On July 1, 2012, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated its grand century of service to the ‘People’s Republic of China’ (PRC). Pakistan Muslim League (PML), that claims to be the founding party of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (IRP), achieved this milestone in December 2006; in other words the All-India Muslim League (AIML) the mother political entity of PML is senior to CPC by 15 years. AIML, under the able and selfless leadership of Jinnah succeeded in winning freedom for the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent. While CPC has led the growth of PRC, by comparison the PML has miserably failed. A party that led the freedom movement, unfortunately misled the nation. For course correction, a serious review is needed.

Mao Tse Tung emerged as the undisputed leader of CPC. He led the armed struggle for the creation of the ‘People’s Republic’. Mao believed that, ‘Revolution comes through the barrel of the gun’. To meet his objective, he created the ‘People’s Liberation Army’ (PLA). With his comrades he led the Long March to freedom in the year 1949. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise PRC. The two countries call themselves ‘Iron Brothers’; their friendship is time tested. As the father of the nation, the portrait of the Great Leader hangs in the Tiananmen Square outside the Forbidden City while he lays in state in the Mausoleum on the other end. Attired in the traditional Mao Suit, a super confident President Xi Ping addressed his nation. Today PRC is the second largest economy of the world with record reserves running into trillions of dollars. Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China plans to open the world to its products. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important component of this effort.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) claims to be the successor party of the AIML. It was under Jinnah’s leadership that Pakistan emerged on the world map. As the father of the nation, he wanted to steer both the country and PML. Unfortunately, the party wanted him out. His proposed constitution for the new political entity was blocked. Frustrated, he walked out of the Executive Committee meeting and severed all his links. In other words, the transition from AIML to PML was not smooth. The ‘Toadies’ took control of the party. Chaudhry Khaliq-uz-Zaman replaced the father of the nation as the President. Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah had to contest the 1965 Presidential Elections against Ayub Khan who was the nominee of PML while the combined opposition supported Madar-e-Millat. She was called a traitor by the PML stalwarts, some of whom are active in PML-N even today. It did not end here; she was harassed and cornered when she demanded restoration of the 1956 constitution. Despite state manipulation, she prevailed in Karachi and the Eastern wing. On July 9, 1967 when she was found dead under mysterious circumstances—all kinds of rumours were afloat.

PML neutralised AIML, while PRC under Chairman Mao Tse Tung and Comrade Chou-En-Lai weathered all the storms. The revisionists or anti-people forces were dealt with an iron hand. CPC, the founding party of China, has 90 million card-bearing members who are trained in several institutes spread all over the country. Policy formulation is done by the think tanks manned by experts. After approval by the party politburo and the cabinet, party members work closely with civil servants to implement approved policies. No one has the authority or power to delay implementation. Corruption is dealt with an iron hand, even ministers are not spared. The march forward is well planned and defined. Chinese language and culture dominate while the state is secular. Public-Private Economic Model is used with profit sharing. The revenue generated is then used for infrastructure development and common good. State is responsible for the welfare of each citizen. Over 700 million people have been pulled out of poverty. Education, health, employment and housing is the responsibility of the government. The country has a huge pool of a trained workforce that is ready and available for productive use. Universities work closely with industry for world class research while resources are poured in by the government.

While CPC has earned the right to celebrate, PML has badly failed and needs to be exposed and weeded out. After 1947, important political parties emerged that challenged the ‘ Toadism ‘ of PML. In the first free and fair elections in 1970, Awami League and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) knocked out PML from the political arena. Only Qayyum Khan could manage to win a few seats mainly because of his personal popularity. In the 2018 electoral contest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was able to edge out the much entrenched PML-N. Only real political forces like CPC, AIML, Awami League, PPP, PTI can lead a nation forward. Unnatural ‘Toady Parties’ like PML of all ages and forms have to be exposed and pushed out of the arena to prioritise nation building. Pakistan can follow the proven growth model of our iron brother and get rid of the revisionists as they were called during the Cultural Revolution led by Mao Tse Tung, the man of the century.

Dr Farid 
A Malik
The writer is Ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation, email: fmaliks@hotmail.com