Kashmala Tariq Exclusive Interview

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Liberal Princess takes on MMA. :slight_smile:

[thumb=A]kashmalaL.JPG[/thumb]

MMA rigid in policies

**Like her looks, Kashmala Tariq is also a very bright person from deep inside. She wants everyone to be open and fair. Elected on one of the women reserved seats as a Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) candidate, young Kashmala Tariq vows to contest the next polls on general seat.

As a symbol of liberalism, well educated Kashmala disagrees with the policies of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) who she thinks are “rigid on their stance”.**

Following are the details of Kashmala Tariq’s exclusive panel interview with Online:

  • Question: How do you rate MMA and its policies?

  • Kashmala Tariq: MMA is rigid in its policies. MMA has disappointed in talks with PML-Q.

Their candidates won seats on anti-American card and are bound to carry on their policies. They have to stick to their policies and we have to follow our way. We want moderate attitude not fundamentalism.

  • Q:….. and MMA’s demands, wherein they seek uniform-less President, approval of Legal Framework Order from the Parliament and giving up of National Security Council idea?

  • KT: There is no harm in having Musharraf as President. We have had Presidents in uniform in the past.

Other issues are debatable and we can discuss them in Parliament. We can talk on LFO especially.

  • Q: What would you say about Prime Minister’s visit to NA 56 days before polls. Some suggest it was a violation of the election rules!

  • KT: He had to go there to resolve public problems. We can’t stop development projects.

  • Q: Some say the government carried worst horse trading to come into power. What will you say?

  • KT: The government did not purchase loyalties during the election of the Leader of the House and later in the confidence vote.

There was no horse trading. If some people were fed up with the policies of their parties there is nothing the PML-Q could have done.

The nation has tried Ziaul Haq, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and now it is turn for a new leadership. :wink:

We have a new leadership in place now, the people want us to deliver. We are working to come up to the expectations of the people.

  • Q: What are your views on co-education?

Unlike MMA, I support co-education in the country :biggthumb: which I think will boost confidence in womenfolk.

We are around 70 women in National Assembly. How can we have the confidence to talk to male members when we never have any interaction.

Islam is a progressive religion and has always stressed education for the females. Islam never bars education. It asks followers to travel to far flung areas to get educated.

I want massive changes in the educational system. I would like to see Arabic as a compulsory subject at all levels. It is our religious language. Then we can have English and a similar syllabus for all schools.

  • Q: Will you comment on women reserved seats in National Assembly?

  • KT: President Musharraf provided women a chance to participate in national politics by reserving seats in the assemblies.

I must appreciate that. He is a good man. He provided us with a chance but still I think more women should come as we constitute around half of the population.

The females were not given such an opening during the government of Benazir Bhutto who herself was a woman. Females must be inducted to familiarise them with the political and social atmosphere.

  • Q: What are your aims as head of the NA (National Assembly) Justice Committee?

  • KT: As head of the NA Justice Committee I want restoration of Human Rights and punishment for the violators.

There are Human Rights abuses all around. I want to use my position to overcome it and ensure security for citizens.

I will not right away openly discuss “the debatable” Hudood Ordinance. We can discuss it in the Parliament.

  • Q: What do you think constitutes a successful politician?

  • KT: Mass contact is key for a successful politician. I remain busy all day and almost all the night looking after the people of my constituency. We have to work if we want to remain in focus.

  • Q: Pakistanis are in troubles these days in the US because of the INS registration system. Will you comment on that?

  • KT: I am critical of the US registration system for the Pakistanis. An NA (National Assembly) committee must be formed on the issue.

Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri is there (in the US) to take up the matter. I hope everything will be alright.

  • Q: If anyone wants to know about Kashmala, how she started and what are her plans!!!

  • KT: I started with PSF (Peoples Students Federation), then I joined Tehrik-e-Insaf but soon came to know that it was a one man show. Now I am with PML-Q because it is a national party.

I have been trying to give time to the family as well as the politics. I want to perform as the best in both home and the assembly.

  • Online Panel: Thank you for being with us

  • KT: It was a pleasure being here. Thank you too.

