The end of a stand-off in Pakistan
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Md. Masum Billah
PAKISTAN recently witnessed a high drama on its political stage. Of the two key players Nawaz Sharif won the day, both morally as well as in terms of public support. Asif Ali Zardari had to bow down in the wake of public protest to reinstate the earlier deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhury. Both Sharif and Zardari were committed to restore the judges and independent judiciary. But Zardari went back on his commitment no sooner he was elected president. It was no doubt a wise decision to defuse a serious situation of confrontation between two major political parties of Pakistan. Resolving the issue definitely paved the way for national reconciliation. It paved the way for the two political parties to work together to address more serious issues. The political parties got the opportunity to strengthen their democracy, restored after a long gap.
The stand-off in Pakistan split the ruling coalition and the country was brought to the brink of chaos. Asif Ali Zardari lost credibility for his broken promises about reinstating the judges sacked by ousted military ruler Parvez Musharraf.
On March 9, 2008, Sharif and Zardari agreed to form a coalition government after winning the general elections and vowed to reinstate the sacked judges. On May 13, 2008 nine ministers belonging to Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) resigned after the government failed a deadline to reinstate the judges.
Imran Khan said over seventy per cent of the people want the Chief Justice to be reinstated. Zardari's handling the situation created political turmoil in Pakistan.
The resignation of two key ministers from the Pakistan cabinet together with its several unpopular decisions created cracks within the ruling Pakistan People's Party. Among the controversial decisions were the imposition of governor's rule in Punjab, and imposition of restrictions on the media. This perturbed many in the PPP. Raza Rabbani resigned as the Leader of the House in the Senate and Sherry Rahman as the Information Minister. It dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the PPP. Party stalwarts started to criticise the controversial decisions of Zardari.
A senior manager at Brac Education Programme, PACE, the writer can be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
PAKISTAN recently witnessed a high drama on its political stage. Of the two key players Nawaz Sharif won the day, both morally as well as in terms of public support. Asif Ali Zardari had to bow down in the wake of public protest to reinstate the earlier deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhury. Both Sharif and Zardari were committed to restore the judges and independent judiciary. But Zardari went back on his commitment no sooner he was elected president. It was no doubt a wise decision to defuse a serious situation of confrontation between two major political parties of Pakistan. Resolving the issue definitely paved the way for national reconciliation. It paved the way for the two political parties to work together to address more serious issues. The political parties got the opportunity to strengthen their democracy, restored after a long gap.
The stand-off in Pakistan split the ruling coalition and the country was brought to the brink of chaos. Asif Ali Zardari lost credibility for his broken promises about reinstating the judges sacked by ousted military ruler Parvez Musharraf.
On March 9, 2008, Sharif and Zardari agreed to form a coalition government after winning the general elections and vowed to reinstate the sacked judges. On May 13, 2008 nine ministers belonging to Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) resigned after the government failed a deadline to reinstate the judges.
Imran Khan said over seventy per cent of the people want the Chief Justice to be reinstated. Zardari's handling the situation created political turmoil in Pakistan.
The resignation of two key ministers from the Pakistan cabinet together with its several unpopular decisions created cracks within the ruling Pakistan People's Party. Among the controversial decisions were the imposition of governor's rule in Punjab, and imposition of restrictions on the media. This perturbed many in the PPP. Raza Rabbani resigned as the Leader of the House in the Senate and Sherry Rahman as the Information Minister. It dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the PPP. Party stalwarts started to criticise the controversial decisions of Zardari.
A senior manager at Brac Education Programme, PACE, the writer can be reached at e-mail: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com