Impeachment

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The madness is here
​

By Cyril Almeida

REVENGE can be sweet, but not if it is someone else’s. Asif is learning that lesson the hard way. He thought inheriting the country’s largest political party made him one of the big boys. His perma-grin suggested he had a plan to save the day. Turns out he didn’t.

In fact Asif is nothing more than a pawn in an epic, vicious, protracted political break-up. First Musharraf tied him down; now Nawaz has bullied him into switching sides. Never mind what the gloating media, the crowing Musharraf-haters and Asif himself are saying; impeachment has exposed Asif’s political non-strategy.

How can it not? First Asif was against impeachment; now he’s for it. What justifies the flip-flop? Nothing. Unless being checkmated by a junior coalition partner counts as a justification. Nawaz might as well have dragged Asif by his collar and flogged him in front of the cameras until he whimpered his consent to impeachment.

Impeachment or no impeachment, by forcing the issue Nawaz has made the People’s Party hostage to the party of the people — the N-league. No 2 is calling the shots. Junior is the new senior. A pathetic Asif was reduced to publicly pleading with Nawaz to let his men rejoin the cabinet. Nawaz has baulked at full reinstatement, offering Asif the crumbs of a railways minister, amongst others. The finance minister will stay out. So look beyond the PPP co-chair’s bravado and nothing less than the surrender of his party to outside interests becomes obvious.

Asif’s political ineptness has been devastatingly exposed by his amateurish mistakes. To great media acclaim he put his signature to the Murree Declaration, which he never intended to fulfil. Then, in the run-up to the latest summit, he inflicted a grievous wound on his party’s image by trying to slip the ISI into Rehman Malik’s hands. If impeachment was coming it made no sense to annoy the ISI chief, Musharraf’s buddy, Nadeem Taj. Finally, exposing Asif’s catastrophic lack of control over events, news of some judges being reinstated was leaked in the middle of talks. The PPP’s credibility was zero.

The talks themselves were a public relations trap that Asif walked right into. By holding the summit in the glare of the cameras, Asif didn’t realise failure wasn’t an option. The N-league had played its cards perfectly: it was the principled, wounded interlocutor coming with clean hands. The frenzied, breathless media played their part, salivating at the thought of Musharraf being thrown to the wolves.

Once Asif had been battered into submission, Nawaz, mission accomplished, sat smugly while Asif read out the communiqué. Much has been made about the way Asif snarled out “General Musharraf”. Few have realised it could have been the frustration and humiliation at being forced to read another’s words.

For Asif could not have wanted this. Astute PPP watchers will not have missed that Nawaz ‘I will not take dictation’ Sharif is dictating to the PPP co-chair. Only a few months ago, the party was Asif’s new, reluctant bride, worried about what her master would do to her. Few would have dreamt he would so quickly make her a mistress of others.

So what if Asif was bludgeoned into submission, some may argue. History will look kindly upon him, an accidental hero who ended up slaying a dictator. History will salute him. Perhaps. But what if you are more concerned — rightly — about Gen Kayani and his band of generals continuing to salute the prime minister?

What will the military do, the media asked innocently after goading the politicians into this confrontation. Yes, indeed what will the born-again democrat Gen Kayani do? Even as they line up to throw stones at the ISI, the politicians have fallen over themselves to praise Kayani. For the record, Kayani’s last job was the ISI chieftainship. But since everyone knows this, they must be assuming that Kayani was just doing his job, being a good soldier and following orders. In which case you must necessarily wonder about career ambition: corps commander, ISI chief, COAS, full stop — or next stop?

Nobody mentions this because, well, it doesn’t fit into the narrative of a democrat in uniform. But remember the last great hope of a democrat in uniform? He’s over in the presidential camp office fighting off the pols.

So what do our politicians do with our born-again democrat Kayani? They poke him in the eye just to make sure he’s asleep while they paralyse the country politically. Impeachment will not lead to martial law. But it won’t be a surprise if some months later it is referred to in another special address to the nation.

What purpose does impeaching Musharraf serve? For one, it will satisfy Nawaz whose bitterness is palpable. But beyond that? Nothing. A good precedent? Musharraf is Dictator No 4. One was blown out of the sky; the other two were chased out of office. We have had powerful presidents before who have been chucked out, their careers ending in tears. We have had army chiefs turfed out and Supreme Court chief justices sent packing.

