Adil Najam
Much, too much, is afoot in Pakistan. Talk is rife of changes: in the President’s stance; in the Prime Minister’s tone; in the President himself; in the international response; in the Military’s preferences; even, maybe, in the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Change seems to be afoot. It is not clear what. But it is clear that whatever it is will leave much, too much, still in limbo. There is no one that anyone seems to have much confidence in.
The media is being gagged again. Civil society forces remain defiant as ever in the face of increasing crackdowns. The politicians fail to inspire confidence. And the military and international actors remain kingmakers. The dominant sense one gets is of a country that is afraid of its own politics. Very very afraid.
The litany of breaking news tells the story (all from the homepage of The News today):
GEO News blocked in different cities of country. The transmission of Geo News has been blocked in some parts of Karachi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, Rawlakot, Muzaffarabad, Deepalpur and Sargodha. The concerned officials have directed the cable operators to place Geo News channel at the tail end, making it difficult for the viewers to watch the channel. PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, Tehreek-i-Insaf Chief Imran khan and Senator Babar Ghauri condemned the blocking of Geo News.
Lawyers to intensify campaign. The lawyers challenging the government will step up their cross-country protest campaign despite beatings and arrests by the police, the President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ali Ahmed Kurd said on Friday. Black-suited lawyers and flag-waving opposition activists launched the long march protest in the cities of Karachi and Quetta on Thursday, despite a ban on rallies and the detention of hundreds of activists. Baton-wielding police clashed with protesters in Karachi and arrested several of their leaders as they tried to stop a convoy of cars and buses leaving the city.
Containers placed around Pindi, Islamabad to block marchers. Several containers were placed at all entry points of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in an attempt to thwart the lawyers’ long march. In Rawalpindi, containers were placed near Faizabad Fly over. Besides, several containers were lined up near Kashmir Highway, Parliament House and all other entry points of the federal capital. More containers, dumpers and trucks are likely to be brought there to block the marchers from entering twin cities.
U.S. Ambassador calls on PM: U.S. Ambassador to Islamabad Anne W. Patterson called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday. According to sources, country’s prevailing political situation in view of the long march was discussed in the meeting.
Miliband telephones Nawaz. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Friday and discussed with him the overall political situation. According to sources, country’s prevailing political situation in the wake of long march came under discussion.
Zardari agrees to resolve crisis in light of CoD. In response to the reconciliatory efforts of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to resolve prevailing political crisis according to the charter of democracy (CoD). According to sources, Army chief’s meetings with the President and the Prime Minister are producing results. Gen. Kayani held separate meetings with President Zardari and Premier Gilani to discuss various options for solution of prevailing political crisis confronting the country. Sources further told that Prime Minster was in favour of restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. However, the president’s close aides said that President Zardari wants his restoration through CoD. The President is willing to lift governor rule in Punjab while besides Army chief, British and American governments are playing the role of guarantors. President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani are expected to meet again tonight in which some important decisions are expected.
We have been here before. Too many time. Too painfully.
I do see a silver lining to this
Must be all those endorphins from multiple near-death experiences …
I do see a silver lining to this
Pakistani people want democracy and real democracy with functioning institutions
This is victory of Palistani people
I think this has become as bad as this bc of Salman Taseer in Punjab
Remove him and it becomes manageable
Will there ever be time when this country gets settled down and works for the betterment of its people? Is anyone even thinking about the welfare of the poor masses at this time? Is this rock n’roll going to continue forever?
The ‘failed state’ premise is not after all not a fallacious idea anymore! Pakistan does perhaps fits the description of a run down mechanism where institutions are available but not functional.
This ‘new’ setup is not helping matters. I see Musharraf making a coming back. After all, only a few days ago he said the he was ready to serve in any capacity, if asked.
These politicians have proven themselves to be ruthless nincompoops. Zardari, of course, heads the list. The guy was/is a money grabber. However, it appears that some unfortunate soul told him that he’s fit enough to obtain a ‘leadership’ role as well!
Worst of all, his decision to play around with Punjab was nothing less than suicidal. The Sharifs are well-entrenched in that province and a force to be reckoned with. Understood that they were ‘the illegitimate children of the Establishment’ back in the 80s, yet, they have come a long way since then.
Also, Punjab is basically what the mainstream Pakistani political scene is. Whatever happens in Punjab impacts the entire length and breath of Pakistan. Zardari was naive and atrociously foolish to have meddled in the affairs of Punjab.
What’s happening now may effect the balance of the federation. With the issue of issue of terrorism already out of control, thanks to the mullah/taliban-oriented power dealers of the country, the ongoing protesting episode can bite the country in the rear-end.
Unless an intervention is done and Zardari is booted out, it would be fallacious to assume that the current crisis will simmer down. Washington understands it and is probably already looking into other options. The problem of terrorism can only be tackled through someone who is capable-enough to hold the federation together and the restrict internal frustrations with an iron hand. Pakistan needs to deal with menace, otherwise soon its existence will be history.
In the meantime, as the people suffer, all one can hope is that this ‘tamasha’ comes to an end and meets a logical conclusion.
What do we about this? What CAN we do about this?
Adil, I’d like to see you write a piece about what you think Pakistanis can do to save Pakistan sometime in the near future. Please. Many of us would appreciate it.