Are Dynastic Politics, Political Dynasties an issue in Pakistan?

JaaniNikku

Are Dynastic Politics, Political Dynasties an issue in Pakistan?

JaaniNikku

hese days there is a lot of noise about dynasties in politics in Pakistans media. In this piece, we put down our point of view on this phenomenon. For the purpose of this piece, we give definitions of some of the terms used, to avoid any confusion. Society means any broad grouping of people having common culture and traditions, institutions, and collective interests. Interest group means a group that act to either encourage or prevent change in how society is organized and ordered. State means the mechanism evolved by a society to maintain a balance between various interest groups in society. Many commentators believe it is legitimate and rightful for the state to use force to enforce its writ on society or a section thereof. Dynasty means a sequence of members from broadly the same lineage or family. Democracy means the ability of individuals to have a say in matters that affect them individually and as members of society. In most democratic dispensations, the constitution or common law guarantees such ability to individuals.

3 Politics means any activity by any interest group conducted to gain control of the state to safeguard and promote their interests in a society. We wish to point out here that while we will quote a lot many examples from other countries, we speak only about Pakistan. In 1947, the British, then ruling India, partitioned India into two independent states. They handed over state power in the territories that then constituted Pakistan to the All India Muslim League. In 1906, the Muslims of India formed The All India Muslim League. Its first president was Sir Aga Khan, himself a hereditary religious leader. Many of the hereditary Muslim feudatories of the British Raj, including Nawab Viqar Ul Mulk and Nawab Sir Salimullah, were among the Muslim Leagues leading lights. In sum, at the time of partition the representatives of one dynasty (the British Crown) transferred state power to the representatives of a confederacy of dynastic feudals. I believe the founding objectives of the All India Muslim League need mention here: 1. To inculcate among Muslims a feeling of loyalty to the government and to disabuse their minds of misunderstandings and misconceptions of its actions and intentions. 2. To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India and to represent their needs and aspirations to the government from time to time. 3. To prevent the growth of ill will between Muslims and other nationalities without compromising to its own purposes. Let us look at neighbouring India.

4 Mr. Motilal Nehru was a leader of the Indian National Congress. He is also the founder of a dynasty in Indian politics. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, three direct descendants of Motilal Nehru have already served as Prime Ministers of the Indian Union. This phenomenon of dynastic politics happens to be a constant in politics worldwide. In our view, it is a non-issue. We are publishing this piece to set the record straight. Certain political parties in Pakistan and their media spin-doctors are trying hard to make dynastic politics an electoral issue, in view of the impending general elections in Pakistan in about a year's time. We cannot, and must not object to an individual taking part in politics because that individual comes from a certain family. Such an objection is against the very spirit of democracy. Division of labour is inescapable in society. It cannot function smoothly, without division of labour. Of necessity, people differentiate into various functional groups. Not everyone can be a teacher, a health-care provider (doctor), an engineer, a mechanic, and so on. Over time, individuals become specialized in carrying out a certain function. A father passes on his accumulated knowledge, skills, and expertise to his progeny. The process continues. Let us look at the world of business in Pakistan. The Habibs, the Dawoods, the Sehgals, the Adamjees, the Sheikhs of Multan, the Syeds of Lahore, the Mians of Faisalabad and Chiniot, the Sharifs, the Monnoos, the Telis, and so on, are all dynasties in business. Some among them have been in business for four or five generations. There are also dynasties in Media in Pakistan. The Haroons own the Dawn Media Group. The Rahmans own the Jang Group, with major Urdu and English publications and a bouquet of TV channels under the Geo name. The Zuberis, own Business Recorder and Aaj TV. The Nizamis own the Nawa-e-Waqt, the Nation, and Waqt TV etc. Other Media Dynasties are in the making; Zia Shahid (Khabrein), the Taseers (The Daily Times, Business Plus TV), the Lakhanis (Express TV and Express daily Urdu newspaper). Look at Cricket in Pakistan and we will find dynasties there. The Mohammads, the Ranas, the Burki clan, the Rajas, and so on.

5 Let us look at world business. The Rothschild dynasty at one time owned the largest private fortune in the world as well as by far the largest fortune in modern world history. In Japan, the Toyoda dynasty (must have at least heard of Toyota ) is one of the most successful business families in the world . In India, the Tatas, the Birlas, the Mafatlals, the Singhanias, the Reliance Group, and scores of others are all business dynasties.

