Disagreeable words
October 14, 2010
We have disagreement. While Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani – who may have swallowed the same hallucinatory pills as those used by the president – says he sees nothing wrong with Mr Zardari's deeds and that the appointment of the NAB chief is purely an executive decision, the Supreme Court has disagreed in no uncertain terms. Hearing petitions related to the enforcement of court orders on the NRO, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry noted that the appointment of Justice (r) Deedar Hussain Shah to the post of NAB chairman amounted to yet another violation of court orders. The bench advised the NAB prosecutor to read the clauses related to this with greater care, and made it quite obvious that it is running out of patience with the constant delaying tactics seen for weeks. While adjourning till today (Thursday) a case that will have a crucial impact on future events in the country, the court accepted the appointment of Latif Khosa to plead the government's case – but did make a few choice comments on the constant shuffling of officials. From these actions alone it seems the government is lost, unclear how to proceed or what to do. This is hardly a comfort for any of us, given that we depend on our leaders to guide us through difficult times in our history. Mr Gilani's boast that – as he had predicted – nothing happened on the 13th and his suggestion that we should "forget such things" show how utterly incapable our rulers are of rising to the challenges we face.
The prime minister, who had till now come up with at least occasional words of good sense, seems to have decided to tread the same path along which the president stumbles. Speaking in Charsadda, at a ceremony to distribute the Watan Cards which form the central part of a mismanaged flood-compensation scheme, Mr Gilani spoke in the same vein as Mr Zardari of plots against the government. He said that some 'political actors' were opposing the government. We do wish the president and the PM would speak in clearer terms about who and what they are referring to. This constant game of parables is becoming rather exhausting. Mr Gilani also spoke of the 'good performance' of his government and stressed it would complete its term. It is far from clear how many in the country agree with his optimistic estimate. The PM and the president and his advisers should first of all learn to abide by the provisions of the constitution they have sworn to defend – and this includes following the orders of courts. As the SC bench has noted in its latest observations on the NRO case, even now there seems to be no willingness to go by what the court is saying. This mood of defiance, for whatever reason it has been adopted, seems to be leading us straight towards disaster and the confrontation we had been trying to avoid for months. The lack of good sense we see in our leaders is not encouraging, and leaves us staring at a great deal of uncertainty which does our nation no good at all.
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Butt of jokes
October 14, 2010
What with the president and the prime minister both contributing to the slim canon of political jokery it is perhaps fitting that one of the larger jokers in the pack joins them on stage. Enter – or rather do not enter – Ijaz Butt, head of the Pakistan Cricket Board. One of the several standing committees of the National Assembly is on sports, and whilst many parliamentary committees appear both toothless and sleepy, the members of the SC on sport were wide-awake on Tuesday and had a full set of fangs in their mouths. They were expecting to be sinking them into the ample frame of Mr Butt who was summoned to appear before them to explain why it was that he had made himself, Pakistan cricket, our London ambassador and sundry other individuals and bodies consummate fools.
But Mr Butt was a no-show, so they gave a jolly good savaging to Yawar Saeed, a former captain of the cricket team who had been 'volunteered' to report to the SC. Had Saeed prepared a report on the tour? Errr...no. But he promised he would in a week. Has there been any General Council meeting of the PCB in the last two years, as per the rule book? Errr...no. Has the PCB Marketing Department finalised the sponsorship deal for the series against South Africa? Errr...no. The list of lamentable lapses, cock-ups and failed memories went on and on, to be capped off by the chairman of the SC quoting a letter from our London High Commissioner that called the PCB 'Ali Baba and the 40 thieves' and that the chairman of the PCB, Joker Butt, needed bowling out at the earliest opportunity. The performance of Mr Butt is nothing short of a national disgrace. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the allegations against players, his conduct throughout the tour was boorish and reprehensible, worthy of nothing but contempt. He is powerfully connected and has 'protection' at the highest level, but enough is enough Mr Butt, time to go. Your failure to appear before the parliamentary SC was cowardly and cynical. Get you to the dressing room Mr Butt, because we all stopped laughing at your jokes long ago.