Also, of bomb-proof homes and forced-labour indulgences
If ever one had any doubt as to where Tahirul Qadri came from, that should be erased now after the Supreme Court (SC) judgement on the non-maintainability of his petition with regard to the re-constitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
His raving and ranting, both inside and outside the courtroom, is symptomatic of another fatal malaise that afflicts the entire nation where everyone projects himself as a paragon of virtue and no one is willing to concede that he has been wrong. This vile and aggressive insistence on self-righteousness has effectively eliminated any prospect of improvement among people who constitute one of the most backward and retrogressive nations in the world. Unfortunately, the decline appears to be unstoppable.
The PPP tried to achieve two strikes with one shot: removing the Chief Election Commissioner, thus creating a void and getting more time to plan ‘buying’ the next elections. The whispering campaign implicating the ‘establishment’ as the force behind Tahirul Qadri’s long-march added further poison to the plan. The fact that it failed is owed to the SC’s sagacity and wisdom and its total commitment to the cause of democracy.
Where to from here? Well, the road seems almost clear to the holding of the national elections sometime in May this year. There is one possible obstacle though that may still create an unsavoury impediment: the induction of the interim government which, under the existing circumstances, would be left principally to the whims of the leaders of the house and the opposition. There could be a degree of conflict there although the dominant objectives appear to be the same on both sides of the divide including further perpetuating a sick and dysfunctional system and systematically liquidating the institutions that could play a salvaging role.
While the SC judgement may have averted any danger to the democratic system for the time being, it has also highlighted an inherent contradiction in the constitution. Article 63 (c) states that a person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being a member of the Parliament if “he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state”. The statute book, therefore, explicitly forbids the election of a dual-national to the parliament, but it is silent about the role of the dual-nationals in either leading political parties while living abroad or holding important positions in the political parties. Some may say that this is more of a moral question. While that may also be so, as was the question of the maintainability of Tahir ul Qadri’s petition, it also has distinct legal undertones that cannot be overlooked.
The services of the Pakistani Diaspora notwithstanding, they have, nevertheless, sworn allegiance to defend the interests of another country, be it the US, UK or Canada. It is beyond human reckoning how can one individual be committed to do this for two different countries simultaneously which may not always be speaking the same language. There is an inherent conflict of interest here. If a dual-national is not considered eligible to be elected a member of the parliament because he/she has sworn allegiance to defend and promote the interests of another state, how can such a person be allowed to lead a political party thus playing an overwhelmingly critical role in the selection of people who would be elected to the legislatures? It does not appear to make much sense. This is one of the numerous contradictions in the constitution that plague the ascendency of the rule of law. Now is the time to debate this further so that the anomaly could be removed.
There is much speculation as to what stance the government would adopt now with regard to other agreements that it has concluded with Tahirul Qadri including the implementation of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution for which the ECP would be given one month so that it could effectively scrutinise the papers of the prospective candidates. While it may hit some notable prospects from other political parties, it is also likely to eliminate some of the PPP leading lights. More interestingly, now that the drama has failed to deliver the intended denouement, what would Tahirul Qadri’s stance be with regard to pursuing further his agreement with the PPP and its coalition partners who played a key role in concluding it? Or, is it that he would take the next convenient flight back to the land of his choosing?
That reminds me of the Rs five billion-house in Lahore that he has either been built by Mr Zardari himself or it has been gifted to him by none other than that master trouble-shooter: Malik Riaz. The palatial property spread over several acres in the outskirts of Lahore is supposed to be bomb-proof with a helipad and scores of other exclusive and unbelievable facilities that only the most heartless can think of. Irrespective of whether he built it from his own money, or it was gifted to him, it reflects the worst in human degradation to be occupying such gross property when an increasing number of people in the country, of which he is the president, are dying of hunger and a staggering number are suffering the excesses of nature without a shelter on their heads.
And a word about that claimant of the title of Khadim-e-Punjab! In this age and time, he and his administration did not hesitate from forcing students and teachers alike to greet him on the maiden journey of the Metro Bus Service, a la pomp and show of a monarch. Two different stations on the route were specially designated for the students and teachers who were allegedly forced to welcome the ‘great’ helmsman with an uncharitable disposition. Incidentally, the Metro Bus Service also appears to suffer from the plague that has afflicted all his previous ventures: gruesome un-sustainability. With the city looking like an endless ditch pock-marked with some over-heads and some under-passes, there is an endless spate of plaques announcing the arrival of the ‘great saviour’ with a knack for wasting public funds simply to satiate his weird whims and fancies. Here is to another one of his mindless indulgences!
The writer is a political analyst. He can be reached at [email protected]
When a nation is forced to behave like Ostriches by Dictators and Elected Leadership.
People like Tahirul Qadri and other radical groups take advantage to exploit the situation.
Sir,
First part of your article is total nonsense and you fail to base it on concrete evidence. Both Jinnah and Gandhi were literally foreigners when they came to India and achieve freedom for all Indians and without whom no revolution would have been possible.
It is total nonsense that a person who lives in UK, US or Canada would have no love for Pakistan if they come to Pakistan. It is absolutely criminal to think of those terms. It is not the dual national who are milking and eating away Pakistan. If someone sacrifice everything and leaves all their life behind to come to the ungrateful Pakistan then it serves them right. I wonder what are you basing your conclusions on…if a person comes from staying overseas I guarantee that will be more patriotic and honest then 999.9% living in Pakistan. They will not be gobbling up 200 kanal houses without any reservation and without saying a word about it. Pakistan should consider itself lucky that despite all graft and problems someone wants to come back and serve this nation. If it up to me i would exile all the members of the current parliament.
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