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 people are making too much of the coalition falling apart. It did its job. Kicked Musarraf out without any violence through democratic means. That is greatest political achievement of Pakistan’s history.
I like @Ahmad’s responses to @Faraz!
1) While I too have been getting a ‘feeling’ that the ‘feudal’ label for Pakistani society and politics is over-blown, Ahmad helps me better understand that feeling.
2) Dynastic politics is everywhere. Not to say it is perfect but to single out Pakistan to the extent to actually depoliticize Pakistan is very dangerous. We fall right into the trap of the uniformed elites who, if you analyze them, are also a sort of a tribe in a way.
3) The term ‘Democracy’ can made very complicated or very simple. Some people are awed by it, thinking of that as some kind of rocket science. Some, with vested interests, like the khakis, despise the ‘bloody civilians’. How could they, who have orderlies to clean their boots, salute to a bloody civilian leader? And yet I think of democracy as code of conduct between human beings: Tolerance for others’ viewpoint. Taking this to its logic, people can and will overthrow any powerful feudal lords after the lords’ repeated failures.
4) Finally, instinctively, I will prefer even a corrupt, yet accountable civilian leader over a khakhi general. The former knows that he could be kicked out of power in the next elections. The latter is the ultimate holy cow in Pakistan: They can preside over dismembering a country and yet can be assured that no one will lay their hands upon them–ever.
Imran Khan for President!
I’m sorry, but I think people, especially most people of Pakistan, don’t get it. Why would they let one member after another of the SAME family control such a big country like someone’s jageer? Why is so much deference given to this 10% guy? Now it seems he’s getting 100% control of the country for being married to a deceased leader? Ever heard of the word nepotism? Whatever happened to merit? I haven’t seen any place in the world where the word “merit” is so much talked about in connection with ordinary jobs and school admissions. So why is it so irrelevant when it comes to leadership of the entire country?
WOW!!! as I predicted.
The Illiterate Masses have spoken and we a new leader , a new day /dawn has arrived.
Quaid-E-Azam’s dream will be fullfilled now.
All sarcasm above :)
Lets see how long these jokers stay in power and stagnate the “progress”. I hope we end this dynasty era of Sharif and Bhutto Wannabe’s.
I hope Nawaz Sharif gets indicted for storming the Supreme court when he was in power because everyone has conveniently forgotten that. What ever happened to Surrey Palace that Zardari made with Pakistan’s treasury as the down payment/collateral.
I hope Supreme Court Judge gets reinstated and I predict the first thing he is going to do is to open corruption cases against Nawaz and Zardari.
History will repeat itself if we fail to learn from it.
As the minority Pakistanis we are in this forum we should all work towards supporting the supreme court judge and people like Imran Khan.
Imran Khan is like the Ralph Nader of Pakistan. He keeps the Politicians in Check.
I don’t know how anyone with half a brain can see any intellect coming out these Politicians. At least Musharraf spoke well and we could relate to him.
from
lida( the raw agent)