Rifah Party of Pakistan

Party Constitution

 

Need For a New Party

Pakistan faces a situation very similar but more dangerous than in 1971 and during the years leading up to the partition and creation of Pakistan in 1947. The people are divided into secularists and obscurantist; the former are in power and a segment of the latter engaged in bloodletting and revolt. The Takfiri led insurrection in FATA and NWFP and Baloch secessionist are two main threats to Pakistan. Both are actively supported by the enemies of Pakistan mainly India. If either succeeds sufficiently, India may invade with the objective of capturing the Northern Area or Sindh, or the USA may invade to capture Balochistan. The situation could lead to the disintegration of Pakistan and our country going under foreign yoke. The mainstream Pakistanis nationalists are still an overwhelming majority but their voice in neither articulate nor effective. The Muslim League has been their voice but having been pressed into the service of military rulers so many times, its credibility is low. The Peoples’ Party, which had been loyal to the ‘Two Nation Theory’ foundation of Pakistan, now calls itself a secular party and its new leadership is even more eager to serve foreign interests than the last military ruler – General Musharraf. Time has come for a new party to uphold and advance the two-nation theory foundation of Pakistan.

The Two Nation Theory

Political ideas do not make sense or carry weight unless they are articulated in the current international language of political discourse. The Two Nation Theory in the present day language of politics asserts that the Muslims (of South Asia) are a nation apart from the other nations in the sub-continent on three counts:

1. BELIEF VS BIRTH. The Muslims (of South Asia) identify themselves by their belief (religion) while the others by their birth (race, caste or language).

2. VIEW OF HISTORY. The Muslims have a view of history opposite to that of the other peoples of the sub-continent – Muslim heroes are their villains and Muslim rule over India is deemed their dark age.

3. SOVEREIGN PURPOSE is a profound purpose which cannot be achieved without being sovereign. The Muslims ruled South Asia for 800 years and gave it a profound purpose – equality. That purpose provided a foundation for socio-economic progress and national solidarity. The Muslims lost their role in South Asia to the British; the Ottoman Turks alone held up the flag for all Muslims. When Turks embraced western nationalism the plight of the Ottoman Turkey gave rise to the Khilafat Movement which led to the ‘role’ being taken up by the Muslims of South Asia. When Palestine as a British protectorate came to be colonised by the Jews and passions grew it became obvious that the aspirations of the Muslims of the Sub-Continent were very different to that of the British rulers or the Hindus. After independence, that divergence became sharper; India and Pakistan have been on opposite sides on almost every international issue thus underlining that Pakistan continues to have a unique sovereign purpose.

Pakistan, which is now a nuclear power, has been in the forefront in the Muslim world despite the ordinariness of its rulers. Its quest for Sovereignty has been a model for struggle against colonial rule; sovereignty is now enjoyed by almost every Muslim nation.

Vision of Rifah Party

The Pakistan Movement had three aims:

1. To create a sovereign homeland for the Muslims of South Asia in areas of British India where they were in majority.

2. To evolve a model polity for a Muslim Nation State.

3. To be powerful and posses the will to protect the Muslims and oppressed castes and faiths left behind in India at the mercy of Brahmanism.

Pakistan has not yet succeeded in securing the right of self determination for the Muslim majority in Jammu and Kashmir. The first objective is part unfulfilled. However, with the success of the Lawyers’ Movement to establish the independence of judiciary and the ‘rule of law’, Pakistan has made huge strides in evolving a model polity for a Muslim Nation State. But ideological challenge from the Ethnic Nationalists and Takfiris remain. No political party in Pakistan has the will or the ability to face and overcome the twin challenge which has its origins and base in Brahmin ruled India. The raison d’etre of Rifah Party is to marshal the wherewithals for securing the objectives of the Pakistan Movement.

The objectives of the Pakistan Movement could have been achieved if the Congress Party had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 without the proviso that ‘anything it accepted would not be binding on the future constituent assembly’. The Muslims were the largest faith community in British India but with the untouchables having rejected the ‘Communal Award’ of 1932 and embraced ‘joint electorate’ with the Hindus, the numbers who submitted to Brahmin supremacy far exceeded the number of Muslims. The partition was made inevitable by the 1932 decision of the untouchables of India. But no mistake is forever irreversible. The untouchables may yet demand and obtain Separate Electorate and get recognition as ‘non-Hindu’. The Rifah Party would support all the non-Hindus to escape the stranglehold of Brahmanism.

The secession of East Pakistan in 1971 to become Bangladesh has undermined our national self-confidence as India was successful in subverting faith in the polity (Principle of National Solidarity i.e. Islam) and inflicting a military defeat. National resolve of was so undermined that Pakistan accepted Indian hegemony joining India in setting up SAARC. Rifah Party would quit this alliance with non-Muslim States and promote instead the consolidation of ECO Union comprising Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and five Central Asian Republics - all of which are Muslim Nation States. ECO Union to be founded on the principle of respect for present frontiers i.e. friendship with all neighbours who recognise the present frontiers of ECO states and to support efforts to resolve border and other disputes of ECO States with any of its neighbours. All the states in the ECO are contiguous; Turkey provides access to the Mediterranean and Pakistan-Iran to the Arabian Sea; this huge land mass, which is rich in human, agricultural and mineral wealth, would gain immensely as a Union like the European Union. ECO Union would be a vehicle for peace and harmony in the world as a centre linking not just the Muslim World with Eurasia and Africa.

