KARACHI, Nov 6: The postponement of the National Assembly’s inaugural session by at least a week, on the urging of political leaders, is not a good omen for democratic dispensation.
It is surprising that political leaders, who were accusing the regime of sinister moves to scuttle the democratic dispensation by delaying the convening of the National Assembly session, have themselves made such a request to the government, which readily obliged, for obvious reasons.
The question arises if the delay in the session by the regime was something sinister, whose interest political leaders served by making such a request?
Whether the government is doing something sinister or not, the delay will seriously jeopardize efforts of the anti-status quo forces and the onus would be on those who are still clinging to the traditional politics of protecting their narrow vested interests, rather than much important national interests.
In the Oct 10 elections the nation clearly voted in favour of a change that was reflected in the emergence of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the People’s Party Parliamentarians.
Both these parties contested the elections from an anti-regime platform, whereas the PML-Q represented the status quo powers, who have always huddled various biradaris and other such groups to serve the interests of the Establishment.
Perhaps the present difficult situation, to the advantage of the military regime, is mainly due to the failure on the part of the political forces, which contested from an anti-regime platform, to reason out things on a realistic premise.
There are reports that the PPP, which is engaged in reaching an understanding with the MMA through the ARD, has also submitted its charter of demand to the government. Although one would appreciate the efforts of the PPP to secure for itself the driving seat in order to bring about a change in the country, one fails to understand how that can be achieved by making a demand on the regime against whose policies the people have given it their mandate, and also by pursuing the ARD agenda? The people, perhaps, have the right to know what kind of a deal it is trying strike with the government?
The adamant attitude on the part of the MMA over its demand to have the posts of Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly and, perhaps, that of Senate Chairman is rather naive and unrealistic, knowing very well that in any case their numbers were not enough to achieve that, unless they give in to counselling of the well wishers. If they remain inflexible about their demand, it would amount to spoiling the broth. But the kind of moderation the MMA leadership has shown since elections make us believe that they would overcome this difficulty, if only the PPP leaders stop riding two horses.
Freedom to Mr Asif Zardari and withdrawal of cases against Ms Bhutto and her return to the country is what every PPP supporter would approve, but one is not sure whether as a quid pro quo he would also approve of supporting the crucial constitutional changes General Musharraf has made.
Both the PPP and the MMA would be advised to see beyond their narrow and self-centred interests because that is not for which the people of Pakistan have voted for them. The people have voted for banishing the politics of opportunism, biradari system and ethnicity and, above all, for burying Bonapartism once and for all.
The statement attributed to Hamid Nasir Chattha regarding emergence of a third name for the post of prime minister, instead of Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Maulana Fazalur Rahman, would only add to the problems and deepen mistrusts.
Many objections political parties have raised are unwarranted because most of the controversial amendments they have already accepted by contesting the elections.
The best thing would have been to hold the NA session and show strength there.
The objections to the Legal Framework Order could be overcome if clause-by- clause reading is done by the National Assembly, which in the process could strike down the controversial ones or retain them with amendments.