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Current Political Crisis in Pakistan -Who is the Winner & who is the loser?
Exclusive Article for Sada-e-Watan by Solicitor Ejaz Khan (Sydney)

The current political crisis is a significant worry to all Pakistanis particularly Pakistanis living abroad. These crisis's are unprecedented in the Pakistani history. There are four major players in these crisis's PML (N), PPP, Lawyers, President Musharraf and USA.

The situation:

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) second biggest political party does not wish to withdraw their claim and election promise of restitution of the Supreme Court Judges.

Pakistani Lawyers community who have now become an alternative political force in the country can not withdraw from their claim of restitution of Supreme Court Judges because this is the only cause which has united them and this unity is unprecedented in the country’s history.

Pakistan Peoples Party biggest political party in Pakistan playing down the PML (N) and the Lawyers demand by using hasty tactics of draft legislation and so on.

In fact the PPP leadership had marriage of convenient with the PML (N) on the issue of restitution of Judges. It appears now that PPP Leadership had never agreed from their hearts to work on this issue. PPP leadership does not wish to annoy USA, UK and Pervez Musharraf particularly in their early days in the Government after a long time.

The restitution of the judges will be a suicide for Musharaf and USA interests in Pakistan because if Justice Iftikhar Ch reinstate on his position his demand will be to produce several Pakistanis which Musharaf has handed over to USA for investigation without trial in Pakistan. It is possible at this stage that a few of them may have been killed by the agencies involved in interrogation and few of them waiting for their luck in Guantanamo Bay.

As a result of the situation PML (N) has resigned from the cabinet and it is also possible their alliance in Punjab may effect badly. One of the examples we have seen in recent days is an appointment of Salman Taseer as Governor Punjab without consultation. Mr Taseer is a Political opponent of Nawaz Group in Lahore. So it shows that there is some thing going on under the carpet,God knows better what will happen in the next few weeks.

Lawyers have given a deadline to start their country wide movement on 10 June 2008.

We can see the tension is high among all the group particularly between the two political parties. The all above situation has created instability and uncertainty for the people of Pakistan and insecurity for the foreign and local investors. Businesses in the country has been paralysed which has ultimately increased the unemployment in the country resulting in high inflation.

Due to the Iraq War, Oil prices have reached to its heights US$126.00 a barrel which has made adverse impact on the poor and crippling economies around the world including Pakistan. The basic food items such as Dal, Rooti, Rice, first of all are short supply, if available due to government efforts to calm the people then prices are too high and out of reach for the majority of the Pakistanis. Necessities such as electricity and gas is also a short supply and as a result the public is forced to go back to their conventional means of cooking and relaxing in the cruel summer temperature.

Our Industry fails to run due to energy crisis which has ultimately increased unemployment in the country increasing robberies, theft, corruption and civil disobedience in the society. Illicit drugs are so widely used in the society which has pushed the country into the crisis level.

The young generation has minimum or in some instances no guidance which is not enough for them to commence their practical life in the right direction. Society’s moral values are at its lowest level of any civilised human standard. Religion is being used for political purposes.

We are at war in our own country with our own citizens. We have bad relations with our neighbours. USA, India, and Israel wish to control our nuclear weapons. There intentions are evident from their continuous statements that “our nuke weapons may fall in the hands of Taliban’s”.

We have distorted security situation in NWFP by ourselves, it would not be too wrong to say that we are at civil war in our NWFP border region and civil disobedience in other parts of Pakistan only to keep happy our worldly God USA. The USA, our friend and ally is bombing our civilians on our own soil which has raised the question of our sovereignty in many devoted Pakistani minds.

In the above described circumstances we need a leadership to resolve these issues which are long undermining us being a nation. In the past we use to blame military dictatorship for all these crisis. Today many would say that all these crisis's have shown the tireless work done by the previous government and a loyal military general for the welfare of the country and well being of the public.

But what about now, we have a democratically elected government and they have mandated to take the country forward and meet the standards of economic development, social justice and human rights set by the civilised society and the developed world in this 21st century. They are opposing each other on the less important issue and try to gain political momentum for their parties. I am saying this because the public has not shown serious support on this issue nor have they protested on the roads as yet regarding this issue.

As a result of the current crisis elected government forced to consuming more energy on this secondary issue and less time on more important and basic but important issues such as national security and sovereignty, supply of basic facilities, upheld writ of law in the country.

Now the question which rises from the above discussion is:
By bringing back these judges will the basic and important issues be solved?

My analysis of the situation:

Judiciary is a very important pillar of a successful democracy no doubt, but one should ask what these suspended judges have done for the democracy and how effectively they have ensured  the cheap, and timely justice reach our streets in the past. If the answer is “nothing” and “Zero” then the next question would be Why the public trusts them again.

