| November 3, 2002 | Sunday | Sha’aban 27,1423 |
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Moscow’s hawkish mood
Saving Shish Mahal
WITH each passing day that we remain in constitutional limbo, the complexity of the composition of the National Assembly we have elected becomes clearer. Figures are added up and re-calculated by the movers and shakers and the fixers, and yet no combination with a simple majority takes form. At least, it had not till Saturday despite intensive contacts among the political parties. Gradually, however, the pieces seem to be falling into place. The long meeting held between the PML(Q) and President Pervez Musharraf on Friday may be one indication of the shape of things to come. The general had earlier said he would not become a party to government-making, but, given his administration’s pre-poll politicking and its behind-the-scenes role in the formation of a party of its own liking, not many believed that he would be able to keep his word. He has also had a “chance” encounter with the head of the PPP Parliamentarians in the salubrious autumn setting of Margalla Hills.
The outcome of these varied contacts remains unclear. But two of the three major groups represented in the yet-to-be convened parliament — the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the PML(Q) — have named their candidates for the prime ministership, and the third, the PPP, its parliamentary leader who can also be considered to be its nominee for that office. The biggest problem appears to have been posed by the better than expected showing of the PPP, which has the largest share of the popular vote despite its constant pillorying by the establishment. Added to this is the unusual strength demonstrated by the MMA, which may have excelled the expectations of this alliance of the religious right. Also, one should not forget the MQM, which has yet to show its cards and which may hold the key to government formation.
This is admittedly a taxing situation, but one of the few saving graces is that none of the parties has allowed bitterness to foul the atmosphere. The effort still is to hammer out some kind of a viable arrangement through a general consensus. However, tempers may become frayed if the government tries to exploit the split mandate by seeking to put pressure on undecided MNAs or by further tinkering with the law, such as the reported plan to permit floor-crossing. If parliamentary traditions are any guide, the party with the highest number of seats should be given the first chance to form a government in association with its allies, which in this case should be the PML(Q). If it fails to gain a vote of confidence, the next largest combine should be allowed to test their strength, which would be the PPP and the MMA. Both these two have said they will not accept the Legal Framework Order as part of the 1973 Constitution, and the government may be worried that if a PML(Q)-led coalition fails, then it will be faced with the prospect of inviting the PPP-MMA to form the government — a step which might endanger the military regime’s plans to indemnify the decisions taken by it in the past three years. Since every party had entered the electoral race under the LFO, knowing the wider implications of that step, a compromise might be possible. But basically the government must be clear in its mind that what Gen Musharraf had once famously described (and later regretted doing so) as “the label of democracy” will not stick. If he has had the wisdom to stand by the commitment to hold elections within the time limit prescribed by the Supreme Court, he should also accept the fact that democracy has its own dynamics. A little initial confusion and uncertainty in the first weeks and months after the end of a long period of military rule should only be expected, but if political parties are allowed to function freely, without interference or prodding, they are in time bound to strike a workable balance.
RUSSIA now seems more determined than ever on a military solution of the Chechnya conflict instead of trying to settle it by peaceful means. A comment by the Kremlin spokesman on Thursday makes this amply clear. In fact, the words used by the spokesman were harsh and revealed the Putin government’s mind-set on the issue. As reports came in of the “special operations” launched by the Russian forces in Chechnya, the spokesman said Moscow was going to “wipe out” the Chechen leadership, including Aslam Maskhadov, Chechnya’s elected president. This is hardly the way to solve a long-standing conflict, for a super-hawkish attitude will only prolong bloodshed and violence there. As it is, Russian soldiers are guilty of horrendous human rights violations in Chechnya. A greater emphasis on force will merely complicate matters and add to the miseries of the civilian population.
The Moscow theatre siege by the Chechen militants was an insane act. It was widely condemned throughout the world, including by Maskhadov himself. Incidentally, Maskhadov is the only guerilla leader Moscow has been willing to talk to. However, the Kremlin has now ruled out talks with him, calling him a terrorist. This refusal to have recourse to a dialogue will only serve to reinforce the Chechen resolve to fight on. Most unfortunately, this will prove counter-productive and lead to desperate acts such as the one last week. Chechnya is a political issue, and only a dialogue with the representatives of the Chechen people can solve it. Force will produce more resistance. Moscow would do well to ponder the causes that have led to Chechen alienation.
THANKS to Norwegian financial assistance worth $890,000, there is now hope that the legendary 17th-century Shish Mahal — hall of mirrors — inside the Lahore Fort will be saved from crumbling away. The roof of the ornate Mughal building is on the verge of collapsing because of official neglect and apathy towards historical monuments. The Lahore Fort and the Shalamar Gardens, besides Moenjodaro and a Taxila site, continue to be on Unesco’s World Heritage List, although the world body has been inactive where the latter two sites’ conservation is concerned. The Norwegian grant comes as a welcome and timely gesture considering the gravity of the threat faced by the Shish Mahal.
Unesco and the federal culture ministry are signatories to the restoration plan being envisaged to save the Shish Mahal from falling apart because, as joint custodians of the world heritage monument, their role so requires. Initial reports suggest that a master conservation plan, to be implemented over several years, will be developed to save the Lahore Fort. This is just as well as long as the job at hand does not get relegated to some later phase of a ‘grand’ restoration plan. Earlier, a similar plan was developed for Moenjodaro but was never implemented because of its over ambitious components and because most of the initial funding made available for the purpose was spent on developing a conservation strategy. The Norwegian donors should ensure that the money being given to save the Shish Mahal is spent on doing just that.