Dissolution Again?
Towards the end of the Supreme Court hearings that led to the historic verdict of May 26, the Empire showed its hand regarding future course of action by coordinating a media offensive by the CMs of the Provinces against the PM. The Provinces followed this up by requesting the Honourable Supreme Court that they be allowed to become party to the petition being heard by the Provinces. At the fag end of the arguments, the Supreme Court allowed them to make their brief submissions against giving the Petitioner any relief but were obviously not impressed enough to affect its verdict. Having lost the Courtroom battle, the Empire shifted its battle lines to the Provinces, as events are unfolding, with consequences far more dangerous. If one were to do serious war gaming, the scenario would unfold like this, the dissolution of the PAs (and the on/off restoration process thereof) would be followed by the NA Budget Session. Forced to impose certain direct taxes in the Budget to meet the officially projected Rs 85 billion deficit (more in the region of Rs 110 billion) the Federal Government would face stiff opposition within the Assembly and this would flow into the streets. The Provincial Governments would stand back and let anarchy take hold. If the Federal Government used Rangers they would yell blue murder and civil war conditions would be created. The Army would have to be called in to restore order, the situation would then be ripe where the President would be satisfied that conditions are such that the Federal Government could no longer perform its duties and an Emergency would be declared, the jurisdiction of the judiciary with respect to fundamental rights would be suspended. The NA having passed the Budget, it would have done the same job a Queen does for any Empire, having produced a male heir it would have no further use for the Empire and would be dissolved again. All this may sound far fetched but given the legal and political footwork witnessed in the last two weeks, particularly in the Punjab, this is very much within the realm of a distinct possibility, desperate men never fear any consequences for society at large and nations in particular.
As much as the PM is to be commended for extending an olive branch to the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, he failed in a crucial test of political sagacity, he should have also made moves to pacify the President. Given that Ghulam Ishaq Khan may not have reciprocated to any of his overtures, why work on the assumption that he would not? Whatever may be the political differences of the PM with the President, as long as he is the President he represents the unity of the Federation and he must be given due deference as becomes his position. One may not like him, that is no reason to show disrespect by eliminating the crucial and necessary dialogue between State and Government that is the essence of smooth governance. Political requirements may require that the Constitution be suitably amended to balance the powers equitably, that does not obviate respect for the Office that is the highest in the land according to the Constitution. Politics enjoins the art of compromise, the PM has far less differences with the President than Ms Bhutto has, even given their present cosy relationship. By not opening up communication channels to the old man on the hill, the PM has closed down an option that is very much available to the Leader of the Opposition to exploit to the PM’s detriment. It also gives an opportunity for self-seekers around the President to evolve a hard stance against the PM. These people will not allow this old man to rest in his twilight years. In defeat, Nawaz Sharif showed admirable defiance, in victory he must show extraordinary magnanimity. At the moment the President is in a corner fighting for his political life and he is fighting back in the ways he knows how to, unfortunately the no-holds barred stance on either side is seriously damaging the political and economic fabric of the Federation. Muslim tradition dictates that if an enemy lands up at your doorstep you cannot deny him succour or hospitality, for the sake of this country Nawaz Sharif must swallow his pride and land up at the Presidential doorstep. How can we know whether the old man on the hill really believes that forgiveness is divine unless this precept is really tested. The PM has people like Elahi Baksh Soomro, Sartaj Aziz, Malik Majid, etc with access to the President, to act as initiators and moderators of any dialogue. Why does he not use them?
