Consensus is the key

PML-N, PPP need each other in order to survive

Of late a rare spirit of bonhomie has pervaded our body politic. This is a welcome change from the murky past. For now, old political rivals have buried the hatchet to avowedly cooperate for the greater good.

Hate filled rhetoric seems to have been relegated to history, at least for the time being. Even Shahbaz Sharif, who while the PML-N was in the opposition, used to claim at the top of his voice that ‘Ali Baba and his forty thieves’, (meaning Zardari and his cohorts), will be dragged in the streets a la Al Tahrir Square is ominously quiet now.

Nawaz Sharif waxed eloquent about the role both the PML-N and the PPP played for restoring democracy in the country at the farewell lunch he hosted in honour of the outgoing president. Zardari reciprocated in the same vein, assuring his host, PPP’s full support to complete his term in office.

This backslapping is not merely for altruistic reasons. Both parties need each other in order to survive. In fact the mandate of May 11 general elections is such that without a spirit of cooperation on intractable issues confronting the country, neither they nor democracy can survive.

Sharif’s critics have castigated him for being listless and lacklustre in the first three months of his rule. Some have even alleged that he has learnt no lessons while out of power.

Nonetheless admittedly the biggest lesson that he has learnt is that polarisation and confrontation of the 1990s will not do. Nor without a spirit of accommodation and cooperation the country cannot be run on democratic lines.

Zardari at the beginning of the PPP’s term – perhaps only half jokingly – had said in Punjabi: pehlay saadi waari phair thuadi waari (first it’s our turn, then it’s your turn).

This statement formed the basis of allegations mostly levelled by the extra parliamentary opposition that there is a ‘muk mukaa’ (deal) between the Sharifs and Zardari not to undo each other. And for the same reason the PML-N remained a ‘friendly opposition’.

However things were not always hunky-dory between the two political rivals. Initially while the late Salman Taseer was governor, the PPP tried to take over Punjab and the governor’s rule was imposed. Shahbaz Sharif has not forgiven the affront even to this day.

However, though verbal sparring continued unabated, the PML-N in opposition fully cooperated with the PPP-led coalition to bring about structural changes in the constitution. Passing of the eighteenth and nineteenth amendments, the Balochistan package and the mode of appointment of the judiciary were the hallmarks of this reciprocity.

In a similar vein the PPP government did not paint the political opposition in a corner. It is no mean achievement that for the first time perhaps in Pakistan’s history there is not a single political prisoner in the country.

This did not mean however that the PML-N opposition gave a clean chit to the government. Both in the parliament and through the courts it exposed the poor governance record and lack of transparency of the PPP led coalition.

The Sharifs acting like the good cop, bad cop duo, kept the federal government under consistent pressure. Shahbaz Sharif’s attacks on Zardari were hard hitting and focused. On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif was more nuanced in his utterances.

On a more prosaic level both the Sharifs and Zardari need each other. Unless the Sharifs behave Zardari could find his back against the wall while in the opposition. On the other hand the PML-N government needs cooperation of the PPP government in Sindh to sort out the enormous Karachi challenge.

Similarly some of the key appointments entail reaching a consensus with the opposition, and these include the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) chief and the Chief Election Commissioner. In any case, Zardari will like to lie low till the present CJP retires in December – lest a proactive judiciary gives him a run for his money.

Both parties have made a good start in Karachi. The chief minister Qaim Ali Shah extended full courtesy, protocol and cooperation to the prime minister while he was there to execute a plan to sort out the mess in the troubled metropolis.

Without the cooperation of the provincial government no operation in Karachi can succeed. Thankfully now it seems there is political will, previously lacking to clean up the mess created by criminals backed by political parties in Karachi. The Rangers led campaign has ownership both at the provincial and federal level.

Despite the initial hiccups all the stakeholders in the city are on board. The consensus amongst all political parties with the sole exception of the MQM not to use the military in Karachi is a sign of political maturity.

Many times postponed multi-party conference to evolve a consensus on anti-terrorism policy is finally taking place on Monday. And the good news is that Imran Khan, the rejectionist PTI chief, has also agreed to participate.

He had demanded a separate meeting with the prime minister and the COAS before the APC (all parties conference). His wish has been granted.

Hopefully the moot will be able to evolve a clear-cut policy to combat terrorism rather than come up with a wishy-washy declaration merely to reach a modicum of consensus. The war on terror needs ownership, unfortunately lacking till now.

There was confusion worst confounded by recent statements of the interior minister Nisar Ali Kahn whether the government has decided to talk to the Taliban or fight them. He has now clarified that dialogue with the Taliban was a preferred option but it will not shy away from “an all out war against the militants.”

No one can disagree that dialogue is the ultimate solution. But talks can only be held from a position of strength. Naturally abject surrender in the face of terrorism cannot be the goal of either the participants of the APC nor the military.

A multipronged strategy to militarily defeat those who want to dismantle the Pakistani state and dialogue with those who abjure violence will have to be evolved.

Perhaps this is the biggest existential challenge for Nawaz Sharif: to bring terrorism under control without compromising the Pakistani state. If this is the agreed goal he needs full cooperation. Even from those who doubt his capabilities and intentions.

The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today.