It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Shireen Mazari here in Islamabad. She is a former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and former Chief Whip, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. I interviewed her about PTI’s agenda post-election including climate change and water shortage and anti-corruption reform. Will her party bag this year’s election in view of Nawaz Sharif’s imprisonment? Find out more in a half hour exclusive to Daily Times.
Q: You are known for your flamboyant personality and outspoken nature. Has it ever caused trouble for you?
A: Well, not flamboyant but certainly outspoken! To be fair, it hasn’t caused much trouble. I have been lucky to have a supportive family. I recall a few teachers were arrested at Quaid-e-Azam University during Zia-ul-Haq’s tenure. I was the president of the teacher’sfederation at the time and had put up my house as bail for two of our faculty members. My father read it in the newspaper and I thought he would lose his cool but he didn’t.
Then I challenged Zia-ul-Haq in the Lahore High Court for implementing special rules for the department of Defense and Strategic Studies. This included appointing a brigadier as professor while a civilian was required to have a PhD and 15 years of teaching experience. Such conditions did not apply to any brigadier and two of them had been appointed as professors beforehand.
So, I found a friendly lawyer who said that he would help me with the case and I went to court against Zia-ul-Haq. The Muslim newspaper gave our case proper coverage for one year under Mushahid Hussain until it was rejected on all grounds. As many problems surfaced, my parentsrequested me to pursue my PhD abroad (laughs).
Q: What was so compelling about Imran Khan that made you join PTI? You could have opted for other parties too.
A: My father fought a PPP election so our family had a political background. My only issue was with PPP’s pro American leanings. Our nuclear program was being disparagedand although Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had a completely different viewpoint, this party was not an option for me to consider. PTI was new at the time; it wasdynamic and had no excess baggage. Imran Khan’s perception regarding foreign affairs including the anti-drones stance and a nationalist approach were just as important.
I found Imran Khan’s personality appealing as well. He is not a hypocrite. He always speaks his mind, whether you agree or disagree with him. His anti-corruption agenda from the very beginning has appealed me the most. In other parties, you cannot consider the leader as your equal or challenge him but we can debate openly with Imran in his party and he listens to you. This is our party’s culture even today. Yes, there are times when you feel angry and frustrated but you talk it out with Imran and somehow or the other, he convinces you.
Q: The Supreme Court of Pakistan announced its decision of sentencing Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison and Maryam Nawaz to 7 years. Do you think this is a step in the right direction for Pakistan?
A: This is the first time the powerful have been held accountable. There are many discussions about the court’s flawed judgement but the basic issue is that PML-N failed to prove that Nawaz Sharif’s earningswere legitimate, and was not a case of money laundering.
However, I believe this should not be the end of anti-corruption. This is a beginning of something new for not just political leadership but civil military bureaucracies and businesspersons as well. They should be held accountable for their actions as well. There should be transparency of tax evaders. Instead of providing tax amnesties, one should arrest such people for hiding their money and generating black money.
Q: Does Supreme Court’s verdict play to PTI’s advantage in the 2018 elections?
A: I think despite the verdict, it is PTI’s time to shine. People are sick and tired. The way Imran Khan has doggedly pursued anti-corruption from the very start is impressive. It was his commitment to end corruption for the betterment of the people. It is hard to sustain the same issue for years but the message has been conveyed to most Pakistanis. The party’s positon has been vindicated because of Supreme Court’s decision. People are starting to realize the link between corruption and poverty.
Q: A majority of Pakistanis have not learned from the past. Despite the money laundering scandal and Nawaz’s sentence, they continue to toe the line of PML-N and are likely to vote for the party in the 2018 elections. Do you still think that PTI stands a chance this year?
A: One can only hope for the best. We can only convey our message to the people and make them understand what is right for them. We can provide awareness about corruption but at the end of the day, each person has to make his or her decision and vote for a party.
Even then, if Pakistanis vote for corrupt politicians, whatever is happening in this country will continue. It is up to the people to decide whether to cast their vote for a corrupt party or bring about positive change in Pakistan. A revolution is only possible if each and every citizen of this country commits to the cause.
