- Things fast falling apart
The country is living through what Senate Chairman has called testing times. The PML-N leadership has enfeebled, downgraded, and deactivated a parliament which had under the previous government passed landmark constitutional amendments. The National Assembly sittings are frequently delayed or postponed because of lack of quorum leading to wastage of time and money. The bill for the delimitation of constituencies which was passed by the National Assembly has not been endorsed by the upper house because of the disinterest displayed by both government and opposition. For nearly four years Nawaz Sharif rarely called a cabinet meeting till told by the SC that he cannot move any legislation without taking the cabinet into confidence.
The PML-N government let banned outfits, operating under new names, collect funds, distribute poisonous literature and hold public meetings. It patronised religious leaders with extremist views, making one a Senator. This provided encouragement to violent elements in society who during the last four years held several rallies inside Islamabad with PML-N administration looking the other way.
The courts need to realise if it is in best interests of the country to take up highly politicised cases. Is ordering the hanging of one prime minister and sending home two the only way to improve the system?
Meanwhile there are signs of the security establishment trying to manipulate politics. The mandate given to curb violence in Karachi was unilaterally extended to fighting corruption also. Dr Asim was originally arrested for helping terrorists and when that could not be proved he was charged with corruption. The creation of Pakistan Sarzamin Party (PSP) and the recent attempt at merger of PSP and MQM also point to the same phenomenon. The mainstreaming of LeT, the emergence of extremist fringe groups currently blockading Islamabad, the calls for the revival of MMA, patronised by Musharraf in 2002 to replace mainstream parties in NWFP and Balochistan, too raise questions.
The right way to control corruption is by strengthening the anti-corruption institutions. The best way to guide the government is through inputs from the parliamentary committees, think tanks and the National Security Committee. Weakening institution by some and demolishing political parties by others won’t help anybody.