WEA Goodwill Ambassador Speaks with Her Excellency Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan

Johan Candelin: Your Excellency, You were the first ever woman Prime Minister in a Muslim country. How would you describe the present state of democracy in Pakistan?

The democratic picture in Pakistan is disappointing. The European Union described the October 2002 elections as “deeply flawed”. The leaders of the major parties were banned from contesting. The rigged elections gave power in two of Pakistan’s provinces to a religious grouping. It seems the Musharaf regime wants to tell the international community that the choice in Pakistan is between military dictatorship or religious dictatorship. A powerful argument but a total fraud. A free election would bring to power the moderate Pakistan Peoples Party and its allies.

2. What things worry You most as You see what is happening?

I worry about the disempowerment of the people of Pakistan who must confront terrorism from the grassroots up. I worry too about the policy to marginalise the Pakistan Peoples Party which I lead. This Party is Federal, democratic, popular and has the team and the program to build Pakistan as a democratic country based on free trade and free markets. I worry over the fact that poverty in Pakistan is increasing. When young men kill themselves because they cannot feed their families, it is a slip away from terrorists recruiting them for their own sinister designs.

3. How then can democracy in today’s Pakistan be strengthened?

The international community is giving billions of dollars in assistance to General Musharaf. It can use this leverage to restore democracy in Pakistan. When elections in Ukraine were rigged, they were reheld. As elections in Pakistan have been rigged, they too should be reheld this year.

4. Is Pakistan successful in “the war on terror” and how serious is the threat?

Pakistan has had some successes in the war against terror and there have also been failures. For example, the failure to seal Tora Bora mountain range enabled Osama and the Al Qaeda leaders to escape. They have still not been caught. Islamabad has arrested some militants. But more are being produced. Unless the political vacuum is filled with moderate political parties, the religious parties could gain in strength. The threat of terrorism is serious. Many people inside Pakistan have been killed due to the terrorists including worshippers.

5. How do You think that “war” could be won or can it ever be won?

The war against terrorism can be won by promoting democracy. Democracy will empower the Muslim masses. It will give political space to moderate political parties to reach out to Muslim peoples and tell them why their progress and prosperity lies in shunning the forces of terrorism and hate. Winning the Muslim mind and heart is essential to the success in the war against terrorism.

6. What are the most alarming trends You see in Asia?

There are many challenges that Asia confronts. First is the challenge to fight terrorism. The second, at least in South Asia, is to build a common market to help alleviate poverty, backwardness and hunger. The third is looking into how nuclear proliferation took place in Pakistan to ensure a proper control and command system to stop it happening again. Pakistan can be a bridge in building a peaceful Afghanistan. With its ties to Iran, Islamabad can also be a bridge between it and the international community in resolving issues arising from proliferation concerns.

7. If You came back to power in Pakistan what would be the most important issues on Your agenda?

The foremost issues for a PPP government domestically would be to eliminate terrorism, safeguarding minority and gender rights, investing in education and health, reducing poverty and creating conditions suitable for investment and employment. Internationally, PPP would build peaceful borders by assisting Afghanistan in its quest for stability and building peaceful relations with its neighbour India without prejudice to the Kashmir issue. In this context, PPP has a formula for safe and open borders.

8. What can be done about the honour killing and how can women be better protected?

The state must intervene as the guardian of women’s rights to persecute those who kill women in the name of honour. The idea that the family is the guardian with the right to kill women and then forgive family members is wrong. It prevents persecution and women suffer.

9. How can the minority be better protected?

Minorities can be better protected by inducting them into key institutions such as the judiciary and the educational institutes. At present minorities are poorly represented in the state apparatus. Minorities must be accepted as full Pakistanis. The PPP is allied with the All Pakistan Minorities Party and with its support intends to bring minorities into mainstream society.

10. What role do You see for the Christian minority in the future in Pakistan?

I see the Christian minority in Pakistan being treated as equal citizens free to worship and taking their part in building a democratic and enlightened society without discrimination. For example, the present persecution of Christian tenants in Okara Military Farms is a disgrace. It is one window into how Christians in Pakistan suffer because of discriminatory policies. It is also a demonstration of why Parliament presently is unable to resolve the problems of ordinary citizens.

11. How do You see the relation between real democracy and Islam?

I believe that democracy and Islam are compatible. Islam speaks of the importance of shura which is consultation, of ijma which is consensus and of ijtehad which is independent reasoning. I believe that these three Islamic principles provide a basis for democracy.

12. You have been the target of many legal attacks from Pakistan. Why?

The people of Pakistan have honoured me with their support. Given the popular standing that my Party enjoys under my leadership, and as PPP opposes the forces of extremism and tyranny, those forces tried to eliminate my leadership. They tried eliminating my leadership by rigging elections, banning me from the last elections by decree (which I have challenged) and by fabricating cases to smear my reputation. Additionally, the legal attacks are part of a psychological war which incur a heavy price personally and emotionally.