(Wajid Shamsul Hasan is Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK. He is a veteran journalist and was an advisor to assassinated Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto. He knew and worked with Benazir Bhutto for over 30 years and was also a trusted advisor to her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. )
London: It was indeed immense pleasure for me this year once again to lead as High Commissioner Pakistan’s team to the Labour Party Annual Conference held at Manchester though I have been attending its yearly moots since 1994 when martyred Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto first appointed me to be Islamabad’s representative at the Court of St James and reposed her trust in me to be her man in a country that had immense importance for her and Pakistan.
Like many erstwhile freedom fighters and leaders of liberation movements from all over the world that glorify with blue and brown plaques of their memorial stays in UK in exile our martyred leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also found in Britain twice a second home—nay a citadel—to keep alight the torch of freedom when the country was shrouded in totalitarian darkness.
Bhutto always overly emphasised closer co-operation and collaboration between PPP and democratic forces world over for ushering in democracy in Pakistan. She always underscored the need for attending the party conferences and conventions since the platforms provided by them infuse new ideas in human management and inculcate global democratic culture.
It was indeed a moment of pride for me as opposed to those who had served dictators—to represent a revived democratic Pakistan headed by President Asif Ali Zardari and a coalition government headed by a PPP nominee Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. Pakistan’s return to democracy—achieved through a struggle headed by the Bhuttos through their toil and sacrifices in blood supported by the masses—will surely be an inspiration for other nations—especially Muslim countries—still striving to embrace democracy as a way of life.
While freedom-loving anti-obscurantist people of Pakistan have carved a unique niche in the hall of fame for their democratic struggle, we cannot forget the enormous support extended to Pakistan by our supporters in the Labour Party, people of the United Kingdom and its media in our Herculean march on road to democracy.
Good tidings from the people of Pakistan, its President and Prime Minister for the Labour Party delegates and to the fair-minded British people who supported our struggle for democracy were in order. It is heartening to note from Secretary of State David Miliband that Pakistan will continue to receive much more to fight twin scourge of terrorism and extremism and Britain will also help us build our strong democratic institutions, civil society and a culture of tolerance for peaceful co-existence as a civilised country in the comity of nations to become a model of moderation among Muslim and developing states to act as the harbinger of liberal, secular and progressive polity.
Pakistan's democratic government has inherited a huge backlog of socio-economic problems, a non-existent law and order machinery and a catalogue of mismanagement. Its foreign imported economic managers had embroiled Pakistan’s economy into a stranglehold of wasteful and non-productive consumerism with far-reaching adverse consequences faced by the government today. However, the overwhelming quantum of support and confidence the new government enjoys in the masses has made it resilient and determined to over come all odds.
Besides the piled up economic problems, it is a legatee to enormous security challenges including that of the scourge of terrorism. The government is devising policies to address the menace of extremism and terrorism in a comprehensive manner and using a multi-dimensional approach rather than the use of force as the only option.
The government is determined to fight terrorism with an iron hand. It has undertaken to bring into pale of civilisation Northern and tribal areas hitherto ignored and step motherly treated. It is believed that areas most affected by terrorism need to be developed on top priority as the majority of the people are peace loving and want to enjoy fruits of progress and prosperity through development of socio-economic, administrative and political infra-structure to enable them to become stake-holders in the management of their own affairs.
Pakistan is committed to work together with the UK and the international community for peace, security, and fighting terrorism not only in the two countries but where ever needed. No one should have any doubts about the fact that Pakistan remains a lead player in the war against terrorism. It is suffering immense casualties, dislocations, disruptions and destruction in men and material as was seen the other day in its capital city Islamabad where a suicide bomber wrought enormous havoc. While no amount of sympathy can replace the losses in lives, people can be assured that their government is determined to destroy the scourge at its roots and make the terrorists pay for their dastardly acts.
Our eyes got dried of tears when we lost our great leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in a terrorist attack in Rawalpindi late last year. Since she believed that it is glorious to die for a cause, she laid her life for democracy and for the rights of the down trodden, for the emancipation of women and the empowerment of the less privileged in Pakistan and the world over. Her stout belief; Democracy is the best revenge, has proved correct.
Democracy in Pakistan—we owe it all to her. Her last message was never say die to terrorism and we know how our two countries—among many others--have suffered from terrorism. Whatever—the odds and challenges—Pakistan is determined to work together to eradicate terrorism from the face of the world.
Pakistan and the UK enjoy warm, friendly, broad based, deep-rooted and multi dimensional relations, ranging from cooperation in trade and economy to counter challenges by global terrorism and extremism. Britain takes the cake by being Pakistan’s fourth biggest trading partner among the European nations.
Recently President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Brown held very productive negotiations. They emphasised the importance of Pakistan-UK relations and the need for further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. Their joint statement highlighted the commonality of views on a number of issues and underlined the need for cooperation to tackle common challenges. There are around one million British citizens of Pakistani origin in the UK whose contribution in strengthening friendship between the two countries is highly appreciated.
As now I was High Commissioner than when Labour Party had adopted a resolution in its annual conference in 1995 what has come to be known as Brighton Declaration. It was moved by the then Shadow Foreign Secretary late Robin Cook—by far the most outstanding and upright statesman of his time known for his ethical stands on issues of foreign policy. The historic resolution was drafted by yet another giant Labour leader of all times-- Rt Honourable Sir Gerald Kaufman-- staunchly supported on the merit of the case by many other eminent Labour luminaries including Clare Short and Derek Fatchet.
The Brighton Declaration had categorically declared that after coming into power Labour Party would work for the solution of the longest standing unsolved Kashmir problem on the list of unresolved disputes on UN roster--according to the principle of right of self-determination as sanctioned to the Kashmiri people by the United Nations. It had also described it as its moral obligation since the issue was part of the unfinished agenda of the partition of the sub-continent brought about by the Labour government in 1947.
Though Kashmir problem is still not resolved and human rights violations and oppression of the people of Kashmir continue unabated, it is hoped that the Labour government will recall its Brighton Declaration, use its influence in support of the oppressed Kashmiri people in facilitating them to fulfil their aspirations for freedom and right to choose their own goal.
Last but not the least Pakistanis shall remain beholden to the dominant British philanthropic spirit that opened food gates of assistance to the devastated earthquake victims two years ago. Neither can they underestimate the British help to Pakistan in its socio-economic developments and poverty reduction efforts. The British government’s lead role in the formation of “Friends for Pakistan” for much needed short and long term assistance to put Pakistan’s derailed economy back on the track will always be appreciated. Pakistan is also grateful to the UK for its development assistance through DFID which has done wonders under its dynamic minister Shahid Malik who leaves no stone unturned to rush where the call for help is raised.
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