Shahid Khaqan Abbasi: 2024 Election Was a Revolution | A Dialogue with History

Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi joins Orya Maqbool Jan on A Dialogue with History for a wide-ranging conversation about Pakistan’s political journey from 1988 to 2024—and what must change next. Abbasi recounts his unexpected entry into politics after the Ojhri Camp tragedy, describes an alleged two-crore-rupee political offer, and shares his assessment of the 2018 and 2024 elections, public mandate, rule of law and institutional decline. The conversation also examines Balochistan and missing persons, Pakistan–Afghanistan relations and the TAPI gas pipeline, Azad Kashmir, the former FATA merger, provincial governance, bureaucracy, development spending, prison and political reflection, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s account of the 1999 aircraft episode, Pakistan’s relations with China and Türkiye, elite capture, direct taxation, the petroleum levy, CNIC-linked tax filing and agricultural income tax. Podcast: A Dialogue with History Host: Orya Maqbool Jan Guest: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Language: Urdu CHAPTERS 00:00 Programme introduction 02:22 Opening and guest introduction 03:23 Entry into politics after the Ojhri Camp tragedy 07:35 The alleged two-crore offer and the 1988 vote 12:05 Pakistan’s elections from 1988 to 2024 16:00 Is Pakistan’s system failing? 18:32 The 1970 and 2024 public mandates 20:34 Rule of law and constitutional order 20:52 Balochistan: security, trust and representation 26:24 Afghanistan policy and the TAPI gas pipeline 32:38 Missing persons and the state’s moral authority 35:40 Rebuilding institutions and public trust 38:43 Azad Kashmir protests and representation 43:10 KP, the former FATA merger and unfulfilled promises 46:58 New provinces and provincial governance 50:31 Public spending, corruption and project choices 52:32 Prison, reflection and political lessons 54:07 Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s account of the 1999 aircraft episode 01:01:39 The 1953 martial law and bureaucratic power 01:03:59 How Pakistan’s bureaucracy can be reformed 01:06:06 How the federal government should function 01:08:53 IPPs, ministers and policy responsibility 01:15:38 Foreign policy: China, Türkiye and trade 01:20:44 Elite capture and Pakistan’s tax system 01:23:47 Tax amnesty and lower tax rates 01:26:01 CNIC-linked tax filing 01:27:29 Petroleum levy and indirect taxation 01:28:53 Agricultural income tax 01:29:30 Closing remarks Watch the complete conversation and share the point you consider most important. Subscribe for more long-form discussions on Pakistan’s political and institutional history. Editorial note: This programme contains political commentary, personal recollections, opinions and allegations attributed to the speakers. Their inclusion does not constitute independent verification or endorsement. #ShahidKhaqanAbbasi #OryaMaqboolJan #ADialogueWithHistory Also Subscribe:    / @harferaazwithoryamaqbooljan   #OryaMaqboolJan #harferaaz Follow on: Twitter:   / oryamaqbooljan   Facebook:   / oryamj