A combination of disgust and anger

As the OBL saga was unraveling, PPP was only interested in swearing in hated ‘Q’ members as ministers.

Osama bin Laden (OBL) has been all over the media — here, there and everywhere. There is little left to say other than it is inconceivable that we will ever know the truth and certainly nothing even approaching the whole truth. We do know that there are far too many inexplicable, even ridiculous, factors involved in the adventure, operation, or what-have-you. And, by the way, what was the deal on the dialysis?

Not inexplicable, but more than ridiculous, is the manner in which Pakistan’s politics are evolving. As for the gnashing of teeth over the country’s sovereignty, well nothing illustrates better the profound disregard that Master Satrap USA had, and has, for its pathetic subject than the imposition by it, by law and in partnership with a handful of utterly contemptible politicians eager to either remain in or grasp power, of that old bitter bone, the NRO. Abottabad is just an offshoot, as is this new unsavoury alliance of the pitiful party in power (which is what the PPP has become under its co-chairman doubling as head of state) with a bunch of turncoats and criminals who have the gall to label themselves ‘Q’. Though, of course, as that cheesy saying goes — birds of a feather flock together.

Whilst the OBL saga was initially trying to unravel itself, the PPP had nothing else in mind other than its survival and moving towards the cementing of its power base by swearing in hated ‘Q’ members as ministers (with more to come), grossly ignoring its own 18th constitutional amendment as to the size of the government’s cabinet. It spared not a thought for the further humiliation of its sovereignty about which it never ceases to whinge — it was too busy adding up numbers.

The ‘Q’ lot have been publicly derided and abused, and justifiably so, but by those who bear a strong resemblance to them. All have proven themselves to be feckless self-seekers who care not a damn for the country they use for their own purposes. They milk what they can, when they can, they bribe or blackmail their way out of paying taxes, they live and prosper like leeches on the people of a nation that is near the bottom of all recognised international listings, they all have bolt-holes in foreign lands with billions stashed away in far off banks — but they will not leave and let us rid ourselves of them. After all, they are nonentities once out of Pakistan — they are wise to the old saying about big fishes in small ponds being far better off than small fishes in little ponds.

Does it really make any difference as to who makes a coalition government with whom? No, because they are all equally shameless — easily seen from the bad joke that is the assets they all declare — and all have equally sticky fingers. The Ps, the Qs, the Ns, the Js and the rest of the bunch who jostle for power when the army is not around are all brothers and sisters under the skin. One just has to observe their images on our TV screens or in the press to judge the calibre of what we have in place ostensibly to dispense governance — brigands or nincompoops, or dinosaurs with dyed hair, without the slightest intent or will to provide governance. And the opening up of their mouths makes it all far worse.

A column appeared in the Washington Post on May 2 under the name of Asif Ali Zardari admitting that the previous day’s events “were not a joint operation”, evoking memories of his wife, Benazir, upon whose posthumous coat-tails he has to ride to survive, and assuring the world that “Our people, our government, our military, our intelligence agencies are very much united”. What a laugh — the people are as clueless as is the government, and as for the other two, well, they play their own games, muddying their faces, excluding any outside participation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2011.