Zardari-Nawaz meeting: last chance to save the system
Monday, August 04, 2008
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: In the midst of an extremely gloomy situation, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are meeting on Tuesday, which possibly would be their last chance to save the coalition and the system from serious damage.
In case of failure, things may get out of their control as the current situation cannot continue anymore. Hence, this is a test for the country’s politicians to rise up to the occasion and change the course of history, including the depressing last four months of their performance. Otherwise, they would be directly responsible for any damage caused to the system.
Last week, a credible source revealed that the country’s establishment has already got uneasy with what the government is doing ñ or has done ñ during the last four months. Fears about the possible wrapping up of the set-up are also increasing. Even on Sunday, I received a call from a PPP leader who, while sharing an unconfirmed report, claimed that Prime Minister Gilani was being advised by some of his friends and family members to step down for not being given a free hand to run the government but getting the blame for everything.
Whether Gilani accedes to any such an advice or not, the political instability, growing tales of corruption, the disappearance of accountability systems, bad governance, highly controversial key appointments, no-confidence in the judiciary, the deteriorating law and order situation and cropping up of a crisis after crisis have made the government highly unpopular.
No matter President Musharraf and his eight-year rule were the real causes of the present mess, politicians, particularly Asif Zardari and Nawaz, were given the mandate on Feb 18 to cleanse the Augean stables, a job in which they have terribly failed so far. Though Zardari is in the driving seat and is also mainly responsible for adding to this mess, Nawaz Sharif will have to share the blame, too, as his party continues to be a part of the coalition.
Today, the masses do not like the PPP, especially its top leadership. Tomorrow, the same would be the situation for the PML-N and its top leadership if it continues with the coalition without breaking the sickening status quo. Such disillusionment amongst the masses towards politicians and the leading political parties encourages anti-democratic forces to play their game.
For Zardari and his party, there is only one viable option: he has to end the terrible style of his rule and will have to resort to good governance. He is also required to make his mind quickly if he would go for the president’s impeachment and would restore the judges. There is no time left for any further dilly-delaying on such matters.
Nawaz Sharif, on the other hand, has to stick with the coalition if Zardari changes his mind. Otherwise, he, too, has no option but to quit the coalition and sit on the opposition benches even at the risk of losing the Punjab government, which by the way is the only positive thing that has happened to Pakistan after Feb 18. In the other three provinces and at the Centre also, there is no feel of any government. Further getting along with the coalition, which is fast becoming the cause of problems, would be suicidal for both the PML-N and its popular leader Nawaz Sharif. Some have already started saying that Nawaz Sharif would be no different from Asif Ali Zardari. If really so, it would be really unfortunate for the politicians as well as the democracy in this country.
It’s a pity that the misrule of the past four months and non-seriousness of the government to resolve the major problems inherited by the present regime, including the judicial crisis, have encouraged supporters of Musharraf’s military rule to draw comparisons between the present democratic rule and his past rule. Options of 58(2)b and the setting up of a national government are being discussed.
Although, such a dispensation would increase the problems, the present government’s style of rule is extremely worrisome for all and sundry. In favour of democracy, possibly the only viable alternative would be to let all the political leaders to sit together and find a solution. Maybe another election is what they all come to?
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