Adil Najam
UPDATE (Sept 28, 2007): In a split decision (6-3), the Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that Gen. Musharraf can contest the Presidential Elections in uniform. Earlier, on September 20, Justice Javed Iqbal had remarked that the 17th Constitutional Amendment provided crutches to President Musharraf, not by the Supreme Court.
According to The News:
The nine-member larger Bench hearing the identical constitutional petitions comprised of Justice Rana Bhagwan Das, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokar, Justice Falak Sher, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice M Javed Buttar…. Six of the nine-judge larger bench gave verdict in favour of dismissing the petitions while other three judges, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan and Justice Shakirullah Jan differed.
ORIGINAL POST: The main headline in The News today (Sept. 21, 2007) is revealing. It reads:
Oct. 6 set to “re-elect Musharraf.”
News reports in major newspapers do not usually use headlines with such obvious sarcasm. In fact, more than sarcasm there is desperation in the headline. It seems that like much of the nation, The News has also, finally, given up on the sham Presidential elections which are making a mockery of the Constitution, of the courts and, frankly, of the nation. The inverted commas in the headline say it all. The General wants to remain in power for his personal reasons, and he will do so no matter what, and no matter how. As the old Fifty-Fifty skit used to say: “karr lo jo karna hai”!
In a country where we change, amend, abuse, and concoct Constitutions at whims, it has always surprised me why we take Constitutional provisions so very seriously when it comes time to manipulate it. The spirit of the Constitution died long ago, what does it matter now whether the letter is followed or not?
Frankly, like The News, I am also disgusted with the process – and with everyone in it. While Gen. Musharraf has now lost all shred of process and is hell bent on keeping the Presidency by hook or by crook (and most likely by crook), the politicians and the media do not come across as much better either. The judiciary has fared better for now, but one wonders for how long.
What bugs me is the manipulation games everyone is playing with the Constitution. The media discussions are particularly depressing and people debate clauses but disregard the concepts behind the clauses. Everyone seems to relish the jorr torr, and no one wants to step back and say what does all of this mean for Pakistan.
There is absolutely no sense of what is “right” or “wrong”. Only, a discussion of what is ‘possible’ or ‘not possible.’ Politics may well be the ‘art of the possible’, but there is only that much abuse that even politics can take. Frankly, we have abused it enough.
Musharraf with his machinations to hold on to his kursi, the Chaudhries with their manipulations, the MMA with their fueling of fires, the MQM with its strongarm tactics, Benazir with her deals that seem really to center around getting the cases against her removed, even Nawaz Sharif with his less than convincing convictions …. None seems inspiring and none seems ready to rise to the moment.
Even the media seems to have lost its luster and relishes the minutia of dancing over a polity dying and being killed before its eyes. Engrossed in the sensationalism of the moment (whether it be a Presidential order, a Court adjournment, an Election Commission parchment, or merely the latest inanity from Sher Afghan) it seems to have no interest in the larger questions confronting the nation. The questions of democracy, the questions of extremism, the questions of civil war, the questions of economic disparity, the questions of civic disengagement, the questions of national lethargy in the face of all these questions.
I fear that I sound depressed. It is because I am. I have been in Pakistan the last three weeks, and personal reasons have kept me from writing much, or even visiting ATP much (thanks, Owais, for doing such a fine job managing the site), but I have thought often of writing about the daily political developments in this topi drama. I have not done so partly because I had even more pressing crises on my mind, but also because it has become increasingly difficult to look at all of this as anything except a political circus. But a very sad and depressing circus at that. This is not just playing poker with the fate of the nation, this is more like playing Russian roulette!
I made arrangements to be able to visit the Supreme Court during its current interesting cases. I decided not to go. Same reason. Its way too depressing. I am sorry, readers, to dump this on you, but its just one of those times. May these times end soon and may the sun shine again! Ameen! I have very little faith left in any of the major actors anymore, but I do have faith in the democratic spirit of ordinary Pakistanis. It will eventually triumph.
They say that democracy can sometimes lead to dirty politics. Yes, it can. But what we have just proved in Pakistan is that the lack of democracy leads to even dirtier politics.
Adil-
In this clumsy/dangerous state that Pakistan is, I am left asking what is the social contract that the leaders in Pakistan have with the country and its people. Not what they say but what do they really believe to be their social contract?
(1) Does Musharraf really care about democracy? Why would he? Would that not get him out of power and take away his ability to implement change?
(2) Does Benazir care about transparency? WOuld that not get her into trouble?
(3) Does Nawaz Sharif care about the plight of ordinary Pakistanis? His track record shows quite the opposite.
(4) Does Altaf care about a true democracy? If there was one, his party would lose control over Sindh and be relegated to a city party again.
(5) Do the religious leaders care about governance? They seem to enjoy the role of the underdogs because it keeps their hooligan tactics out of focus.
The only person that is both representing a political movement and discussing his social contract with the people of Pakistan is Imran Khan. Not that I agree with what he is offering, nor the fact that he has been unable to bridge alliances to somehow attract a larger audience, but at least his strategy and tactics are both visionary and honest. I am not supporting him, but ask Pakistanis to force their/our leaders to show what contract they are willing to be judged against. In the absence of that all calls for democracy are as pathetic as all shinanigans by Musharraf to stay in power.
Adil,
Its a sorry state of affairs in our country and very irritating for those who had some expectation to get back to the path of democracy, particularly after the restoration or CJ.
