The Circus is in Town, Again
His holiness, Tahirul Qadri’s precise demands are unclear. He wants the “revolution” yet will settle for protocol, armoured vehicle and live coverage. However, the desires of his heart are crystal clear; he wants a ‘coup’, ‘a military takeover’. Deep down, he must fancy himself as a philosopher king of antiquity, however, the pragmatist in him is simply hoping for the army to take over and give him some power or perhaps, merely protocol. Mian Sahib has dealt with Dr Tahirul Qadri with spectacular ineptness, yet this is no way excuse the very dangerous politics (or is it non-politics) that Allama Sahib espouses and seeks to practice.
There is little point in euphemism, Shaykh-ul-Islam wants us to believe that he is backed by ‘our guardians’, i.e., the military. The government also believes it, and that is making it shake in its boots. Dr Tahirul Qadri made it clear at the Lahore Airport that he was not willing to be escorted out of the plane by anyone less than the Corps Commander Lahore, yet, not even a lance naik answered Dr Qadri’s melodramatic plea. It is certainly premature to say that the ‘boys’ do not back him anymore (and please, let us not pretend that they have not had a soft corner for him in the past, to say the least).
Shaykh-ul-Islam is a veteran of Machiavellian politics, with no greater objective in life than himself, and is clear in what he desires to achieve (military takeover) even if hopelessly opaque in how he seeks to bring that about.
The case of Mr Imran Khan is more curious and certainly sadder. Mr Khan is not sure what he wants, except maybe that this elected government should go home. Why and how it should go home are questions that might require a few minutes of thinking, and Mr Khan clearly has not been able to find the time to do much thinking at all. The election was rigged, he says. It very well might have been. Yet, Mr Khan was the prime beneficiary of pre-poll rigging, with inordinate media coverage given to him, and the TTP extending him the assurance of not attacking him or his party during the campaign (a concession not extended to the PPP and the ANP).
Mr Khan is anti-government, anti-this system, anti-corruption and all the rest of it. The question is what is Mr Khan ‘pro’ (except for himself and just a tad TTP)? We don’t know the answer. Mr Khan is also clearly becoming angrier by the day, at this internal confusion. He has abused ‘his heroes’ of the past breathtakingly easily. Exhibit-A, Justice (retd) Iftikhar Chaudhary, when some of us (including your humble servant) pointed out that Justice (retd) Chaudhary was very fallible like the rest of us, Mr Khan and his devotees called us “conspirators against Independent Judiciary”, “apologists for the corrupt government” and other more strongly worded, lovely names. Mr Khan either loves or hates, he does not agree or disagree. Be it General (retd) Musharraf or Justice (retd) Chaudhary. Mr Khan does not like even semi-complex thoughts and loves binaries, one-liners and Sheikh Rashid.
Mr Khan said that he will himself “execute” any police officer, who tries to restrain or use violence against his workers. Take a bow Mr Khan, you have outdone your best friend Sheikh Rashid at his game, namely, crude, violent remarks. If Mr Altaf Husain’s speech can be construed as incitement to violence in other jurisdictions, then how is it any different? Short answer: it is not. The violent outbursts of Mr Khan are inexplicable, perhaps professional jealousy at Dr Tahirul Qadri stealing his thunder (and some parts of the script). In any event, Mr Khan resorts to violent imagery and the use of force rather easily except when it involves “our estranged” brothers (the TTP, in case you are still wondering). What, Mr Khan, no talking with the police officers prior to the execution, no committees, display of love, etc., are they not “our people”? This seems to be nitpicking at a stray remark, and it perhaps, is. Yet, Mr Khan does incitement to violence and if he wants to do national leadership, he will be called out on these remarks.
