Ominous signs?

Statesmanship not brinkmanship

As Pakistan’s power titans, the government, the army and the judiciary, seemingly come to blows, it is now free for all. Political moves emanate from all sides conveying a sense of crisis. The ongoing power tussle in Pakistan is ominous and full of contradictions. A battle between the so-called democratic and patriotic forces is being fought, depending on which side of the divide you are on, in the national or enlightened self-interest, throwing the nation yet again on the path of uncertainty and a state of confusion.

It signals trouble when the channels of communication between the government and key state institutions almost break down and they begin to talk at each other through the media, public pronouncements and press releases. There are reports that General Parvez Kayani has boycotted all official banquets and dinners given by the prime minister and the president. The prime minister himself went through the China daily to let the army chief and the DG ISI know that they had violated the rules of business in filing their affidavits on the memo case directly to Supreme Court. The army chief, however according to the PM did call him to inform him that he would be responding publicly to his allegation. And then he did through the ISPR. It seems to be the end of trust between at least, the government and the army.

The Gilani-led PPP’s coalition government which started on a wise reconciliation note in 2008 has been pushed by certain events and ill counsel into open confrontation with key pillars of the state. The government has become totally defiant to the point that the Supreme Court appears to have been compelled to consider if the prime minister has violated his oath. It is desperately looking for ways to win as it clashes with the army, judiciary and the opposition.

People are yet again confused and exasperated as the media hypes up the crisis through its conspiracy theories and predictions of a doomsday scenario.

It is all out in the open now. The PM took the floor of the house last month to inquire who granted OBL the visa for his six-year stay in Pakistan, a veiled but pointed attack on the military institutions that was prompted by the heat of the Memogate scandal. He went on to declare that no institution would be allowed to act as a state within the state. This resulted in the army chief not attending the state banquet hosted in honour of a visiting Chinese dignitary. Subsequently, the prime minister took on the army and criticised it through Chinese media for having acted illegally and unconstitutionally on the Memogate issue. Incidentally, the statement was made when the army chief was visiting China. Hence Gilani’s statement was read as an attempt to undermine his official visit. As expected the army chief hit back at the chief executive on return and a press release issued by the ISPR warned that the PM’s statement to the Chinese online daily had “very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences”. To make matters worse, the PM sacked the defence secretary for gross misconduct and illegal action.

The government is crying foul over the apex court’s order on non-implementation of the NRO judgment. The order includes warning of stringent action against the president as well as the prime minister and has led to a tsunami of interpretations from legal and political pundits. A political and conspiratorial colouring has been given to what must be read as a purely legal matter. On the NRO issue, the PPP’s foul-mouthed and ever combative jiyala Babar Awan, now rewarded with the party’s vice presidency, is seen as largely responsible for the mess this government has landed itself in – the demolition man who is at the forefront of repeatedly ridiculing the judiciary and complicating matters.

The fact is all have skeletons in their cupboards and now they have all come to stare them in their faces as they make devious moves and opt for selective accountability on all fronts. All are now haunted by their own actions, inactions and rash reactions.

The hope that the much polluted air would be cleared and ceasefire be declared between bickering government and state institutions at the reportedly planned meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet was also dashed on Wednesday after the ISPR statement warning the PM. The meeting stands cancelled in yet another knee-jerk reaction.

The government and all state institutions need to behave maturely. They owe it to the nation. Being in a state of denial or indulging in a blame game will further complicate matters and weaken Pakistan as a state. Good governance, dialogue and fair play are the only way forward. We have had enough of political point-scoring, bickering, brinkmanship and clashing of institutions. It is time for some statesmanship to steer the country out of this current mess. Guardians of the constitution, defenders of the country’s borders and upholders of justice cannot afford to be at war with each other. Egos have to be set aside, issues and differences addressed in a dignified manner. Rule of law must be allowed to prevail in the true spirit of the constitution and not selectively but across the board. The doctrine of necessity is history now. Finally in this critical and challenging time, the media also needs to act more responsibly. TV Channels in their race for better ratings must not run with out-of-context breaking news and causing increased anxiety among an already distraught public.

The writer is a senior journalist and has been a diplomatic correspondent for leading dailies. She was an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow at The Chicago Tribune in the US and a Press Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge, UK. She can be reached via email at [email protected]