Benazir’s Requiem

Begin the healing process

A major source of embarrassment for the People’s Party is that one of its most prominent members, the flamboyant and exuberant Aitzaz Ahsan, is personally spearheading the lawyers’ movement, has defied the establishment and refuses to budge from the lawyers’ position, comments Syed Anwar

  It is indeed a befitting requiem and a solemn eulogy to the woman who made the supreme sacrifice of her life to realise her cherished vision.
   The people of Pakistan have spoken and the Pakistan People’s Party riding on a crest of a colossal sympathy wave and outpouring of grief has claimed 18 February as the day of the people’s martyr.
   She always told her supporters, which was disclosed by her son Bilawal after her death, that ‘Democracy is the best revenge. Her supporters have ardently exacted that revenge.
   Benazir’s death has transformed the course of Pakistan politics forever and the elections of 2008 have proved that the dawn of a new era looms over the destiny of Pakistan.
   The elections have proved in no uncertain terms the people of Pakistan want change. The fact that all the King’s men have been sent marching into oblivion speaks volumes about the change being sought by the people.
   Providence works in mysterious ways and it is indeed providential that Asif Ali Zardari, who was just a few months ago incarcerated for more than a decade, and the Sharif brothers banished to exile for more than eight years, have not only re-emerged into the forefront of Pakistan politics but will soon be assuming charge at the helm of affairs.
   Politics makes strange bedfellows. The Sharifs have long been arch political rivals of the People’s Party but now political expediency demands that they form a major alliance to form govern-ments at the centre as well as in the provinces.
   Benazir’s legacy is that she simply did not want to govern but wanted effective power. For Asif Zardari this will be extremely difficult to translate for the real power is vested with President Musharraf, with whom the parties must interact and form a working relationship.
   The entire western world, especially the USA, is closely monitoring the situation as President Musharraf is their major ally in the war against terrorism and any attempt to upset the apple cart will not be taken kindly by Uncle Sam.
   Pakistan is one of the most difficult countries to govern and the road to democracy is fraught with unforeseen and unpredictable dangers.
Ever since its creation the country has been experimenting with flawed democracy, beginning with Sikander Mirza and ending with the last government of Nawaz Sharif, with long periods of military intervention in the interim, of Ayub Khan, Yayha Khan, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf.
   The Army like the province of Punjab is a dominant factor in the political equation of Pakistan. Whoever is in power must toe the line laid down by the powerful military establishment.
   On the face it appears that all is well and the People’s Party, which has anointed Makhdoom Amin Fahim as designate prime minister is all set to form the new government at the centre.
   Amin, an affable, soft-spoken party loyalist, is the ideal candidate of the people. He is not given to emotional outbursts, a pleasing personality who can work well with President Musharraf.
   Hailing from a prominent Sindhi landowning family in Hala Sindh, son of Talibul Maula, Makhdoom Amin Fahim has faithfully served the party’s cause for a very long time.
   Despite his excellent credentials, the incumbent prime minister will face a host of troubling problems, the foremost being the issue of the former Chief Justice, Justice Mohammad Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was dismissed as CJ by Musharraf on grounds of corruption and misconduct on 9 March 2007.
   Ever since relations between the President and the judiciary have been deteriorating at a rapid pace, with the President adopting a tough stance vis-à-vis the CJ.
   The Supreme Judicial Council had restored Justice Chaudhry to his office and the Supreme Court had allowed Musharraf to contest the elections but thereafter matters soured when Musharraf declared an emergency days before the Supreme Court was to announce that he was not eligible to hold dual office of President and Chief of Army Staff.
   All hell broke loose, with the legal fraternity going up in arms to restore the dignity of the CJ.
   A major source of embarrassment for the People’s Party is that one of its most prominent members, the flamboyant and exuberant Aitzaz Ahsan, is personally spearheading the lawyers’ movement and is in the limelight of both the local as well as the international press.
   Aitzaz has defied the establishment tooth and nail and has suffered imprisonment and house arrest but refuses to budge from the lawyers’ position.
   To compound matters further, Nawaz Sharif and his party will not relent on the judges issue although Sharif does not have a positive track record about the Supreme Court. His party workers stormed the Supreme Court when he was last in power because of differences with the then CJ Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.
   The People’s Party has adopted a wait-and-see policy. Although they agree that the judges should be reinstated they have not been Chaudhry-specific.
   Musharraf considers the CJ matter closed, as is evident from his refusal to resign. He will brook no dissent on this issue as he has the power to sack the government.
   There are other volatile issues pending also, which the new government must tackle with an iron hand; these are, terrorism, crime, law and order.
   The People’s Party leader herself has been a victim of senseless violence and fanatical extremism for which the party will now demand a UN probe into the matter.
   The party has also to decide whether to take the MQM (Mottahida Qaumi Movement) on board to form the government in Sindh, as the city of Karachi in reality is the domain of the MQM and working against their interests would not bode well for the People’s Party or Karachites for that matter.
   The election box is also a sort of Pandora’s box, releasing a slew of problems for the incoming powers to be.
   It will not be easy sailing for Asif Ali Zardari and his party workers to keep everyone happy. Some tough decisions will have to be taken.
President Musharraf has had a rough time since the judicial crisis but has weathered the storm.
   Pakistan is still in the eye of the storm and its leaders must rise above petty differences, personal ego and hatred to build a new Pakistan with the people, by the people and for the people.
   Nelson Mandela forgave those who took away 27 years of his life for he placed the interest of South Africans first. Why cannot the leaders of Pakistan do the same?
   For the sake of the future generations the healing process must begin now and Pakistan first should become in earnest a reality.
   The memory of Benazir Bhutto can be honoured truly only if we set our goals and priorities and build a stronger, more stable Pakistan respected in the comity of nations. For if we fail to do so, we besmirch the sacrifice, valour and dedication of the woman whose vision at present is lighting the country with rays of hope and courage.


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