The spirit continues to sink ever since Dr Tahirul Qadri’s arrival. Firstly, the government made muck out of handling the arrival of Shaykh-ul-Islam, who thrives on attention and disruption. Had he been ignored, the wind out of his sails would have been knocked out. Secondly, and more importantly, the coordination and implementation capacity of the government seemed to be exhausted merely in dealing with one Canadian, this does not bode well, there is a war going on with hundreds of thousands of people displaced, Mian Sahiban will have to up their game. Thirdly, if Dr Tahirul Qadri and a couple of failed and fringe politicians is actually what ‘our guardians’ have come to using, well then, how the mighty have fallen, indeed; from the IJIs to clowns and retirees. Never mind, that the war should keep ‘the boys’ busy these days anyway. If ‘the boys’ have nothing to do with it, one clear, public statement from the ISPR should be enough for the much-awaited and well-deserved flight back to Canada. Lastly, the deficit of our politics has become such, that while a war continues, people are in internally displaced camps, Punjab remains the theatre of power politics, with Mr Khan, Dr Qadri, the Media and Mian Saihban prioritising it over the existential and humanitarian crises that we face.
As far as the mainstream political forces are concerned, united they will stand. Mian Sahib needs to get his act together, there is no doubt about that. Equally, there is no, absolutely no justification for anything which is ‘extra’ constitutional (which is just an oblique way of saying illegal).
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2014.
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All the PML- N need to do is to exercise a certain degree of ' GOOD GOVERNANCE ' that is visible.........and even this is beyond them. So if they are under attack and running scared it's entirely their fault.
Great Analysis; when I posted this article; even the diehard inqalabees appreciated the article. Finally, it is not Nawaz Sharif rather continuity of the democracy e.g. if we tolerated the Zardari regime as a democratic tradition it become possible for the judiciary to give a verdict that criminal like Musharaf will be trialed through civil rule and civil courts. The each democratic term will end certain encroachments made by military / ISI. I request inqalabees to bear with democracy and may be Imran Khan will come as PM as an alternate leadership and he can do the intended reforms to the system. Continuity of the democracy is beneficial for IK as well as he seeks power from people and not from army.
A very informative and analytically written article. At this this juncture Pakistan, in its national interest, does not need all that IK and Mr Quadri stand for. What amazes me is the support these disruptive leaders are getting. Points raised by Gp65 provide answer to the useless and misdirected 'halla bol' against the government.
I have no doubt in believing Bilawal Bhutto's rhetoric....."democracy is the best revenge"...indeed it is.....
@Cmsarwar: Gone are the good old days! Democracy has revised its prerequites for all inclusive Government and no longer majority rule over minority! Those who still insist on majority will fase ISIS and forceful elimination.
Rex Minor
Sir, u r great as usual
Full justification for Zardars 5 years of misrule and loot.Good luck NS.You got well wishers
@Amanzeb Khan: The demands for timely response on 4 seats need to be met by EC which is an independent institution and cannot be met by the government. If the caretaker government in Pakistan had no role in appointing ROs and it has already said so, demanding answer about its role will get Imran nowhere especially if the answers have already been provided and ignored. Only Geo can answer why it announced when it did - both in the centre and in KPK not the government. Geo has already answered. Imran also knows that judiciary is independent of the executive and the overnment cannot answer questions aboyt the conduct of a former CJ of the supreme court. It is clear Imran does not want answers to some of his questions which are merely rhetorical. He simply wants to run a media trial. At any other time, maybe it might be okay but at a time that his own state has hundreds of thousands of IDP, this distraction is shameful. I am ot a PML-N voter or even a Pakistani and even I can see that.
Do you really think that they retain the mandate after death of eleven or so persons, clippings of which are reminiscent of Ramallah not Lahore. In parliamentary government there is no concept of mid-term elections that is a US fixed term concept where the President is elected every 4 years and Congress every 2 years. The election in the even year not coinciding with the presidential election is midterm. In parliamentary system, elections can be held anytime not exceeding five years. Its for the parliament, the government or the President to decide and the people have the right to ask for it and you have the right to defend those you favour. But get the concepts right because you ought to know better.
Giving democracy a chance according to the writer would mean that we continue living in this democracy until Pakistan has nothing left and these Champions of democracy go abroad to find peace? Or wait until they pass the throne to their kids? All in the name of democracy! Bravo.
