PML-N has decided to resign from the cabinet. They seem to have made the popular move and tried to win a larger vote bank from their natural opponents PPP. But is it really the case? I don't completely agree. Undoubtedly the decision is a popular move but it has been disconnected from the dictator. It seems that the independence of judiciary is an independent cause from that of independence from the dictator. PML-N has, in recent past, admitted to their inability to get rid of Musharraf and this will turn out to be a disastrous admittance on their part. I think the people of Pakistan supported the cause of independent judiciary more so because they interpreted it as a revolt against the dictator. In itself the stand of the chief justice, or for that matter that of 60 other justices, carries little meaning if it is not understood in the context of the person against whom it is being made. PPP, JUI-F and MQM are happy to play down the role of Musharraf in the public. All these parties are now natural allies of the dictator and support him and his cronies silently. Zardari and co will be happy to create this disconnect between the two parts of the story in order to undermine the cause of independent judiciary. PML-N has to take into account this problem if it really wants to gain something out of it.
For a common Pakistani the problem of judiciary is a concern but not as big a problem as his/her inability to live their life due to increasing inflation and terrorism. And all these problems had been attributed to the policies of the dictator. The judiciary movement succeeded in creating a connection between itself and the maligned dictator and the people of Pakistan followed the lawyers in condemning the dictator for all his sins.
The success of the movement and PML-N lies in emphasizing the point that somehow their fight for independent judiciary will eventually lead to getting rid of the prime sinner. If this connection can be revitalized then i think people can again be brought on to the streets to pressurize the dictator to give up.
Now there can be two ways to do this. A more violent but more sure way could be to come all out on the streets and give it one last push. Wage a media war and try to maintain the illusion that the source of all problems is the dictator and an independent judiciary will get rid of him. This option is what Imran Khan and Qazi are pushing for. There is a fare chance that it will bring fruit but the downside is that it will bring more chaos and economic instability. The population of Pakistan is already showing the signs of campaign fatigue and may not be vitalized enough to come out on the streets with full force. But Nawaz Sharif could hope to create a rift between PPP and add its more energetic vote bank into its fold. The other porblem is that of MQM and JUI-F and their negative role in the movement. These two parties will jump onto the band wagon and fill the vacancies created by PML-N thus perpetuating the rule of the dictator and PPP for the next five years. And the other problem will be that of a disunited opposition. If PML-N decides to sit on the opposition benches it will be sitting with its foes PML-Q and the opposition will be rendered ineffective due to the rift between these two parties.
The second option could be that of remain in the cabinet and provide good service to the people and stabilize the economy of the country (seems a gigantic if not impossible at all task right now) and through these results convince the people of Pakistan to rally around the right cause. This might not be a popular move in the beginning but will turn out to be a wise move in the end.
All in all it is a win win situation for the dictator and PPP. It seems not much has changed from the past 8 years. All that has changed is the rotation in the national assembly. PPP is playing the role of PML-Q, JUI-F and MQM are playing the same dirty roleas before. PML-Q is playing the role of PPP in opposition benches. PML-N is left alone to play the role of PML-N, Imran Khan and Qazi in the opposition benches. The five year cycle has started and so has the never ending test for this nation, after a short refreshing break.
For a common Pakistani the problem of judiciary is a concern but not as big a problem as his/her inability to live their life due to increasing inflation and terrorism. And all these problems had been attributed to the policies of the dictator. The judiciary movement succeeded in creating a connection between itself and the maligned dictator and the people of Pakistan followed the lawyers in condemning the dictator for all his sins.
The success of the movement and PML-N lies in emphasizing the point that somehow their fight for independent judiciary will eventually lead to getting rid of the prime sinner. If this connection can be revitalized then i think people can again be brought on to the streets to pressurize the dictator to give up.
Now there can be two ways to do this. A more violent but more sure way could be to come all out on the streets and give it one last push. Wage a media war and try to maintain the illusion that the source of all problems is the dictator and an independent judiciary will get rid of him. This option is what Imran Khan and Qazi are pushing for. There is a fare chance that it will bring fruit but the downside is that it will bring more chaos and economic instability. The population of Pakistan is already showing the signs of campaign fatigue and may not be vitalized enough to come out on the streets with full force. But Nawaz Sharif could hope to create a rift between PPP and add its more energetic vote bank into its fold. The other porblem is that of MQM and JUI-F and their negative role in the movement. These two parties will jump onto the band wagon and fill the vacancies created by PML-N thus perpetuating the rule of the dictator and PPP for the next five years. And the other problem will be that of a disunited opposition. If PML-N decides to sit on the opposition benches it will be sitting with its foes PML-Q and the opposition will be rendered ineffective due to the rift between these two parties.
The second option could be that of remain in the cabinet and provide good service to the people and stabilize the economy of the country (seems a gigantic if not impossible at all task right now) and through these results convince the people of Pakistan to rally around the right cause. This might not be a popular move in the beginning but will turn out to be a wise move in the end.
All in all it is a win win situation for the dictator and PPP. It seems not much has changed from the past 8 years. All that has changed is the rotation in the national assembly. PPP is playing the role of PML-Q, JUI-F and MQM are playing the same dirty roleas before. PML-Q is playing the role of PPP in opposition benches. PML-N is left alone to play the role of PML-N, Imran Khan and Qazi in the opposition benches. The five year cycle has started and so has the never ending test for this nation, after a short refreshing break.
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