KHI 23-02-2013_Layout 1 2/23/2013 2:21 AM Page 10
10
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. –Winston Churchill
C
COMMeNT Saturday, 23 February, 2013
elections on time Is there a better alternative?
an election curveball? Sindh’s two local government laws
T
He Musharraf era local bodies system introduced by the PPPdominated Sindh Assembly in the teeth of strong reaction from across Sindh was scrapped by the same legislature on Thursday. Instead the 1979 system was reintroduced despite opposition this time from the MQM. Interestingly the change has been affected only three weeks before the demise of the assembly. The news has led to jubilation in Sindh where it is being interpreted as a victory for the opposition. Saner elements though see it as an election curveball. With one move the PPP has taken much wind out of the sails of its opponents. A combination of political forces including Pagara’s PML-F, the nationalist parties, PML-N, ANP, JUI-F and Jamaat-e-Islami had opposed the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance calling it a measure aimed at laying the basis of the future division of Sindh. This struck a chord with many and hurt the PPP the most. The PPP’s opponents had depended on the issue to deprive the ruling party of a good chunk of its voters. With the PPP wrapping up the system it had itself introduced, the opposition has been left high and dry. But does the decision taken by the Sindh Assembly on Thursday indicate a change of heart in the PPP leadership? It appears from the speeches delivered by some of the PPP MPAs that the leadership thinks there was nothing wrong with the previous system and its decision to replace it is dictated by circumstances related to elections. As Agha Siraj Durrani put it, there was nothing wrong with the former law and it is being changed only due to public opposition. Four months back the public opinion didn’t matter. With the elections due in May, it does now. Qaim Ali Shah too made it clear later that the change was being made only because the Sindhis were opposed to the Musharraf era system. Interestingly the PPP still wants to keep the MQM as an ally. The new bill has been sent to Governor Ishratul Ibad who according to Article 116(2) and (3) of the Constitution has ten days to sign it into law or return it with objections. In case it is passed again by the Assembly, it will have to be again sent to the Governor who has another ten days to sign it. After this, irrespective of his views, the bill would automatically become a law. Governor Ishartul Ibad has left for London. He can thus keep the bill for twenty days. It remains to be seen if the process can be completed by the time the assembly is dissolved. As Speaker Nisar Khuhro put it, “If the local bodies system approved by the Assembly is not implemented now, the next assembly would consider it.”
Political space for terrorists PML-N should rethink its ties with militant organisations
e
LeCTIONS in the country are around the corner. every party worth the salt is busy fielding its candidates for various constituencies, as is their political right. And this is a good thing to happen. But military’s statement that it wants the elections to go ahead begs the question what prompted the military to talk about an entirely political issue. Though DG ISPR Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa was quick to point out that army had supported the civilian setup in the past years and would continue to do so, many would cast aspersions on military’s intentions. Still it sounds good and might translate much better in reality if the men in khaki actually stand by their claim. However, there really are some issues that need to be sorted out for a smooth power transition. The recent attacks on Hazara Shias in Quetta have not only rattled the country emotionally, but also cropped up questions on the readiness of country’s security and law enforcement agencies. But that’s an operational problem, the one that can be managed with a little work. What really is bothersome is the fact that the perpetrators of these attacks are well known terrorists, who proudly take responsibility of their actions and most of whom are working under the banner of a banned terrorist organisation or its successor. After the Quetta massacres whose responsibility Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was quick to accept, the federal government has confronted the Punjab government of PML-N to take action against the LeJ and defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), another well known sectarian terrorist organisation. But the PML-N appears to be unwilling to comply with the request because of its close contacts with these terrorist organisations and, as reports suggest, it has cut a deal with the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), which is just a re-branding of SSP, for seat adjustment in South Punjab on at least 14 National Assembly seats. The culprit here is not only these militant oganisations, for that’s what they do, but also the PML-N is to be blamed equally, for it has an ambiguous stance on terrorism and many of its stalwarts have close contacts with these parties. At least in one instance, the Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah stirred quite a controversy by openly campaigning for by-elections in Jhang with the leaders of LeJ. Allowing them political space would be devastating, at least until they give up arms, renounce violence and submit to the law of the land. The PML-N should also come clean on its stance on terrorism and sever contacts with all militant organsiations.