The belief that this time it will be different, that this particular ouster will be a game-changer is pabulum — nonsense that appeals to the romance rather than the reality of grimy politics. To say this invites opprobrium. But those trying to punish Musharraf for confusing the individual with the office are themselves guilty of obsessing over the individual at the system’s expense. Whether Nawaz gets his man or not will not make the coalition’s decision right. Knowing what we know — and especially what we do not know — it is dangerous and irresponsible to try to unseat the president right now.

Does the country need Musharraf? No. We didn’t in 1999 and we certainly don’t today. Can this country afford a political crisis in order to push out Musharraf today? No. That is the gap between hope and reality. Zardari was right when he originally chose to coexist with the president. Now it’s clear that he was not doing so out of any strategic understanding — he just did it because Musharraf leaned on him enough. When Nawaz leaned on him more, he swung the other way. But Asif must at least be relieved that no one has noticed his mistakes. Indeed the more he unleashes against Musharraf, the more the people cheer. But that’s what we do when politicians lead us up the garden path — we cheer.

As the country hurtles towards the climactic confrontation between Nawaz and Musharraf, the politicians may well win. The country, however, may learn that a politician’s victory can be the people’s defeat.

DAWN - Opinion; August 13, 2008

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Ganja's stubbornness fits in with his ideological leanings - the steadfast stupidity and single minded pursuit of his own petty goals, regardless of the havoc it wreaks, in the mold of the Taliban.

A pity the masses are smitten with these b ufoons, but perhaps that is the cost of going through a democratic transition - we will have to suffer these fools, till some with more tolerable faults arise.

 

[fatman17]

^^AM - great post wonderfully summarised!

 

[fatman17]

Musharraf May Announce Decision to Quit Tomorrow, Times Says

By Khalid Qayum

Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf may announce his decision to resign tomorrow, Daily Times newspaper reported.

The country's ruling coalition, which is trying to oust him, will give him a safe exit if the president quits before impeachment proceedings, the newspaper today reported, citing an unidentified leader of a faction of Pakistan Muslim League, which is supporting him.

Musharraf has been advised to apologize to the people of Pakistan for sacking senior judiciary last year and reinstate those judges, Daily Times said.

The president plans to move to his new house near the capital, Islamabad, after resigning and then may leave the country after a few weeks, according to the report.

To contact the reporter on this story: Khalid Qayum in Islamabad at kqayum@bloomberg.net.

 

[dr.umer]

Source

Aug 13, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has evolved a four-pronged strategy to defy the impeachment move being brought against him by the ruling coalition government led by Asif Zardari of Pakistan People’s Party and Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-N, including using Article 58-2(b), which empowers him to sack the government and dissolve parliament, as the last resort.

Political sources said yesterday Musharraf’s first three moves may include: using Altaf Hussain’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement, estranged PPP leader Amin Fahim, Pir Pagara, Sindhi nationalist Mumtaz Bhutto and others opposed to Zardari to bring down the PPP government in Sindh, using the courts packed by judges who swore allegiance to him under the controversial Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) to challenge Shahbaz Sharif’s election as member of Punjab Assembly and the provincial chief minister and using the Supreme Court to repeal the controversial National Reconciliation Order (NRO), which gave amnesty to Zardari and his close aides against charges of corruption.

Sources in the presidential camp, requesting anonymity, say these are some of the moves Musharraf has so far finalised in his parleys with his legal aides and political aides of the pro-Musharraf former ruling party PML-Q and his patrons abroad. There are other options still being thrashed out for inclusion on the list.

When approached, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said: “We are aware of all conspiracies Musharraf is hatching. Let him do whatever he does. He is only shooting at his own foot. We are not deterred from our move to impeach him.” He added: “Come what may, Musharraf is doomed to face the people’s wrath. We shall politically deal with whatever moves he makes. Where we are unable to stop him and hit back, politically and legally, the loss is to be incurred by Musharraf and not us.”

Political sources say the remaining days of the week are crucial. “I can say with confidence that the ruling coalition will lose this game, at least in the first round,” a source close to Musharraf said.

“The Punjab governor is set to ask Shahbaz to seek a vote of confidence after the president’s move to destabilise him yields some results,” he claimed.

But Babar said: “I smell something going wrong in Punjab and Sindh provinces. (Fahim’s son) Jameeluz Zaman relinquishing his provincial cabinet post is significant. So is the legal experts’ movement in Lahore. They are preparing a move to get Shahbaz ousted from the office of chief minister.
But let them do whatever they can. We stand by our resolve to get Musharraf ousted.”
At what stage would the president resort to the crucial option of using powers under 58-2(b) of the constitution is unclear. But sources close to the presidency insist that this too would become clear in the next 72 hours.

