It just takes the combination of two names in the top slots to comprehend the depths into which this Islamic Republic has sunk itself. It is a unique pairing in a comity of known parliamentary systems. To see President Asif Ali Zardari coupled with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, in print — or otherwise — has the effect of making many a heart sink low into the ground, beneath one’s feet.
Just what do these names conjure up? Both have a past which precedes them; one with a far longer litany than the other. Both are synonymous — by perception and reputation — with corruption and malpractice. There is little need to elaborate as it would be but repetition. Both face contempt charges.
One in the Lahore High Court, the alleged contempt being the fact that he holds two conflicting positions — that of head of state conjointly with the co-chairmanship of his supposedly inherited political party and of politically operating from the hallowed premises of the presidential mansion, which has been converted into the headquarters of the ruling party. He has been given ample time by the Court to ponder, but since the situation has existed happily for the past four years it is unlikely that anything will come of the matter. The other, the new boy in the hot seat, is in a far more dicey position. The Supreme Court is fixated upon a letter it insists must be written.
In the case of the head of state, the contempt with which he is charged pales into insignificance when it comes to the contempt he has exhibited for the nation by dealing it one blow after another with nary a care other than his own self-preservation, which circles around the immunity granted to him by the Constitution. His skills are well known — and have been for over two decades — but many had the feeling that over the past four years, he might just trip himself up by outsmarting himself. But no, he has shown consummate acumen by outfoxing his opponents and buying the complete and utter loyalty from his herd of supporters, who rely upon him to keep them where they are.
But his latest act of contempt for the nation has outshone all others. After the expected departure of his chosen prime minister, he had to make choices. Now, he may not have known that Makhdoom Shahabuddin was to be presented with an arrest warrant but he certainly knew that there were pending charges against him for gross malpractice, financial and moral turpitude. So why pick him?
As for his second choice, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, has made his country a laughing stock internationally. His contempt for the nation is as great as that of his master, for if he had an iota of self-respect or respect for his country, he would not have accepted the job. He cannot be taken to task for this contempt (and the same goes for master) but the Supreme Court, which is in full and confident flow may have the last laugh yet again.
And as for the herd of parliamentarians who voted him in with a bang, they have also shown their equally potent contempt for ‘Pakistan khappay’. They voted not with thought or conscience, incapable and bereft as they are, but merely because their greed, coupled with loyalty to the man — who can make or break — outshone all other considerations.
An unhappy situation, to put it mildly, and it seems that the present dispensation is intent upon dragging out its term to the bitter end. Rather than call for elections right away and begin the ending of the agony, Zardari has no intention of doing what many feel would be right and proper.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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@Introspection: I think there's some confusion with regards to my comment. I never said that whatever the government is doing is right and excellent. I only raised a concern about the other things, which are equally bad (if not worse) for the country, but being ignored by the Apex Court. And this is very much evident and I don't think one needs a 'documented' record to prove this fact. As to the civilian governments, they are always 'bad' and 'dishonest' in this country of pure, so why to speak of them!
@Shahid Ashraf: The people at the helm of the govt. are not doing well at all, who are directly responsible for all that's not going right for Pakistan, maybe you're holding on to a documented tangible 'paper-trail' that would completely negate the facts on the ground. Kindly share!
@Mirza
These so called pillars of civil society will never understand your writing as they live in their stone walled paradigms which are unshakeable. They beat the drums with all vigour to bring out the same tone and voice time and again.
Peshawary
This article would be a good piece when everything else in Pakistan was going well, which is not. So blaming PPP or Zardari in isolation is unfair. The SC court's failure to decide cases like Mehrangate, Asghar Khan case, Missing person's case and such cases but on the other hand an accelerated efforts on an Elected PM case and now President Zardari's dual office. Isn't it a contempt of the people who fought for the 'independent' judiciary?
