With elections in sight…

The real issues being obfuscated

The war of words between the ruling PPP and the main opposition party PML-N goes on unabated. But thanks to the compulsions of a working democratic parliamentary system, they are also forced to talk to each other.

The leader of the opposition Ch Nisar Ali khan in his usual belligerent mood keeps on blasting the PPP leadership, not entirely without justification. Speaking of his own “bitter experience” with the ruling coalition, he alleges that “the government has lost all semblance of credibility and its written or articulated words cannot be trusted.”

This is a harsh denouncement from the Chaudhry of Chakwal, not only the bête noir of the PTI but of late also of some erstwhile pro-Nawaz media groups. Notwithstanding the so-called credibility gap, the PML-N and the PPP are engaged in structured talks. The last session was held on a one-point agenda – the long stuck accountability bill.

While speaking to the media in the presence of the PPP negotiating team, PML-N chief negotiator and the Sharifs close confidant, Ishaq Dar, has merely promised to place the proposed accountability bill before his leadership for review. The head of the PPP negotiating team, Khursheed Shah, sounded more hopeful, announcing that more sessions would be held.

Conscious of the criticism often leveled by Imran Khan and his PTI stalwarts that the PML-N is nothing more than “a friendly opposition”, it perhaps is compelled to keep its contacts with the PPP at a minimal level. Probably for the same reason it is compelled to use harsh language in the media against the government.

This is not to suggest that the PML-N is opposition in name only, as alleged by its critics. The PML-N supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif, a signatory to the COD (Charter of Democracy) along with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in 2006, is obliged to restrain the wilder instincts of some of his party stalwarts, lest the incipient democratic system gets derailed.

Before the advent of the Imran Khan phenomenon almost a year ago, the PML-N was confident that it was the government-in-waiting. Perhaps, now it feels a little rattled by some high profile defections to the PTI and a string of successful rallies by Imran.
The PTI still has a long way to go to evolve an effective party machine. Whereas the Nawaz family has been ruling the roost, especially in Northern Punjab, for the better part of a quarter century. It cannot be so easily dislodged from its stronghold despite its perennial maladroitness in running the Punjab under the leader ship of the self-styled Khadim-e-Aala (first servant).

The PML-N is also the obvious beneficiary of the extremely poor governance record of the PPP-led ruling coalition. However, some of its charges against the federal government are ludicrous. For example, it is silly to claim that the Punjab is being discriminated against in supply of electricity. Being the biggest consumer of power in the country, naturally it has as well to suffer more.
Punjab has also been the beneficiary of some measures for which the federal government can also claim credit. The long thaw in terrorist incidents in the province has helped in restoring normalcy in the province. The determination of the security agencies, better intelligence sharing from the provinces and a renewed resolve has scorched the terrorist snake albeit not killed it.

There are a number of issues on which consensus needs to be evolved before the coming general elections, some of them like formation of a neutral caretaker government at the center and the provinces for the holding of fair and free elections are purely election related.

Then there are other matters that have generated unnecessary heat owing to the impending elections. For example, the holding of local bodies elections has suddenly emerged as divisive issue. For more than four years, there was no mention of reviving the local government system.

Suddenly, President Zardari and the MQM have felt the urge to hold them even before the general elections at a time when the rest of the provinces are simply not interested and even ANP, a coalition partner of the PPP, is opposing them. It is being alleged, not entirely without justification, that the local bodies system is being resuscitated to have an impact on the subsequent general elections.

The question of forming new provinces in the Punjab is even more divisive. The PML-N shot itself in the foot by getting a unanimous resolution passed from the provincial assembly in favor of a southern Punjab province and a Bahawalpur province.Now that the federal government has formed a commission for the purpose, it is crying foul post-haste.

Although the freshly elected chairman of the commission insists that it is business as usual, without participation of Punjab, its recommendations will not carry any weight. Perhaps the government belatedly realizing this has redoubled its efforts to take the PML-N on board. Whatever the outcome, the ruling party has again managed to steal the show from the opposition by posing itself as the champion of new provinces.
In the wake of an exponential increase in intensity and frequency of terrorist attacks by the Taliban in the tribal areas, as well as in KP and Balochistan, there has been widespread condemnation across the political spectrum of such cowardly attacks. The political parties have also flayed the unfortunate beheading of our soldiers and the virtual ethnic cleansing of the Shias especially the Hazara.

Despite the posturing, an apologist attitude towards theTaliban remains the bottom line. The PTI chief in the meanwhile is set to embark on his oft-trumpeted peace march to Waziristan on October 7. His ostensible aim is “to highlight the agony of the affected people of the area.”
Imran, an unabashed advocate of negotiations with the Taliban, ventured to Skardu to condole with the Shia families affected by the massacre perpetrated by the Taliban. Blaming the bus tragedy in which 21 Shias were killed in cold blood on the government, he asked the CJP to take suo moto notice of the tragedy.

But not a word against those who want to undo the system envisaged by Iqbal and the Quaid with a Taliban-led theocracy. Interestingly, Imran, and for that matter the Sharifs, shedding crocodile tears for the minorities seems more elections related than a real change of heart on the subject. Even the PPP’s virtual silence on these vital issues seems strategic and is disturbing.

Evolving a consensus on matters pivotal for the survival of a democratic and a pluralistic Pakistan is essential for all mainstream political parties, before they even talk about elections. Their present lily-livered attitude bordering on opportunism could render elections meaningless.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today