Asked why the ruling coalition allowed such a long gap for Musharraf to move between announcing to impeach the president and the actual tabling of the resolution at the National Assembly, Babar said: “It was deemed essential to give the resolution-tabling process a political and moral tempo via resolutions in the provincial assemblies in support of impeachment. But, whatever the presidential quarters conceive and do would be harmful to them and not to us. Let him take whatever action he can. We are not going to be the losers. We win politically and morally. His fate is going to be decided this way or that in this process.” — Internews

 

[IceCold]

Source

Aug 13, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has evolved a four-pronged strategy to defy the impeachment move being brought against him by the ruling coalition government led by Asif Zardari of Pakistan People’s Party and Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-N, including using Article 58-2(b), which empowers him to sack the government and dissolve parliament, as the last resort.

Political sources said yesterday Musharraf’s first three moves may include: using Altaf Hussain’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement, estranged PPP leader Amin Fahim, Pir Pagara, Sindhi nationalist Mumtaz Bhutto and others opposed to Zardari to bring down the PPP government in Sindh, using the courts packed by judges who swore allegiance to him under the controversial Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) to challenge Shahbaz Sharif’s election as member of Punjab Assembly and the provincial chief minister and using the Supreme Court to repeal the controversial National Reconciliation Order (NRO), which gave amnesty to Zardari and his close aides against charges of corruption.

Sources in the presidential camp, requesting anonymity, say these are some of the moves Musharraf has so far finalised in his parleys with his legal aides and political aides of the pro-Musharraf former ruling party PML-Q and his patrons abroad. There are other options still being thrashed out for inclusion on the list.

When approached, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said: “We are aware of all conspiracies Musharraf is hatching. Let him do whatever he does. He is only shooting at his own foot. We are not deterred from our move to impeach him.” He added: “Come what may, Musharraf is doomed to face the people’s wrath. We shall politically deal with whatever moves he makes. Where we are unable to stop him and hit back, politically and legally, the loss is to be incurred by Musharraf and not us.”

Political sources say the remaining days of the week are crucial. “I can say with confidence that the ruling coalition will lose this game, at least in the first round,” a source close to Musharraf said.

“The Punjab governor is set to ask Shahbaz to seek a vote of confidence after the president’s move to destabilise him yields some results,” he claimed.

But Babar said: “I smell something going wrong in Punjab and Sindh provinces. (Fahim’s son) Jameeluz Zaman relinquishing his provincial cabinet post is significant. So is the legal experts’ movement in Lahore. They are preparing a move to get Shahbaz ousted from the office of chief minister.
But let them do whatever they can. We stand by our resolve to get Musharraf ousted.”
At what stage would the president resort to the crucial option of using powers under 58-2(b) of the constitution is unclear. But sources close to the presidency insist that this too would become clear in the next 72 hours.

Asked why the ruling coalition allowed such a long gap for Musharraf to move between announcing to impeach the president and the actual tabling of the resolution at the National Assembly, Babar said: “It was deemed essential to give the resolution-tabling process a political and moral tempo via resolutions in the provincial assemblies in support of impeachment. But, whatever the presidential quarters conceive and do would be harmful to them and not to us. Let him take whatever action he can. We are not going to be the losers. We win politically and morally. His fate is going to be decided this way or that in this process.” — Internews

It will indeed be interesting the power struggle between the Collation government and that of the president's office. But what purpose will the 58-2b serve? Since people elected this tolla hoping they would make this roti kapra available right at their door step but that did not happen, but we are known to be made fools again and again, why would this be any different. They will come up of an excuse of not having enough time to deal with the mess that they got in a tray from the previous government and the president did not let them do their job otherwise they would have made Pakistan the next world power People will definitely give it a thought and then say yeah they were right and hence next time more votes will be headed their way. Unfortunate but true, if people themselves don't want to be saved what can or will the president do? I feel sorry for him and ourselves at the same time. God bless Pakistan and may send in some sense in the minds of our moron ***** awam enabling them to understand how are they being fucked by the same people over and over again.

 

[Interceptor]

We all knew all four might pass it. But we have to wait and see how Sindh rolls! If Sindh doesn't do it, that's curtains for the impeachment crap! Which would mean Amin Fahim has stuck one up to Zardari.

But Zardari boy is clever. He's offered CM to Amin Fahim's son. . Wonder why Pakistanis love Soap Operas! They can just watch the news!

