Nawaz's Complaint of Conspiracy against Him Is to Be Seriously Taken
By Salahuddin Haider
Karachi, Pakistan
The fear expressed by Nawaz Sharif that attempts may well be on to “ remove him from power”, generated a somewhat belated reaction but the very fact that such a statement had come from the country's prime minister was alarming and needed a thorough review.
His reference to “vested interests” was interpreted differently by different individuals. Those less skeptical thought it was aimed at the Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, but such a suggestion was quickly dismissed by news commentators and analysts who pointed fingers at the more powerful segments of society.
“Imran can be a potential danger, but not for the present at least”. This argument is advanced by knowledgeable circles, who promptly refer to the mounting strife and friction within his party in the northern KPK province. Putting his own house in order is presently his first priority.
Focusing attention on the Punjab heartland, which will also be the principal battleground in municipal or parliamentary polls, will be difficult for the PTI chief. A general impression is that the cricketer-turned-politician may find it hard to defeat the Nawaz nominees in the Lahore bye-elections for National Assembly seats originally held by speaker Ayaz Sadiq and railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq. A tough contest is also expected for the Lodhran seat in southern Punjab but the scale appears tilted in favor of Imran’s right hand party man, Jahangir Tareen. Municipal elections are due in Sindh and Punjab within six to eight weeks, and may be a pointer to future trends.
Since the present conditions look tough for the PTI leader, attention automatically shifts to the other “people who matter” but the Peoples Party, despite differences with Sharif, looks determined to protect democracy and parliament from any unconstitutional change.
Opposition leaders in the two houses of the parliament, Khurshed Shah and Aitzaz Ahsan, have made this abundantly clear in their speeches. Some minor reactions too have been supportive of the democratic dispensation. A veteran politician, on condition of anonymity, nevertheless referred to the Bangladesh formula wherein a two-year government of technocrats “helped clear the mess" before elections were finally held, allowing Sheikh Hasina Wajid to take control of the administration.
Some experts believe that despite all difficulties and handicaps the present government was able to restore Pakistan’s image in the world as “an emerging success story”. But mere praises from international institutions like IMF, World Bank, etc. will just be not enough to silence the public outcry for reforms in the social sectors. Education, health and labor policies have assumed urgency. These sectors demand expeditious attention and resource mobilization to set the country on the path of achieving genuinely laudable goals.
The PML(N) administration, in control for well over two years, has neglected major welfare sectors, for which it has been repeatedly targeted by opponents. Sharif was able to counter criticism to some extent by announcing major concessions, tax holidays and a number of other incentives for the farming community. But he did so only after facing caustic attacks from Imran Khan and Bilawal Bhutto.
However, Sharif’s claim that “conspirators won't succeed in their designs because we are not here to make money, but we, in fact, have been spending from our own pockets, and are not a burden on the exchequer” , was a moot point again. Imran has been training his guns principally on him and Zardari for being corrupt and dishonest.
At the same time, ignoring the army’s continuing campaign against terrorists, abettors, financiers etc; will be a grave mistake. The arrest and joint interrogation by the army, rangers, NAB and FIA of former petroleum minister and a close Zardari aide, Dr Asim Hussain, repeated raids to lay hands on the revenue and land allotment records in Karachi and the rest of the southern province, is turning into a litmus test for those accused of acquiring dirty money over the years.
Confirmation comes quickly and unhesitatingly from authoritative sources that a list of those suspected of white collar crime is not only ready, but is being constantly updated. A number of arrests, including those of top notch officials, is enough to prove the intentions of the people who matter. Confessional statements from those in detention may lead to a much more grimmer scenario than has been witnessed thus far.
The Nandipur power project, hanging fire for 11 long years, street agitation by parents against rising school fees, protests by doctors and nurses have become a worrisome proposition for Sharif. He had to divert energy to solving issues, which have begun to assume dangerous proportions. The out-of -operation, 425-megawatt Nandipur power project is turning into a mega scandal.
If in Sindh, two major parties, MQM, and PPP, have been a source of headache for the premier, rising crime rate, murders and suicide incidents in his power base of Punjab are not a very happy augury for the government either.
The bitter truth is that the Sindh situation is taking a turn for the worse with two of its major political parties in a confrontational mood, and virtually on the warpath.
It is high time that the Prime Minister, or the army chief General Raheel Sharif, not only take notice of it, but act quickly to smother its likely effects.
It is slowly and steadily getting out of hand. Asif Zardari’s repeated attacks on PML(N), the hard-hitting speech of Bilawal Bhutto, and the MQM rally, all depict a definite trend----something which is worrisome, and need skilful handling.
No one opposes or even differs with the strategy to counter terrorists, or deal sternly with those backing them. Its outcome has been welcomed by all and sundry. There is no sympathy in anyone’s mind for the ongoing crusade against corruption.
But a feeling is perhaps building slowly that the execution of corrective measures lack tactful handling. The iron-hand approach or rough and tough tackling ought to be avoided. The impression of a witch-hunt must never be allowed to develop. That will be not only be counter-productive but may prove disastrous in the end.
The statement of Zardari depicted anger and sounded vengeful. So was the tone and tenor of Bilawal’s speech at the Lahore workers convention. Whether they can really inflict damage on the party in power, or erode its authority, is not important. What is significant is its fall-out on the concept of Statehood. National unity needs to be preserved at all cost. Any dent will be extremely damaging for the country, troubled internally, and feeling the heat from outside its borders.
If MQM had been crying since long against injustice and victimization, they deserved a proper hearing. Their frustration, stemming from persistent neglect, forced them to call for mourning last Friday. The party never called for business or transport closure, but people, over the years, out of sheer sense of insecurity, had become tuned to a shut-off. But while the paramilitary force succeeded in erasing public fear, they, simultaneously must not be seen indulging in over-kill. That, it was resorted to in this case, bounced back with a thunder.
The party, sweeping elections in urban Sindh, persistently for nearly three decades, brought out a huge rally from Liaquatabad to Quaid i Azam Mausoleum, chanted slogans, and waved its flags for hours together, proving by its actions that the law of diminishing return could well be applicable, but the party’s hold and appeal for the electorate, remains a reality. That the authorities showed wisdom in allowing the rally to vindicate itself, deserved full marks. Slight miscalculations or undue interference would have caused a political blast of unmanageable magnitude.
Where did things go wrong then? Peoples Party has remained a silent spectator to raw hand treatment to MQM, often its coalition partner, but now in opposition. It couldn't remain silent, in fact started an orchestrated campaign against two federal agencies, NAB and FIA.
Sindh chief minister’s remarks that their raid on provincial departments was a raid by federal government on the province, hardly holds ground. In India and the USA, federal agencies CBI and FBI do raid and arrest people in provinces or States without prior permission.
In short, the prime minister’s remarks of conspiracy being hatched against him, cannot be dismissed lightly. Whether the age-old maxim that coming events cast shadows early can be applied here too will be too premature a verdict at this point of time. (The writer is a former Sindh Minister and senior journalist)