**The Interviewers: Sohail Iqbal (Executive Editor), Shafqat Ali (Chief Reporter) and Farrukh Tanvir (News Editor Urdu). **

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Isn't she the daughter of Musharraf Chamcha, Secretary Tariq Aziz?

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What has it got to do with this thread? :hehe:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zakk: *
Isn't she the daughter of Musharraf Chamcha, Secretary Tariq Aziz?
[/QUOTE]

Hmmmm I don't think so, Zakk.

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i think she should take over and whip the mullahs.

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shes made a dig about Imran Khan and how great PML Quisling is..it's not like she's saying it because of her impartiality

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Zakk yara, Imran Khan will never be able to acheieve success in the politics as his party members never had experience of politics before. It's not like I'm against Imran Khan, though, sometimes I disagree with his views.

As for Kashmala Tariq being a daughter of Tariq Aziz, I don't think so. The editorial should have mentioned that aspect.

As for her comments about PML(Q), she was the only woman candidate to be participate in the election(Correct me if I'm wrong). That's why so much praise of PML(Q). Some of the Independent Candidates have joined PML(Q) and Mrs Zubedia Jalal is one of them. :)

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Nice to read about interview with Kashmala Tariq. There are many progressive women politicians in Pakistan who are quite capable.

At the same time in Pakistan National Assembly website I can see two women whose pictures appear totally burqa-clad. Incidentally both of them belong to MMA. None of other women members of MMA have given their photographs. I wonder how they speak in National Assembly or participate in public functions .

http://www.na.gov.pk/mna/na-301.jpg (Samia Raheel Qazi)

http://www.na.gov.pk/mna/NA-327.jpg (Ambareen Naeem)

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Zakk maybe you have Dr Donya Aziz d/o Tariq Aziz- PML-Q in mind... not to mention Dr Hajra Tariq Aziz w/o Tariq Aziz-PML-Q

Kashmala Tariq is the wife of Tariq Rashid PML-Q

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Oh right..my mistake PA..and PT..ok..she's talking from experiewnce not bias!

PT you are right about Imran Khan..he doesn't have many professional politicians, but thats supposed to be his appeal..new clean people?

Anyway, on the same site there is an interesting article from Ijaz ul Haq, about how many MNA"s have fake degrees!

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Zakk, when did I say we don't need clean people? Problem with PTI is that their members aren't popular among common people of Pakistan. Comman man doesn't even know much about this party. In 97, PTI had one of hell election campagin, and we all saw how it ended up in the end.

How many members of PTI do you know, Zakk? Besides Imran Khan, I know former FM Abdul Sattar joined PTI, fought election.

PTI is known as a party founded by Imran Khan and Kashmala pointed out very well. It will take time for PTI to grow its roots.

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PT: You are right he doesn't have people with pull. The party is totally dependant on Imran Khan in most areas. Besides Abdul Sattar (I think Shaukat Aziz was also a PTI person ) it does have people like Mairaj Muhammad Khan and lawyer Hamid Khan. Both are very clean people and very competent people. Unfortunately they have no "vote bank". the one person I know from Sarhad side who has some influence is not a very good person. That's the problem, the people who can win seats aren't good people and the ones who are good people can't win seats!

The one good thing though is that Imran Khan has shown people can win seats if they work hard in their constituency, without using biradri or tribal links or government support. That's how normal democracy works, you have to start from the bottom to reach to the top.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zakk: *
The one good thing though is that Imran Khan has shown people can win seats if they work hard in their constituency, without using biradri or tribal links or government support. That's how normal democracy works, you have to start from the bottom to reach to the top.
[/QUOTE]

I thought IK's party won only one seat and that too was Imran Khan's own. Which could be a result of very high visibility due to his almost cult status in Pakistan.

In my view, if any political party actually brought up middle-class candidates and showed that they can get elected too, it was MQM in mid-90's. Thought later disclosures may suggest that the party also relied on dada-giri and mob-tactics to win, but it is undisputed that it brought a lot of middle-class members in our legislative process.