Sindh Assembly approves President Musharraf’s impeachment

Updated at: 1330 PST, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

KARACHI: The resolution for the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf, which was moved this morning in the Sindh Assembly, has been approved unanimously, while the opposition and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members boycotted.

The resolution was carried over by 93 votes cast, which included PPP’s 88, ANP’s 2 and Q-League’s 3 turncoats, while PPP’s 5 members were conspicuous by their absence.

Earlier, Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro had tabled the impeachment motion in the Assembly session chaired by its Speaker Nisar Khuhro, which demanded from the president to take vote of confidence from the Assembly. Ayaz Soomro said, “President Musharraf is not a suitable candidate for the post of presidency. On this occasion, Opposition Leader Jam Madad Ali said government was taking unconstitutional steps.

As I said MQM wont be voting for any side they will just be neutral somewhat, and again you can see that the Q-League voted against Musharraf, this session showed unanimous support for Musharraf's impeachment.

All those empty threats and wet dreams came to nothing to day.

Asim new stratagy is needed here.

 

[Interceptor]

Ok good. Say bye to Musharraf and make Zardari the President of Pakistan? Musharraf is the key here that will keep in check the corrupts. Once he goes, there is no one but a puppet of the corrupts replacing him or worst the corrupts themselves!

What if Musharraf dies who will then keep check and balance, we need an independent Judiciary not autocrats.

Who ever is to be nominated as President one thing is for sure it will be of the PPP, Mr Zardari is not a candidate of Presidency that I will tell you, he isn't like your Prevez Elhi's who hungry for power moron speaks like this "I want to be PM.... Please make me PM...." Musharraf says "Oke".

 

[Neo]

Pak Army, ISI to stay away from Musharraf’s impeachment​

Islamabad, Aug 12 : Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who was considered as a close confidante of President Pervez Musharraf till being appointed in the top Army post, has reportedly conveyed to his mentor that the military (under him) did not want to be dragged into any political controversy, and that it preferred to remain focused on its “professional and constitutional responsibilities”.

According to a source close to Kayani and having strong connections in the Pakistan military circles, Gen Kayani did not want to spoil the efforts he had initiated soon after becoming the Army Chief to redeem the lost respect of the Army.

The source said that the President was clearly conveyed that the impeachment issue should remain an affair between Musharraf and his political foes, reported The News.

However, Army spokesman and ISPR Director-General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said he would not like to speculate on this as he did not have any knowledge of such a communication. The source, who is also known to both the President and the Army Chief, said on the basis of his personal knowledge and experience Gen Kayani was a highly professional soldier, who despite his long association with Musharraf would never like to offer him the kind of support that the retired general would be expecting from his previous institution.

The source confirmed an earlier report that President Musharraf was extremely unhappy with Gen Kayani for keeping the Pakistan Army and the ISI away from manipulating the last general elections. The President, the source added, was all set to remove the present Army chief and replace him with a compliant general but he could not do that.

He said President Musharraf was told by a friend that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif could not remove him while he was in the air in 1999 so how could he think of removing an Army Chief, who is very much on the ground and has done extremely well to redeem the respect of the institution.

Meanwhile, the ISI, which has been involved in dirty politics during the last eight years to strengthen Musharraf, is also maintaining as a silent spectator. Although, ISI Director-General Lt-Gen Nadeem Taj, who is said to be a distant cousin of Musharraf, has been very close to the President, but sources said that being a member of the disciplined force he, too, could not go beyond the limits set by the Army chief.

The paper quoted an ISI official as saying that the intelligence agency was not using its muscles to influence the ongoing impeachment move in any manner.

The source said the ISI’s political role has been checked tremendously during the last several months and the clear proof of this was the Feb 18 elections. “Have you heard anything in all these months of the ISI’s usual political manoeuvres and background pressures,” the source added. (ANI)

Pak Army, ISI to stay away from Musharraf’s impeachment
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 04:21. Pervez Musharraf Islamabad Pakistan
Islamabad, Aug 12 : Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who was considered as a close confidante of President Pervez Musharraf till being appointed in the top Army post, has reportedly conveyed to his mentor that the military (under him) did not want to be dragged into any political controversy, and that it preferred to remain focused on its “professional and constitutional responsibilities”.

According to a source close to Kayani and having strong connections in the Pakistan military circles, Gen Kayani did not want to spoil the efforts he had initiated soon after becoming the Army Chief to redeem the lost respect of the Army.

The source said that the President was clearly conveyed that the impeachment issue should remain an affair between Musharraf and his political foes, reported The News.

