PML-N in a cooperative mood
According to media reports, PML-N government and the opposition party PPP have agreed on the name of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas for appointment as NAB Chairman. The name was actually proposed by the PPP and the PML-N opted to withdraw the names presented by it for that coveted post. Not only that, it asked the PPP to prepare draft legislation to remove the legal impediments in the way of his appointment. Viewed in the backdrop of declaring the appointments of two former Chairmen NAB as null and void for the reason that they were made without consultation with the opposition as required under NAB Ordinance, the consensus between the two major political entities on the issue is a marked departure from the past politics centred on narrow political interests. The cooperative spirit shown by both the parties in resolving an issue of national importance is indeed a good omen.
Pakistan presently is beset with colossal challenges like removing the existentialist threat posed by terrorism and religious extremism, finding an amicable solution to the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, tiding over the debilitating energy crisis, revival of an economy that is in a free fall situation and above all consolidating the gains of democracy to ensure that the process continues uninterrupted. All these problems necessitate a meaningful and selfless collaboration between all the political entities, civil society and other stakeholders in the future of Pakistan. It is hoped that all the political forces represented in the parliament would also exhibit the same attitude and commitment. The major onus of building national consensus on the policy initiatives designed to surmount these challenges would, however, depend on how the ruling party approaches to enlist support for the national causes.
Going by the record of the PML-N government so far, it can be safely inferred that it seems to have learned from its past mistakes and it really means business this time around. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seems a politician of an altogether different breed than the Nawaz Sharif of nineties. He has shown tremendous humility in triumph by respecting the mandate of other political parties in other provinces though his party could easily have manoevured the formation of governments in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He refused to be dragged into destabilising the Azad Kashmir government by asking his party not to support the no confidence move against the sitting government.
The gesture to delay the announcement of energy policy till it enjoyed the support of all the provinces was yet another positive indication of the spirit of accommodation by the ruling party and its commitment to take along all the political parties in the decision making process on issues of vital national interests. It was perhaps the result of all these conciliatory vibes that we saw Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flanked by Chief Minister Sindh who belongs to PPP and Governor Ishratul Ibad of MQM during the PM’s recent visit to Karachi. That for a moment looked so unreal compared to crass politics of the past. The political parties are certainly setting new democratic traditions and culture which if continued with a sense of balance would indeed nurture the roots of democracy in this country.
The new found bonhomie with the MQM is also a very pragmatic and necessity driven move by the PML-N and no person in his right mind can take an issue with the assertion of Nawaz Sharif that he as prime minister was duty bound to promote national unity and integration. Politics is the art of possible which indeed gives it the flexibility to deal with any eventuality. Restoring peace in Karachi and the revival of the economic activity in this industrial hub of Pakistan is utmost necessary for the revival of the economy and strengthening the process of national integration and unity.
MQM and PPP are major political forces in Sindh and combined together also have an effective presence in the National Assembly and the Senate. MQM has the biggest stake in peace in Karachi in the obtaining situation. With PPP on board in regards to finding an amicable solution to the situation in Karachi, along with ANP, it can help in dismantling the militant wings of these parties and the land mafia enjoying their support who have been engaged in a turf war in the cosmopolitan city and target killings for almost over two decades. It is indeed a very convoluted undertaking that will test the political acumen and negotiating skills of the prime minister.
Karachi is also being ravaged by the terrorist activities and target killings by the TTP and other sectarian outlawed outfits which perhaps pose even bigger threat to peace and tranquility in Karachi than the militant wings of the political parties. Karachi is sitting on a powder keg and unfortunately besides the terrorists, militant wings of the political parties and some unscrupulous government functionaries are involved in shipment of lethal weapons into Karachi. A former chief of IB in Balochistan once told me that he had sent a report to the government regarding the involvement of DIG Special Branch Quetta and an official of an intelligence agency in smuggling arms to Karachi, allegedly in the official car of the DIG but no action had been taken against them. It is ironic that the same DIG Special Branch was later promoted and appointed IG Sindh.
Coming back to dealing with the terrorists in Karachi, it is probably utmost necessary to cleanse the city of the guns and weapons through a house to house search carried out jointly by the Army and Rangers after obtaining consensus of all the political parties. There is also a dire need to keep an eye on the new arrivals in the city. Here the citizens can play a significant role by informing the government of any new person coming to their locality or even reporting about suspicious activities occurring in their areas. Ensuring safety of the source, in addition to strengthening the intelligence network and putting in place an arrangement of sharing intelligence among different agencies and coordination with the law enforcing agencies should be the government’s top priority. Nawaz Sharif has a slew of things on his platter and surely will have to proceed with well calculated initiatives, unflinching determination and political sagacity to change the game.
The writer is an academic.
