All major media outlets are reporting that Pakistan’s two main opposition parties, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), have announced to form the new government together. News reports also suggest this understanding has been reached at both center as well as provincial level.
The photo below shows Asif Ali Zardari shaking hands with Nawaz Sharif at a press conference after their meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008.
According to the Daily News:
Nawaz Sharif maintained that there is no difference in the two parties on the restoration of the deposed judges. “We accept the mandate of PPP with an open heart and wish that PPP complete its five year term,†he said, adding, “struggle for restoration of judiciary will continue and CoD will also be followed.†PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Zardari said PPP and PML-N have decided to work together for democracy. However, he said, some of the matter are yet to be decided by the parties. Ali Zardari said that both the leaders have decided to stay united in the parliament. Nawaz Sharif said, ‘We fought against the dictatorship and will keep doing so.”
According to a Daily Dawn update of 23:38 hours PST
Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday his party would form a coalition government with the party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto after they won crucial elections. “We have agreed on a common agenda. We will work together to form the government in the centre and in the provinces,†Sharif told a joint news conference with Bhutto’s widower Asif Ali Zardari. “We will ensure that you complete a full five years’ term,†said Sharif, addressing Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
What About the Judges?
According to Associated Press feed of 11:35 hours USA CST:
Sharif said the two parties had agreed in principle on restoration of judges purged by Musharraf when he declared emergency rule late last year — an issue that many see as a possible source of discord between the parties. “In principle there’s no disagreement on restoration of the judiciary. We will work on the modalities in parliament,” said Sharif, who has previously demanded the immediate reinstatement of the detained ex-Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.
What Do You Think?
Our question to readers is; What do you think? Is this a good move, a bad move, a hasty move or were there any alternatives that got over looked. We would like to hear from you.
References:
1. The Daily Dawn Pakistan update here
2. CNN story here
3. Associated Press story here
4. The Daily News Pakistan update here
5. The Daily Jang Pakistan update here
6. BBC story here
Photo Credits: Associated Press
PMA,
Ain’t we being too cynical?
I think there are distinct and clearly discernible ideological differences between the major parties. If we try to measure them on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being extreme liberal (in the Pakistani context) and 10 being extreme conservative, ANP would fall somewhere between 1 and 3, PPP would fall between 2 and 5. MQM would fall somewhere on the left, PML would fall somewhere between 5-6 and the religious parties, of course, are 8-10. About PML(Q), your guess is as good as mine.
Of course, there are individual turncoats but by and large the different parties can easily be identified as liberal or conservative.
This is a great move, and let us not judge these two men solely based on General Musharraf’s propaganda against them and let the actions speak for themselves.
They have sided with the lawyers and the judges and the democratic currents in the scociety. They have read the writing on the wall, it is that the common person in Pakistan is politically awake right now.
Pakistani voters have nullified the pejorative and derogatory remarks made against them by their own so called “president”.
They have shown the world that they are not religious extremists and that they believe in democracy, due process and the rule of law. Unfortunately it is the General who is forcing himself upon the people of Pakistan after his party was routed and humiliated by those he claimed “were not fit for democracy”.
Let us give some credit to these two politicians who have broken frome their past and are joining hands in greater national interest. Something that was rare in the kleptocracy imposed by General Musharraf.
Much is made about PPP & PML being two different parties. A close examination will tell us that the individuals elected (or not elected) for the assemblies approach both parties for the party election ticket. If failed to get ticket from their preferred party, they simply go to the other party with the same demand. Similarly each party grants party ticket to the individuals deemed most electable from their region. There are no ideologies involved here. Would any one tell us what are the ideological differences between Choudary brothers of Gujrat and Shariff brothers of Lahore. In my lifetime I have seen Abida Hussain/Fakhar Imam in many parties. And that is to name few. All candidates are rich industrialists and landlords who spend their own money to get elected. And once elected they must recover their investment. In Pakistani lexicon it is called ‘horse trading’ and ‘saode bazi’. Now is the season of buying and selling. Let us see who can buy whom. And do not forget our ultimate paymasters sit in Washington and not in GHQ. If the two parties got together and formed a government and military approved of it, it would be because that is what was demanded by the paymasters.
I also agree that Musharraf should be present there just to keep checks and balance. Major affairs of state and decision making should be run by elected parlianment. I would not want Musharraf to run all the affairs now single handedly, but with 52-B in his power, he can curb the wrong doings of these CHOR politicians.