However, Army spokesman and ISPR Director-General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said he would not like to speculate on this as he did not have any knowledge of such a communication. The source, who is also known to both the President and the Army Chief, said on the basis of his personal knowledge and experience Gen Kayani was a highly professional soldier, who despite his long association with Musharraf would never like to offer him the kind of support that the retired general would be expecting from his previous institution.

The source confirmed an earlier report that President Musharraf was extremely unhappy with Gen Kayani for keeping the Pakistan Army and the ISI away from manipulating the last general elections. The President, the source added, was all set to remove the present Army chief and replace him with a compliant general but he could not do that.

He said President Musharraf was told by a friend that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif could not remove him while he was in the air in 1999 so how could he think of removing an Army Chief, who is very much on the ground and has done extremely well to redeem the respect of the institution.

Meanwhile, the ISI, which has been involved in dirty politics during the last eight years to strengthen Musharraf, is also maintaining as a silent spectator. Although, ISI Director-General Lt-Gen Nadeem Taj, who is said to be a distant cousin of Musharraf, has been very close to the President, but sources said that being a member of the disciplined force he, too, could not go beyond the limits set by the Army chief.

The paper quoted an ISI official as saying that the intelligence agency was not using its muscles to influence the ongoing impeachment move in any manner.

The source said the ISI’s political role has been checked tremendously during the last several months and the clear proof of this was the Feb 18 elections. “Have you heard anything in all these months of the ISI’s usual political manoeuvres and background pressures,” the source added. (ANI)

Pak Army, ISI to stay away from Musharraf’s impeachment
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 04:21. Pervez Musharraf Islamabad Pakistan
Islamabad, Aug 12 : Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who was considered as a close confidante of President Pervez Musharraf till being appointed in the top Army post, has reportedly conveyed to his mentor that the military (under him) did not want to be dragged into any political controversy, and that it preferred to remain focused on its “professional and constitutional responsibilities”.

According to a source close to Kayani and having strong connections in the Pakistan military circles, Gen Kayani did not want to spoil the efforts he had initiated soon after becoming the Army Chief to redeem the lost respect of the Army.

The source said that the President was clearly conveyed that the impeachment issue should remain an affair between Musharraf and his political foes, reported The News.

However, Army spokesman and ISPR Director-General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said he would not like to speculate on this as he did not have any knowledge of such a communication. The source, who is also known to both the President and the Army Chief, said on the basis of his personal knowledge and experience Gen Kayani was a highly professional soldier, who despite his long association with Musharraf would never like to offer him the kind of support that the retired general would be expecting from his previous institution.

The source confirmed an earlier report that President Musharraf was extremely unhappy with Gen Kayani for keeping the Pakistan Army and the ISI away from manipulating the last general elections. The President, the source added, was all set to remove the present Army chief and replace him with a compliant general but he could not do that.

He said President Musharraf was told by a friend that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif could not remove him while he was in the air in 1999 so how could he think of removing an Army Chief, who is very much on the ground and has done extremely well to redeem the respect of the institution.

Meanwhile, the ISI, which has been involved in dirty politics during the last eight years to strengthen Musharraf, is also maintaining as a silent spectator. Although, ISI Director-General Lt-Gen Nadeem Taj, who is said to be a distant cousin of Musharraf, has been very close to the President, but sources said that being a member of the disciplined force he, too, could not go beyond the limits set by the Army chief.

The paper quoted an ISI official as saying that the intelligence agency was not using its muscles to influence the ongoing impeachment move in any manner.

The source said the ISI’s political role has been checked tremendously during the last several months and the clear proof of this was the Feb 18 elections. “Have you heard anything in all these months of the ISI’s usual political manoeuvres and background pressures,” the source added. (ANI)

Pak Army, ISI to stay away from Musharraf’s impeachment | Top News

 

[fatman17]

^^^the end game is near!

 

[blain2]

I think this will drag quite a bit. Musharraf has gone to bat for the Army and ISI as recently as a few weeks ago and I do not think the impact of that has been lost on the Army at least. I think the Army will play its role of neutrality by making sure that the President is not messed around with too much but publicly there will not be any signs of support to the President.

Secondly, because the impeachment process itself is something not fully baked, I suspect many legal and constitutional challenges up ahead. So on legal grounds, Musharraf has quite a bit or room to move around in, however what one can't tell is if he has had enough and whether he wants to quit on his own and move on. For this we will have to wait and see.

I think the recent statements by the PM and the feudal prince of Pakistan (Mr. 10%) stating the Army is their own Army and a very professional one may be an attempt to sooth relations after the ISI fiasco. So I am not so sure that Army and Kiyani are so indifferent that they would not care if Musharraf went.

