PPP does not need PML-N
Nadeem Afzal Gondal is fast emerging as one of the new senior faces of the Peoples Party. Co-chairman Zardari has definitely taken an interest in his politics, appointing him advisor on all things related to Punjab. So while Manzoor Watto remains in charge in the province – which Gondal himself quickly pointed out – there is clearly an effort to stir party ranks that have remained passive since the ’13 rout.
Promoting him up the party food chain for the Senate election also turned out a smart decision. It even got Ch Sarwar – now a PTI leader – campaigning for him in his native Faisalabad; not something you would ordinarily expect from the justice party. But on the whole the Senate election, or the way it was carried out, did more harm than good to the democratic system and integrity of most politicians.
There were widespread allegations of horse-trading, etc, and the ruling party further muddied the waters by the controversial late night presidential ordinance that eventually confounded the votes of Fata members. The appointment of the Chairman, especially, and the groundwork and sudden willingness that preceded it, left some questions unanswered.
To make sense of the situation, DNA talked exclusively to Nadeem Afzal Gondal in Islamabad.
Question: What do you think made the Sharifs really accept Raza Rabbani as Senate Chairman? Why first contact MQM and PML-Q, and then suddenly accept PPP’s candidate without issue? Is it true that they didn’t want a confrontation because of another PTI threat on the streets, which would require working closely with PPP again?
Nadeem Afzal Gondal: I think that the PML-N government was under immense moral, political and public pressure to endorse the nomination of Mian Raza Rabbani once the nomination was made by the leadership of PPP and its allied parties. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not oppose the nomination due to his political stature, his sacrifices and commitment to the democratic system. The other factor was that the prime minister was aware of the fact that the PPP and its allies enjoyed support of majority members of the Senate. So the ruling party and its allies had no option but to support Mr Rabbani, who has an image of Mr clean. Such people who are unblemished and have struggled for the democratic process in the past should be given their due role in the country’s political system.
Also, let’s be clear that PPP has no compulsion to work with the PML-N government. We are not threatened by PTI or any other party, and as far as we continue to raise issues of public importance we cannot be ruled out, being a political reality.
Q: How do you see the statement of PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari who recently said that the party would start its politics once the PML-N government completes its five-year term? Do you think collusion between PPP and PML-N will buy time for the former?
NAG: Again let me clarify that there is no underhand deal between PPP and the PML-N due to different party programmes, historic backgrounds, vision and different views of leadership over certain issues. The PPP is an opposition party and we would have to play our due role within an outside the parliament by representing the people at large. For our political survival, PPP would have to play the role of a robust opposition party. We can’t go along with the federal government as it is a question of our survival. I think that PPP leader Asif Zardari has set a new trend by nominating a committed and visionary leader like Raza Rabbani for the slot of Chairman Senate. Coming up to the expectations of the party and the lawmakers, Mr Rabbani also resigned from the party position of additional secretary so he could do justice to his position.
I think politicians have to set new precedents by following the standard set by Mr Zardari and the party’s committed and sincere leaders should be brought to the fore.
Electables never want to lose their constituencies. If Imran Khan decides to remain out of the assemblies, the electables in the PTI would start abandoning him as no political animal can afford political isolation
Q: Your comments, please, about the way the Senate election was conducted? Especially the late night presidential ordinance regarding Fata and claims and counter-claims about horse-trading?
NAG: I think the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has once again failed to perform its job independently and with justice. It is now proved that the ECP extended favours to PML-N candidates during the Senate election. Now the ECP has been totally exposed before the nation. No proper scrutiny was conducted by returning officers of the candidates of the PML-N. Moreover, ECP also failed to hold the sanctity of the ballot intact during the election of Senate as the lawmakers openly showed their ballots to their party leaders during the polling. Moreover, some members also carried mobile phones to take photos of their ballot papers to save their skin. This also proves that this ECP had become a tool in the hands of former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to rig the 2013 elections as well.
Moreover, under the 18th amendment, it is unfortunate to note now that the chief election commissioner (CEC) has been made a mere member of the ECP and hence he has no role to play in checking rigging.
For instance, Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani openly rigged the 2013 election in favour of PML-N candidates and the then CEC could not do anything. I hope same is the case with Justice (retd) Raza who is now the incumbent CEC.