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Faisal, Imran Khan has no personal constituency. His family is from Mianwali but he was settled in Lahore. He may have had a national following as a cricket star but that doesn't mean he could win a seat. In the 1997 election he polled more votes from the seat in Sarhad he contested then from Mianwali or Lahore.

In the 2002 elections there was a 6 fold increase in the people who voted for him from Mianwali. he was runner up on his Lahore seat and was third in the other 3 seats he contested.

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Brother PT, sorry yara your wrong on that. From my hometown Attock, NA-59 Attock III Ms. Eman Wasim participated and won the election.

http://www.votesmart.com.pk/elections_result/viewresult.asp?crt=37

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Re: Kashmala Tariq Exclusive Interview

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
**KT:* I started with PSF (Peoples Students Federation), then I joined Tehrik-e-Insaf but soon came to know that it was a one man show. Now I am with PML-Q because it is a national party.

[/QUOTE]

Dr. Robert D. Crane* states:

"Every person has three choices when faced with the injustices that are inevitable in every society. The first is to rebel as an outsider, which automatically renders this person irrelevant to any process of constructive change. **The second is to assimilate and become part of the problem.* The third is to transform the society in which one lives by first transforming oneself."*

Unfortunately, the lady has chosen to become part of Pakistan's problems by joining PML(Q) - which is no more than a lota party and a product of Musharraf's short-sightedness. How is the PML(Q) gonna change Pakistan when it contains those same corrupt elements, those same professional politicians and waderas who brought Pakistan to where it is now.

Soon as Musharraf leaves, the PML(Q) is gonna come crashing down. It is a party of opportunists and lotas. After Mush, these lotas will regroup in some other party supported by the establishment. May be Kashmala thinks she can do a bit of good for the people by joining this party and getting elected with the help of the establishment, but whatever little good she can do will be like a drop in the ocean of Pak's problems. Pakistan needs a FUNDAMENTAL change in its system and supporting parties belonging to the status-quo will never help in this, it only prolongs Pakistan's agony.

It appears Kashmala could not abide by the higher principles of Imran Khan's PTI, she knew it would be easier to get elected on PML-Q's ticket and so she decided to join them. Its a shame really, cuz the good she will be able to do will be vastly exceeded by the evil & deterioration that prolonging Pakistan's corrupt status-quo brings about.

As for Imran Khan, he will never compromise with the corrupt, this makes it harder for him to come to power, but it ensures that if and when he comes to power, he shall be able to overhaul Pakistan's corrupt system. His struggle is long-term (15 to 20 yrs), and we shouldn't just judge him on the performance in a couple of elections, the forces arrayed against him are very strong, it will take both time and luck to subdue them.

  • Dr. Robert D. Crane is a convert to Islam and was Principal Foreign Policy Advisor to former US President Nixon. He was a career diplomat and is a life-long student of civilizations and comparative legal systems and ideologies. He has recently been elected Chairman of Crescent University Foundation, an initiative to build America's first premier Islamic university at par with the Ivy League.
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  • Zakk: I've no knowledge whether Shuakat Azia was a member of PTI or not. When Musharraf came in power, he chose Mr. Aziz as a Finance Minister. He used to work in a CitiBank in NY. Never heard of Mairaj Muhammad Khan and lawyer Hamid Khan before though, I take your words about them. :)

  • RajputFury: I knew I was wrong. Thanks for correcting me. :)

  • sallu: True, PML(Q) consists of lotas and loyalists but keep in mind, in the political history of Pakistan, everyone has gone through the same process. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the only politician who had overwhelmingly support from Pakistanis but he had contacts with Landlords as well. Conclusion: No one is clean.

Imran Khan could become a PM of Pakistan but not in my life time ,though, if he gets support from a strong lobby, whether military or a politician, then could be.

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
[li]RajputFury:* I knew I was wrong. Thanks for correcting me. :)
[/li][/list]
[/QUOTE]

Not a problem :) I'm pretty sure there are more women like her.

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Yes, and my fav. Zobaida Jalal - Making a difference

Allah(SWT) gives her more strength for what she has been focusin’ on. :slight_smile: