United they fall
The UML (United Muslim League) made awkward bedfellows of so many big egos that despite the seemingly natural convergence of interests, a sharp divergence was always just around the corner at best. And it seems to have come in the shape of Pir Pagara’s somewhat belated realisation that of all the UML’s parts, his is the ‘most potent political force’, therefore any alliance without him at the helm is, from now on, simply out of the question. That, of course, knocked the wind right out of APML’s sails. Interestingly, though not so surprisingly, it also put Ch Shujaat visibly on the back foot.
Pir sb, meantime, is whiling the summer away in London, one of the two retreats of choice for our politicians when they do their thinking. And one of the things that Pir sb might think about is just what makes him such a potent political force; prudent alliances or muscling his way through arrangements? PML-Q seemed right that Musharraf at the top was more opportune, not the least because of the ‘hint’ at least of military support and his way with the media. But there’s no convincing Pir Pagara, at least for now.
Gen Musharraf, meantime, has also tried his luck with Tahirul Qadri, the man of the repeated revolutions. The two are as close to a model of double coincidence of wants in Pakistani politics as possible, yet there is little likelihood of either achieving their aim through such an alliance. Qadri has tried and failed, not one but twice. Yet his rhetoric remains potent, signaling how little has been learnt from experience. Similarly, Gen Musharraf has tried his luck in a number of different ways since coming back in the spring of ’11. Still, it seems his desire to become president once again has not diminished. These politicians – if they can be called that – do not seem to realise that by groping in the dark in this fashion they not only embarrass themselves but also disturb the system for the masses. Unless they can agree on something concrete, it is best if they stay out of the political loop. So far, they seem more divided whenever they are united.
[…] The UML (United Muslim League) made awkward bedfellows of so many big egos that despite the seemingly natural convergence of interests, a sharp divergence was always just around the corner at best. And it seems to have come in the shape of Pir Pagara’s somewhat belated realisation that of all the UML’s parts, his is the ‘most potent political force’, therefore any alliance without him at the helm is, from now on, simply out of the question. That, of course, knocked the wind right out of APML’s sails. Interestingly, though not so surprisingly, it also put Ch Shujaat visibly on the back foot. Pir sb, meantime, is whiling the summer away in London, one of the two retreats of choice for our politicians when they do their thinking. And one of the things that Pir sb might think about is just what makes him such a potent political force; prudent alliances or muscling his way through arrangements? PML-Q seemed right that Musharraf at the top was more opportune, not the least because of the ‘hint’ at least of military support and his way with the media. But there’s no convincing Pir Pagara, at least for now. Gen Musharraf, meantime, has also tried his luck with Tahirul Qadri, the man of the repeated revolutions. The two are as close to a model of double coincidence of wants in Pakistani politics as possible, yet there is little likelihood of either achieving their aim through such an alliance. Qadri has tried and failed, not one but twice. Yet his rhetoric remains potent, signaling how little has been learnt from experience. Similarly, Gen Musharraf has tried his luck in a number of different ways since coming back in the spring of ’11. Still, it seems his desire to become president once again has not …read more […]
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