Yes, of course our leadership either opposition (exiled, self exiled, religious, ethnic, lingual etc) or supporters have really disappointed the nation. Hardly any political party has that credibility among the masses in order to mobilize them against “karr lo jo karna hai”!
Secondly, if we expect Gen Musharraf will bring democracy in the country, then we need to have our own political correctness. He had been and will continue to weaken the institution of democracy just to continue his power. As an unfortunate nation we lack sincere and political correct leadership which Musharraf is taking benefit of.
Yes Adil, I completely agree with you “I have very little faith left in any of the major actors anymore, but I do have faith in the democratic spirit of ordinary Pakistanis”. But still the level of hope, I assume, among the ATP community is still high and we need to maintain it.
I wish I have the time to write these lengthy comments. I want to only point out that General Musharraf is part of the system, and has risen to this level only because he is one of them. We have to see honestly what our alternates are? Same corrupt leader who are ruining this country for so long. They all had their chances. Please concentrate on building institution on Grass root. No matter how honest , humble and good you are, if you are not as corrupt and bad as one of them, you will not make it. It is the general people that runs after cheap slogans, may it be ” Islam”, “Roti, Kapra, Makan”, or “Democracy”.
Remember the middle class in any society can excercise democratic rights. If you want to solve the problem, create Middle class. The rights that Musharraf has given to ordinary Pakistanis was never given by any past ” so called democratically elected corrupt politicians”. If Musharraf goes what will happen. Ayub left presidency himself, What happened. Be honest practical not emotional. Work on institutions. If we can create a judicial system and unbiased and honest media in next five years, we will beat even American system. We have so much talents all over the world, who will come back to Pakistan, and Pakistan can be changed overnite. Pakistan will never change by the same culprits, who are sitting in Assembly elected by masses who don’t even know, whom they are voting for.
I hope again not to hurt any body’s feeling, but we all care for the land which we left for different reasons.
With my limited knowledge of Pakistani politics I believe Musharraf with all his faults is still the best person to lead Pakistan. His blunder in trying to remove CJ was corrected by the Supreme Court and he accepted the verdict.
He may be clinging to power but unlike BB or NS he cares deeply for Pakistan, they and their parties are just exploiting the situation. Pakistan’s tremendous problems were made worse by 9/11. It is going to take a long time, a firm hand and dedication to solve them. While keeping an eye on his actions and demanding an explanation or correction, when warranted, Pakistani people need to have patience and allow him to bring the reforms he has started to fruition.
Constant turmoil created by the opposition - religious extremist or political crooks - is not going to solve any problems. Both BB and NS had not one but two chances to do make their mark. Phrase ‘fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on you’ comes to mind Does any one think for a moment that they or any one else can stand up to the bully (US) better than Musharraf?
Was Is Will
by Sahir
In oppression breeds sedition,
Perfidy comes to fruition.
Crowds unite and organize,
Attacking those who slow their rise.
Soon the tyrant would have fallen,
And the masses will start searching,
Needing one to lead and guide,
But most will hide their faces shied
Till a brave will come forward
Lifting people upward onward
Now the leader has much power,
Given this supremacy,
The leader gains a legacy.
Crushing Anti Leader thoughts,
Once again a tyrant looms,
Once again the crowd suppressed.
In oppression breeds sedition
Perfidy comes to fruition.
MMA government’s achievements (not);
http://jang.com.pk/jang/sep2007-daily/22-09-2007/c ol2.htm
Actions speak louder than words. Does the plethora of recently taken extra judicial actions by General Musharraf & Co. leave any doubt that the days of preaching “Enlightened Moderation” are over? Isn’t the Pakistani general along with his partners in crime stands fully exposed? The mantra of “Enlightened Moderation” while being highly pleasing to the ears of its foreign clients, turns out to be nothing more than a deceiving veil obscuring the face of an inherently illegal and coercive regime. Evidence clearly suggests that what now being practiced by the general and his regime is the brutal deployment of various unconstitutional measures, may collectively be called “Darkened Extremism.”
If one must identify a common thread running through various diverging views about the most alarming and ever expanding political and constitutional turmoil in Pakistan, it has to be the overwhelmingly consentaneous view, held by both domestic and foreign analysts, concluding that the only true victim of this selfishly drawn out power game, currently fought amongst various power seekers and power usurpers, is no one but the people of Pakistan. And only the people of Pakistan will again end up paying even a heftier price if the men in power further circumvent the constitutional and political system and consequently plunge the nation into deeper crises.
Isn’t it about time we ask people to actually go out and vote for a change. We can sit here, cry about our current state of affairs, blame everybody left right and center, but we never blame ourselves for getting in to this mess. Granted Mush seemed like a good idea at that time, but we have the power to correct our mistakes.
I’m extremely glad (and surprised) that an election date has been announced and I for one would love to vote and hope that the rest would take some time out as well to go out and participate to bring change.
Rigging an election by a few hundred thousand is possible, but not by millions or tens of millions. 80 million are supposed to vote… if I see anywhere near the 20 odd percent like the last time, I would know we’ve lost all hope and we’re just waiting for a hero to come and save our ass.
Masjid mein na mandir na kharabaat mein koi
hum kis ki amanat mein ghum e kar e jahan dein
sha ed koi um mein say kafan phar key niklay
ab ja-ein shaheedon key mazaron peh azan dein
(Faiz)