An extremely dangerous trend has been the opening of a legal Pandora’s box which if not checked now will have awesome consequences for the nation. In the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court’s verdict, there was an hiatus that did not last long. Within days, hardliners within the PM’s camp were demanding immediate impeachment of the President without giving him the benefit of doubt about his good faith. On the other hand sensing loss of power in the Punjab, the Presidential Camp moved to checkmate that possibility by dissolving the PA, thereby signalling bad faith. Luckily for everyone, Eid gave some breathing space but immediately after the break, battle has again been joined. Those in Opposition to the PM soon found out to their detriment that he was actually gaining in the mass perception by the attacks against him, as such the Opposition shifted their strategy to Liddell Hart’s “Indirect Approach and Deep Penetration”. Instead of attacking the PM directly, attacks were now launched in earnest against the instrument that restored him to power, the superior judiciary, in the premise that by damaging the credentials of the Honourable Justices, the credibility of their Judgement would become a subject of controversial debate. The two pronged attack has been launched in the political arena as well as the Higher Courts itself. Unfortunately by giving an Interim Order, one must respectfully state that the Honourable Lahore High Court (LHC) laid itself open for concentric attack. Within the Courts the Counsel of the Punjab Government virtually questioned the impartiality of the Honourable Judges in terms and tone rarely heard before in the portals of this respected institution. Outside the Court Ms Benazir called the Interim Order “Supra-Constitutional”. Without commenting on the viability of their contention, one is extremely apprehensive that this would open up the superior judiciary, one of the last existing institutions commanding respect in Pakistan, to ridicule and contempt. The PPP may have genuine grounds to feel deeply aggrieved and may have resorted to such a stratagem as a last resort, the fact remains that this is a most dangerous development. While politically one can empathize with Ms Bhutto when she rails against the credibility of the elected NA by calling the election process rigged, the attacks on the institution of the judiciary cannot be condoned, whatever the grounds and whatever the provocations, if any. There is a deliberate signal here to the men in uniform who already possess an abiding contempt of the lower judiciary. As much as Ms Bhutto has been deeply affected one would hope that she would consider that the supreme national interest dictates that the judiciary remains sacred from scurrilous, unverified accusations. The consequences for the destruction of the credibility of the judiciary are unimaginable and we must forthwith desist from further erosion of their status. One must hasten to add that judicial reforms are a must to ensure that public trust remains in the judicial process, from the lower echelons right upto the Supreme Court. If people take law into their own hands, society as such would disintegrate.
To an extent the PM may be guilty of losing the momentum in a genuine one-on-one dialogue with Ms Benazir. We strongly feel that instead of giving an impression of delay, the PM should have insisted on a complete and unencumbered immediate dialogue with Ms Bhutto to set the ground rules. One does not expect Utopian standards to be emulated by any side but the basic requirement of sincerity in dialogue is a must for meaningful negotiations. Politics is the art of the possible, its hallmark is compromise. There are no pre-suppositions about the other’s intent if one’s own intent is sincere. A genuine give and take is a must, the majority always gets a bigger slice of the pie in a democracy but the minority must not walk away from the table with nothing. Without demeaning the credentials of the Honourable members of the Committees appointed, the perception of credibility required that the top leadership participate in the initial sessions to set the pace. Leadership does not demand incredible feats, it simply exudes credibility. The PM could have maintained the momentum by spending the day after Eid (or the day after that or the day after that) talking to Ms Benazir and her immediate associates. Why does not the PM take a drive down to her house for high tea, maybe she may even stop him for dinner! As much as everyone was extremely keen that dialogue would be fully engaged in, the momentum that the PM had generated has been seriously undercut by the fortnight’s delay. In the nervous days of April and May when we believed that all was lost for democracy and Ms Bhutto had unfortunately done a Darth Vader on us in supersession of the Princess Leiah-role that befits her more, some of us have been remonstrated with for not giving equal treatment to both the major political groupings. While we must reserve the option for disagreement we must be objective in such matters. That is the best part of democracy, to respect the other’s point of view even as you demolish it. “To honour while you strike him down, the foe that comes with fearless eyes,” to quote a long gone saying.
In Pakistan the benefit of doubt is usually given to the incumbents, it must be the prerogative of those who are on the other side of the fence. The ball is in the PM’s Court, not in the President’s or Ms Benazir’s. During the few glorious weeks leading upto May 26, the PM seemed to be really interested in solving the problems of this country. If so, he must immediately enter into a serious dialogue on a one-on-one basis on the one hand with the President and on the other with Ms Benazir to lay down the parameters of a possible compromise. At the same time why should he cut out all his options? The people of Pakistan are more than anxious for a political settlement, to that end, the PM must be acutely sensitive to their desires, not the advice of sycophants who usually spent the best part of the confrontation egging on the antagonists from the sidelines. The PM has to get individually involved to the exclusion of almost everything else. If not, then we will reluctantly come to the conclusion that basic sincerity about PM’s agenda is lacking in the PM’s Camp and we were shortchanged in the restoration. In a democracy the Opposition inculcates the only modicum of accountability than can restrain excess, it has to be given its due space under the sun. The verdict of the Supreme Court may be in, the detailed judgement is anxiously awaited in order to resolve a number of anomalies, particularly in the Provinces. The PM may not realize it but inaction as regards genuine dialogue is slowly swinging public opinion away from him, he must act now to keep intact the coalition of the intelligentsia and masses that he has gathered around him post–April 17. If he delays any further, a further dissolution of the NA is in the cards, as surely as night turn into day. The PM was lucky to get a second chance, the third time around destiny may not be so favourable.
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