hope curtailed

Hope curtailed

Zubair Torwali

I have before me three top stories, a column and an editorial. The three print media journalists, Ansar Abbasi, Rauf Klasra and Tariq Butt, who are ever THE first to sniff out the inside news, have three lead stories on the front page. The editorial, and the column by the veteran journalist, Mir Jamilur Rehman, are also saying the same things — “disturbing signs”.

According to these reliable sources Benazir Bhutto’s widower, Asif Ali Zardari reprimanded the veteran lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan for his steadfast demand of the restoration of the judges. Not only did he rebuke Aitzaz but also disclosed what was feared of him. He even went personal on the judges saying that he was let down by these judges, who had even refused to release him on parole to attend the funeral of his nephew. It was also disclosed that Asif wants a constitutional package with the restoration of the judges. The lawyers’ community has already showed their resentment to such a package. It is generally feared by the legal community that the Musharraf camp wants to get rid of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry by hook and by crook. It is said that such a conspiracy package is being hatched in the presidency.

The unwanted remarks by Zardari have annoyed everybody but Musharraf and his buddies. It stupefied those who like to see Zardari grow as a statesman of international calibre. His role after the election was appraised by every analyst. After the murder of Benazir Bhutto it was evident that the establishment would break PPP into small ‘useful’ portions. Zardari showed his mettle of management and prevented the party from disintegration; with Nawaz Sharif’s unconditional support, of course.

After the election a natural coalition of the three mainstream parties, PPP, PML-N and ANP emerged with hail and awe from the society. This was (is?) a natural coalition for the three parties had been pushed to the wall by General (R) Pervez Musharraf. But when Zardari made Maulana Fazlur Rehman his “brother” doubts were raised as the Maulana is a tactful ally of Musharraf. Yet the analysts did not give up hope for they thought the Maulana had a handful of seats that could not influence the coalition to tilt towards the presidency. The second shock came when the prime minister stood up in the National Assembly and unnecessarily made a request to PML-Q to cast for him the vote of trust. And recently Zardari’s visit to Nine-Zero and making Altaf Hussain his “brother” raised many a question inside the coalition parties. But Zardari did not stop here. He publicly denounced the legal community including the deposed judges.

It seems what is now happening in the political parties is as per the “script” written long before the election. The characters perform well except the lawyers and the deposed judges. God forbid the murder of Benazir Bhutto would not be an act of the script! Ahmad Mukhtar’s praise of General (R) Pervez Musharraf as a “national asset” and Zardari’s disclosure of the PPP leadership’s intention were not merely statements devoid of context but well-groomed ‘dialogues’ assigned to them by the script writer and director.

All this is not an abrupt development. It has its beginning in the time when Benazir Bhutto was alive. It is a fact that cannot be denied that she agreed to the National Reconciliation Ordinance. Perhaps owing to her commitment she let her policy oscillate on the restoration of the judges. This caused colossal harm to PPP. Although it emerged as the largest party in the election, yet that was due to the tragic murder of its leader. If PPP were clear on the judicial issue it would surely have gained a sweeping majority.

It now seems clear that the “script” did not allow Nawaz Sharif a level playing field; and he had to come back only a day before the closing deadline of the nomination papers’ submission for he was not supposed to even get a bargaining position. What PML-N achieved, in spite of the dire straits, was undoubtedly a response to its clear slogan of restoring the judiciary to November 2 position.

Being forgetful as a nation, we did not bother about the ground realities and hoped a new birth of Pakistan. The election results blurred us for we were cunningly made to anticipate worse. We forgot that the results were the same as planned in the “script” with minute deviation of PML-N performing better than PML-Q. After the election the delay in government formation was to remind us of the “script” but we were then assured that all this was to plan how to reinstate the deposed judges, how to address the national problems; and how to tackle our foreign “friends”. At last the prime minister was elected and he ordered to release the deposed judges. We felt free and distributed sweets as a living nation.

The last two weeks were like a respite for many who took the coalition commitment to democracy for granted and forgot that the presidency was a rendezvous of conspiracies to subdue the mandate of the people. We forgot that our dear leaders would dance to the music of the dictator-cum-director.

Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar [from Gujrat], Zardari and the like must keep in mind that the mandate given to them by the people is the popular rancour against General (r) Musharraf who had superciliously dishonoured the judiciary. And bravo to them! They are placidly playing the dictator’s game. How could they propitiate the civil society and the lawyers, only time can tell. They are not mere voters who could easily be forgotten.

In spite of general support by the lawyers, media, civil society and intelligentsia our politicians are still timorous. They can thump the desks well but cannot see out a dictator. The over 90 percent Pakistanis are perhaps rabble to them as they have no respect of their mandate rested with them.

Let’s stop hoping for it is in the words of John Clare:

A cobweb, hiding disappointment’s thorn,

Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise.