Adil Najam
Pakistan seems to be in a whole new phase of ‘politics by References.’
The speaker of the National Assembly has forwarded the disqualification reference against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, which was filed by opposition members of National Assembly Thursday in the chamber of Speaker National Assembly.
The opposition members in the reference have demanded of the speaker to send it to Election Commission within 30 days. A reference, signed by 31 opposition members, stated that prime minister is not eligible for Assembly membership under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.
According to a charge framed in the reference, prime minister had caused stock market crisis through his front man Arif Habib and earned the money by illegal means. Privatization of Steel Mills also mentioned in the reference and stated that the verdict of the Supreme Court in this connection is sufficient for disqualification of the prime minister.
Addressing a news conference in Parliament cafeteria after filing the reference, opposition members Liaquat Baloch, Khurshid Shah and Khwaja Asif said that speaker is bound to forward the reference to the Election Commission within 30 days. They demanded the speaker to send the reference against Shaukat Aziz with the same swiftness with which he sent the reference against Imran Khan to Election Commission.
I must say, I do not like any of these references. Mostly because I do not like the idea of ‘Politics by References.’
Individual references could well have merit and as a political tool they are perfectly legitimate. However, what this new “Politics by References” signifies is an urge to use this particular tool because other political tools are either unavailable or have become defunct. In being so, this “Politics by References” is an indicator of an assault on politics. Not just ‘democratic politics’, but politics.
When political processes and options are restricted, political operatives (whether they are elected or not) find alternative means by which to indulge in politics. At the very extreme these ‘alternative means’ are violent. That is why the democratic political space must never be constricted.
In general, it is better for politics to be played out in the arena of public will and public voice, rather than through the legalities and technicalities of references. However, when the politics of public voice is constrained, it is then that the politics of technicalities takes center stage.
Yes, this whoile reference-reference smells bad and it is because there are no elections. If we had regular normal politics then this woudl not be needed.
Good point.
No issue with what Adil Najam writes, but given that the other options are defunct, as he puts it, I don’t have a problem with the references. When did the Parliament ever spend their time talking over issues of supreme significance or add a lot of value to substantive problems? So, if they are trying to expose each other, even if it is politically motivated, I say good. The people have a right to know and not everyone can read in our country so transparency through references and their coverage on tv goes a long way.
The reference agaisnt IK is valid and so is the reference against Shaukat Aziz.
I would rather vote for the politics of references when compared to the politics of bullets, the politics of personal destruction, the politics of revenge, the politics of coercion or for that matter the politics of palace coups and intrigue.
Its just a exercise to detract the public from actual issues as it is clear from the loose statements and indications that these educated parlimentarians are going to home for to spend corrupted money to get votes.
On the other hand, if the parlimentarians are so pure in thier charactors and sincerety towards nation then they must audit themselves in the light of constitution and moral values inherited from Islam. I am sure, if true audit is carried out on our prestige leaders, we will not be having even 50 educated parlimentarians in national assembly.
This is all drama which is being played. I think legal issue should be replied by a legal issue not through character assasination. This is called tit for tat… Leaders from largest city of pakistan are just playing under the belt in response to punch on face.
Seems like things continue to move very fast – Aaj TV is reporting that Ch. Shujaat is saying that there is a strong motion in the national assembly to dissolve the existing government on July 8th and install a caretaker government led by Shaukat Aziz