Pakistan passes through a fast-developing situation on the political front. The political crisis stemming from the demand for resignation of the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has somewhat unexpectedly brought the nation to a kind of standoff, which is quite complex for a resolution.
None expects that a government with solid support in parliament, and formed through win in last year's elections participated by all major political parties, would just capitulate to the demand much before the expiry of the term.
Little questions were raised about the last election's fairness and political leaders, now calling the polls "rigged", did not come out with the issue forcefully at the time. Now, there is a big cacophony against the government that it has "rigged" the voting to the extent of ensuring a massive victory.
The prime minister's party was then in the opposition and the polls were held under a non-partisan caretaker government. And neutral observers - both from home and abroad - described the elections as fairly free and acceptable.
But things have changed now - a political crisis has emerged that has threatened to jeopardy the government and also the democratic system of Pakistan.
Former cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan and a cleric-turned politician, Tahirul Qadri, are spearheading the anti-government movement with simultaneous programmes. Two persons' political agenda are different with separate objectives, but they have united on one point: the government must go.
Thousands of supporters of the two up-and-coming leaders have thronged the capital, Islamabad, seeking to oust the government.
Both Imran and Qadri vowed not to leave the capital without realizing the key demand. They, albeit, have also expressed readiness for dialogue with the government.
The pitch of the dialogue initiated was queered, but mediators took fresh initiative for resumption of direct and indirect talks, fate of which hangs in the balance.
However, the scenario in Pakistan is one of quick developments and much of the matter seems to be shrouded in uncertainty.
The present condition is particularly worrying for a nation, whose most period of time as an independent one has been characterized by military and undemocratic rule. The army intervenes in the politically fluid situation and hence is the concern about the shape of things to come in the future.
Nawaz Sharif was twice removed from power earlier despite being an elected prime minister. Last time he was toppled by a military coup and his successor, army chief General Pervez Musharraf, had held the helm for nearly nine years. Nawaz finally managed to stage a comeback to power after a difficult journey, but is now faced with the tough times.
Pressure mounted on the government after Imran's party's all the 34 members resigned from parliament, which, however, would not trouble the government since the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has 190 seats in the 342-member National Assembly.
Tahirul Qadri has no members in parliament, but has support in the segments of people.
The main opposition party - the Pakistan People's Party, which is the immediate-past ruling party--has distanced from the demand for government's resignation.
Sharif has turned down the demand, saying that he has no reason to quit.
But the questions that are swirling round the political and other circles in Pakistan and beyond include the pivotal one as to whether any quarter is behind the current situation and seeks to fish in the troubled waters.
Fears also soared that despite scope for talks, anything may develop in the country, which has a notorious history of democratic practice being scuttled on different pretexts.
Observers are keeping their fingers crossed about the shape of things to come in Pakistan while most of them tend to believe that the government is largely unlikely to be badly disturbed by the present situation even though things are difficult and need some kind of wisdom from both sides for a resolution.
The strategic location of Pakistan, particularly in the context of the Afghan war, Sharif government's offensive against the Islamic militants in the country, a new relatively conservative government in arch-rival and powerful neighbour India, the government's failure to tackle the pressing economic problems and, finally, Nawaz Sharif's testy ties with the army, makes the present situation quite vulnerable.
New Delhi has called off scheduled foreign secretary-level talks with Islamabad, probably sensing that the Nawaz government is at a slippery slope, although officially it has cited the meeting of Pakistan High Commissioner to India with the "Kashmiri" separatist leaders in the Indian capital.
The Nawaz government faces problems at home and otherwise, and it remains to be seen how the situation is confronted by the prime minister.
zaglulchowdhury@yahoo.com
Pakistan crisis shows no signs of catharsis: What is in store?
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury | Published: August 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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