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The Presidential Candidate

The process of electing a President by means of an electoral college has been shown up to be an absolutely ridiculous exercise that demeans the concept of democracy. Ten days before the actual election we do not even know the actual choice of the two major political parties, various permutations and combinations are being considered.

Of the serious candidates, only one, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, continues to remain extremely controversial. The PPP “jirga” that met him on Monday night at Anwar Saifullah’s house failed to convince him not to do a “PIF” on PPP. One does not see the PPP seriously considering his candidacy in the face of its own experience at GIK hands. However, politics brings together stranger bedfellows. PPP’s support for a GIK candidacy will be taken as a clear signal for confrontation with PML(N). Perhaps Akbar Khan Bugti from Balochistan excites somewhat similar emotions but in a much lesser degree for much different reasons, primarily that he has the potential of being an unguided missile. Even then he remains in the class of mostly honourable men who are inclined to become the President of Pakistan.

Working on the process of elimination, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Aftab Shaban Mirani from the PPP’s side are cover candidates for Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari, though there is no doubt that Sherpao could make for an extremely good President himself. On the PML(N) side, it is most unfortunate that former Speaker Gohar Ayub Khan has become the subject of various controversies, none of them substantive enough to eliminate him altogether but nagging enough to cause doubts on his possible election in a straight fight. A dignified man who has fought long and hard this year for the cause of democracy, he has brought credit to his task during his tenure as Speaker of the National Assembly. Unfortunately he seems to arouse visceral dislike among the PPP. Similarly Balakh Sher Mazari is an honourable man but his partisan role as GIK’s Caretaker PM and his courtier-like attention to the present PM on prime time TV has attracted general contempt.

If qualifications are to be the touchstone of choosing a President, the candidacies of Acting President and Chairman Senate Wasim Sajjad, Senator Sartaj Aziz and Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan stand out from the PML(N) side. Wasim Sajjad is clearly the PML(N) first choice for an outright fight because the incumbency makes him an odds on favourite. Sartaj Aziz is the candidate for consensus and the Air Marshal the ideal person for compromise. Without doubt, all three stand out head and shoulders over the rest. All the principal candidates are men of principles and integrity. Age is the biggest factor militating against Wasim Sajjad and probably the fact that PPP is not entirely comfortable with the choice. With respect to qualifications, both Sartaj Aziz and Asghar Khan have tremendous CV. Sartaj Aziz has been a bureaucrat, a technocrat, a legislator, a government minister and now a politician. Through all this he has maintained a clean reputation for honesty and resolve, as Finance Minister he was easily the most clean and had the most integrity. Even in the partisan role as the PML(N)’s Secretary General, Sartaj Aziz remained above the dirt of day to day politics, keeping the game clean, at least at his level. Air Marshal Asghar Khan matches him for qualification except that he has had an extended hiatus out of government. The Air Marshal has a long history of sacrifice and is eulogised as a man of principles. As he willingly concedes, he has no real constituency that he can fully rely on. This is at once a plus point as well as a minus. The PPP may not feel entirely comfortable with him because of his known penchant for being extremely stubborn. Given the GIK experience, this would certainly become a negative factor though in all fairness the Air Marshal’s reputation is that he stands his ground on matters of principles.

Given that Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari is the PPP’s first choice, would he have a chance in a straight fight in a secret ballot against Wasim Sajjad? Despite the fact that sophisticated computer projections show that the PPP candidate would win, the fact remains that PPP support is hardly solid with its disparate allies all off on a tangent. In essence, having given away the majority advantage in the Punjab to a minor party, PML(J), such dictation would indicate being prone to constant blackmail. Another such “adjustment” will compromise PPP’s capacity to rule while keeping open the door of its allies crossing floors at will (or at least threatening to at the drop of a hat). On the other hand, taking up Mian Nawaz Sharif’s offer of not succumbing to the game of smaller parties and independents, the PPP could go for an overall political package with its major adversary. This formula could take in a moratorium against votes of no confidence in the NA/PAs for at least three years, shortening the terms of the President and the NA/PAs to four years (as per PPP manifesto/election promises), suitable amendment/repeal of the 8th Amendment, consultation on the appointment of neutral governors, etc. A formula can only be worked out, if the PML(N) makes moves to inspire trust in the PPP. If a PML(N) nominee is likely to be endorsed, the PPP would probably prefer Sartaj Aziz to Wasim Sajjad. With hardly ten days left (and one day to go for withdrawals), the initiative is in the hands of Ms Benazir to open a constructive dialogue with Mian Nawaz Sharif that will result in an agreement. If the PPP preference among the PML(N) stalwarts is Sartaj Aziz then the PPP must say so in unambiguous language.

At this time, Senator Sartaj Aziz is definitely a reluctant dark horse. Self-effacing and humble by nature he has not shown any inclination that he would like to be President what to talk about lobbying on his own behalf as the others are doing. He is a tested man, coming through the vicissitudes of political life in Pakistan and emerging as a man for all seasons. Among a number of extremely good candidates for the President of Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz comes across a patriot who is always there to serve his country selflessly. Qualifications alone put him head and shoulders over the rest of the field, one only hopes that the major political groups would mutually agree on making this outstanding Pakistani the President of this country.

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