"And as for the herd of parliamentarians who voted him in with a bang, they have also shown their equally potent contempt for ‘Pakistan khappay’. They voted not with thought or conscience, incapable and bereft as they are, but merely because their greed, coupled with loyalty to the man — who can make or break — outshone all other considerations.
An unhappy situation, to put it mildly, and it seems that the present dispensation is intent upon dragging out its term to the bitter end. Rather than call for elections right away and begin the ending of the agony, Zardari has no intention of doing what many feel would be right and proper".
Thanks Amina, for telling it like it is!!! Wake up Pakistan, wake up!!!
Fair enough. Now to be more specific, tell us which party would you vote for? PTI? PMLN? JI? DPC? MMA? MQM? ANP? Army? Judiciary? Please point out a single messiah and a savior in any of them. Why then criticize PPP? Only because it is fashionable in Pakistan and only because you'll be received with great respect by Urdu and Jihadi media? Every individual in Pakistan is bent upon writing judgments based upon mere allegations and not upon concrete evidence. We get it.
Both have a past which precedes them; one with a far longer litany than the other.
Since ET will not have it any other way, let us say no one else in Pakistan has a 'past'. But as Dumbledore said, Those who seek help will find it. Specially if you Google CJP and PCO together and ISI and Mumbai and Cricket and Playboy too.
While you are on Google do also check up the punishment for conviction on corruption charges in Pakistan and the time President Zardari has already spent behind bars without being convicted by the apparently non-corruptible Government of Gen Musharraf and his youngest CJP.
A good dictionary may also tell you the meaning of 'discriminatory' in the case of NRO and PCO.
Happy discovery of the people without a PAST.
Very clearly spelt out. What needs to be understood and corrected is that the Pakistani ballot does not translate into a democratic system that benefits the public. It never had and in its present form never will. Who or how will this be set right is debateable, what is not is that it has to change to reflect the will of the people, even if means stopping the use of the much abused word 'democracy'.
@Amina Jilani
Both have a past which precedes them; one with a far longer litany than the other.
Does being a playboy with a child out of wedlock, and a creation of the PCO, and the former Chief of an agency widely believed to be the patron of terror outfits, qualify as 'having a past'? It seems not.
And let us face it. Some one who has been jailed for more than a decade, often in solitary, has more than paid for all the unproved charges against him. Even conviction could not have resulted in anything worse. Let us also remember that those protesting NRO as 'discriminatory' are themselves creatures of PCO which was no less 'discriminatory'. And the clean chit to self was ,ahem, not very indiscriminate either.
You elected a guy who was nicknamed Mr. 10% and had already spent time in jail for corruption --- why would you expect something different?
Indeed a very thought provoking article written by ms jilani but these cotempt of court will continue till this government remains in power as our president categorically said his party will not write to swiss government as long as ppp remains in power is it not cotempt of courts order my opinion about this is that both the parties judiciary n government for for the sake of protecting the demicratic system will not come to stalemate rather would favour this democratic to continue inorder to keep the lives of ordinary people of Pakistan miserable
Once again doom and gloom but no solution. You write " the alleged contempt being the fact that he holds two conflicting positions — that of head of state conjointly with the co-chairmanship". Not too long ago Gen Mush was a uniformed chief of army, at the same time his own boss (no conflict of interest or unlawful double dipping) the President and Chief of his own King's Party. That was never unconstitutional for the PCO SC judges and some of their cronies. All the laws and ethics are for the elected civilians. In addition when Zardari was elected president he was involved in these cases and was kept in jail for two decades by these judges without proving a single charge. The nation and electorate chose him “despite” three decades old charges. Yet the hate mongers want to undo the elections.
This is the revenge of democracy. Revenge in the name of democracy. It is a punishment for our wrong doings.
At last! Someone honest and who understands the situation at hand!
What contempt? Dont they have the mandate? Didnt they elected by the people? The other contempt is upon those who are making issues out of non issues just to prove once again that PPP do not complete its term again. They are the greatest culprits, whether they are in parliament or in some other judicial institute.
good article. spoken the truth.