By Amir Zia
The News
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Supreme Court has done its job. Now it is up to politicians and key state institutions to ensure that people can also give their verdict through elections – whether they are held early or on time.
There appears to be something for everyone in the Supreme Court verdict which ended Yousuf Raza Gilani’s stint as prime minister and disqualified him from the National Assembly. The judiciary, led by Honourable Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, established the supremacy of law in a convincing manner by removing the chief executive- the most powerful official of the government. The decision, foretold by many legal experts, will go a long way in setting the rules of the game in the murky waters of Pakistani politics.
The ruling Pakistan People’s Party, despite the setback of losing its prime minister, still remains hopeful of completing a full five-year term in the office, though many political pundits doubt its ability and capacity to do so given the mounting pressure from the opposition, leaders of the public opinion, sections within the establishment and the legal fraternity demanding early elections. The PPP’s central leadership – at least publicly – bowed to the Supreme Court decision without creating much fuss. The critical voices within its ranks including that of the national and provincial lawmakers and small protests are for the record and in no way a declaration of an all out war with the judiciary. This, too, can be taken as a positive and mature reaction – perhaps in the PPP’s own enlightened self-interest.
Gilani – the man whose innings was cut short barely a month before he was supposed breach the long-held record by the slain first premier Liaquat Ali Khan, of staying the highest number of days in the office – can also bask in his glory, for at least his party rank and file and sympathizers; for to them he proved his loyalty by sacrificing the coveted office.
He took the shot which was aimed at the PPP chairman and the country’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, giving him a chance to complete his term. But the prophets of doom and gloom say that there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip. However, Gilani’s desire to become a “political martyr” has been fulfilled. The PPP will now have a victim’s card to play when the hurly burly of the elections starts – at least to mobilise its diehard supporters, who indeed are present across the country.
The opposition – from Mian Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League to Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf to lesser players including the Jamaat-e-Islami – all got the partial satisfaction that they managed to take the all important wicket of Gilani, who shielded Zardari from the Swiss Court and reopening of corruption cases against him. They now prepare for the final push, which means forcing the government to call snap elections a few months before it is supposed to complete its term.
Many people might wonder whether all this pain was worth-taking if it slashes PPP’s term by a few months only. But the games politicians play and the rationale, or absurdities, of their actions are beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. Already, the daggers are out to get the PPP’s next man in the Prime Minister’s House.
The media, one of the main cheerleaders of the game played on the political chess-board, is also having a whale of a time. The thirst for news, comment, analysis and conspiracy theories is as intense as it always is in troubled times, with the news channels in a race to outdo one another to attract the maximum eyeballs to their screens. Politics is being treated as a 20/20 over game of cricket with leading anchors, experts, opinion-makers, and politicians building excitement with their glib and thrilling sound bites and building expectations for instant results.
The common man – presumably at the center of universe for the government, the opposition, the judiciary and the media alike – desires change for a politically stable, economically vibrant and peaceful Pakistan. For the man on the street, the ouster of an elected prime minister through the Supreme Court verdict opens a door which might lead to a new pro-people politics that has kept eluding them for the past many decades. Their “great expectations” have been dashed many a times. Will this time be any different? While many are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best, the mood of the moment at the same time is also clouded with doubt, cynicism and disillusionment. In all this political strife, discord and tussle, the common man has so far been the ultimate victim. The ordeal of the common man could end if Gilani’s departure brings to the centre-stage his issues, aspirations and dreams. He has now something to look forward to.
However, it remains a bitter fact that in the near future, Pakistan is all set to witness heightened polarisation and uncertainty. With President Zardari and his party bidding to play full innings and trying to set the stage as best as possible in their favour for the next elections and the opposition building momentum for the last push, the coming days will be testing for the country which is already reeling from countless internal and external challenges. The battered economy, the grave law and order situation, the dark specter of extremism and terrorism , the ever-weakening writ of the state, the country’s strained ties with the United States and its growing international isolation – to name only a few.
These crucial challenges will figure low on the government’s priority list as it battles for survival. But can the country afford this continued tragedy of delay? Haven’t we wasted enough time since this democratic dispensation took over in the early 2008 under what may appear ideal circumstances with parliament electing Gilani as prime minister with an unprecedented consensus? What followed is a sorry saga of mismanagement, poor governance and corruption.
Are we now at the end of the tunnel? This depends on how the key political players, the judiciary and the mighty military establishment play ball and perform the high-wire act of keeping democracy on track despite the rollercoaster ride it has been giving the country for more than four years. For best strategies and game-plans orchestrated with all the good intentions can run amok when put to test in practical politics in which there always lurks an element of surprise. When under pressure, any of the players can react in a manner that has been least anticipated.
The Supreme Court has done its job. Now it is up to politicians and key state institutions to ensure that people can also give their verdict through elections – whether they are held early or on time. The voters’ verdict can surprise our armchair analysts, who try to seal the fate of this or that political party through their predictions.
