Confusion Persists In Pakistan
Muhammad Khurshid
November 12, 2007
There will be no denying the fact that Pakistan is in total confusion after the declaration of emergency by President General Pervez Musharraf. Almost all the political parties have been opposing the imposition of emergency, but Musharraf insists that it is in the best interest of the country.
According to an editorial comment, General Musharraf, who addressed a press conference at Islamabad on Sunday, touched on several subjects of current domestic and international concern. Although he dwelt on the rationale behind the Imposition of emergency, he also announced that the elections would be held before January 9 next year, expressed his resolve not to restore the Chief Justice and his colleagues who did not take oath under the PCO and reiterated his commitment to the freedom of the media. While the general view in the country and around the world found the emergency rule, with all its anti-democratic consequences, as acting as a brake on, rather reversal of, policies suggestive of transition to democracy, the President somehow visualised it as a safeguard for the democratic process and in the national interest. Apparently, the pre-emergency scenario filled with the strong feeling that the Supreme Court was in no mood to favour the government in the two vital cases it was hearing had been haunting the authorities and this extra-constitutional step was taken as an escape route to keep hold on power. He conceded that the Emergency had to be lifted but refused to set any date. One also wonders how the selective application of restrictions on the freedom of media and assembly will provide a level playing field to the contesting parties to term the polls "free, fair and transparent", which the President asserts the Emergency will help make possible.
That the electoral process appears set to take its original course, and not be delayed as some interested circles had been pleading, is a matter of considerable relief though we strongly believe that the polls should be held under normal conditions, and not Emergency rule. It would be hard to dispel the impression of a stage-managed affair without a free media, the freedom to hold public meetings, take out processions and do canvassing - the traditional modes of electioneering - and the participation of political parties and leaders. President Musharraf affirmed that the National Assembly would stand dissolved on November 15 when a caretaker set-up would come into existence, while the three existing provincial assemblies end their tenure on November 20 and the general elections take place before January 9. It was good to hear him say that he would play the role of an impartial spectator in the polls.
If the President is really in favour of freedom of the media, he should lift the curbs that has closed all the private TV channels and put pressure on the press to exercise restraint. The media, in projecting events, promotes democracy; in fact, it is a potent means to keep administrative excesses in check. Comments and suggestions of this important pillar of the state should not be dismissed as anti-state; rather they should be taken as a guide for improving affairs.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's defiance of the military rule has gained her the reputation of a courageous leader not prepared to accept any restriction on her political activity. A day after suffering a massive police crackdown while trying to reach Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi to address a public meeting, she made a surprise attempt on Saturday to meet Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at his official residence in the besieged Judges Colony in Islamabad. News reports indicated that she kept the entire administration on the run throughout the day by attending a number of scheduled and unscheduled events and meeting mediapersons. Three days ago she was noncommittal when asked whether she supported the call for the reinstatement of the deposed CJ. But after being stopped from approaching him on Saturday, she came out unambiguously, saying that Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is the real Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Ms Bhutto, who was previously being blamed for leaning on the military crutches to get back into power, must have disappointed her detractors by braving all administrative obstacles to mobilise her party workers against the authoritarian move by the current dispensation. And she has the unrivalled capacity to draw the crowds on the streets. The opposition, which became divided following her back-channel negotiations with the powers that be, now seems to be closing ranks. The first indication came when Mian Nawaz Sharif expressed his willingness to participate in an all-parties conference proposed by Ms Bhutto and offered to join a united struggle but only after obtaining 'some clarifications' from the PPP about its contacts with the Establishment. This was also endorsed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman on being approached by Ms Bhutto's two emissaries, Khurshid Shah and Raza Rabbani, who conveyed him her request for a meeting.
Mian Nawaz's demand for the restoration of the Constitution, immediate withdrawal of the PCO, lifting of the emergency and reinstatement of the sacked judges contains a minimum agenda for the opposition to reunite. Ms Bhutto should have no reservations at abandoning contacts with the Establishment now that General Musharraf has made it clear that the Proclamation of Emergency would not be withdrawn till the next elections. Against the backdrop of the November 3 assault on the judiciary and the media followed by draconian amendments in the Army Act, empowering the military to even court-martial civilians, the opposition has a greater role to play to save the country from being destabilised.
