Losing his grip?
Asif Zardari’s recent outbursts against Gen Musharraf are a rare departure from his usual style of politics. The billa reference in the Naudero speech showed he was clearly angry. And his official statement the next day – accusing APML of horse-trading, etc, to destabilise the Sindh government – showed just why. This, again, is in marked contrast to his days in Islamabad. His shrewdness and skills at political maneuvering not only helped him survive in office, but also led some analysts to dub him a grandmaster of political chess – Pakistani style.
But these are clearly bad days for the PPP. The ’13 election rout reduced it to a little more than a provincial party. Attempts to revive fortunes in Punjab failed, despite much of the same political jugglery that Zardari was famous for. Even catapulting Bilawal to the top, ahead of time, backfired. And now there are increased divisions in Punjab amidst reports of a deepening split. It didn’t help, of course, that Ameen Faheem chose this setting for his chit chat with Gen Musharraf, sparking all sorts of rumours.
The party’s position, therefore, has become more strained over the last few months. And its governance in Sindh has not helped. Calls for Qaim Ali Shah’s resignation increase by the day, and the government’s incompetence and corruption remain unaddressed. Continuing infant deaths in Tharparkar especially, and the government’s insensitive response, will haunt it for a long time. What is more, news reports suggest Zardari’s style of leadership is also coming under question. The Ameen Faheems of the party are apparently angry for being left out of the co-chairman’s decision making process, especially with regard to senior appointments – like Sherry Rehman’s. It’s natural for opponents to be on the offensive when the party provides them with such soft spots to hit. Interestingly, the tough-talk approach is not working either, at least not with Gen Musharraf. The former strongman has hit back with some of his own, like Benazir’s blood being Zardari’s political lifeline, etc. But such politics will only distract attention from what is urgently needed. The PPP leadership should check its own rank and file if it fears desertions, and address at least some of the issues contributing to such trends. It must also spread leadership responsibilities more democratically within the party. Times of dynastic politics are coming to an end in Pakistan, and only those ahead of the curve will do better in future.