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963-5 Fax: 042-32535230 Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208 Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287273 Fax: 051-2850505 Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
ARiF niZAMi
e
VeN the Army wants timely elections. So the military spokesman tells us. The government is not only at the end of its term, but also at the end of its tether. Hence it is welcome news that the military has given its NOC (no objection certificate) for the elections to be held on time. The politicians can pride themselves of their vast propaganda machines well oiled by enormous amounts of funds. But nothing beats the spin doctoring of the military. What was the need for the Director General of the ISPR (Inter-services Public Relations) to issue a carefully worded statement, ostensibly a Q and A session with journalists, at this juncture? We are informed by the major general who heads it that the military had been supporting the incumbent democratic setup for the past five years and will continue to do so. No one can challenge the fact that the military has studiously given the civilians space. Admittedly in the past it has sacked elected governments for much less. But this does not mean that the government has had a free reign without always looking over its shoulder for Bonapartists. The PPP-led coalition prides itself on completing its full term and announcing the elections when it deems fit. This is certainly a first in Pakistan. And credit is due to President Asif Zardari as well as General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. More so to Zardari for assiduously avoiding to step on the military’s toes. Unlike his predecessors Zardari is a deal maker rather than a deal breaker. Nawaz Sharif, paradoxically enough, despite representing the Punjab, the heartland of the army, has had an uneasy relationship with the khakis. As prime minister he never got along
with any of the military chiefs, but even while in opposition Sharif, to say the least, has awkward relations with the present military leadership. His Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali has done no service to him by taking on the military hierarchy much too often. His boss has often restrained him but the damage by then had been done. even when elections are about to be announced deep mistrust persists in the PML-N circles about the intentions of the ubiquitous establishment. The conventional thinking prevalent in the PML-N is that the military is somehow uneasy about the ‘inevitable victory’ of the party at the elections. In this context, both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are painted as military-sponsored trial balloons out to cut into the vote bank of the PML-N. The other day in my television programme, the PML-N spokesman Mushahidullah Khan wondered loudly as to why Qadri’s long marches were confined to the Central Punjab? Similarly Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab law minister, claims rather unconvincingly that Imran’s balloon has deflated and Qadri’s too will meet the same fate. Of course it is ludicrous to assume that somehow Zardari and the military are in cahoots to block Nawaz in the next elections. However, if Imran and to a lesser extent Qadri cut into the Sharif vote bank the ultimate beneficiary will be Zardari. If Zardari is deriving political mileage from the prevailing situation he cannot be blamed for it. With the military endorsing timely elections and the Supreme Court walking the talk by showing the door to Qadri, theoretically speaking elections will be held sooner than later. But the situation on the ground is still germane with uncertainty. The election Commission tasked with holding free and fair elections is not helping matters by its increasingly impractical edicts in the name of transparency. In the light of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution some of the preconditions being laid out by the Commission might blackball quite a few known faces from the race. For example, under the new regulations incumbent members of the national and provincial assemblies are to give in writing their major achievement as public representatives and also to append a list of development projects undertaken with public money. How and under what criteria such data will be scrutinised has not been spelt out. It is fair enough to ask those who are
whitelieS
O
The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today
A
aPoLLo
Ne wouldn’t have pegged the Sharifs for patrons of the art, barring the culinary variety. Don’t expect them to be fascinating participants in such discussions on literature, say. The plot of Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s Umrao Jaan Ada? Some nawab had the hots for this courtesan. The plot of Imtiaz Ali Taj’s Anarkali? Umrao Jan’s plot, except with a prince. Oliver Twist? Orphan makes it but not before some time with a gang of androon ne’er-do-well kan tuts. The entire subject of history? One damn
contesting elections to declare their and their dependents’ assets and the amount of tax they contribute to the exchequer. However, the use of such provisions arbitrarily can give draconian powers to the Commission. That is why, perhaps ominously, the Chief election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ibrahim inquired from a journalist whether elections are going to be held at all. He should have been answering this question rather than asking it. Perhaps the CeC was wondering aloud whether the elections can be held when the country was infested with rampant terrorism. Post carnage of Hazara Shias in Quetta the situation has become even more precarious. Those protesting against the ethnic cleansing of the Hazaras were able to paralyse life in the country. Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports were blocked for hours as a result of sit-ins. The demonstrators proved beyond doubt that only a few hundred people in each of the major cities of the country can bring life to a standstill. The demand of the Hazaras to hand over Quetta to the army was augural. Ironically during Musharraf’s rule the omnipresent agencies were the bane of the province. It is a sad reflection on the so-called public representatives of Balochistan that they have little relevance to the problems of the province. In fact they are part of the problem rather than the solution. The army spokesman has also categorically denied that the military has any truck with the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi that claimed responsibility for massacre of the Hazaras. Despite such denials, outfits like LJ and LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) are perceived by many to be the Army’s cat’s paw. But why blame the military alone? Substantial swathes of political and religious parties as well as section of the media are sympathetic towards such jihadi organisations. elections will be held and should be held on time. Any other alternative is less attractive. Shahbaz Sharif’s warning that if present law and order situation continued Pakistan may turn into a ‘failed state’ is alarming. After all Sharif is the chief executive of the largest province. He should come out clean on allegations that the PML-N has tacit political alliances in Punjab with the very elements responsible for pushing the country to the brink of abyss.
thing after the other. But bring up the subject of the correct way to let nihari simmer and expect a nuanced tour de force on the brilliant fugue of tastes that comes with doing the thing well. Well, they’ve decided to bring some culture in. They’ve owned the Lahore Literature Festival fully and Shahbaz Sharif had a dinner at Huzoori Bagh just the other day, which included a discussion by William Dalrymple on his new book, a flute recital by Haider Rehman and a recitation of Zehra Nigah’s poetry, after which she, along with Intezar Hussain and Bapsi Sidhwa, got lifetime achievement awards. Is this change a result of the CM’s marriage to writer Tehmina Durrani? Perhaps. Decades later, her book still outsells more ‘literary’ endeavours by other writers.
Pak-India publishers’ conference was recently organised by the APNS, Pakistan’s premier press body. It was attended by many press barons from across the border. Pakistani newspapermen were much impressed by how far behind they were when compared to their Indian counterparts. The Indians concerns were like smoothly run, proactive corporations, employing focus groups, surveys and the like, and translating all of that into increased circulation and advertisements. How we can do the same in Pakistan, asked a local publisher. Come to India, said an Indian media mogul, in as inoffensive a manner as something like this could be said, and we’ll show you how to run a paper.
For feedback, comments, suggestions and, most importantly, tips, contact us at whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk