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?
I think the current situation can also be kept under control if the media, lawyers, and the public keep the pressure on PML and PPP and who ever runs the government in the future.
Hold everyone accountable. Do you civic duty as Pakistanis :)
“lida”, from your comment you are obviously not a Pakistani yourself (since you speak of us as ‘other’ people) and like most Musharraf-lovers you obviously hate Pakistan and Pakistanis (again, that is clear from your message), then why are you so worried about whether we Pakistanis choose what you call “looters” or not. Why don’ you worry about your own country and its problems and let us be to ourselves. Thank you.
Only one thing will change with Musharaf’s departure: “Threat of 52-B” and that is what Mr.10% and Kahlifa were scared off.
Things that will not change:
the poor will still strugle to make both ends meet
the honest will still find themself cheated,
the hard working class will still not see merit,
the Terrorists will still blow hospitals and schools,
the so called democracy will still be ruled by same corrupt families and their children.
the lawyers will still take bribes and delay cases
Things what will change:
New president will be ruling party’s puppet
politicians will loot the country again
terrorists will bring down more schools and hospitals
Pakistan will loose its’ Image internationally
Zardari will buy another castle in uk.
Sharief will setup more industries abroad
Sunni-Shia violence will start again
NWFP will be renamed to Pakhtunistan and later become separate country.
What should happen?
Judges should be restored
Edhi should be made president (he is an honest and simple man)
NRO should be made public and Zardari should give account of every paisa he looted
Nawaz sharief’s 1999 agreement with Musharaf should be made public. He should be ripped off of Pakistani Nationality and exiled to Saudia
Zardari and Nawaz should stop interfering with governance, they are not elected members of the parliament.
…..
I hope Pakistani’s get what they deserve. I am so upset still. I can’t believe a country would choose Mr. 10% Zardari over a honest person like Musharaf. Hell with a democracy that favors thiefs over patriots. We needed a Mahathir Mohammed which Musharaf was not Zardari.
I hope they loot the country dry because thats what democracy brings to poor countries. Let the looting begin!!!!
People will remember Musharaf in a few weeks when things get worse. Then only people will realize that it wasn’t Musharaf that caused the problems its the mullahs and corrupts politicians.
I think they should announce that President powers will go back to what they were in original constitution, in which case it becomes ceremonial an it does not matter who is President.
The judges issue is most important and I agree they have to be restored immediately. Once that is done, the coalition should disband because both their objectives are achieved.