Party Constitution

History

Rifah Party was founded in Turkey by Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan renowned for ordering Turkish invasion of Cyprus and re-assertion of Islam as the polity in Turkey. Mr Erbakan was removed from power by the military and his party was banned by the Turkish Supreme Court. The successor party - Fazilat Party – was also banned. But the constituency held firm and it re-emerged as the Ak Party, which is the ruling Party in Turkey today. In contrast, Pakistan was founded on the basis “Muslims are a Nation” but it has been unable to resist the erosion of that foundation by subversion originating from India. We now need to travel the road back and commit firm allegiance to our polity. It is right and proper that we seek support from those who travelled that road as forward march.

Membership

Membership of the party shall be open to all citizens of Pakistan who are loyal to the Two Nation Theory (TNT) foundation of Pakistan. Rifah Party would enlist the support of those from the civil society - lawyers and judges, politicians, civil servants and ex-servicemen - who displayed courage by resigning or resisting pressures to acquiesce to unlawful commands or act against national interests.

Organisation

The Party shall have a Presidium, an Executive Council, a Shadow Cabinet, a Central Committee, and a Secretariat.

PRESEDIUM would consist of a Chairman of the Party, five vice presidents [one from each province and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)] and the Secretary General. The Vice Presidents would be elected by the members of the Party in each province and J&K for a term of five years. One of the Vice Presidents would be elected by the members of the Presidium as the Chairman for one year. The Chairman would not succeed himself but once.

SECRETARIAT would be headed by a Secretary General who would be elected for a five years term by ALL the members of the Party. The secretariat would have responsibility to keep in touch with the membership and to liaise with the press and the parliament to articulate the party line.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL would have forty members all of who would be elected for a term of five years by ALL the members of the Party. Its meetings would be presided over by the Chairman with the Secretary General as its Secretary. All organisational and strategic policy decisions would be made by the Executive Council.

SHADOW CABINET would be nominated by the Executive Council usually from among the members of the National/Provincial Assemblies. Party members may be appointed to the shadow cabinets until there are enough MNAs and MPAs available to fill the posts. Members of the Shadow Cabinet would have responsibility to argue the party line in the area of their responsibility and to comment upon/criticise the policies and actions of the government and other political parties.

CENTRAL COMMITTEE would initially comprise of all the members of the Party. When the membership exceeds 500, rules shall be framed to restrict its membership if required. The Central Committee would be an electoral college for the election of the members of the Presidium, the Executive Council and the Secretary General. It will debate and approve the Constitution of the party, its programme and its election manifesto.


Party Programme

National Objectives

1. Liberation of J&K. The key to securing the objectives of the Pakistan Movement lies in success in liberation of J&K. An agreement between India and Pakistan on J&K endorsed by the UN Security Council in 1948-49 already exists, which stipulates that the future of J&K would be decided by a UN supervised plebiscite. India has gone back on this agreement. India’s refusal to hold a plebiscite clearly means that it has conceded that the verdict of the people would be in favour of Pakistan. Rifah Party would accept the verdict of the people, amend the constitution to include J&K in Pakistan, and mobilise international public opinion in support of Pakistan’s stand. As a symbol of the Kashmiris being a part of the Pakistani nation and J&K being a part of Pakistan, Rifah Party would request Syed Ali Gilani to be the President of Pakistan in any government that Rifah Party makes or supports.

2. Quit SAARC and Consolidate Union of ECO States

3. Build the Kalabagh Dam and on all suitable sites on the Indus River to deal with irrigation water scarcity and to provide cheaper electricity to underpin a fast rate of progress in agricultural and industrial production. Dams do not consume water; they store water. Now that India has started to assert that fact in support of dams in Indian Held Kashmir, one hopes that their protégés in Pakistan particularly the ANP and MQM would drop their opposition to the Kalabagh Dam, which would ensure adequacy of water in the irrigation system in Southern Punjab and Sindh.

4. Accelerate development – raise quality and increase productivity. The adjustment of supply to demand is not a divine law; it is the duty of the state. There are more people than jobs in Pakistan and less food and shelter than the number of people. Here is a clear case of state failing to do its duty. When there are extra people available to produce more to meet extra demand, it is a dream world for entrepreneurs. The state should not work for meeting the current demand but also plan for higher quality of demand that must result from the low quality demand being met. That is why development is best characterised as raising quality and increasing productivity. Pakistan does possess the mechanism for planned development but it lacks focus of profound objectives which is provided by understanding of the modern world. Political parties are means by which that understanding can best be provided. There is huge number of Pakistanis in Diaspora who have the experience of working to high standards and modern disciplines. Their input is vital. Rifah Party invites accomplished Pakistanis in high technology, research and management, to join it meet the challenge of matching supply with rising demand – in quality and quantity, at home and abroad.

