Interview: My efforts have paid off - Qasim Zia

Qasim Zia, who was appointed president of the Pakistan People's Party's Punjab unit by PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto last year, is optimistic that the party will regain its lost glory in the province, which was until the last elections a stronghold of the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League.

In the province where the PPP failed to get even a single National Assembly seat and could only manage a few provincial seats, Zia foresees that his party will bag most of the seats this time.

Zia, who is continuously on the move travelling to various cities, towns and villages in the province, spoke exclusively to Gulf News yesterday before leaving for a public meeting in Faisalabad.

A former Olympian and a Havana cigar smoker known for his flamboyant style, Zia looked visibly changed as he now wears a national dress with waist-coat – a trademark of Pakistani politicians.

Zia is contesting from PP-155 constituency in Lahore. His main rival is Yaqoob Bhatti of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-QA), but he has an edge because the PML (Nawaz) is supporting him.

Excerpts from the interview:

Gulf News: There is a general impression that the PPP has failed to attract crowds at its public meeting in the absence of its leader Benazir Bhutto. Is it so?
Qasim Zia: It is not true at all. Although the government by drafting 'black laws' has tried to stop Benazir from participating in the election process, it has further motivated people, and the PPP workers have come out onto the streets with a vengeance.

People know that the government has drafted various new laws just to stop Benazir because the current rulers are afraid of her success. The result is that our workers are more active and are participating in the election campaign with full strength. If the elections are held free, fair and impartial, the PPP will get a clear majority.

What makes you confident about the PPP's resurgence in Punjab, the province where it was defeated badly during the 1997 general elections?
I have reorganised the party in Punjab since I become president of the party in the province. I have changed 12 district presidents and have extensively toured the areas to motivate people.

My efforts have paid off. Secondly, people are still ready to vote in the name of the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto because they are now convinced that the PPP is the only party which could provide them relief.

Everybody else has given the masses nothing but poverty, price hike and deprivation. The present government propagates the high foreign exchange reserves the country has, but it has failed in delivering to the masses.

Election observers are talking about a hung parliament. What do you say about this?
It is all rubbish.Those who want to protect their own interests talk about a hung parliament but, in fact, the PPP is in a favourable situation to get a majority of the seats provided the elections are not rigged.

Do you think the government is interfering in the election process in a bid to favour a particular group?
There is no doubt about that. The government is not exactly fair. Up till now there has been great interference from the government. They are using their machinery, and the governor of Punjab is clearly taking sides with the PML-QA, called the 'king's party.'

He is using government machinery for the benefit of the king's party candidates. He is visiting various constituencies and most of the time is accompanied by the PML-QA candidates. It speaks volumes of the government's intentions. However, I am sure the people are aware of these tactics and they would reject any bid to fool them.

However, if the government tried to engineer the results, the PPP should not be held responsible for what happens afterwards. The whole world is watching. We are in touch with the international observers and will take them along so they can observe the elections independently.

Is the PML-QA expected to give a tough time to the PPP?
That's laughable. The PML-QA has no roots in the masses. They have no vote-bank and strength, except the government machinery. Only the PPP and the PML-N have strong vote-bank in the province. The division of vote-bank between PML-N and PML-QA will ultimately give an edge to the PPP.

Will you seek an alliance with the PML-N in parliament?
Of course. Although we could not reach a proper agreement on the seat adjustment issue because of old animosities, we still have an understanding on an alliance in parliament.

The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy was not an election alliance but still we have worked out the basic principles. Even the religious parties have said they would join hands for restoring democracy in its original form. We will strive for restoring the constitution.

Will your party, if it comes to power, accept President Pervez Musharraf as the head of state?
We will only accept a president who is elected by the parliament. But I cannot comment what the situation will be after the elections.

When will Benazir Bhutto return to Pakistan?
We will make way for the safe return of our leader as soon as we reach parliament. We do not accept the PCOs and constitutional amendments geared towards barring Benazir from coming back to the country and contesting elections.

She is the symbol of political stability and democracy in the country, and the people of Pakistan need her to take the country out of the present economic and political crises.