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Bravo Javed Hashmi, Kh Saad, Kashmala and shame on the rest of you!
Friday, April 09, 2010
Press Gallery
By Mohammad Malick
Islamabad: The House voted in the 18th amendment, a day earlier than expected but still 37 years late in coming. But like they say, better late than never. It was indeed a glorious day for democracy. Perched in the comfort of our gallery, we witnessed history in the making as an ecstatic parliament celebrated the historic righting of many wrongs done to our Constitution by one illegitimate military dictator after another.
Those belonging to my generation, who saw their teen years robbed by the stifling religious fundamentalism brought in by late Gen Ziaul Haq today had the perverse pleasure of watching his name purged from the Constitution. What was surprising was why Gen Musharraf wasnt stripped of his place in the constitutional history in a similar manner. Could it be that late Gen Ziaul Haqs team players are long gone and his own sons are not exactly in the power corridors, so it was convenient to slice him out, whereas while Mush may be cooling his heels in Abu Dhabi, his ex-team mates are still hot as they continue to occupy some of the most formidably influential offices of the land? Your guess is as good as mine. But one cant help remembering the days when Nawaz Sharif and company used to refer to late general as their spiritual father. I have witnessed most of these born-again democrats fawn and bow before even his little daughter Zain. Those were the days when PML-Ns Raja Zafrul Haq used to proudly tell everyone that the late general had dubbed him the opening batsman of his team. Ah, this curse of convenient morality!
I hate to sound a party pooper specially on such a democracy D-day but it would be criminal to remain silent on one of the biggest undemocratic crimes committed by our celebrating parliamentary mob. Here we are, fundamentally changing our Constitution in the name of democracy and what do our political gods do, they even remove the condition which made it mandatory for political parties to hold elections regularly for their party offices. We all know that our political leaderships are naked political dynasties and this law never really made any practical difference in the power structure of the biggest political parties but now even the fig leaf of implementing democratic norms within parties has been shamelessly blown away. Just what the heck is wrong with our political leaders? Do they have no shame when they act with such contemptuous disdain and refuse to allow democracy to prevail within their own ranks while exploiting the same democracy phenomenon to lord over the rest of us. Whats wrong with us also that we allow these creatures of our own making to get away with such nonsense. Democracy is not an end, its a process and for it to strengthen it must be nurtured in the nurseries called political parties. But try telling that to Asfandyar Wali the carry-on of Wali dynasty, President Zardari the carry-on of the Bhutto dynasty, Nawaz Sharif launching his own Sharif dynasty, Chaudrys of Gujrat carrying on in the name of their late father, and the list reads on.
But hats off to Makhdoom Javed Hashmi (not really surprising) and Khwaja saad Rafique (a big surprise indeed) who defied their party line and voted against the removal of this condition. They knew that their votes wouldnt make one bit of a difference and on the contrary would earn the ire of their own political demigods but at least they did the moral thing. Thank you gentlemen, and Lord have mercy on you for you have just earned the wrath of a leadership that neither forgets nor forgives, as many before you learned to their peril in the past. (Trust me ladies and gentleman, its not an easy burden to bear). Kashmala Tariq of PML-Q also made up for many past sins by demanding that the parties must remain legally bound to holding intra-party elections.
I am sparing you guys the details of the amendment itself because its already been reported threadbare and will also not tax your patience by boring you with quoting forgettable quotes of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition but must share a couple of things though.
With 18th amendment becoming part of the Constitution in a day or two after the Senate chimes in with its consent, a lot will change and the indications are already evident. With the third-time bar on becoming a prime minister also gone, the road to the PM House is now clear for Baray Mian Sahib in case there are mid-term polls and you will soon see PML-N really turning the heat on PPP government on public importance issues. Within weeks you will see the government being taken to task on the lack of power, absence of control on ever spiking inflation, rising unemployment, absence of any long-term economic plans, and the whole works. In fact come budget time and you will see some scary sparks fly.
Already leader of the Opposition Ch Nisar has wasted no time in serving a warning as while congratulating the prime minister on the shifting of powers from the Presidency to the Prime Ministers Office; he said that greater power also entailed greater responsibility and that now the government had no more excuses for its lack of governance. He also argued that the ruling dispensation had already wasted the first two years of its five-year mandate. Get the drift?
But PML-Ns unsaid political ambitions notwithstanding, which are perfectly legitimate by the way, it is a fact that with the passage of this amendment the prime minister too has lost a very convenient bogie called the president. In the past, the prime minister could conveniently pass the buck to the Presidency whenever something went wrong and the people were more than willing to believe(and for good reason too).
He had the golden chance to play peacemaker every time and earn plaudits for every other man-made crisis. His mettle will be put to real test for the first time now as the buck stops at his table. Now he has to answer why while he has all the power there is no power in our homes. Hell have to tell why while he has the most important job, unemployment is rising alarmingly. The PM may have been presented with a spanking new swim suit, powerful rubber fins to propel him at rocket speed but he has also been thrown into shark infested deep waters. Lets see how he survives the many bites he is about to get.
Because judging from the sorry lot of his present cabinet hes looking at a very risky swim indeed. Oh by the way it was also a mantra of the PMs faithful that they were stuck with presidents men and couldnt do much on the governance front. Well, now you have the wheel Mr prime minister, lets see how you drive.
