The rule of the law
The Islamabad Police recently arrested several PPP women activists who were staging a sit-in for the release of Asif Zardari, the husband of PPP Co-Chairman Ms Benazir Bhutto, and lodged them in Aabpara Police Station (PS). Hearing about this on her arrival at Islamabad, Ms Benazir went straight to the concerned PS. The sight of the excited crowd accompanying her was enough to evoke discretion among the police personnel and they threw valour to the winds in taking smartly to their heels. The incarcerated ladies thereupon walked out into freedom. Legally speaking Ms Benazir may get off on a technicality as she probably did not physically assault the PS to free the ladies in question but ethically speaking by the show of force she has set a precedent which may become an anathema to the rule of the law.
Ms Benazir may well argue that Asif Zardari is wrongly confined, that the government strategy is to put pressure on her to ease off on her Constitutional role as an Opposition leader — and that by itself is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of an elected representative, what to talk of a common citizen. Without commenting on the merit of the cases for which he is being prosecuted or the mode of prosecution and thereby straying into a contempt-of-court situation, the cases being subjudice, one does opine that the nature of the cases do entitle him to bail, particularly since he is an MNA and has to discharge his duties as an elected representative of his National Assembly Constituency, the people of which have become an innocent victim of political crossfire.
At the end of the Afghan War, Pakistan had hoped to reap the benefits thereof. As of this moment we seem to be in the bad books of all our former friends, the US and Afghan Mujahideen among them. Along with economic crisis and the Sindh situation there is need to have a genuine national political dialogue. If the confabulations can lead to a national government for a given period of 3-5 years as a cooling off-reorganisation phase then so much the better. Unfortunately we seem to be able to talk to the Parliamentary Opposition in the countries around us with less tension than amongst ourselves. Dialogue among the politicians is very necessary if we are not to be reduced to the “dialogue of the deaf” scenario of present-day Sarajevo and Kabul. One feels that some substantial issues have no great relevance, others can be a part of a general compromise in the national interest. Leaders of the major parties would do well to control their respective egos for the sake of the hapless populace that they represent.
Travelling from Islamabad to Karachi on PK 309 on Tuesday September 1 was a fascinating experience, particularly because the seats side by side were occupied (in order) by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Honourable Federal Minister for Interior (and thus the Chief Jailer), Retired Justice Dorab Patel (of Amnesty fame), Mr Asif Zardari, MNA (and thus the Chief Incarcerated) and his wife Ms Benazir Bhutto, Leader of the Opposition. Despite the lack of communication within the NA, there was some obvious conversation going on though we were too far to eavesdrop. However, when we had landed at Karachi, we heard Asif Zardari asking Chaudhry Shujaat to spend the night with him in “his accommodation” if he did not have any alternate accommodation. Chaudhry Sahib had enough sense of humour to laughingly decline, that these two could have something in common to smile about speaks well of both of them and maybe all is not lost in the political confrontation. While one remains skeptical about Asif Zardari’s denials about using his wife’s influence and position when she was PM, the man showed a lot of grace under pressure, stronger men have crumbled solely under the weight of frustration and length of incarceration. One believes that the ability to smile under severe strain reveals a lot about the person’s character, one hopes this quality will be better used to national benefit if (and whenever) there is a next time around.
Notwithstanding anything aforementioned, two wrongs do not make a right. As a former PM and the present Opposition leader, Ms Benazir must bend backwards to uphold the rule of the law, setting a good precedent rather than the one set at Islamabad recently when she was more representative of a leader of a mob. Having gone the high moral ground-route PPP hardly needs to shoot itself in the foot needlessly. The rule of law must prevail over every other consideration. This principle should hold firm, however, grave the provocation. On the part of the Federal Government, Nawaz Sharif must realise that as a national leader he must be large-hearted, nation-building cannot be done only by constructing highways and railroads but by the sincerity of purpose in national affairs, by compromising on issues relevant to the national interest and by building bridges between the opposing minds.
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