Adil Najam
One of the most important decision in Pakistan’s political history was made yesterday when Gen. Pervez Musharraf was made to resign from the Presidency. Equally, and possibly more, important decisions are being made right now by the political leadership of the ruling coalition. It is these decisions being made now that will ultimately effect not only the immediate but the long-term future of the country and which will, in many ways, determine the real significance of the decision made yesterday.
As the political leadership of the country continues its deliberations four questions in particular seem critical. The answers they come up will will impact what happens to Pakistan politics as well as what happens to Pakistan’s political leadership itself.
On each of the following four key decision points, what do you think will happen? What do you think should happen?
Question #1. Who will replace Gen. Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan?
The names being thrown around, some I think less seriously than others, include those of Afsaryab Khattak, Afsandyar Wali Khan, Fazlur Rahman, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Faryal Talpur, Attaullah Mengal, Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, Mehmood Achakzai, Aitizaz Ahsan, Rana Bhagwandas, Fakharuddin Ibrahim, and many others. As important as the choice of the President is the signal it will send about whether the nature and powers of the President will also be cut down or not. What do you think will happen? What do you think should happen?
Question #2. Will Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and his fellow judges be restored? And when?
The really important question here is the “when”. PML(N) wants the judges to be restored immediately. If they are not, what signal will this send to the PML(N) and the country about their role and power within the ruling coalition? What, really, are the pros and cons of an early restoration, and for whom? The one question that may be even more important than the “when” question here, is the “under what conditions” question. That is the question one hears less about but will may ultimately determine what comes, or does not come, out of the judges moevement. What do you think will happen? What do you think should happen?
Question #3. What is the future of the ruling coalition itself?
The ruling coalition was really constructed as a coalition against Gen. Musharraf. Its primary purpose was to remove Gen. Musharraf from office. It has been spectacularly successful in doing that. What now? Will it survive? In what form? Should it survive at all? Will it be more healthy if PML(N) now becomes a parliamentary opposition which, in a functioning democracy, is as important as a government? What do you think will happen? What do you think should happen?
Question #4. What about the survival issues of the Pakistani awam: Bijli, Paani, Nokri, Naan?
Ultimately, this is the most important question of all. Till now, with a visibly divided government, the political parties could ward of part of the economic woes faced by ordinary Pakistanis to Gen. Musharraf and his past policies. Now, they will have to – and quickly – demonstrate that they can and will do something about these major crises. It is not clear what they plan to, or even can, do. But if they don’t their popularity will be seriously imperiled. What do you think will happen? What do you think should happen?
jarrar Shah, well said. If I had the power, i would make you the president!
first of all id like to salute Mr.Musharraf for all that he’s done.
the first two questions are irrelevant. the next president wont have any powers so it doesnt matter who he or she will be. secondly judges restored or not wont really matter. justice system is decayed and destroyed from top to bottom. 99% of the awam seeks justice at the thana/magistrate/session court level. very few people get to the higher courts. cases will continue to take a long time because thats how the lawyers earn their livelihood. magistrates/judges/clerks will continue being bribed because thats how they earn their livelihood. so if the judges are restored well everyone will be treated to mithai again otherwise it wont really affect many. perhaps it will instill a false sense of optimism or hope for some.when that illusion is shattered well..
3rd point is that this coalition is unnatural. i dont see it surviving. i pray it survives. why because there are two things that will happen.one it will do a good job of governance and we as a country will stand a better chance of overcoming our challenges or it will do a terrible job of governance and we would have seen these already twice elected parties fail for the 3rd time together.peoples memories will be refreshed and maybe something good will come out of it.
the 4th question is what its all about. at least thats what its all about in most countries except our own. the bread and butter issues. unfortunatly we as a nation love politics. we just dont get round to focusing on or paying attention to the economy. case in point on capital talk the other day Ansar abassi was making the point that who cares about the economic growth we had under musharraf. people can become poor and eat flies (or something to that effect) but people can not afford to lose their Baqa or Izzat (reference to mush selling out to america etc).
our politics is power driven not service driven.its based on ethnic/feudal/biradiri aspects.we have seen that as a nation our politicians are prepared to sacrifice the economy just to achieve their political goals. in fact i will go further and blame the entire elite for this.
finally its ironic that musharraf a military man who gave us a free media and a growing economy which led to a more empowered urban class was brought down by these two. no one is indispensable but it surely is a pity that he was brought down five years too soon and replaced by you know who.
Pakistan zindabad!!
I heard the last speech of president /General[R] Mr. PERVEZ Musarrf.Among confusing media it is not possible to decide who says truth.People surrounding person in entire power,so far happened in pakistan,surrounded by the people who have wasted interest,were trying to keep him away from the people,and give him wrong information as people like you very much,as appears also from speech .he was thinking that he has done nothing wrong.I suggest and requesr pervez musarraf to submit himself to the netutral asauperime Court Bench of seven judge as aitzaz said in tv interview.It is better for him to get justice in this world comparing to have punishment here in world after death.
I appeal to Mr.Nawaz Shariff and Mr.Asif Zardari,please let Mr Amin Fahim be the next President,Restore judiciary with Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhry as Chief Justice,also surrender you both before Supreme Court of Pakistan to clear charges against you both,if any honestly.
> We never needed