Pakistan Politics Shows Signs of Maturity
By Salahuddin Haider
Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan politics, based on personality cult since long, has begun to show signs of maturity as almost all key players seem to have realized, or at least try to give that impression, that their survival lies in co-existence and accommodating each other’s viewpoint.
Nomination of opposition leader, Mian Raza Rabbani for the chairmanship of parliament’s upper house called the Senate, is considered a good omen for a country with a checkered history, haunted by jealousies, prejudices, and hatred for non-conformists.
It brought smiles on the faces of people, normally depressed because of economic meltdown and mismanagement, but a Rangers’ raid on the MQM headquarters in Karachi vitiated the atmosphere. The fallout of such an action will be discussed separately in a day or two. For the present, the Senate nomination is more important because of its impact on political life of the country
A veteran parliamentarian, Rabbani, has commanded respect from friends and foes alike. Associated with the Peoples Party for more than three decades, his unanimous selection today for the coveted office, second in order of precedence after the country’s President, was accepted even by the ruling party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
This is thus for the first time that a bi-partisan approach has begun to be visible in Pakistan, and if persevered with, it may give birth to trends and traditions that have been missing so far. It was the narrow vision of the politicians, rather than of the military, that has hurt the cause of democracy. They failed to rise to the occasion, when in power, and instead of working for a national cause, seemed more interested in the leg-pulling of opponents. They not only framed cases against rivals but even tortured and jailed them for no reason or rhyme. Self-aggrandizement coupled with corruption and nepotism has unfortunately been the cardinal principle so far. Obviously a country, founded for the common man’s emancipation, slowly but steadily plunged into an abyss, recovery from where looks almost impossible
A new ray of light appeared on the horizon in 2007 when Benazir Bhutto, belonging to an illustrious political dynasty from the interior Sindh town of Larkana, tried to apply Nelson Mandela’s theory of “reconciliation”. But the dream of the “Daughter of the East” was shattered by an assassin’s bullet. Her husband Asif Zardari, accused of corruption and mismanagement, nevertheless got his name written in history by ensuring a peaceful transfer of power to the staunchest of opponents after an electoral defeat in 2013.
Victimizing political rivals was forgotten even by the Sharifs, controlling the country for a little over18 months. Charges of horse trading in Senate elections held on March 5 vitiated the atmosphere, and though Zardari and Sharif, both spent sleepless nights in winning the majority for their candidate’s victory, the former outsmarted the latter, proving once again that he was a far better chess player than the other, who is often attacked for lack of wisdom and foresight. In a still incomplete House of 93, the magic number was 47. Zardari, pulling a fast one on Sharif, advanced his dinner invitation to the parliamentarians by at least 12 hours to Sharif’s luncheon meeting with them.
His efforts to collect all those in the opposition to his side won him handsome rewards, and late at night, Reza Rabbani’s candidature was announced from the PPP camp. It was backed by powerful elements like MQM, Awami National Party, and smaller factions in the upper house.
It came as a rude shock for Sharif, who knew that he had lost the fight already. To his credit ,however, he wisely accepted the PPP nominee as his choice too. In doing so, the Muslim League leader virtually “killed” the hate-Sharif campaign launched afresh by Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan. PTI, winning its maiden representation with 6 seats in the Senate, had announced boycott of the Chairman’s elections. He even threatened re-launch his street agitation against Sharifs should his demand for judicial commission against election rigging of 2013 went unheeded Now that politicians once again have showed unanimity in their views, Khan’s desire to be a rebel rouser may again prove a house of cards as his four-month sit-in that ultimately failed in the capital city of Islamabad last year.
For many Rabbani is an excellent choice. He is known for his integrity and for adhering strongly to principles. He even wept before a packed house in the joint session of the parliament for supporting military courts established under the 22 nd Amendment to the Constitution. He not only resigned his ministerial post in the Zardari cabinet, refusing to submit to expediency over conscience, and the founding Charter of a party, set up by articulate Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, father of Benazir, whose son Bilawal is now at odds with his father.
The parties represented in the indirectly elected House, and their leaders, are all happy at his induction. They know that he will prefer principles, rules and regulations, and act according to conscience, rather than be guided by party preferences. Members of the PML(N), depressed slightly, too will be convinced in their heart of hearts that Rabbani will be impartial as House custodian. Optimism was writ large on their faces, confirmed by a welcome reaction from information minister Pervez Rashid.
Pundits agreed that despite the army’s indirect control over administrative policies, democracy has slowly been asserting itself, which is a happy augury for a country founded by the will of the people. (The writer is a former Sindh Minister and senior journalist)
