Adil Najam
I am reminded today of that great sher by that great sage, Jaun Elia:
koun is ghar ki dekh bhaal karey
roz ik cheez toot jati hai
The news is that the MQM has decided to sit in opposition at the Federal level (key word: “Federal level”). Supposedly the JUI is also sitting in the opposition now (although I am still not clear what has happened either with them or their Ministers; but, that, then, is the JUI!). On very rough math – and all math in Pakistan politics is always rough, as is Pakistan politics itself – this means that we now have a minority coalition in government (158 v. 173).
Political speculations and hawaii punditry is all ablaze (when is it not!) and all sorts of conspiracy theories float around. Some are even floating names on new Prime Ministers and at least one person in Mr. Zardari’s close circles seems to be already making a play for the job. Interestingly, no one is suggesting that Mr. Zardari’s job is in peril.
So, what is one to make of all of this. I, for one, make very little. I stand by my view that the government will stay. Certainly Mr. Zardari will, but I think that could still mean the entire government. It may very well and very soon heat up to be something more, but for right now I think these political shenanigans are exactly that. Political shenanigans.
No one knows the rules of politics in Pakistan than the MQM and the JUI. Both have made political moves. And so will the PPP. Even more importantly, so will the PML(N) whose move is yet to come and may well be the decisive one.
So, I say, lets wait and see what happens. This bandar ka tamasha is just beginning. Enjoy it while it lasts. As you do so, here is another gem of a sher, this one from Sahir Ludhianvi.
tumm mein himmat hai tou duniya say baghawat kar lo
warna maan baap jahaN kehtay hain, shaadi kar lo
It has long been a favorite of mine in other contexts but I last heard it about 10 days ago from none other than MQM’s Farooq Sattar – now the leader in residence of MQM at the ‘Federal level’ – who was speaking to the graduates of the Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education (DIHE; I was one of the convocation speakers and we shared the stage and a few pleasantries over what was a fairly long ceremony, made longer by Mr. Sattar’s speech studded with many many ashaar).
Supposedly this was his message to the young graduating class, but I think part of it was directed at the PPP Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, who was also one of the speakers. I was not sure if the verse was a good fit there, and am not sure if it is an ideal fit here. But, at least, its a good sher. To the extent it had a point in that context, the point is the same in this context: It is easy to talk about baghawat (rebellion) but ultimately each baghawat has to be judged by one’s actions and not just by one’s slogans. Let us, then, wait and see where this particular baghawat leads us.
I saw a report showing the support of more like 160 than 168, as you indicate in that statistic. There’s a report that Gilani was on the phone with PML(Q), a sign of desperation?
I think this is a good development. But ppl should focus more on toppling Zardari the crook than the whole govt. or Gilani, even though I believe that Gilani is too passive to lead Pakistan at this stage where foreign (Israeli) drones are eating away at Pakistani national pride like termites.
What would be a suitable suggestion at this stage, even temporary would be to make some sort of a coalition, like Aitzaaz Ahsan for PM and Imran Khan for Prez. These two guys have spine and can face what’s being thrown at Pakistan from abroad from the East and the west; and from within (also foreign agents, IMHO). Ahsan has good local political experience and Khan knows how to face foreign vultures hovering over Pak. lusting to whisk away their yellowcake prize, to leave Pak at the mercy of the big eastern vulture. Some significant cabinet post(s) for Altaf Hussain and even Maulvi fazl would be in order. I hate Mullahs but Fazlur Rahman has matured into a seasoned politician.
probably the latest round of talks with pppp didn’t go anywhere. still, now that they have taken this decision, they will find that it isn’t as easy to backtrack and continue to fool the public.
If not Gilani, then who?
That MQM makes a fuss, that I can understand. They have 25 seats. But how is JUI making such a noise. All they have is a lousy 8 seats!
hota hai shab o roz tamasha mairay aagay