For all the confidence in the premier’s speech, the ruling party does not yet have the support it needs to pass the “pro-democracy” resolution tabled in parliament by its ally, the Awami National Party (ANP) – forget any other possible moves against the army.
Despite toning down the rhetoric against the military and the judiciary in the resolution, the party is still unsure of complete support from its two largest coalition partners, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The PML-Q is making the right noises, saying it will ‘definitely’ support the resolution, but adds in the same breath that it will not be a part of any move against the armed forces.
The MQM is irked at being ‘ignored’ by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and said the government did not share the draft of the resolution before tabling it.
Irked MQM
“We are yet to decide if we will support the resolution or not,” said MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizvi.
“But on the floor of the house, we did not oppose the resolution and amended it just to stay away from confrontation with the state’s institutions,” he added.
Party’s senior leader Wasay Jalil lamented being handed in the draft at the eleventh hour. Despite that, the party is pouring over the content of the resolution, he said.
“We are going to hold a meeting on Monday before the assembly session and will discuss what would be the party’s line of action,” Jalil said while talking to The Express Tribune.
Jalil also hit out at PPP for ignoring its allies, ‘especially the MQM.’
It is our longstanding issue with the government that they should take their allies into confidence prior to taking important decisions, but that it doesn’t is quite clear from the recent decisions, Jalil said.
If there was no urgency, the prime minister should have talked to our leadership regarding such important decisions as sacking the defence secretary and assertions against the army and intelligence chiefs for violating the Constitution, he added.
Jalil said it’s understandable why the premier keeps altering his statements regarding the submission of replies by the armed forces to the apex court in the memo case.
“It’s frustrating for everyone that even within the prime minister’s legal team there is a difference of opinion over the submission of replies. The attorney general believes the military is right,” he added.
Backing the armed forces
Both coalition partners agree on one thing though – the government should not confront the armed forces.
“President Zardari called Altaf Bhai [the MQM chief] a couple of days ago to get an endorsement, and Altaf Bhai gave him a clear guideline that the government should not repeat the mistake of confronting institutions,” Jalil said.
“The government should also dispel the impression that it is provoking the armed forces for an intervention,” he added.
Jalil said the MQM believes the military is working within its ambit and their apparent intentions don’t seem wrong since they are just trying to safeguard the national interest.
“Armed forces are the guardians of the territory and their intent cannot be doubted at all,” Jalil added.
The MQM is not the only cautious partner. The PML-Q, which claims it played an important role in toning down the PPP’s proposed draft of the resolution, says it will support it, but will not support any move against the military.
“PML-Q definitely supports the resolution, which is pro-democracy and aims at stabilising the democratic system in the country,” PML-Q leader Kamil Ali Agha said.
He added that the party’s chairman Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is in close contacts with the army and the PPP leadership to reconcile the disputes.
At the same time, Shujaat has made it clear to the government that the PML-Q will not be part of any move against the armed forces,” Agha said.
He added that the military is working within its ambit and has no ill intent to derail democracy.
President returns, meets ANP chief
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari arrived home from Dubai early Friday, after a brief visit to attend a wedding, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar told AFP.
He was called on by the ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan who presented the resolution in the National Assembly earlier on Friday.
A brief statement issued by the presidency stated that the current political situation and coalition matters were discussed during the meeting. Sources, however, said the leadership of the two allies deliberated on plans to muster maximum support for the resolution.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2012.
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It is time to see who is a coalition partner and who is only in it for power? Most secular and democratic forces should join hands to continue the democratic process with an early elections.
@ET: Can u please remove this nagging add from the site or atleast place it somewhere so it does not hide the page content.