Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

Bad man; but good idea. The feudal system has crippled pakistan since inception and it is good to see at least one mainstream political leader cast this back into the spotlight. If it gets talked about enough, then perhaps one day it will be eliminated.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/01/23/local2.htm

KARACHI, Jan 22: Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain has expressed his resolve to make the country free from exploitation and a place where the poor will have all their rights. “It is my mission,” he told the recently-formed Punjab Organizing Committee of his party on Saturday night.

The MQM motto is very clear, i.e. banishing jagiradari and wadera system and building a strong middle class capable of providing the right direction and leadership to the country, he said.

Mr Hussain regretted that a two per cent microscopic minority had been ruling over the country ever since its inception in 1947 with 98 per cent poor and innocent people being at their mercy.

“This tyranny has to end,” he declared, saying that he would pursue his mission ceaselessly and fearlessly. He remarked: “If not in our life, the fruits of the struggle by him and his party will be reaped by the coming generations.”

He observed that the PPP had raised the slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan but that party comprised mostly feudal lords, as was its founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Likewise, he added, Nawaz Sharif belonged to the rich class and most of his party leaders came from the same class. They naturally had no sympathy with the poor and oppressed people, he remarked saying they protected their own interests in the assemblies.

He told the committee that a person or group not coming from the poor class could never realize the needs and aspirations of the lower class. Such a person or group would have interest in filling their own coffers, he added.

Mr Hussain said: “Today, the MQM, despite all obstructions, is able to establish its foothold in the Punjab. He impressed upon the committee members to work with commitment and dedication to ensure victory.

2

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

The idea of ending feudalism is nothing new, and has been talked about for decades.

3

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Who was the last leader of a major Pakistani political party to bring it up?

4

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Did Benazir and Nawaz ever talk about ending feudalism? Benazir was so indebted to feudals she never dared even challenge the feudalistic barbarism known as karo kiri.

The Lurrrrrve Guru
5

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

BB and NS of course.In addition Musharraf talked about it when he came in power(amongst other promises).

The talk of 'ending fedualism' is a topic, alongside 'ending corruption' that every leader raises, and fails to do.

kudh kase Rooz ............
6

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

The country was cut in half due to feudalistic egocentric behavior and you believe things will change that fast?

1971 was a very good chance of introducing a sustainable grassroots democracy in Pakistan but alas!

7

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Really? When?
And what did they do about it?

8

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

^
BB & NS sent their feudals baskets full of fruits and mithai.

9

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Good idea!

Somebody has to stand up for the poor and disenfranchised in the country. Good job!

10

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Good idea but one which has cost us dearly when we lost half of the country in 1971. Had the Generals then handed power to Mujeeb who represented the middle and lower classes of East Pakistan, things may have been very different for Pakistan, alas that was not to be.

Feudals have always managed to protect their inetrest, even b4 partition this class realized the potential breakup and their impending loss of power had Congress succeeded, thus their last minute lurch towards Muslim League. Since then, they in hands with our brave Pak army and the religious circles have dominated Pakistani politics, societal behaviour and ideaology.

Taking power away from this ruling elite is an extremely difficult prospect given the continued status quo condition which favors army rule in partnership with their historic allies ie feudals and religious clergy.

11

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Army leaders as a rule have always allied themselves with other feudals as a means of developing a constituency. As FG implied they are keepers of the status quo and rarely if ever confront the government.

A PML (Also known as the Army league or Pervaiz Musharraf League) MNA from Punjab recently said the only criteria to become a Minister in Islamabad was to be one of three, a Leghari a Mazari or a bazaari...

12

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

In her book ‘Daughter of the East’ Benazir extols her feudal origins, and of course makes no mention of the evils of the wadera system. She even admitted to a western reporter that feudalism was a good thing for people in her province because it ‘looked after people’.

Time Pass foR Poetry
13

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

It's not like I keep record of their speeches and interviews, what i say is from memory

As for what they have done about it, the answer is nothing, just like Musharraf.

Nobody does anyting about it, it is simply a 'campaign theme' , like 'ending corruption' and 'accountability' Pak leaders use to 'score points'

hum hukum jari kartay hain
14

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

The idea is good and old but the thing is that it will NEVER happen in Pakistan. Who is incharge of Pakistan? Who are the major political powers where the feudal system thrives? A big chunk is the feudals themselves.

15

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

Nothing new for the regular "political parties" its just another way to get the support of the rural-poor in Pakistan. At the end of the day Ayub, Bhutto, Zia, BB and many PML and PPP outfits and even Musharaf all end up sitting with these same Jagirdars once in power.
I think MQM and Jamat Islami are the only two parties which have a strong lower and middle class backing, and its suits them to call for such changes.

16

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

it's not easy congress talked about this and all these feudla lords left frontier gandhi and joined jinnah, this was one of the most prominent reason for jinnah's pakistan idea coming to fruition.. thee landlords won't let it go their land so easily..... some communist lik movement is needed......... i read somewhere in dawn that hardly 2-3000 landlords in pakistan own 80% of agricultural land now this is too much..........

17

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

what is wadera system

18

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

If it is only your memory then, sorry to say, you seem to be loosing memory. I never remember baba or bibi saying anything against feudals, and I am not alone, nobody else seem to remember except you.
But anyway … what do you remember? what did they say?

19

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

^ practically nothing could be done because of the FSC ruling during Zias time..Nawaz Sharif did launch a major redistribution of land scheme in his second term. Many anti feudals from Sind and other areas joined Nawaz Sharif because of that initiative.

20

Re: Altaf stresses end to feudal system

With that statement, it is obvious you wouldn't believe what i would say, no matter how truthful it is.

Thus feel free to do your own research,I'm sure you'll come across it, as Zakk has mentioned.