Comparison between the Political Stars

In its 65 years of constant struggling, Pakistan has been molded under different mind frames; from Jinnah to Asif Ali Zardari. A lot of ups and downs have havocked the national environment; military’s intervention, democratic rules etc. and now it’s the time again when people would elect the next government, or as one would say ‘5 year party tenure’. Let us look at what major options are there for the masses of Pakistan:

1.      Nawaz  Sharif and PML-N:

Born on 25 December 1949, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is an important politician in Pakistani history. He is a steel mill industrialist, served as Pakistani Prime Minister for two times, first from November 1990 to July 1993 and second time from February 1997 until chief of army staff stepped in the country and forcefully ended Nawaz Sharif’s government on 12^th of October 1999. Currently he is the president of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) which is considered as one of Pakistan’s most influential and largest traditional political party. He is also the owner of Ittefaq group, a leading steel mill corporation and he is also considered one of the wealthiest industrialists of Pakistan.

Looking at his political carrier Nawaz got political fame in Zia-ul-Haq’s era and was supported by the Governor of Punjab, General Ghulam Jilani Khan. He flourished as the chief minister by Zia in 1985 and remained at that post till Zia’s death after that Benazir Bhutto was elected as the Prime Minister in 1988 and Sharif appeared as the primary opposition leader from Pakistan Muslim League. When Benazir was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990, Sharif was elected as the Prime Minister and it was his first experience at this seat.

2.      Imran Khan and PTI:

Considered as one of the strong contenders in the upcoming general elections of 2013, Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf are shaping out to be a force to be reckoned with. Being termed as the Leader of the Youth, Imran Khan has not only gained tremendous popularity amongst the youngsters but is also being viewed as the Savior of Pakistan. Since the party’s creation in 1996, Khan and his fellow party members will be looking for their first official victory. Though the party mostly comprises of political figures who had previously served in the government as representatives of other parties, Imran Khan vows to remove all injustice and darkness from with our national system. With just the experience of organizing and leading a cricket team towards eternal glory, this would be his first taste of the big league, with the exception that he makes it that far.

3.      Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and PML-Q

Getting a 5 year tenure under military intervention, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-E-Azam group tends to be the grooming room for names that need no introduction. Coming-in to form the government from 2002-2007, the party that once won 26% of the total seats could not even manage 50 seats during the next elections. Still, analyst see that tenure as a growing period for the economy of Pakistan, and regard to it as a benchmark. One name that stands out amongst the members is of Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain. He might not be the most remembered Ex-Prime Minister; stepping down in favor of his fellow party member Shaukat Aziz, Shujaat Hussain continues to be an influential political figure in Pakistani Politics. Currently, he remained a close ally of both the Prime Minister and President.

4.      Asif Ali Zardari and PPP

Regarded as the life achievement of the Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan Peoples’ Party is no stranger to the masses. With the death of Benazir Bhutto, possibly the last of the influential figure in the family, the course now rest within the hands of her husband Asif Ali Zardari, Ex-President of Pakistan. Whatever the circumstances might be, he emerged from behind the front line and took oath to lead both the party and the nation on a road towards prosperity. To a naked eye, the country still stands stranded, surrounded with more crises, fighting more enemies than before, and yet the rulers claim they couldn’t have done a better job?, ironic.

5.      Pervez Musharraf and APML

Created in reference to the historical political party of Muslims in India, All India Muslim League; All Pakistan Muslim League was established in 2010 by the former President of Pakistan General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf. The party itself has brief notes that need to be highlighted, but a lot can be said of its founder. The controversial 8 year Military rule of Musharraf has seen many up’s and down’s. The political sphere, the financial status, international relations, national crises; every chapter of the Nation was written with the hands of a military dictator. Some say the things people saw under that time rule were in themselves ‘eye-openers’; yet there are people who support every single decision that he made. His return was much anticipated as a huge crowd was anxiously waiting for him to step-back in the Political field and ‘make things right’.

By Jaffer Abbas