5. Eliminate corruption. That Pakistan has been so close to imminent socio-economic collapse almost its entire life is because of inability to control corruption. Since the time of General Zia ul Haq, corruption has been accepted as ‘grease’ without which the wheels of the state would grind to a halt. MNAs and MPAs are given huge amounts of money to spend in their constituency to institutionalise corruption in politics. General Musharraf devolved corruption to Zila, Tehsil and Union Council level. The MQM – the party as well its members – have mastered the art of using local government to defy the state and undermine law and order. They would continue to hold the industrial hub of Pakistan - Karachi - to ransom in perpetuity. The ruling coalition is not much behind the MQM in defying law and undermining the state. However, there are some bright spots as well. The press is free and willing to defend its freedom. The Judiciary is independent and willing to defend its independence. It is therefore possible to eliminate corruption by institutionalising: 1) free and enlightened press; 2) Independence of judiciary; 3) rule of law; 4) strict enforcement of the doctrine of cabinet responsibility i.e. the entire cabinet to resign when a Cabinet decision is revealed to be against the law or public interest; 5) political neutrality of civil servants by selection on merit and statutory security of tenure and right of promotion; 6) creation of administrative courts to investigate and adjudicate on government decisions that are unfair, unlawful or violate their rights; 7) stricter laws against offences like false accusations, giving false evidence or making false statement to one’s superior or manager; 8) making laws to enforce procedures in the public and private sectors to redress of grievances and to compensate the aggrieved party – employer or employee - for damage suffered by stealing, fraud, deceit or disloyalty.

Socio- Economic Policy

Financial, Economic and Social Stability are interdependent. The goal posts of global economy keep changing all the time. At the moment, plunder of the third world is made possible by two instruments – flexible exchange rates and FDI (foreign direct investment). The measures taken thus far to resolve the present global economic crisis leave both the instruments in place. China and oil rich Arab states have the clout that must be used to create a new system that stops the plunder.

The present budget deficit and balance of payment deficit are being met by IMF and other loans. It is important that the revenue of the state should quicky be restored to a level of about 20% of the GDP. The burden of debt is rising while the rate of economic growth is falling. This has an impact on incomes / employment with dire social consequences. The following fiscal/monetary measures would reverse the trend:

1) Rupee to be gradually revalued to protect its purchasing power.

2) Existing rates of import duties to be increased by 10-20.

3) All Pakistanis except those ‘ordinarily resident abroad’ to be required by law to declare their foreign assets and pay taxes on them in Pakistan.

4) Money laundering laws to be strictly enforced.

Offset Agreements. All major importers including the armed forces, all foreign companies who have assembly plants in Pakistan, and all those companies relying on imported raw materials or components, should be bound by law to match their imports with exports - by offset agreements where necessary. This should reduce the trade deficit; even eliminate it.

Employment Policy. Economic development is driven by demand. In a country like Pakistan where there is huge untapped demand for goods and services that people are ready to pay for, double-digit rates of economic growth are not just possible but also a dire necessity to meet the objective of ‘full employment’. The State has a responsibility to match supply with demand. There are enough resources in local capital and plenty of foreign capital available in the hands of our close friends – the Chinese and the Arabs – to invest in Pakistan. Rifah Party to explore and focus on the following avenues:

5) Food importers from the Middle East and Central Asia to be encouraged to invest in production, preparation and packaging of food in partnership with Pakistani entrepreneurs or provincial governments.

6) National Health Service is a huge employment generator for professionals. Hospitals and GP clinics on Canadian lines to be organised countrywide. The health service may be funded partly by general taxation and partly by a charge of Rs. 50/- per person per month. The bill for those unable to pay to be paid from Zakat.

7) Universal education up to Matriculation to be provided by the State. The salaries of primary school teachers to be paid for by the state but the premises provided by the community; secondary school teachers’ salaries to be paid from school fees while the state to provide and maintain quality buildings and sports facilities.

Security Policy

Our armed forces are well equipped and well trained but demoralised by foreign propaganda originating primarily from India. The present Government often endorses the enemy line thus creating a situation that either democracy is under threat or the entire edifice of the state. This requires patriotic leadership of high calibre not just in the ruling parties but also the opposition to attend to nuances that often make all the difference. Rifah Party is determined to lead the way and provide such leadership.

Conclusion

India threatens Pakistan’s national security as well water and food security by its continued occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan to make the liberation of Jammu and Kashmir the focal point of its policy and build dams on every gorge on Indus River. Pakistan to follow the example of China over Taiwan and shun countries that do not support Pakistan’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir.
Friendship with China is a pillar of strength for Pakistan and a guarantee against adventures by India. The friendship to be reinforced by an all weather rail link and rapid increase in Chinese investment in industry and infrastructure in Pakistan.

To face the Indo-Israeli threat to the area between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea to Pakistan’s border with India, a defence alliance of all countries that do not recognise Israel to be considered on priority basis. ++