But these Butts?

Still the N way

The Jeddah exile suited the Sharif clan in some ways – get out of jail card, etc – but it also isolated them from the metamorphosis Pakistani society underwent with the turn of the century. A lot was changing, not just in Pakistan. 9/11 brought war and Taliban to the homeland. Long time proxies finally started straining at the leash and the system put in place at the same time and by the same forces that introduced the Sharifs to Islamabad’s power circles suddenly stood on its head. But that was not the only thing the Sharifs missed while counting the days till their return. Electronic media was exploding all over the world, even though it was still tightly controlled by governments’ iron grip in some parts and corporate manipulation in others. Gen Musharraf decided not to hold it back in Pakistan, and it affected public consciousness like never before.

The N league has struggled to come to grips with both facts since their return, especially to the prime minister’s office. But the media revealed yet another of its failings recently, when TV channels exposed its reliance on shady characters; bullies and thugs of the Gullu Butt mould who, along with the bureaucracy, were put in charge of doing its ‘dirty work’. First it was Gullu in Lahore, then Pomi in Gujranwala, and now Billu in Multan, where N league jiyalas attempted to storm Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s home the other day. The police, at least, seem to have learnt their lesson, not just from their bullets seen flying over cable and satellite TV, but also from their senior officers openly seen appreciating Gullu’s car smashing. The Punjab IG, for example, refused to carry out extreme orders till written orders were given.

But have the Sharifs considered changing their approach? If they have it is not very subtle. Throughout the on-going ‘revolution’ standoff, the ruling party has repeatedly given opponents a stick to beat with. From the Model Town tragedy, to Qadri’s arrival, to attacking Imran’s rally en route to Islamabad, its action betray continued rigidity. To top it off, they changed the Islamabad IG, raising questions about their intention. As push has clearly come to shove, the N league is advised to give its more reasonable stalwarts a more serious ear. Matters must be steered towards compromise, which will require flexibility from all sides, especially the prime minister.