Veteran politician M Asghar Khan in his latest book titled "My Political Struggle," has lamented what he feels "a game of musical chairs played by our political leaders" bringing the country to a sorry state. The 595-page book was launched by its publisher, Oxford University Press, here at Quaid-e-Azam, Library on Thursday.
According to Asghar Khan, it was necessary for our political leaders to cultivate certain virtues for not only learning statecraft but also for laying the foundations of a just society. In his views, these virtues are honesty, integrity, vision, knowledge, courage and the power of marking the right decision at the right time.
Asghar Khan is the author of a number of books, Pakistan at the Cross Roads; Generals in Politics; Islam, Politics and the State-The Pakistan Experience; and We've Learnt Nothing from History: Pakistan-Politics and Military Power. After successful earlier launches in Karachi and Islamabad, Oxford University press has now launched in Lahore the political memoirs of Asghar Khan, one of Pakistan's leading politicians over the last forty years.
The book is based on extracts from the diaries of Asghar Khan and from Tehrik-e-Isteqlal's record of events from 1971 to 1975. The events, experiences and reflections of the author provide a full picture of his political journey and his perception of the events that have contributed to the crises being faced by Pakistan today. This book outlines his efforts to propel Pakistan towards democracy and completes the picture of his life in politics presented in his earlier work-We've Learnt Nothing from History.
Asghar Khan commanded the Pakistan Air Force from 1957-65 and was its first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief. He was also the President of PIA from 1965-80. Asghar Khan entered the political arena in 1968 and led a movement for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. He formed his own political party, the Tehrik-e-Isteqlal in 1972 and was elected to the National Assembly in 1977.
He continued to oppose dictatorial and autocratic rule through the difficult years of Ayub Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Ziaul Haq. He has recently been awarded the Jinnah Award by the Jinnah Society for outstanding services to the cause of democracy and human rights in Pakistan.