The News
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Supreme Court has done its job. Now it is up to politicians and key state institutions to ensure that people can also give their verdict through elections – whether they are held early or on time.
There appears to be something for everyone in the Supreme Court verdict which ended Yousuf Raza Gilani’s stint as prime minister and disqualified him from the National Assembly. The judiciary, led by Honourable Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, established the supremacy of law in a convincing manner by removing the chief executive- the most powerful official of the government. The decision, foretold by many legal experts, will go a long way in setting the rules of the game in the murky waters of Pakistani politics.
The ruling Pakistan People’s Party, despite the setback of losing its prime minister, still remains hopeful of completing a full five-year term in the office, though many political pundits doubt its ability and capacity to do so given the mounting pressure from the opposition, leaders of the public opinion, sections within the establishment and the legal fraternity demanding early elections. The PPP’s central leadership – at least publicly – bowed to the Supreme Court decision without creating much fuss. The critical voices within its ranks including that of the national and provincial lawmakers and small protests are for the record and in no way a declaration of an all out war with the judiciary. This, too, can be taken as a positive and mature reaction – perhaps in the PPP’s own enlightened self-interest.
Gilani – the man whose innings was cut short barely a month before he was supposed breach the long-held record by the slain first premier Liaquat Ali Khan, of staying the highest number of days in the office – can also bask in his glory, for at least his party rank and file and sympathizers; for to them he proved his loyalty by sacrificing the coveted office.
He took the shot which was aimed at the PPP chairman and the country’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, giving him a chance to complete his term. But the prophets of doom and gloom say that there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip. However, Gilani’s desire to become a “political martyr” has been fulfilled. The PPP will now have a victim’s card to play when the hurly burly of the elections starts – at least to mobilise its diehard supporters, who indeed are present across the country.
The opposition – from Mian Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League to Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf to lesser players including the Jamaat-e-Islami – all got the partial satisfaction that they managed to take the all important wicket of Gilani, who shielded Zardari from the Swiss Court and reopening of corruption cases against him. They now prepare for the final push, which means forcing the government to call snap elections a few months before it is supposed to complete its term.
Many people might wonder whether all this pain was worth-taking if it slashes PPP’s term by a few months only. But the games politicians play and the rationale, or absurdities, of their actions are beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. Already, the daggers are out to get the PPP’s next man in the Prime Minister’s House.
The media, one of the main cheerleaders of the game played on the political chess-board, is also having a whale of a time. The thirst for news, comment, analysis and conspiracy theories is as intense as it always is in troubled times, with the news channels in a race to outdo one another to attract the maximum eyeballs to their screens. Politics is being treated as a 20/20 over game of cricket with leading anchors, experts, opinion-makers, and politicians building excitement with their glib and thrilling sound bites and building expectations for instant results.
The common man – presumably at the center of universe for the government, the opposition, the judiciary and the media alike – desires change for a politically stable, economically vibrant and peaceful Pakistan. For the man on the street, the ouster of an elected prime minister through the Supreme Court verdict opens a door which might lead to a new pro-people politics that has kept eluding them for the past many decades. Their “great expectations” have been dashed many a times. Will this time be any different? While many are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best, the mood of the moment at the same time is also clouded with doubt, cynicism and disillusionment. In all this political strife, discord and tussle, the common man has so far been the ultimate victim. The ordeal of the common man could end if Gilani’s departure brings to the centre-stage his issues, aspirations and dreams. He has now something to look forward to.
However, it remains a bitter fact that in the near future, Pakistan is all set to witness heightened polarisation and uncertainty. With President Zardari and his party bidding to play full innings and trying to set the stage as best as possible in their favour for the next elections and the opposition building momentum for the last push, the coming days will be testing for the country which is already reeling from countless internal and external challenges. The battered economy, the grave law and order situation, the dark specter of extremism and terrorism , the ever-weakening writ of the state, the country’s strained ties with the United States and its growing international isolation – to name only a few.
These crucial challenges will figure low on the government’s priority list as it battles for survival. But can the country afford this continued tragedy of delay? Haven’t we wasted enough time since this democratic dispensation took over in the early 2008 under what may appear ideal circumstances with parliament electing Gilani as prime minister with an unprecedented consensus? What followed is a sorry saga of mismanagement, poor governance and corruption.
Are we now at the end of the tunnel? This depends on how the key political players, the judiciary and the mighty military establishment play ball and perform the high-wire act of keeping democracy on track despite the rollercoaster ride it has been giving the country for more than four years. For best strategies and game-plans orchestrated with all the good intentions can run amok when put to test in practical politics in which there always lurks an element of surprise. When under pressure, any of the players can react in a manner that has been least anticipated.
The Supreme Court has done its job. Now it is up to politicians and key state institutions to ensure that people can also give their verdict through elections – whether they are held early or on time. The voters’ verdict can surprise our armchair analysts, who try to seal the fate of this or that political party through their predictions.
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