Let me tell you that another ECP official, Sher Afgan, who is acting secretary of the top election monitor, is now playing a dirty role in favouring the PML-N candidates in Senate election to get himself confirmed as secretary ECP. He has been covertly supporting PML-N candidates and he helped them transfer their votes despite the election schedule announced and electoral lists frozen. However, it’s amazing to note that neither the CEC nor the superior courts played any role to stop this election steeling process.
Sher Afgan was imported from the Supreme Court by Iftikhar Chaudhry, who wanted to rig the elections and he has been using Sher Afgan to rig the polls. So the ghost of Iftikhar Chaudhry is still rigging the polls as far as Mr Sher Afgan remains active in the ECP.
I think PTI and PPP would have to work together on the matter of electoral reforms so in future no one dares steal the public mandate. We can jointly make sure that those responsible for electoral fraud are brought to justice and purged out of the system and the ECP is made an independent and functional body.
Moreover, it also Mr Asif Zardari who opposed the presidential ordinance to stop the election of Fata senators and due to resistance from the PPP leadership, the government has to withdraw it.
Q: How valuable is the Senate really when those in power never attend its proceedings? How can it be made to matter more?
NAG: I don’t think that with Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair any minister can toy with the sanctity of the Senate. I think that since a strong leadership is in place, government ministers would have to attend sessions regularly and things would be back to normal. Otherwise, the government may have to face the music as per the law. Ministers are mandated to attend the sessions or any member of the house can move a privilege motion and the chair would respond to it.
Q: Reports suggest that you have climbed up the PPP ladder very quickly, and now are a personal favourite of the co-chairman? What, in your own opinion, are your strengths? And is it true that you will be running the party’s Punjab affairs very soon?
NAG: I am really flattered by your assumption that I have climbed the ladder… (laughs). No, there is no such thing and Mian Manzoor Wattoo is the party’s president in Punjab. I know where I stand and I am thankful to my party leadership for whatever role it assigns me. I have been appointed as political advisor to PPP co-chairman on Punjab. I have been on my toes for the cause of the party and I would keep doing so in future.
Let’s be clear that PPP has no compulsion to work with the PML-N government. We are not threatened by PTI or any other party, and as far as we continue to raise issues of public importance we cannot be ruled out, being a political reality
Q: Is it true that new PTI convert Ch Sarwar lobbied on your behalf in Faisalabad? According to news reports, he told friends it was important to select a Punjabi, regardless of party affiliation. Are these reports true? And if so, what do they say about Mr Clean Politics and the Clean Party?
NAG: Yes, Chaudhry Sarwar sahib has been very close to my heart. He also played a key role during my election and I am indebted to him for this gracious act. He is a clean man and is a blunt operator. We wished him to join PPP but he opted for PTI. While respecting his decision, I wish him well in his future endeavours.
Q: How do you see the rangers’ operation at Nine-Zero? What in your opinion would be the fate of MQM?
NAG: I think whatever happened was according to the desire of the leadership of MQM. It was none other than Altaf Hussain who sought military operation in Karachi. But I think that this operation must be fair for all groups and parties and no one should have favourites or biases in this regard. As far as the future of MQM is concerned, the matter is with the courts now. I think that justice should not only be done but seen to be done.
MQM must be credited for giving representation to people of middle classes in mainstream politics and it has served the people of urban areas of Sindh well. So, MQM should be given its due credit. On the other hand, it also needs to purge its ranks of militant elements.
Q: How do you see the future of PTI? Do you agree or disagree with the policies of Imran Khan?
NAG: I think all opposition parties, including PTI, need to work together to take the country forward. The Sharif brothers are only focused on money-making and they are least interested in reforming the system. They only believe in ruling the country through some DMG officers. Such public servants have brought a bad name to the bureaucracy and have weakened state institutions. Moreover, once Sharifs are out of power, the same DMG officers would become approvers like Saeed Mehdi and others did to Nawaz Sharif after the 1999 coup. If there was less corruption, the performance of the government would have been better.
Moreover, the PML-N government has failed to hold local government elections.
PTI is a new and vibrant political force and its leadership needs to remain within the political mainstream. You know electables never want to lose their constituencies. If Imran Khan decides to remain out of the assemblies, the electables in the PTI would start abandoning him as no political animal can afford political isolation.
Moreover, the excessive votes obtained by PTI’s Shibli Faraz and myself in recent Senate elections have proved that political parties must remain within the system as any change can only emerge from within the system. Also, reforming a rotten system is a very hard job. Since PTI claims to reform the electoral system, it has to remain in the mainstream. Once you ditch the system, you are out of the domain and can’t reform it from outside.
