Four years, ago the PML(Q) celebrated the centenary of the Muslim League. And the Qs were perhaps the only centenary celebrations that were widely reported. This time round, the only Muslim League birthday celebrations that have made the rounds in the media are the PML(N) sponsored ones. How befitting the perennial spirit of the Muslim League. Whoever is in power, then, owns the League.
The Leagues have been practicing the politics of the establishment ever since the country came into being, though some renegade, persecuted historians might argue that the trend started much earlier. All that, however, seems set to change. The emergence of the PML(N) as a decidedly non-establishment force has changed the political landscape of the country substantially. All models, whether they are economic or attempt to predict the weather, rest on assumptions, moving on from which there can be deductive reasoning to predict the future. Since assumptions about the PML(N) have been upturned, the future is a moot point.
Speaking at the 104th foundation day of the Muslim League, Mian Nawaz Sharif reiterated his resolve not to be a part of any establishment-sponsored move to derail democracy. The game of removing civilian leaders has been played for far too long in the country, he said. His support of democracy, however, doesnt mean he supports the PPP in what he called its corrupt practices. And in this lies Mr Sharifs trouble. For this position is a highly evolved one, not easily understood by the common man and often misunderstood, in some cases intentionally, by the ruling PPP. The latter has taken to calling most of the criticism leveled against it a conspiracy against democracy. While there is no denying that the PPP has far better democratic credentials than the PML(N), it would also be difficult not to find much to criticise in the current state of governance. It is precisely in democracys interest to differentiate between the motives behind criticism.
A good start for the next year, then, with the coming of age of the dominant Muslim League and a remarkably conciliatory Peoples Party. All is not lost for democracy in the country. To hope!
