News & Blogs from Pakistan
Zardari’s ‘take it’ advice to agitated party leaders
Jul 20th
Syed Bukhar Shah
PESHAWAR: Take it is a popular word which President Asif Zardari usually used to pacify his partys lawmakers whenever they call upon him and protest the media or oppositions criticism against the PPP and its leadership.
A trusted friend of the president who attended several such meetings of lawmakers with Asif Ali Zardari said that their co-chairperson always asks his party leaders to take it in English whenever they lodge protest against severe and unjustified criticism. The president apparently means take it lightly when he uses the word take it.
The word take it has become so popular among us that majority of our colleagues jokingly use it among ourselves in routine affairs, he said, adding that sometimes they use it in a lighter vein and at times seriously to convey the message of the party leaders to take such criticism lightly.
I attended several meetings of party leaders with President Zardari where they strongly protested the criticism by media and opposition but instead of reacting harshly, he advised his party activists to be calm, by saying take it and continue their positive work instead of responding in a tit-for-tat manner like those of their opponents, he recalled, saying that the political maturity of the president really impressed them.
The PPP leader was comparing his party and its leadership with those of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying that it has no match. We respect national institutions and the Constitution with the core of our heart, but the PML-N has adopted dual policies while dealing with their opponents, critics and media, he said.
Severely criticising the PML-N for its anti-democratic policies in the past and its two-facedness on passing anti-media resolution in the Punjab Assembly, the PPP leader defended his partys stance and tried to dispel the impression that PPP was equally responsible and following the same policy like PML-N on the resolution.
When reminded that PPP lawmakers delivered speeches in support of the resolution, he said it could be his partys tactics in the Punjab to expose the real face of the PML-N to the nation.
On the other hand, a prominent leader of the PML-N, Haji Yaqoob Khan, said that his party chief immediately directed the provincial head to take action against the MPA responsible for damaging his partys principled stance on freedom of expression.
Our central and provincial leadership gave assurance to correct the things when it realised the move had hurt the sentiments of the journalists, he argued. Quoting his partys legislators in Punjab, he said the complaints were against sections of the media and not every journalist.
Haji Yaqoob pointed out that the PPP, PML-Q and independents had unanimously passed the anti-media resolution, but then they began practicing dual policies. The PML-N leadership has categorically stated it would not spare fake degree-holders come what may and would prove that it was the only party that can pull the country out of the crises, he stressed.
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