So the elections were free and fair; and nobody has the right to protest; u should have asked PMLN to open the 4 const. for NADRA.
"Brillint and absolutely free advice" to the military!! Issue a press release disowning Qadri!,then do the same for IK, sheikh Rashid and chaudhrie of gujrat. Of course the likes of this writer and others obsessed with 'boys' will then project it as evidence of your having an axe to grind. The writer fails to even scratch the basic problem. Two leading parties are family fiefdoms and through mutual agreement have set up a system where no peaceful change seems possible. The constitution is flouted with impunity. Just one glaring example. For six years local bodies election has been denied to the people. Meritocracy mocks us in the face when we talk of appointments held by Ms. Mariam Sharif, Najam Sethi, and arsalan Iftikhar. Lets leave Abid Sher Ali for another day. Is he federal ministerial stuff? If so God help us. Imran khan was in wilderness for over a decade. Hopelessness with the leading parties gravitated the youth to him. He knows, so does everyone else, the election commission will not deliver. Dictatorship of the two families can be as bad or worse as military dictatorships. Both close peaceful avenues of change and invite disaster!
The point everyone seems to be missing in all this is that it is extremely easy for the government to subdue PTI. Just talk to them. Work on their demands even the forensic testing of four constituencies. Work with them on electoral reforms. All of this will not just pacity PTIs movement but both leaderships can come out as champions in front of their supporters. It will be a win win situation. But the government will need courage to face up to some embarrassing findings. In reality the ball is very much in the court of PML-N. It remains to be seen whether it decides to play ball or not.
To remind this biased author it is PML N alone that has pleaded with the TTP to leave only Punjab alone in return for protecting the TTP. All roots of TTP are in the Punjab with Rana Sanaullah and Shahbaz Sharif openly cultivating them
PML N govt is void ab initio due to massive rigging already proven What mandate do they claim ?
As for TUQ, like it or not , every word he has said since Minar e Pakistan jalsa and D Chowk has come out true in letter and spirit. Trivialising him is shameless journalism
And amidst the darkness and gloom which the Government of Sharif in partnership with the Sharif of military, has plunged the country into, comes out the author Mr Saroop Ijaz who brilliantly describes the developments in the country and calls it a Circus. Indeed it is the circus which for the first time in the history of Pakistan is being played by the elected peoples. representative and supported by the military and not the other way around. Mr Mian is not sure of the duration of his term since he has changed course and the agenda after being elected with the mandate of PEACE. There is chaos instead, over a millions have been forced out of their homes, the land grab by the army which the colonialists once undertook after the 1857 Indian soldiers rebellion. A breadth of fresh air even an observer occasionaly feels after reading this creative author. Mr Sarooj, as long as you write, the spirit of your land lives on.
Rex Minor
@Saqib The solution is to stop this idiotic antics and let the process flow, let this government complete its terms and have people judge. Yes electoral reforms are needed but not like this and not by disrespecting huge and much more vote that PMLN got. Lets not get to point where PMLN takes street as well and that will not be pretty.
As for being pointless and useless, actually article on contrary is very useful as it is correctly and appropriately pointing towards facts for the literate few and useful in way that there are still sane voices left in Pakistan.
@Safwan So PMLN government is not legitimate even though every one before election and during election predicted a PMLN victory and no one ever expected a sweep by PTI. The PMLN government is illegitimate even though it has heavy mandate and even with out hte "4" seats in questions or so called "35" punctures, PMLN won heavily. What about PTI not even second in many places, are those rigged as well.
What is that is Illegitimate here? Also, so far PMLN has not conducted any gathering or Jalsa, what if they start showing their, and you bet they have a very strong, political muscle in Faisalabad, Lahore, etc. What will happen than? You know PMLN wont go home easy, their supporters will come out in masses too, what will happen than.
Finally, this long march is helping investors or taking them away?
Hoping to get this posted.
