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?
Out of all the questions asked, the most important are the last two.
Firstly, if the judges are not restored, then Nawaz will promptly break away from the coalition and begin to oppose PPP. In other words, it’s back to politics. But this agenda is more important and crucial to Pakistan than any political point – the restoration of the judges will be contingent upon the return to normalcy for Pakistan, and Pakistanis. If Zardari betrays his position of releasing the judges, as I suspect he will, it will lead to his quick downfall. The people of Pakistan today are more educated about these issues than before. The media will ensure that Zardari’s double-standards not pull Pakistan back into the dictatorial swamp it just escaped from.
For the fourth question, I believe it is the second-most important issue. The problem remains that the media has not made it an important issue. I’m tired of watching politicians on TV endlessly delivering empty rhetoric on TV – the media now has to focus on normal Pakistanis and tell their stories. This is true for any Pakistan channel I have seen. It’s time to move away from politics into the lives of the normal Pakistani citizens, and hold the politicians accountable for their conditions. Only then improvement can come. The power of the media is unparalled – it shaped the onslaught of pressure on Musharraf and his parties that the opposition delivered. I believe it must play that role again, but for the welfare of Pakistan’s people. Seeing how it helped the cause of the judiciary and judges, I am optimistic they will play a big role again.
We never needed ‘Democracy’, We need ‘Better Governance’
People have not realised, everything the politicians (PPP, PMLN) are doing is only serving their personal interests.
Zardari wants NRO to stay so he is opposing reinstating of judges. Nawaz sharief wanted revenge from Musharaf, he just had it and now he wants Zardari to be out so he is asking to reinstate of judges. Either Zardari wins or Nawaz wins the nation will loose. Both of them are greedy and looters and only serve personal interests.
Truth is; there is no one left in leadership who can take bold decisions (Musharafism) and put country first.
Soon, the nation will realise that Musharaf was better then all. He deliverd; Stabilized our economy, Saved our Nukes, improved our image internationly, improved our relations with India, China and Russia, delivered most fair elections in our history, created atmosphere of reconciliation and stood against terrorism and radical islam.
well musharraf has gone now and now dogger can play his role, to bring Zardari in trap Doggar should step down by himself and restore Chief Justice by his own power, then things will work out other wise nothing will happen and they keep fighting with eachother … n one day Petrol will be 150 Per liter and so on…………DOGGAR common man do sumething for Mush now……..
Janeeta I agree with you! That’s exactly how I feel.
Janeeta
You nailed it.