The mullah ultimatum

Regress or else…

The way Nawaz was suddenly, and so visibly, turning secular – celebrating Holi, empowering women, etc – the kitchen cabinet must have factored in some manner of a mullah revolt. But surely they couldn’t have seen the ‘or else’ ultimatum coming. The Punjab women empowerment initiative – flawed as it is – turned out to be the proverbial last straw. And it’s not just the JUI and JI types that are out for blood. Others not usually on the bandwagon and some pretty close to the Sharifs are also on board this time. Apparently they have threatened a ’77-78 like agitation that ultimately brought down the government.

It goes without saying that though once hand in glove since the Zia and then the IJI days, there has been a parting of the ways of sorts between the N-league leadership and the conservative lobby it rode for so long. The prime minister first upset them with his views regarding India. Then he okayed Zarb-e-Azb and took the fighting, for all intents and purposes at least, to their darlings in the badlands. Surprisingly, he also developed a sudden, and timely, liking for minorities. And now the Punjab government has pushed the women protection bill through the assembly.

Since the government has obviously charted this course very carefully, a retreat does not seem likely. Nor would it do the party any good in the next election. PML-N should, therefore, move quickly to form an alliance with other seemingly secular parties. That, of course, will require considerable back-and-forth since it will involve reaching agreements with the likes of PPP, ANP and even MQM. Then it’s best to take the case to the House and let the democratic process really take its course. Now that the leadership has taken some long overdue steps, it must stand by them, and pre-empt any attempts at sabotage by a small, regressive lobby.