Bravo Javed Hashmi, Kh Saad, Kashmala and shame on the rest of you!
Friday, April 09, 2010
Press Gallery
By Mohammad Malick
Islamabad: The House voted in the 18th amendment, a day earlier than expected but still 37 years late in coming. But like they say, better late than never. It was indeed a glorious day for democracy. Perched in the comfort of our gallery, we witnessed history in the making as an ecstatic parliament celebrated the historic righting of many wrongs done to our Constitution by one illegitimate military dictator after another.
Those belonging to my generation, who saw their teen years robbed by the stifling religious fundamentalism brought in by late Gen Ziaul Haq today had the perverse pleasure of watching his name purged from the Constitution. What was surprising was why Gen Musharraf wasnt stripped of his place in the constitutional history in a similar manner. Could it be that late Gen Ziaul Haqs team players are long gone and his own sons are not exactly in the power corridors, so it was convenient to slice him out, whereas while Mush may be cooling his heels in Abu Dhabi, his ex-team mates are still hot as they continue to occupy some of the most formidably influential offices of the land? Your guess is as good as mine. But one cant help remembering the days when Nawaz Sharif and company used to refer to late general as their spiritual father. I have witnessed most of these born-again democrats fawn and bow before even his little daughter Zain. Those were the days when PML-Ns Raja Zafrul Haq used to proudly tell everyone that the late general had dubbed him the opening batsman of his team. Ah, this curse of convenient morality!
I hate to sound a party pooper specially on such a democracy D-day but it would be criminal to remain silent on one of the biggest undemocratic crimes committed by our celebrating parliamentary mob. Here we are, fundamentally changing our Constitution in the name of democracy and what do our political gods do, they even remove the condition which made it mandatory for political parties to hold elections regularly for their party offices. We all know that our political leaderships are naked political dynasties and this law never really made any practical difference in the power structure of the biggest political parties but now even the fig leaf of implementing democratic norms within parties has been shamelessly blown away. Just what the heck is wrong with our political leaders? Do they have no shame when they act with such contemptuous disdain and refuse to allow democracy to prevail within their own ranks while exploiting the same democracy phenomenon to lord over the rest of us. Whats wrong with us also that we allow these creatures of our own making to get away with such nonsense. Democracy is not an end, its a process and for it to strengthen it must be nurtured in the nurseries called political parties. But try telling that to Asfandyar Wali the carry-on of Wali dynasty, President Zardari the carry-on of the Bhutto dynasty, Nawaz Sharif launching his own Sharif dynasty, Chaudrys of Gujrat carrying on in the name of their late father, and the list reads on.
But hats off to Makhdoom Javed Hashmi (not really surprising) and Khwaja saad Rafique (a big surprise indeed) who defied their party line and voted against the removal of this condition. They knew that their votes wouldnt make one bit of a difference and on the contrary would earn the ire of their own political demigods but at least they did the moral thing. Thank you gentlemen, and Lord have mercy on you for you have just earned the wrath of a leadership that neither forgets nor forgives, as many before you learned to their peril in the past. (Trust me ladies and gentleman, its not an easy burden to bear). Kashmala Tariq of PML-Q also made up for many past sins by demanding that the parties must remain legally bound to holding intra-party elections.
I am sparing you guys the details of the amendment itself because its already been reported threadbare and will also not tax your patience by boring you with quoting forgettable quotes of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition but must share a couple of things though.
With 18th amendment becoming part of the Constitution in a day or two after the Senate chimes in with its consent, a lot will change and the indications are already evident. With the third-time bar on becoming a prime minister also gone, the road to the PM House is now clear for Baray Mian Sahib in case there are mid-term polls and you will soon see PML-N really turning the heat on PPP government on public importance issues. Within weeks you will see the government being taken to task on the lack of power, absence of control on ever spiking inflation, rising unemployment, absence of any long-term economic plans, and the whole works. In fact come budget time and you will see some scary sparks fly.
Already leader of the Opposition Ch Nisar has wasted no time in serving a warning as while congratulating the prime minister on the shifting of powers from the Presidency to the Prime Ministers Office; he said that greater power also entailed greater responsibility and that now the government had no more excuses for its lack of governance. He also argued that the ruling dispensation had already wasted the first two years of its five-year mandate. Get the drift?
But PML-Ns unsaid political ambitions notwithstanding, which are perfectly legitimate by the way, it is a fact that with the passage of this amendment the prime minister too has lost a very convenient bogie called the president. In the past, the prime minister could conveniently pass the buck to the Presidency whenever something went wrong and the people were more than willing to believe(and for good reason too).
He had the golden chance to play peacemaker every time and earn plaudits for every other man-made crisis. His mettle will be put to real test for the first time now as the buck stops at his table. Now he has to answer why while he has all the power there is no power in our homes. Hell have to tell why while he has the most important job, unemployment is rising alarmingly. The PM may have been presented with a spanking new swim suit, powerful rubber fins to propel him at rocket speed but he has also been thrown into shark infested deep waters. Lets see how he survives the many bites he is about to get.
Because judging from the sorry lot of his present cabinet hes looking at a very risky swim indeed. Oh by the way it was also a mantra of the PMs faithful that they were stuck with presidents men and couldnt do much on the governance front. Well, now you have the wheel Mr prime minister, lets see how you drive.
Bravo Javed Hashmi, Kh Saad, Kashmala and shame on the rest of you!
