100 years of CPC vs 115 years of PML: Lessons from China

Dr. Farid Malik, Ex-Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, highlights the significant differences between the Communist Party of China and the Pakistan Muslim League. According to him, 100 years of CPC completely revolutionized China, however, despite 115 years of PML, Pakistan is still struggling due to a lack of nation-building.

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On July 01, 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 succeeded in leading 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 the 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.

Read more: 100th Anniversary of CPC: How one party revolutionized China

Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the 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 Dollars. Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China plans to open the world to its products. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important component of this effort.

The rocky road from AIML to PML 

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. Though they carried the name Muslim League, in fact, it was a “Toady League.”

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 the restoration of the 1956 constitution. East Pakistan was solidly behind her. Despite state manipulation, she prevailed in Karachi and the Eastern wing.

Read more: Ayub Khan vs Madar-e-Millat: the Flickering light from Fatima Jinnah’s Lantern

On July 09, 1967, when she was found dead under mysterious circumstances all kinds of rumours were afloat. Sardar Shaukat Hayat was amongst the first ones to reach her residence, according to him there were strangulation marks on her neck. While Pakistan moved towards ‘Toadistan’ where elite capture took place, PRC started a massive campaign of nation building.

China under CPC

PML neutralized AIML, while PRC under Chairman Mao Tse Tung and Comrade Chou-en-Lai weathered all the storms. 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, the party members work closely with the 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. The state is responsible for the welfare of each citizen. Education, health, employment, and housing is the responsibility of the government.

Read more: Uprooting Corruption: Lessons from China

The country has a huge pool of trained workforce that is ready and available for productive use. Universities work cloesly with the indutry for world-class research while resources are poured in by the government.

Unnatural “Toady” parties need to be exposed

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.

Read more: Pakistan’s unabated struggle with ‘Toadies’

Unnatural “Toady Parties” like PML of all ages and forms have to be exposed and pushed out of the arena to prioritize nation-building. Pakistan can follow the proven growth model of our Iron Brothers and get rid of the revisionists as they were called during the Cultural Revolution led by Mao Tse Tung, the man of the century.

The writer is an Ex-Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be reached at: views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily 


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