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April      Last updated: April  15,  5:00 p.m.

from Fatima Jinnah to Kulsoom Nawaz

Muzaffar Hussain

AT present in Pakistan, wife of Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz has become an issue of discussion. Parvez Musharraf has decided to register a case against Kulsoom Nawaz for her so-called anti-national activities. It is noticed that every dictator is a coward and even afraid of his shadow. Pakistani Military Dictator Parvez Musharraf is no exception. No wonder, Parvez Musharraf is afraid of the wife of Nawaz Sharif, his political enemy. Parvez Musharraf's problems started when Kulsoom Nawaz invited all Muslim League MPs and prominent leaders to a dinner at Lahore on March sixth. Kulsoom Nawaz has decided to launch an agitation against the arrest of her husband and turn every stone to establish democracy in Pakistan. Musharraf suspects that the activities of Kulsoom Nawaz once again may lead to the era of Benazir Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto.

As compared to General Musharraf General Zia was more matured. General Zia had hanged Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and compelled the heirs of Bhutto to leave Pakistan but General Musharraf would not be able to take a similar step at least in the immediate future. General Zia was determined to take revenge from Bhutto. However, he did not allow it to come to the surface like Musharraf's case. The enmity of Musharraf against Nawaz Sharif seems to be an act without thorough consideration. The common people were utterly disappointed the way Musharraf treated the Judiciary. General Zia did everything in the name of Islam. He remained an absolute dictator for 11 years but he did not displease anybody in or outside Pakistan. He"was repeatedly announcing his intention of restoring limited democracy in the country. General Zia appointed Junejo and Gulam as Prime Ministers to create the impression within the country and outside that he did not wish to continue military rule in Pakistan for a long time. Parvez Musharraf had failed to create any such impression. Neither could he convince the neighbouring India nor could he please Pakistan's ally America. It would be therefore difficult to predict how long Parvez would continue his regime in Pakistan.

In the absence of Nawaz Sharif, it is difficult to assess to what extent Kulsoom would succeed in maintaining her influence and control on the Party. Kulsoom is giving Musharraf sleepless nights. Musharraf may intend to compel Kulsoom to leave the country on any pretext or send her to jail, so that he could continue his dictatorship without any fear. However, it is not that simple. Those who know history are aware that in Pakistan women had played a prominent role in politics. Pakistan may be a country of old and rigid customs but, many women in Pakistan have made history despite the odds. General Zia compelled Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto to lead a life of refugees. But, as soon as democracy was restored in Pakistan, people elected them as leaders and conveyed a message to the military rulers that whatever they had done was wrong. Under the threat of bullets the public opinion can only temporarily be subdued but at the first opportunity people would express their feelings collectively. In such circumstances Kulsoom may also create a history.

It is common knowledge that Mohammad Ali Jinnah had played a very crucial role in the growth of Muslim League and formation of Pakistan, but Fatima Jinnah, sister of Jinnah, had also played a significant role for Muslim League and Pakistan. Though Fatima was a dentist by profession, due to her political understanding, she established Jinnah as a successsful leader. Fatima had a dental clinic in Abdul Rahman Street in Mumbai till 1932. Fatima was single. Jinnah got married when he was very young"but his wife expired when he was in high-school. At 40, Jinnah married 18-year old Rati Petit but their marriage was not a successful one. He married Rati in 1918 and she expired in 1929. Jinnah again started living with his sister Fatima. When Field Marshal Ayub Khan contested election for Presidentship, Fatima Jinnah contested against him on behalf of the people of Pakistan. But she was defeated. Fatima Jinnah expired in 1968. It was her contribution in the political and social life of Pakistan that she is called "Madare-Millat" (mother of the community).

The next woman to attain prominence in political and public life was Rana Liyaqat, wife of Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liyaqat Ali Khan. Rana Liyaqat was a converted Muslim from Uttar Pradesh and was an authority on English literature. She was largely responsible for Liyaqat Khan's achievements during his career.

Immediately after the murder of Liyaqat Khan, she demanded an inquiry. At that time many prominent Muslim League leaders were alive. They feared if she became the Prime Minister after winning the elections she would create problems for them. Hence, they collected some maulanas and asked them to condemn her for she was a Muslim woman and yet entering into public life.

In Pakistan politicians had always been taking help of Islam and their rigid customs to remove their political obstacles. For instance, to remove Zafarulla Khan from the political scene his community Ahmadiya was made as an issue. It was propagated that Ahmadiya is a non-Muslim community and Zafarulla Khan could not become the Prime Minister. After that, from General Zia to Parvez Musharraf Islam is being used as a sheild to protect their military rule. To check Rane Liyaqat's movements she was sent out of Pakistan, first to Canada, and then to France, as Ambassador of the country.

The beautiful secretary of Governor General Mohammad, Borali Ruth, of British origin, also thought of becoming active in Pakistan politics but she utterly failed. In 1958 when Sikander Mirza became the President of Pakistan, his wife Nahid Mirza tried to influence politics in Pakistan but Field Marshal Ayub Khan checked them all of a sudden by sending Sikander Mirza and Nahid Mirza to London immediately after imposing martial law in Pakistan.

The Bhuttos remain the most discussed women in Pakistan. The family of Diwan of Junagad, Murtaza Bhutto, went to Pakistan from India, after Partition. It was stated that because of the influence of their Marathi grandmother, the Bhutto family became prominent and powerful in politics. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was like his ancestors—aristocratic and carefree. Nusrat was his second wife. She was an Irani and wife of an Irani Naval Commander. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fell in love with Nusrat and she came to Pakistan.

Nusrat had burried her husband at Larkana crematorium after he was hanged as per General Zia's order. After this, Nusrat went to London along with her daughters Benazir and Sanam. She was leading the People's Party of Pakistan from London itself. She was made chairman of the party for the whole life but later on, her daughter Benazir removed her from the post. It is said when Benazir met her father last, on the night Bhutto was to be hanged, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto told her to keep the party alive by acting just like a man and by remaining unmarried. The daughter kept the party alive, but understanding that it was difficult to accept an unmarried women in a country like Pakistan where customs are very rigid, she married Asif Zardari.

She become the PM but later the Inquiry Commission appointed by Nawaz Sharif and by Parvez Musharraf had lodged charges of corruption and irregular activities against Benazir and she had to leave Pakistan. If she goes to Pakistan, she would be sent to jail like her husband. She is running between Dubai and London to avoid the arrest however, so far, she has not been able to find out any solution. Benazir's husband killed her brother Murtaza so that no one could claim to be the heir of the Bhutto family. However this dream of Asif Jardari has been shattered. At present two women from the Bhutto family are rising in the political arena of Pakistan. One of them is Sanam Bhutto, younger sister of Benazir Bhutto. Sanam's marriage was an unsuccessful one and she had decided to stay in London. If Benazir is barred to contest elections in Pakistan, the leadership of Pakistan Peoples' Party might go for Sanam. There is also a possibility that daughter of late Murtaza Bhutto, Fatima, may enter this race.

So, it is clear that the leadership of Pakistan People's Party would go to a woman. On the other hand Kulsoom Nawaz and her daughter Mariyam have launched an agitation to protest against the arrest of Nawaz Sharif and the verdict. If Parvez Musharraf bans Nawaz Sharif and his brother to contest elections, then the mother and the daughter have to lead the Muslim League Party.