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Why PPP is popular

When the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the majority vote in West Pakistan - the reasons were for what it stood for - it had nothing to do with the people who led it. The slogan 'Roti, kapra aur Makan' meaning 'Bread, clothes and housing for all' was powerful and elections proved it was also was very popular. Other political parties relied on nationalism and religion or some other values which did not benefit anyone.
The PPP enforced all the International Labour Organisation's conventions. This brought about a major change in an otherwise extremely repressed society. The previleged and the rich could literally get away with murder - people were not employees - they were absolute slaves. There were no laws protecting them. Many businessmen who had become accustomed to the old ways of runing their businesses with absolute disregard for the people they had hired realised they were not going to get away with any kind of abusive behaviour and not forcing people beyond 8 hours.
This was a change in attitudes. Many of these businessmen sold out, because they were profiting by underpaying or not paying anyone who was working for them. Those who adapted to the new circumstances, helped in turning the ordinary workman into a dignified individual completely aware of his rights and previleges. Those who took time to adapt faced strikes and lockdowns.
The failure of the PPP was to trying to develop a personality cult, ZA Bhutto imagined that he was the greatest leader ever born - he did not realise that people did not vote for him - they voted for the values which the PPP stood for. Anyone can be the leader of the PPP - this political party is true voice of the people. A partly like the PPP can do away with oppression in the rual areas, it can end poverty and illiteracy. Since the PPP is secular and liberal - many of the problems faced by Pakistani society can be brought to an end. The present undoing of ILO conventions is a source of problems of myriad problems for the entire country.
No political party has ever claimed to be concerned about the problems of the people. Every political party is clannish and is a one man show. Their popularity is low in comparison to the PPP and will remain so. The PPP can deal with feudalism, tribalism, religious fanaticism and communalism because its values are very different.
Benazir Bhutto is terribly mistaken when she thinks she owns the PPP. The PPP is bigger than her, what the PPP stood for and did originally are the ideals of the people of Pakistan.
Thanks to the PPP now no rich or previleged person can ever get away by beating up or humiliating someone less fortunate. Civil servants know that cannot get away with being abusive any more. They have to show respect to the poorest of the poor. It is very difficult to undo what the PPP initiated, though attempts are being made to no avail. The PPP can win elections any time provided they are free and fair - but with the military in power there is little chance of that happening.

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