 

[fatman17]

I think this will drag quite a bit. Musharraf has gone to bat for the Army and ISI as recently as a few weeks ago and I do not think the impact of that has been lost on the Army at least. I think the Army will play its role of neutrality by making sure that the President is not messed around with too much but publicly there will not be any signs of support to the President.

Secondly, because the impeachment process itself is something not fully baked, I suspect many legal and constitutional challenges up ahead. So on legal grounds, Musharraf has quite a bit or room to move around in, however what one can't tell is if he has had enough and whether he wants to quit on his own and move on. For this we will have to wait and see.

I think the recent statements by the PM and the feudal prince of Pakistan (Mr. 10%) stating the Army is their own Army and a very professional one may be an attempt to sooth relations after the ISI fiasco. So I am not so sure that Army and Kiyani are so indifferent that they would not care if Musharraf went.

as much as i want the above to be true but the ground reality is unfortunately different. his allies are abandoning him. the army will not want him to be impeached and humiliated, that being the extent of their support.

 

[blain2]

as much as i want the above to be true but the ground reality is unfortunately different. his allies are abandoning him. the army will not want him to be impeached and humiliated, that being the extent of their support.

Possibly true...I guess we will just have to see how this plays out.

 

[pkpatriotic]

‘Impeachment’ is another Bhurban
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ameer Bhutto
Here we go again, down the same well trodden path that leads to nowhere. The Sharif-Zardari joint press conference in Islamabad at the end of three days of talks had a sense of déjà vu about it. The three main decisions announced by Nawaz Sharif and Zardari were the impeachment of the president, the restoration of the judges after the impeachment, and the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment. But just because these measures have been agreed upon and announced does not mean they will be implemented.

There is nothing new or novel in the latest agreement between the ruling coalition partners. Did the Charter of Democracy, signed by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in London on May 14, 2006, not contain much of this, if not in letter then in spirit? Obviously, there was no mention of the judges’ issue in the charter since the judges had not been sacked back then. But the charter vowed to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif also made it clear that there could be no negotiations with a uniformed president. However, within days of signing the charter, the People’s Party leadership initiated backdoor contacts with the president to reach some form of rapprochement with him in order to facilitate the PPP chairperson’s return to Pakistan and her participation in the polls, to the annoyance of Nawaz Sharif, who felt the People’s Party had violated the charter.

The roadmap for the restoration of the sacked judges was the centrepiece of the Murree Agreement of March 9 between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari. The agreement unequivocally stated that these judges would be restored by means of a parliamentary resolution within thirty days of the formation of the federal government. Not only was this commitment not honoured, but Zardari later flippantly referred to it as a mere “political statement” that was not binding on him, causing Nawaz Sharif to withdraw the PML-N from the federal cabinet. Since then the PPP has played the shyster, trying to wiggle out of its commitment to restore the judges.

And now we have this fresh joint announcement, which only recycles commitments made and broken in the recent past by the People’s Party. So, will Musharraf be impeached? The fact is that the leading players on our political stage long ago mortgaged away the liberty to exercise free will for the sake of power. So the puppet masters must have their say. The disposition of the White House and US State Department is the key to the issue. The pre-poll deal between the PPP and Musharraf could not have been cemented without American consent and it can not, therefore, be casually trashed unilaterally. Whereas their confidence in Pervez Musharraf may no longer be as high as it was a few years ago, Americans still feel he represents a far more reliable option than any civilian. No doubt, this impression was further reinforced during Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s disastrous Washington visit, in which he stumbled from one catastrophic encounter with the United States’ political, diplomatic and intellectual elite to another, failing to answer a single question and unable to even coherently express himself. The embarrassing, indeed amateurish and humiliating, somersaults on the reversal of the ISI notification and the reversal of the decision to restore eight of the suspended Sindh High Court judges, not to mention a plethora of similar belly flops, can hardly foster much confidence in Washington. Rightly or wrongly, the Americans feel that their survival is dependent upon unqualified success in their “war on terror,” in which Pakistan happens to be a frontline state. Does anyone for a moment seriously believe that they would trust a bumbling, powerless prime minister, who cannot even talk comprehensibly, and a rudderless government that cannot impose its writ, with conducting their proxy war against Muslim militants? Despite his unpopularity, President Musharraf remains the more rational choice for Americans. In any case, when has the US foreign policy ever been concerned about doing the popular thing?