Q: Many Pakistanis believe that Imran Khan’s sermons are mere words. As a politician and member of his party, do you think he will be able to live up his promises?
A: Imran Khan tried to implement everything he said in KP. He spoke about depoliticizing the police and he achieved it; improving the environment, ending timber mafias with the billion trees tsunami and a system of local government that empowers people in villages are some of his accomplishments. I am not saying that Imran was entirely successful in his agenda because a status quo bureaucracy is intact but he tried to implement everything he said.
Q: What are your party’s core objectivesif it likely assumes power?
A: The objectives are human development, our commitment to create a social welfare state and provide equal rights to every citizen. We have focused on human development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. No past government has considered issues as important as environment a priority but we have it on our agenda. We consider environment very important for the future of our children and their health. We are also focused on education and public health sector.
The professionalization of police has really helped KP; this includes depoliticizing them and providing merit based positions. Recognizing billion trees tsunami internationally is another great accomplishment. Even our opponents have appreciated this effort. It is true that we need infrastructure and public transport as well but human development is the most important.
Q: PTI is working rigorously in KP but its approach is shortsighted as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of many regions in Pakistan. What is your party doing for other parts of the country including Baluchistan, Punjab and Sindh?
A: PTI is not shortsighted. It was only in government and therefore was only able to do things in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We have stated in our manifesto that we will implement successful policies such as police reforms, health and education that we have managed to carry out in KP.
Q: Water shortage and climate change are two of the most significant environmental problemsin Pakistan today. Our country might not have water by 2025 and universities such as NUST are taking initiative to conserve water. Are these two issues included in PTI’s manifesto?
A: We have our own environment policy for a green Pakistan. We will implement ecotourism and make sure that environment protection is primary. As for water, conserving it from hillocks and building small dams are the way forward. In urban areas, we should encourage rainwater storage facilities. We haven’t effectively defended the Indus Water treaty; we were sleeping on Kishanganga after India had done everything.
Q: We have witnessed political justice with Nawaz Sharif’s imprisonment but there are countless domestic casesof violence, rape and missing children that are overlookedby the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Do you think there isadelay in justice for most Pakistanis?
A: Absolutely – our civil and criminal judicial systems require strict reforms. In KP, we had amended the civil procedure. It was passed as a law to hear every case within a year, which was a big accomplishment. We will implement the same law here as criminal justice system is a central matter and we cannot change it provincially.
We want to train prisoners and not let them language. This is included in our manifesto too. Detention centers should be built for juveniles because if you throw them in with adult criminals, it is a matter of great concern. Thus, jail reform is necessary.
Our anti-terror laws are being abused. We need to refine them as we can’t have laws that victimize people. This was also a part of the National Action Plan. PML-N’s government made no efforts on this issue. They have only revived the military courts. That is not the solution. We have to reform the whole system so every Pakistani receives speedy justice.
Q: Jibran Nasir is running for elections this year. For someone who supports human rights and justice, is he a suitable candidate for the job?
A: People like JamshedDasti belong to a one-man party and have been elected before. One man cannot have an immense impact. PTI had over 30 members in the parliament and it was difficult for us to voice ourselves and strengthen the opposition. So, if there is a single person, not necessarily backed by a party either, his or her impact will be inadequate.
If Jibran Nasir had joined a party for elections without compromising, his chances would have been higher. He did great work on individually but if you want to make Pakistan a better place on a macro level, you should engage in mainstream politics. He should have been affiliated with a political party because a single person cannot implement and change the law or pass a resolution. For that, he needs good numbers.
Q: Anewspaper recently headlined, “PPP vows to get people rid of their misery.” As a politician, do you agree with this statement?
A: Their record shows that they have made people more miserable. Even today, water shortage, poverty and loadshedding in Karachi are unaddressed concerns. They have been in power for so long in Sindh and have done absolutely nothing for an average Pakistani.
Published in Daily Times, July 25th 2018.