This is the same judiciary who have supported dictatorship in the past and done nothing to remove politically constituted cases and build no shield against further injustices with the public or political leaders. The public was suffering under their rule and will suffer again so let the replacement judges do the job.

The PML (N) has VENDETTA against the President by having restore the judges they will bring the President down which is not acceptable to USA because they believe that the President is the only knight left in Pakistan who can protect their interests. The other reason USA retained Musharraf because lack of charismatic pro USA leadership in Pakistan after the death of Late Benazir Bhutto. They can not trust Nawaz Sharif because of his relations with Saudis and pro Islamic forces.

It appears that by the time USA finds replacement of Musharraf they will not allow the restitution of the Judges and the Public and the country will suffer. President General Musharraf is very lucky and using the current circumstances in his favour well. He did not and will not encourage alternative and Charismatic leadership in the country who can resolve the country’s problems and offer the USA opportunity to replace him later.

Musharraf is well placed he should stick with the traditional, unworthy, incapable, unpopular politicians and not encourage alternative leaders in the country. PPP have this opportunity to rule the country after many years they do not wish to lose the government by annoying either Pervez Musharraf or USA. They would be right to say “Hell with the Country”.

They know if they lose the power this time they will be out for a long time because they do not have national leadership of Benazir calibre. They know their unity will not last longer under the leadership of Mr Asif Ali Zardari .

MQM enjoys blessings of both the President and PPP and they do not care less about the important or secondary issues faced by the country.

PML (Q) has done their yards and probably would like this time to soak it up and digest what ever they have gained during their tenor. Pervez Musharraf despite the opposition of the public in the last general elections which is still there, has held the most prestigious position in the government.

I will leave up to the readers of Sada-e-Watan Sydney to decide who is the winner here, but allow me to show you the loser.

The PUBLIC is the biggest loser, despite of their efforts to elect balanced government.

I will put forward the following arguments in support.

They are forced to spend days of their lives in scorching summer heat without fans and nights without light, they are losing their loved ones in the operation theatre tables due to no electricity, they have no self respect, most of them have no respectable jobs, they can not run their businesses because electricity is out for 18 hours out of 24 hours a day, no proper education for their children, they have to queue up for hours to get basic items of daily food, they are forced to drink polluted water and you know WHY - because our politicians are fighting with each other to show each other down.

Nawaz Sharif wishes to show to Musharraf that he does not like him because of what he did to him and his family 8 years ago. Musharraf wants to show him that he is still the man. PPP wants to hold power as long as they could.

Before I conclude this discussion, often people say that it is easier to criticize than resolve the problem. I would like to suggest the following to our Political Gods to resolve the current issues.

1. PPP, PML (N) and Lawyers: please put your ego aside for the sake of the poor public and the country. Please sit down together on a table particularly with the high command and achieve a common path to get out of this mess.

2. Ch Iftikhar: you are a brave man and hero of the Pakistani public. Get out of this conflict by announcing your resignation and thanking everyone who supported you in this tough time and let the stability prevail in the country. It is also a demand of the justice to step aside when your position becomes controversial.

I believe all judges and lawyers have done an enormous job and paved the smooth way for the forthcoming judges. Your protest will be remembered in the history.

3. Pervez Musharraf (Ik mashwara hai janab k) met with PPP, PML (N), Lawyers and other stake holders to negotiate common acceptable path to pull the country from the crisis. You know in your heart that no one else is responsible for these crises except you. You should offer resignation in the best interest of the public and Pakistan which will be honourable. You know that Americans are not friends of anybody; you are a witness of your once commander Zia Ul Haq planned crash incident. Jannab I am sure that you have fought many wars during your tenor as Army commander, you may have won few and lost a few and learnt that winning and losing is part of the game, why can’t you apply the same formula here where you have lost the war (elections). I can assure you that if you do resign and stick with the politics the same public will bring you back in power you know why because you have Charisma and leadership qualities which no one in the current lot have.

4. Lawyers it is enough you have made your point very strongly, your sacrifice has been commended by the public and international community you should now come to the table of negotiation and follow the rule “give and take”. You should be assured by now your movement has generated several, Iftikhar Ch by now who can uphold the writ of law and serve real justice. I am sure that there will be several other Iftikhar Ch in this suspended lot which are acceptable to all the parties. Just think of your country and poor public not your vendetta.

Please be advised that the above are my own views and I have spent enormous time to put together for you as a sincere and devoted Pakistani Australian. If any of my above comments offend you or your political views please do accept my sincere apology.

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