Does Nawaz Sharif seriously believe that Zardari will honour his commitment this time around? The first clue to the answer to this question must come from Zardari’s announcement that the proceedings against the president will be initiated in the provincial assemblies. The fact is the provincial assemblies have nothing to do with impeaching the president, nor does the Constitution give the provincial assemblies, or even the National Assembly and the Senate, for that matter, the authority to pass a no-confidence motion against him. Article 47, which pertains to the president’s impeachment, makes no mention whatsoever of the provincial assemblies. It requires that the process be initiated and completed in its entirety in the “Majlis-e-Shoora—i.e., the National Assembly and the Senate. Resorting to the provincial assemblies reveals mala fide intentions on Zardari’s part. He is up to his customary dilatory tactics. Besides, the ruling coalition does not have the required numbers in Parliament to impeach the president. That is why Nawaz Sharif and Zardari slyly dodged questions on this point and said they would appeal to all parties to support them. But one of their own coalition partners, the MQM, has already declared that it will not support any move against the president and did not attend the press conference in Islamabad, while PPP (Parliamentarians) president Amin Fahim also remains unenthusiastic. If all else fails, Musharraf could exercise his power to dissolve the assemblies. With the backing of the armed forces and America, why should a retired general now suddenly start worrying about democratic norms? And who will demonstrate in the streets for this government if he sends it packing? People will be happy to see it go, since it has only compounded their misery.

From all indications, the move to impeach the president is a non-starter and is likely to get bogged down in technical, political and legal quicksand. This is a ploy to procrastinate and divert attention from the more contentious issue of restoration of the judges, which Zardari cleverly got Nawaz Sharif to agree to postpone till after the impeachment. Nawaz Sharif’s acceptance of Zardari’s chosen chronology must also cast a shadow of doubt on his own resolve. Nawaz Sharif had emphatically declared that this round of deliberations with his political allies would be the make-or-break round, after which important decisions would have to be made by his party. A nation starved of good fortune in recent times dared to hope that his principled stand might produce a positive outcome. Once again, they are bound to be disappointed. Afteral, Nawaz Sharif is a product of the Zia junta, in which he must have learnt the lesson that being in power, or being close to those who are in power, takes precedence over archaic political principles. The PML-N is set to re-enter the federal cabinet, to reap the benefits once again of the power from which it was shut out for nine long years. But it is increasingly beginning to look like the long-term window of opportunity for Nawaz Sharif is rapidly closing. Henceforth, events are likely to move in a different direction and he is likely to be tainted with the failures of his coalition partners.

But what will become of the nation? What hope is there for the desolate and starving millions who are forced to sell their children to survive? Who is looking out for them and the future of the country? There is a joke circulating on mobile phones these days via SMS: Due to the shortage of electricity, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off. That just about says it all.

The writer is vice-chairman of the Sindh National Front and former MPA from Ratodero. He has degrees from the University of Buckingham and Cambridge University.

 

[pkpatriotic]

Now’s your chance,Mr Fahim
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Gibran Peshimam
Though it’s a widely-known and referred to concept, not many people believe in it. Yet, strangely enough, something or another happens, and it’s back in your face. Karma. Don’t underestimate it –especially in Pakistani politics. That goes double for Mr Asif Ali Zardari, who has, in the recent past, himself been a beneficiary of the concept.

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto was a colossal loss for all her supporters across the nation and for the nation itself. Yet, it seems that no one was harder hit than Mr Fahim in terms of his political stature and career. From being the president of the PPP while Ms Bhutto was in self exile he has become a member of the national assembly who is no longer invited to party meetings – of both the professional and social variety. From being a near sure-shot as the next prime minister of Pakistan to a man that has no say in any party matter. From the thick of things he has been pushed away to the fringes or even further. The degree of the snub would make the most seasoned and battle-tested political figure cringe.

Mr Fahim’s political fall has been attributed largely to his fallout with Mr Zardari, who took the reins of the party in the wake of the assassination of Ms Bhutto. Even the most passive of analyses would have to agree that Mr Fahim has been embarrassed by the treatment meted out to him by the PPP under Mr Zardari. However, with the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf being put to a vote in parliament, and the numbers threatening to swing either way by a matter of a couple of votes, a humiliated Mr Fahim could find himself in a very pivotal position. Ah, how the tables could turn. Poetic justice, Karma… pick your expression.

