How long it lasts remains to be seen
The government’s response to Shahid Orakai’s petition was in line with the general expectations. It maintained that the petitioner’s rights were not violated by the US Seals’ Abbottabad operation. Further, if the court wanted to probe into the matter, the Establishment Division and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were the relevant bodies as the law ministry had not been made a party on the issue. In other words, so far as the government was concerned Zardari was free to go out of the country, if he so desired. Zardari, however, is in no hurry to leave the scene. He has already announced that while he is not interested in running for the office of the PM, he would concentrate on reorganising the PPP. As Farhaullah Babar put it, Zardari would relocate to Lahore “to start yet another chapter in political struggle.”
This is going to be an altogether different sort of political struggle though. Zardari has ruled out street agitation as it could endanger democracy, which, he thinks, has to be jealously preserved. His party would play the role of a responsible opposition, criticising the government’s wrong policies inside the parliament but extending support to it as it addresses important national issues. Zardari has opposed the recourse to violence or public protests as these could strengthen forces opposed to democracy. The PPP would extend support to the government over the next five years. This is a realistic policy as after the electoral debacle the PPP needs time to reorganise and restructure as well as launch its younger leadership.
The policy suits the PML-N which needs a hassle-free tenure to be able to fulfil its electoral promises – like ending power shortages, setting the economy on an even keel and the improving law and order situation without which business and industry cannot flourish. Nawaz therefore attended the dinner hosted by Zardari while he invited the latter on a farewell luncheon where both leaders lavished praise on each other, much to the embarrassment of some PML leaders who had crossed all the red lines to demolish and demonise Zardari. At Mamnoon Hussain’s oath-taking ceremony, Zardari shared the stage with the new president and prime minister, and had a 30-minute long powwow with both after the function. This reminds one of the bonhomie during the short lived PPP-PML-N alliance in 2008. How long the present chapter lasts remains to be seen.