@Safwan:
I'm no fan of PML-N in the slightest, but quite frankly Imran Khan has overstayed his argument - now we're in a war with our biggest enemy (and today it's not India, mind you) with hundreds of thousands of collateral IDPs and election rigging from 14 months back, however wrong it may be, needs to take a backseat to that, at least for now.
Then there's also the fact that IK's party does have a province to govern (KPK), one that's wracked with hundreds of thousands of IDPs and polio no less, why doesn't he lead by example by addressing that? The fact is he's still sour over getting robbed (see, I do realize that) of the holy grail of political seats in Punjab and he hasn't learned to take 'no' for an answer. It's pure power politics which has absolutely nothing to do with 'correcting the system'.
I completely agree with the author - it's like having to choose between dumb and dumber.
The pre poll rigging in KPK enabled IK to form govt. there which he will never ever mention. But his impatience to rule the whole country has incited and excited him to the extent of even becoming an incarnation of Tara Masih. We fancy IK to rule the country as per provisions of constitution and find some other person to execute the people. This was an appalling remark that he uttered. Even Machiavelli wouldn't have approved of going overboard to that extent. As usual very honest and precise analysis of the unfolding political dynamics.
Oh really?
Are you trying to say that people who are demanding mid term elections do not have strong democratic credentials as compared to people who are ruling?
Do you really think that PML_N has strong democratic credentials in history?
Or do you think PML-N has shown any democratic practices even now ?
Awesome analysis Saroop. I think your observation that IK and PTI were beneficiaries of rigging themselves when the TTP gave them a free pass while murdering their opponents and creating general fear. How conveniently IK forgets his alliance with the murderers. I do not recall him speaking out against the real and massive impact against democracy the TTP were during the elections.
IK is all fire and flames and no cohesive thought. The PMLN may be corrupt and lacking in leadership, but PTI is no better. In some ways worse perhaps because of its incredible love of the murderous thugs called the Taliban.
Keep writing young man and do not be discouraged by some of these comments so far. You are correct in your observations.
The author is clearly biased against Imran Khan.
The assumption that Imran Khan is even a "tad" pro TTP is obscene and vulgar, to say the least.
The clear prejudice of the author makes a complete mockery of his analysis regarding Imran Khan, whose "democratic credentials" are much better than leaders who were reared by dictators and paid by ISI.
The author raises the question as to why Imran Khan is not soft on those policemen who kill innocent people, like he is soft on TTP (author's assumption).
First point, he is not soft, he wants war to be the very last option as war affects more innocents than actual terrorists.
However, nobody has bombed, shelled or droned police walas so that they may have excuses for retaliation.
Re-conciliation is made between two warring parties with grievances. The sooner the author learns this, the better for his intellectual health.
@Safwan: Does the election tribunal report to the government or is it an independent institution? If it is an independent institution is PTI's anger towards the government on this issue well directed?
very well Mr. Saroop. Imran and Qadri are inconsistent at their best and childish at their worst. Surprising thing is how gullible our people are who following them without sieving their statements through critical analysis
Pakistan seems to be always full of on-going circuses. Now there is the Musharraf and Quadri circus acts in play.
@Tariq Nawaz: Nobody gives a doozy where Qadri lives. He is a political and religious leader. The Agha Khan also has a Darbar in Paris. That does not bother you? Only Qadri's Darbar bothers you?
You forgot to mention one thing...Mian Sahib does not have the mandate for anything because he stole the elections. Lafafa journalism anyone?
So well written. Amazing command of vocabulary. Perfectly mentioning all events and issues.
But totally pointless and useless.
What is your solution Mr?
The author carefully makes NO MENTION of the rigging that took place that delegitimised this goverment. The author makes no mention of the anti-rigging demands that Imran Khan made and had the government done its job, had the election tribunal delivered (14 months have passed, and the cases are still there!) we would not had seen this. Pakistan needs true democracy where at least the elections are free fair, not this mafia dynastic democracy endorsed by this author.