In India, even the arts are not free of dynasties. The Kapoors of India are just one example. Prithviraj Kapoor founded the dynasty, and now you can see the Kapoors all over the place. The Khan clan in the Indian entertainment industry is another. There are many lesser dynasties too. The rest of Asia does not lag behind either. Members of the founding families control around 70 percent of Hong Kongs listed companies. Any enquirer can find the same high percentages of family of business empires in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. Farther afield, in the USA, we see the Rockefellers, the Fords, the Waltons (WalMart), Marshall Field, Guggenheim, J. P. Morgan, Getty, the Kennedys, etc. They are all familiar business dynasties, as well as many more. Go to Switzerland and you will see the same. Tissot, The Baumes, Garrard & Co, Cartier, are all business dynasties. France, Italy, Germany, wherever you go, you will also find business dynasties. In Pakistan, even in the professions, we can find dynasties. Allama Iqbal was a practicing lawyer. So was his son Javed Iqbal, until elevated to the bench. Javed Iqbals wife and sons are also lawyers. Doctors, accountants, engineers, look awhile and you will find dynasties there. In politics, dynasties have always been there, all over the world. In the USA dynasties in politics seems to be a long tradition. See:

6 http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2000/0227elections_hess.aspx http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/03/04/us-usa-politics-dynastiesidUSN0332238720070304 http://www.econ.brown.edu/fac/pedro_dal_bo/pd.pdf In the British parliament, the mother of all modern parliaments we can see see dynasties with a remarkable continuity. William Pitt the Elder and William Pitt the Younger were direct father and son. They both served as Prime Ministers. Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister. His father served as Chancellor of the Exchequer before him. See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1443410/How-Britains-politicaldynasties-have-played-the-generation-game.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/02/great-dynasties-tony-benn-iansansom Now we will take you back to Pakistan. When the British transferred state power to the All India Muslim League it was a party dominated by hereditary feudatories of the British Crown. Nawabzadah Liaqat Ali Khan was the son of the Nawab of Karnal. The Karnal estate sat astride the boundaries of the then Punjab and the United Provinces. Khwaja Nazimmuddin, and his brother Khawaja Shahabuddin belonged to the family of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Nazimuddin served as Pakistan's 2nd Governor General, and later as Pakistan's 2nd prime Minister. Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani was a Nawab, as was Iftikhar Hussain Mamdot. The major leaders of the Muslim League from Sindh, the Frontier and Balochistan too were of the same ilk. So let us do away with any notion that dynastic politics is something new or recent in Pakistan. Fatima Jinnah (sister of Mohammad Ali Jinnah) contested the 1964 election for the President of Pakistan, as the candidate of the Combined Opposition Parties (COP). This, too, is an example of dynastic politics.

7 Gohar Ayub Khan, the son of General Ayub, Pakistans first military dictator, and Gohars son Omer Ayub have also held electoral public office in Pakistan. So has Ijaz ul Haq, the son of Zia ul Haq, another military dictator. Air Marshal Asghar Khan founded a political party after he retired from the Pakistan Air Force. Asghar Khans son Omar Asghar served as a federal minister under yet another military dictator. In Punjab today, The Sharifs of Lahore have evolved into a political dynasty. The Syeds of Lahore, are a well-known political dynasty, though, sadly, they too specialize in serving military dictators. The Chaudharies of Gujrat, the Tiwanas, the Wattoos, The Makhdooms, Qureshis and Hashmis of Multan all have been in active politics for generations. The Bhuttos of Naudero , Sindh are Pakistans most prominent political dynasty. The Pirzadas, Talpurs, Soomros, Jatois, and theSyeds of Sindh have been active in politics since the pre-partition days. The Makhdooms of Hala, and the Pirs of Khairpur are also political dynasties of long standing. In Khybar-Pukhtunkhwa we have the Khans of Wali Bagh, the Khans of Hoti and Mardan, and the family of the Faqir of Api active in Politics for many generations. The Piracha family of Khybar-Pukhtunkhwa deserve a special mention. They make it a point to have at least one member of the family in every major political party. In Balochistan, The Marris, the Bizenjos, the Bugtis, the Magsis, the Raisanis, the Jamalis, all are tribes, leading members of which have at one time or another, held electoral public office. In the so-called religious political parties in Pakistan too, we find this element of dynastic politics. Mufti Mahmuds son Fazlur Rahman now wears his fathers mantle of the party leader. So does Anas Noorani, the son of Shah Ahmad Noorani, head the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan (Noorani). As we stated earlier, when a person is in a profession, she/he develops certain competencies. The family atmosphere also gets a certain orientation. Is it difficult to understand that children in such an environment will tend to follow their elders footsteps as a career path?

Politics is recognized as a career all over the world. In Pakistan, sadly, politics is also big business. As things go, families tend to safeguard and extend their turfs in business. The same applies to politics, whether people like it or not. Dynastic politics or political dynasties are ubiquitous. They have been a part of the bigger political picture worldwide. You will find them in every country. Widows and progeny of slain political leaders also figure a lot on this scene. As far as we in Pakistan are concerned, dynastic politics are a non-issue. That said, dynastic politics are also here to stay, Imran Khan or no Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaf or no Tehreek-e-Insaf on Pakistans political horizon. J-N