Adil Najam
A number of our commenters have been suggesting that the honeymoon between PPP and PML(N) – or, more specifically, between Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif– will not last. That the “judges issue” will bring the demise of this coalition.
While one has been hearing such talk from the inception of the coalition, I myself am not sure. And by that I mean, I really do not know. In many ways it is a new Asif Zardari and a new Nawaz Sharif. Whatever views we have of them are, by definition, rooted in experiences that not only happened quite long ago but also in very very different circumstances. This is a very different time, a very different situation, a very different game. This is not to say that I think the coalition will, in fact, survive either the judicial crisis or other crises to come. It is merely to say – bluntly and honestly – that I really do not know.
And because I do not, maybe it is best to ask our readers what they think.
Hence, this APT Poll (its also been quite some time since the last one). Let us know what you think.
Prof Najam, like you I also hope it survives because that will be good for Pakistan
But I hope the cost of survival is not compromise on the judges issues
I fear that ZArdari and his American masters want him to do that
The Americans have their man as President (musharraf) and now they have their neo-con agent Husain Haqanni as Ambassador to DC and Zardari singing their tune. So the only ones not playing ball with the US is the judges which is why PPP is trying to stop them as a favor to Washington
Whether it will survive or not, I don’t know. I do know that it would be very bad for Pakistan at least in the short term if it does not.
It’s funny how people who were against even having the elections in the first place have been almost wishing for the coalition to break up just so they could say “I told you so.”
Regardless of what you think about the parties, neither Zardari nor Sharif is stupid. They know it’s in their best interest to ride out this first difficult year before they try to do some political outsmarting.
The Sharifs have made one good tactical move after another since November and have basically resurrected their standing from zero. But if the Punjabi PM actually delivers, then I think the PPP can grow even bigger.
Daktar the article that you posted is quite sickening (I know you are just the messenger here). It implies that Zardari is a victim of this country and its system, and we should go easy on him. Never heard anything more disgusting in my life. Secondly it says that he was forced into his current leadership role, as if he had no choice. We all know how badly Amin Fahim wanted the top post. Zardari could have put him in charge, or just held party elections. He did neither. And one more point. We are supposed to sympathize with Mr. Zardari because he may have made a new friends over the years who may now be meddling with his politics. That may be the reality but are we really supposed to feel sorry for the guy if he has his friends’ interests in mind more than the country’s?
Daktar, I disagree. This article is not worth a read. It’s a joke.
Interesting article in The News by Shaheen Sehbai. Worth a read:
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Why Zardari should be helped, not attacked
Monday, May 05, 2008
News Analysis
By Shaheen Sehbai
KARACHI: All the guns are out and ready to fire, or already firing, at Asif Ali Zardari for betraying, delaying, dragging or denying the quick restoration of the deposed judges, violating the Murree Declaration, playing games with his coalition partners, risking even a break-up of the grand coalition and, in the eyes of some, secretly helping, abetting or collaborating with President Pervez Musharraf or even insulting the intelligence of the people. Nothing could be further from the truth, if the context is properly understood.
That context, in short is:
– Mr Zardari was almost an outcast in Pakistani politics, having been banished to babysit in Dubai and not allowed to even come and campaign in the elections.
– Before that he was confined for years when moved to New York
I just heard that the election commission has postponed the bye-elections.
Do you think this has something to do with the Judges issue.
Seems a little suspicious to me?