Adil Najam
We know that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari prefer Dubai as a ‘neutral’ meeting ground. Last week Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and his entourage, including Information Minister Sherry Rehman, made a very public stop-over in Dubai to meet Asif Ali Zardari and family and (presumably) discuss important policy issues. Now, one reads that national security chief and de facto Interior Minister, Rahman Malik, is rushing to Dubai to discuss even more important policy matters.
One doubts that these are just “routine” meetings. One expects that there are many other important political meetings that one does not even hear about. Deservedly or not, this leaves one wondering whether Dubai, and not Islamabad, is the new center of Pakistan politics.
Dubai has long been central to all things Pakistani (!). And not just because of the large and increasingly influential Pakistani diaspora that resides there.
Economically, more and more Pakistani ‘transactions’ now happen in Dubai. Its just a short flight away (short enough to feel like a domestic flight), foreigners who feel more comfortable meeting in Dubai, economic transactions are easier and safer to make, and more and more Pakistani companies (and, actually, Western companies) are setting up shop in Dubai.
Politically, it has been home to key political exiles from Pakistan and it seems that even politicians not (yet) in exile set up home there… just in case! It is also a convenient and comfortable “negotiating ground”, whether it be for Musharraf-Benazir negotiations or Zardari-Sharif ones. Indeed, Dubai is a major ‘Pakistani’ news center, not just because our important TV channels are located there, but because so much actual political news happens there!
Yet, while the PPP, as a party, being run out of Dubai was understandable while Benazir Bhutto was alive and unable to be in Pakistan, it feels distinctly odd when it seems that the PPP is running the government of Pakistan from Dubai.
I am quite convinced that this is, in fact, not the case. I sympathize with the fact that Mr. Zardari is in Dubai for personal, and reportedly health, reasons. He has as much right to do so as any other Pakistani. More, maybe, because he has homes in Dubai. I can also appreciate his wanting to be near his children over their summer break and can understand a fatherly concern about not wanting his children to be in Islamabad in the midst of the political limelight, intrigue, pressures, and insecurity that would be lavished on them. There is plenty of good reason for him to be in Dubai, even for long periods. Especially, since as Party co-Chairman, he is not really compelled to sit in a government office in Islamabad.
Having said that, however, the frequent and very public visits of those of his party colleagues who are now public servants (e.g., the Prime Minister, the Information Minister, etc.) to meet him in Dubai to discuss matters of political urgency leaves a bad taste and a palpable impression that matters of importance to the Pakistani public are far removed not only from the people, but even from the country’s Capital.
Whatever else it may be, it is not good politics. For that reason alone, it should be avoided.
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Umer Akhtar:
The results were good during Musharraf’s rule and matters have detriorated since this useless govt took over.
Musharraf should have never bothered to bring “daimocraisy” to Pakistan. They can’t handle it.
Reference Mssrs Zardari and his creed.
Everyone wants more power in Pakistan, yet noone wants any responsibility. More power? ‘Give a fool enough rope and he will hang himself.’ :-)
From the pictures, it does not look like a “working meeting” to solve the looming crises of roti, bijli and paani in Pakistan. It looks more like a photo opp with Co-Chairman (Crown Prince?) Bilwawl. More like Zardari holding court in Dubai for the benefit of the poor “awam” in Pakistani.
@ Ikhtiraein, Hosh mein, be-hosh aql hoti hein Nadeem,
yeh Qayamat-e-Ba-musharraf, qaum par jo toot pari
Ik Bojh hogaya hey is Roshan Khayyalay ka wajood,
Aql sey pat-pat, Turkon ka sardar, yeh gulfam pari
Kia karon zikr, chaawal, ghee, tamater, attay daal ka,
jaddi-pushti Ashraffi,nanehali-o-dadehali, susray ka
Taliban-e-shauq, kahein gay, rukh karkey uski taraf,
Shaitan ka chota bhai hey, yeh ustakhadus susri ka
( Meray hamsa’e, Jenab Talish Gorqandavi.)
Dear Nadeem,
Reference your comment:
‘Pakistan needs MUSHARAF with full powers and in control,
it is so obvious all orthers simply dont have the commitment,courage and resolve to do what it takes.’
Very good point. Musharraf has already had ‘full powers’ and control for eight long years, and the results are there for all to see. How much longer will you want him to have these the second time around?
Regards, Umar.
Pakistan needs MUSHARAF with full powers and in control,
it is so obvious all orthers simply dont have the commitment,courage and resolve to do what it takes.
@ Wo hammam jis mein sab nangey they,
hogaya muntaqil ab apkay Dubai mein
Hoti hein taqareer telephonic Dubai sey ab,
jis terha London sey kuch log kia kertey hein
Kia ilaaj ho is bimar, marizaan-e-siyyasat,
Kia kijiaey jo kosiay na inko, magar phone par
Rafay Kashmiri
Quoting Ali Dada: “I mean, who am I to protest or howl or be angry? These are the things Pakistanis wanted and got - congratulations.”
Makes you wonder if democracy has its limits. The two Bush terms in the US and the three terms of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari/PPP seem to suggest people can be content with, what I would consider, horrible leaders and are not willing to look beyond them.