Those expected to back the impeachment motion are: PPP (125 NA seats, 10 Senate seats), PML-N (91 NA seats, 4 Senate seats), ANP (13 NA seats, 2 Senate seats), JUI-F/MMA (7 NA seats, 13 Senate seats), BNP-A (1 NA seat, 2 Senate seats), JWP (1 Senate seat), JI (5 Senate votes) and PKMAP (3 Senate seats). The total: 277 seats. The magic number for getting a two-thirds majority needed for the impeachment is 295 votes out of the 442 combined vote bank of the National Assembly and Senate. There are 26 independent votes, 16 in the National Assembly, 10 in the Senate. Assuming that the pro-impeachment forces get 20 of the 26 independent votes, the total becomes 297.

It’s a matter of a couple of votes. That is assuming, of course, that the pro-president camp holds its ground and doesn’t resort to floor crossing – an old habit in Pakistani politics.

If Mr Fahim decides, this could be his opportunity to get back at Mr Zardari, who has treated him with disdain and had him humiliated and sidelined from the PPP. He doesn’t have to vote in favour of the president; he just has to not vote at all. Moreover, if we are to believe the presence of anti-Zardari elements in the PPP, Mr Fahim could have a few marginalized members in the party deciding to abstain. If that happens, Mr Zardari could be served a hearty slice of humble pie.

Will the PPP co-chairman try to mend fences with Mr Fahim? Such attempts have been reported, with Mr Zardari sending one of his boys, Khurshid Shah, to convince the Makhdoom of Hala to support him. Mr Fahim, as expected, and understandably, sent Mr Shah back without any promise. The former prime ministerial frontrunner and political stalwart would have to be pretty silly to agree to an apology pushed only by expediency. Mr Fahim, with all his years in politics, is not a silly man.

There will be detractors. They will say that by abstaining from voting to impeach the president, Mr Fahim will be distancing himself from democratic forces. Democratic forces? The country is, in essence, run by two men, neither of whom is elected. They scamper from Zardari House to Punjab House to the Mardan House to hold a tonne of meetings about issues that should be resolved out in the open in the assemblies. Moreover, the prime minister, who is already criticized for having to refer every decision he makes to Mr Zardari, was not even invited to attend meetings that are deciding on important national issues. If that’s not enough, the country’s security is run by an all-powerful yet unelected adviser not by an elected minister. Just what form of democracy are we talking about?

As for party loyalty; well, we all know this isn’t the same PPP. There is an underlying yet palpable nefariousness about it that just cannot be ignored – especially in its collaboration with Mr Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N. The tone. The rhetoric. The demeanour. There’s something about it.

Whether or not Mr Fahim takes it, it’s an opportunity all right. Will he vote for a man under whom his beloved party has sent him to the fringes and who has snubbed his years of experience and struggle for the PPP?

Then again, Mr Fahim may not be thinking along these lines at all. It may be that he’s seen too much to be affected by a political snub. Whether or not the PPP under Mr Zardari is the same party that he gave his all to during his political career may not make a difference to him. Moreover, his decision may not even make a difference if we are to believe the rhetoric of the coalition that they have 350 votes supporting the impeachment already.

Still, it will remain an ethical decision and one based on pride despite the fact that the odds are in favour of the pro-impeachment camp. It must be remembered that Mr Zardari is a master of turning the tides when it comes to such matters. He almost single-handedly saved the first Benazir government from a vote of no confidence back in 1990 through his masterful political wheeling and dealing. He managed that despite the fact that the move to dislodge the PPP government was launched by ‘the establishment’ and despite the Inter-Services Intelligence’s Operation Midnight Jackal that looked to ‘convince’ PPP MNAs to cross the floor. Like him or not, that is quite a feat. He also ensured that PPP candidate Farooq Leghari was elected president even though the party did not have the numbers in the assemblies (that Leghari dismissed the PPP government later is of no consequence; he was the PPP’s candidate of choice back then).

The PPP has put a lot on the line by moving to impeach the president – more so than any coalition member. In fact, if the motion fails, the PPP’s credibility and leadership will be the hardest hit. Though reports may suggest that the PPP is not panicking, the reality could very well be otherwise. If the impeachment becomes close, as the numbers currently suggest, it will come down to a few votes. Mr Fahim’s could be one of them. He will not be voting in favour of the president as many are suggesting. No. He’ll be distancing himself from a failing, clumsy and seriously flawed set up by abstaining.

Just think about it. Sidelined and embarrassed, on the day the votes are cast, Mr Fahim and a couple of others like him will have pivotal votes. Karma. Don’t underestimate it.

 

[JK!]

Re. The people of Pakistan and these Politicians I borrow the line of Jesus dying on the cross:

"Forgive them father they know not what they do"