The End
According to an editorial comment, General Musharraf, who addressed a press conference at Islamabad on Sunday, touched on several subjects of current domestic and international concern. Although he dwelt on the rationale behind the Imposition of emergency, he also announced that the elections would be held before January 9 next year, expressed his resolve not to restore the Chief Justice and his colleagues who did not take oath under the PCO and reiterated his commitment to the freedom of the media. While the general view in the country and around the world found the emergency rule, with all its anti-democratic consequences, as acting as a brake on, rather reversal of, policies suggestive of transition to democracy, the President somehow visualised it as a safeguard for the democratic process and in the national interest. Apparently, the pre-emergency scenario filled with the strong feeling that the Supreme Court was in no mood to favour the government in the two vital cases it was hearing had been haunting the authorities and this extra-constitutional step was taken as an escape route to keep hold on power. He conceded that the Emergency had to be lifted but refused to set any date. One also wonders how the selective application of restrictions on the freedom of media and assembly will provide a level playing field to the contesting parties to term the polls "free, fair and transparent", which the President asserts the Emergency will help make possible.
That the electoral process appears set to take its original course, and not be delayed as some interested circles had been pleading, is a matter of considerable relief though we strongly believe that the polls should be held under normal conditions, and not Emergency rule. It would be hard to dispel the impression of a stage-managed affair without a free media, the freedom to hold public meetings, take out processions and do canvassing - the traditional modes of electioneering - and the participation of political parties and leaders. President Musharraf affirmed that the National Assembly would stand dissolved on November 15 when a caretaker set-up would come into existence, while the three existing provincial assemblies end their tenure on November 20 and the general elections take place before January 9. It was good to hear him say that he would play the role of an impartial spectator in the polls.
If the President is really in favour of freedom of the media, he should lift the curbs that has closed all the private TV channels and put pressure on the press to exercise restraint. The media, in projecting events, promotes democracy; in fact, it is a potent means to keep administrative excesses in check. Comments and suggestions of this important pillar of the state should not be dismissed as anti-state; rather they should be taken as a guide for improving affairs.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's defiance of the military rule has gained her the reputation of a courageous leader not prepared to accept any restriction on her political activity. A day after suffering a massive police crackdown while trying to reach Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi to address a public meeting, she made a surprise attempt on Saturday to meet Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at his official residence in the besieged Judges Colony in Islamabad. News reports indicated that she kept the entire administration on the run throughout the day by attending a number of scheduled and unscheduled events and meeting mediapersons. Three days ago she was noncommittal when asked whether she supported the call for the reinstatement of the deposed CJ. But after being stopped from approaching him on Saturday, she came out unambiguously, saying that Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is the real Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Ms Bhutto, who was previously being blamed for leaning on the military crutches to get back into power, must have disappointed her detractors by braving all administrative obstacles to mobilise her party workers against the authoritarian move by the current dispensation. And she has the unrivalled capacity to draw the crowds on the streets. The opposition, which became divided following her back-channel negotiations with the powers that be, now seems to be closing ranks. The first indication came when Mian Nawaz Sharif expressed his willingness to participate in an all-parties conference proposed by Ms Bhutto and offered to join a united struggle but only after obtaining 'some clarifications' from the PPP about its contacts with the Establishment. This was also endorsed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman on being approached by Ms Bhutto's two emissaries, Khurshid Shah and Raza Rabbani, who conveyed him her request for a meeting.
Mian Nawaz's demand for the restoration of the Constitution, immediate withdrawal of the PCO, lifting of the emergency and reinstatement of the sacked judges contains a minimum agenda for the opposition to reunite. Ms Bhutto should have no reservations at abandoning contacts with the Establishment now that General Musharraf has made it clear that the Proclamation of Emergency would not be withdrawn till the next elections. Against the backdrop of the November 3 assault on the judiciary and the media followed by draconian amendments in the Army Act, empowering the military to even court-martial civilians, the opposition has a greater role to play to save the country from being destabilised.
The End
Print
Email
