Happy Birthday, Asef, By Benazir Bhutto

This week Asif Zardari spent his seventh consecutive birthday alone in prison. He remains a hostage to his wife’s political career. A male spouse in a traditional society that elected the Muslim world’s first woman prime minister was bound to find trouble. And he did.

Many traditionalists see women as the extensions of men. They resent the women and target the man they think makes it possible. In their mind, a woman is a piece of property without free thought or action. If she violates their thinking, the fault lies with the man too. So Asif pays the price.

Married for fifteen years, Asif has spent nine years in prison. Today he is described as the Nelson Mandela of Pakistan. The sea change in attitude from criticism to respect is notable. People at large appreciate that the accusations of corruption are at odds with the resistance of a man who gave up everything dear for a political cause. His liberty, his family, his livelihood were sacrificed at the alter of the struggle to turn Pakistan into a democratic country. He symbolises the peoples struggle against fascism and military domination of the country.

Born in a Zamindar family of Nawabshah, Asif never dreamt of becoming the most famous political prisoner in South Asia. As adored only son of doting parents, his life was a carefree one spent playing polo and enjoying life. It changed through marriage. He became a football in a deadly game of politics that pitted the establishment against the political forces of the country. A boy who studied at the Petaro Cadet College and socialised with junior military officers who were his peers, was now on the other side of the political fence.

When the PPP formed the Government in 1988 after defeating the establishment sponsored IJI, Asif became the centre of a smear campaign. A twice convicted slum lord was lured (through his wife getting an expensive plot) to scandalously claim that Asif tied a bomb to his leg holding him hostage for ransom. Research by an English detective firm helped get the evidence that ultimately led to acquittal in that case.

This was one of many other scandalous charges fabricated against Asif Ali Zardari. Shockingly, Asif was tortured to force him to implicate his wife. He survived due to supporters surrounding the torture centre for five days giving diplomats and other well-wishers time to intervene. This attempt to murder was then turned into a fabricated attempted suicide case. It took four years for acquittal from this false case.

The worst case fabricated against Asif was blaming him for the murder of his brother in law Murtaza Bhutto. This was fabricated despite the conclusions of a high powered judicial committee that the evidence against Asif was based on speculation. It could not be relied upon. In fact Murtaza was murdered to overthrow the democratic government in 1996. Asif was blamed to cover up the tracks of the real murderers.

Each time Asif is freed another case is made to lock him up. The accountability bureau was opened on a closed holiday to make the newest case. Now Asif is accused of paying less than the full import duty on a second hand BMW car (in someone else's name). The regime calls him a billionaire unable to afford a new car.

In 1989, a corp. commander met him with a message from the armed forces. He was asked to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan in place of his wife. The excuse was that the military could not salute a woman. In 1993, an Arab prince made the same offer to Asif Zardari. Asif Zardari is a humble man. He rejected attempts to get him into a leadership contest. This humility endears Asif to the PPP workers. No matter how difficult life gets, Asif manages to smile making a victory sign, even when in crutches and limping with pain.

Prison stole his youth and right to happiness. Under gruesome conditions, facing several murder charges, thrice tortured, Asif developed high blood pressure, diabetes, spondylytis, tumours in his nose and on his hand. Recently he underwent tests for a prostrate ailment.

Stressful conditions cause such diseases which are aggravated by lack of proper medical treatment. In 1998, a court ordered the release of Asif on medical bail. The regime refused to free the valuable hostage.

No one can compensate Asif for time with his mother before she left this world, time with his children as they grew from infants into teenagers. Asif made the sacrifice because he cares for a cause. He believes freedom and fundamental human rights can bring development and modernity to those caught in the chains of poverty and military exploitation.

Asif fights for the common man. Asif fights for the Pakistan Peoples Party. He fights for the dream of the great Quaid e Azam for a modern and moderate Pakistan emancipating its people and giving its youth hope and opportunity. He fights for civil society and a sovereign Parliament.

Asif served as a Federal Minister twice in 1993 and in 1996. During the PPP tenure, except for a brief three month period, he did not hold any governmental office.

When on duty during official overseas visits, Asif enjoyed best his conversations with other male spouses. He compared notes with male spouses including Britain's late Sir Denis Thatcher and Mr. Ciller of Turkey. In fact Mr. Ciller and he spent all night talking, making their wives wonder where they were. Asif claims that when he retires he will write a book called, "The male spouse".

There could have been nightmare consequences for the cause of democracy if Asif lacked courage and had broken. This is what the establishment, hijacked by pro Zia extremist forces since 1977, backed on. They hoped that attractive financial incentives would get him to dump his family and his Party. Believing their own propaganda, they thought they could buy him.

They were wrong. With his courage Asif defeated the anti people forces targeting a male spouse for political purposes. Their lack of integrity darkly stains their names and reputation.

When the lights on the stage of life go out, those names shine brightly that were dedicated to the people, God’s agents in this world and its true masters. Asif’s name will be one of those shining stars while those of his tormentors will fade from history.

And so, through prison walls and oceans, I reach out to say: “Asif, Happy Birthday” to a man who gave his liberty to win a peoples love.

We can understand Benazir's love for her Husband. However Asif was known as Mr. 10% for his massive corruption. Surray palce and his famous horses and the diet for those horses. Asif is no jail. He has spent last two years at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad occupying the one entire wing of private ward with facility of dish antenna, hot water bath facilities, computers and others.

His admission at PIMS has resulted in denial of medical services to many serious patients at this hospital. IF Asif cared for the real common man then he should have moved to the real Adiala Jail. When he was in Karachi he was spending time in AC suit built by Dr. Asim in Civil Hospital Karachi. Asif did repay Asim from national treasury. Benazir herself has taken massive kick back in Hubbco case and has broken the back of the poor people through enormou electricity bills. All the money goes directly in the foreign Zionists pockets.

As a matter of fact the current Government is that of PPP through proxy. Maliha Lodhi, a good friend of Benazir has become the ambassador to UK. Many key posts in the present Government are held by PPP. Nawaz sharif is simply too naive to understand all this.

Although we share the pain and agony of Benazir for physical separation from Asif for long time, we can not buy all lies spoken by Benazir. We demand Pakistan Government to free Asif and allow him to live with his wife. Islam does not permit separation of wife from husband and there is no concept of jails in Islam. There could be only short detention for interrogation but no prison.