active, though she does not hold a party office. Saifullah Niazi, Imrans cousin, is PTIs additional secretary general. Only Imrans two sons are not adults.
Like other parties second tier leadership, the PTI leaders have their second generation in politics. Shah Mehmood Qureshis son and brother are being prepared for next elections. Javed Hashmis daughter has already served in the parliament until recently when she resigned together with her father after joining PTI. Owais and Jamal Leghari are sons of Farooq Leghari. There are many other such examples in PTI as well but not limited to this party only.
The PML-Q is controlled by Chaudhrys of Gujrat. Ch Shujaat is partys central president. His cousin Pervaiz Elahi heads the PML-Q Punjab chapter in addition to being senior federal minister. MPA Moonis Elahi, son of Pervaiz Elahi, is being groomed as next party leader. Shujaats brother, Wajahat is federal minister together in PM Yusuf Raza Gilanis cabinet.
Yusuf Raza Gilani has also expanded his political empire after becoming the premier. His sons are parliamentarians - Abdul Qadir is MPA and Ali Musa Gillani is a newly elected MNA. Gilanis daughter, Fiza, is a goodwill ambassador of women empowerment.
As for as the ANP is considered, the top offices are kept within the family. Asfandyar Wali is the political heir of his father, Abdul Wali Khan, who had succeeded his father, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. Even Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti is closely related to Wali family. His father, Azam Hoti, has now been elected as a senator.
PTI's response:
PTI strongly decries the trend of dynastic leadership of political parties; Shafqat Mahmood contradicts report published in The News > Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf > Insaf News
PTI contradicts The News story;Umar Cheema issues rejoinder to clarification
ISLAMABAD: The information secretary of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf has contradicted a story printed in The News on March 6. The PTI secretary in a statement said; this is with reference to the Omer Cheema story Political parties being run as family limited companies published in The News on 6th March 2012. While the facts given about other parties are uncontestable, the information provided about Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf is plainly wrong and needs correction. Senior Vice President PTI Hamid Khan, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is not a relative of Imran Khan. To imply that he holds this position because of any family connection is ridiculous.
Hafizullah Niazi, Mr. Khans brother-in-law, is not an office bearer of the party at any level. The suggestion that he runs the Punjab party is not only incorrect and without foundation but an act of complete disinformation. PTIs Additional General Secretary Saifullah Niazi, while belonging to the Niazi tribe is only a distant relative of Imran Khan. Hassam Niazi, Khans nephew, used to head the Insaf Student Federation in the past but is no longer in the country as he has gone abroad to pursue higher studies.
Chairman Imran khans sister Ms Aleema Khan does not hold any designation in the party and it is grossly unfair of Cheema to drag those family members of Mr. Khan into politics who have no connection with it. Unlike other parties where fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, nieces and nephews hold major party positions, there is no senior office bearer of the PTI directly related to Imran Khan. This includes the Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi, Secretary Information, all provincial presidents and General Secretaries or indeed any other national or provincial office bearer.
Pakistan Tehrik Insaf strongly decries the trend of dynastic leadership of political parties and its stand on it is well known. For Mr. Cheema to lump PTI with other political parties that are nothing more than family enterprises is unfair and frankly an attempt to deliberate undermine Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf.
Umar Cheema adds: The contradiction in fact has confirmed all details listed in my report other than Hamid Khan. Before explaining Hamid Khans ties with Imran Khan, Id like to explain the rest of details that brought to light some vague facts. Starting from Hassam Niazi, for instance, the spokesman has confirmed that this maternal nephew of Imran Khan was head of Insaf Students Federation and not just looking after the students wing affairs as noted in the report. He has only been replaced since he was to proceed abroad for study meaning thereby Hassam would continue to keep the position had he not flown abroad. The spokesman further explained that Hafeezullah Niazi, Imrans brother-in-law doesnt hold any party office. Our report didnt claim this either. However, can the spokesman bother to explain that in what capacity Niazi appears in different talk shows as PTI spokesman. His being a man-behind-the-face role has frequently been featured by different columnists.
As for as Aleema Khans role, we never said she holds any political office either. But she is not only politically active; Aleema is prominent director of Shaukat Khanum Hospital placed at 3rd position in the list after Imran Khan and Nosherwan Barki (presumably a relative).
As for Hamid Khans relation, a family member claims that Hamid is cousin of Imrans mother, late Shaukat Khanum. Hamid also lives in the famous Zaman Park, housing Imran Khan. Hamid Khan didnt completely disassociate himself from Imrans family when asked by The News Tuesday. Though he denied any close relationship, he acknowledged ties with Imran family through inter-marriages.
The PTIs contradiction isnt without comic explanations also. It said while the facts highlighted in the story about other political dynasties are uncontestable except what has been written about the PTI.
The spokesman said Imran Khan has always opposed family oriented parties.
One has to look into the record. Only Imran Khans sons arent in politics and probably for the reason theyre not grown up to that stage. Also the fact remains that being the only brother, Imran cant be compared with Sharif brothers. Who knows Imrans other brothers would have been in politics should he have any as his other relatives are into this business as explained earlier. Arguing that his brother-in-law and sister dont keep any party office, is not a plausible idea as same explanation can be offered by PML-N and PML-Q leadership about their second generation leadership namely Hamza Shehbaz, Maryam Nawaz and Moonis Elahi respectively as they dont have any political office either.
Nevertheless, these parties and others are attacked for encouraging this trend. The dynasty politics is not an enviable practice and Imran has rightly criticized this but he will have to come clean himself first. Last but not the least, the author of this clarification, Shafqat Mehmood, has his familys footprints into different parties. While he is in PTI after serving with PPP and Musharraf, his one close relative is in the PPP government given important position. His sister and brother-in-law are in PML-N. This is called politics.
---
Not sure if this was posted before. Interesting read.
