Pakistan: Can Qadri hasten Zardari’s exit
The building tempo in Pakistan’s federal capital hints
towards change in the rulers, sooner than later. The choice is with ruling
junta to announce the interim set up at the earliest or be ready to face a
situation that could turn real nasty.
Whether the ruling junta likes it or not
an interim set up has to be put in place at the earliest to ensure that general
elections are held in time for the continuity of democratic process in the country.
In the recent past mainstream political parties PML-N and
PTI has been showing their street power but the latest entrant, Allama
Tahir-ul-Qadri, leader of Tehrik Minhaj-ul-Quran has changed the entire
landscape.
While talking to television channel, Federal Interior
Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that the long march led by Qadri, would
not be interrupted as long as the participants remained peaceful. He
also said Qadri was a guest and participants could stay in Islamabad as
long as they wish but they would not be allowed to cross the Red Zone. He added
that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would
consider the demands made by Qadri.
Qadi has invited all the politicians including President
Asif Ali Zardari, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Asfandyar Wali to
his rally and see with their own eyes who this sea of bobbing heads was out
here for and hear with their own ears for whom the bell was tolling for.
His opponents are
trying to undermine his importance by saying that he wants to occupy the top
slot, which he can’t due to holding dual nationality. Some others are busy in
his character assassination but the fact is, he has led a successful march and addressing
public meeting in the federal capital.
This can be termed good for the country because the incumbent
government realized that any attempt to stop this march or denying him the
right to address public meeting in the capital can prove counterproductive. Qadri has become a major threat for PML-N as
well as PPP, the two signatories of ‘Charter of Democracy’.
Since it has been decided to set up an interim government
for holding fair and transparent election, the real point of concern is composition
and size of this set up. Ideally, it must have representation of from major political
parties but who will decide the names of interim prime minister,
governors/chief ministers and ministers?
Traditionally in Pakistan, any and every set up has to be
created in consultation with Pakistan’s armed forces and judiciary keeping in
view the ground realities. Therefore, the stakeholders will have to take into
account aspirations of general public and inadequacies of mainstream political
parties and also those which may be too small but enjoy a lot of nuisance
power.
Lately, Qadri has been alleged for disrupting election
process by Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Information Mister. May be the statement reflects
loyalty to his party but it is true that Qadri is attaining power due to
massive support by general public. It is often said that masses are annoyed by PPP
and PML-N, who may have supported democracy but only to ensure they remain in
power.
A question is often raised who is providing funds to him? In
fact this question should have not been asked because it is the most necked
truth that external power having keen in any country play a key role in the installation
and dismissal of governments.
Pakistan would be lucky if change can be ushered through a democratic
process, else it is feared that rebel groups would be formed, given funds and
even arms to ensure change of regime, this has happened in many countries
lately.
The United States has specific interest in Pakistan and its
political and administrative set up due to its presence in Afghanistan. Its
best efforts will be to avoid formation of anti-US set up simply to avoid any
disruption in Nato supplies passing through Pakistan.
United States has already expressed its apprehensions on
mounting hostility between Pakistan and India and has advised the two atomic
powers of the region to apply restraints.
By this time United States knows the incumbent government
very well and any radical change may not be endorsed. This endorsement will become
evident from Pakistan entering into another Standby agreement with the IMF and
release of funds by multilateral donors.
It is also believed that India, China and Russia will also
be very closely monitoring the unfolding of events in Pakistan. India has
repeatedly expressed its apprehensions on militants hibernating in Pakistan. These
militants are not only a headache for India, Afghanistan and Iran but are destroying
the social and economic fabric of the country.
The recent peaceful sits in staged throughout Pakistan in
support of Hazaras prove beyond doubt that people strongly believe in peaceful
transition, it may be another thing that at some stage the peaceful initiates
turn violent because extremists wish to sabotage these to achieve their vested
interest.
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