Allah, Awam, Military and USA

By: Amjad Malik

There is a fine distinction between "˜Yazeediat' and "˜Hussainiat' as the former enjoys the perks and privileges of the power and the latter enjoys the wealth and warmth of love and affection of the people. Hussainiat always walks tightly on the right path and powerful on the outset seems victorious however, historians writes quite to the opposite in the years, decades and centuries to come. General Musharraf who has carefully crafted his wings placing PPP under NRO, Chief of army Staff under a favour and Justice Dogar under the legality sword of PCO with the patronage of United States of America in a way that it seems he is under control from all corners. The only thing important in any democracy is the mandate of people which apparently is on the road being humiliated by the very rulers who consider their inborn right to rule and always come in Parliament to eradicate military dictatorship. Only one thing can destabilise this arrangement is national demand of free judiciary resulting public anger to bring a revolution which may not be possible if there is a clear divide in political forces which lack clear political will, as it has a tendency to endanger federation.

In these circumstances if the military man says "˜ let there be impeachment' by Parliament, he must be sure that there will be no support for that from political quarters who are pro NRO and are after political reconciliation i order to save and extend their rule by inches. He is smiling at the helplessness of Pakistani people advising them to eat chicken if it's cheaper than lentil. Public thought by giving vote in 18 February 2007 election brought a silent revolution and to their surprise it turns out to be an arrangement where General Musharraf though disliked by all quarters but is being saved by pragmatic reconciliatory political quarters who are favouring his presidency on the name "˜ law of necessity' and he was even declared a "˜national asset.' Their very voters favour rare item for museum after giving him an exemplary punishment for  violating the sanctity of the constitution like the Englishmen hanged their General Cromwell at a crossing after his death centuries ago.

Now lawyers are gearing up for the show of public outrage on the lack of political will and non restoration of anti dictator judges, and political forces funnily instead of joining this long March will offer the juice and pilau rice to the agitators. Situation begs the very question, do the politician truly wish for the end of military rule and opt for independent, clean, non corrupt judges?. Those judges will not stop short of issuing declaratory judgements against any unconstitutional act where judiciary will act as a buffer zone in between parliament and military dictators. We have seen four periodical military interventions in last 60 years only because of intentionally kept a tame judiciary. The gloomy picture which turns out today is such that though hated by all, but  still General Musharraf is the most powerful military ruler in Pakistan who has the backing of NRO clan with concrete assurances, where army is on his side, Justice Dogar is willing to uphold his exercise of 58 (2) B and even has the capacity to indemnify any emergency imposed by the New Chief in continuation of 3rd November class act. So where do the people fit in all these arrangements, i am afraid no where..

Pakistan is run like a corporate interest where multi national companies invest and have stakes. Politicians, Bureaucracy, judges, religious parties and above all our top ranking royal military elite have invested heavily their lives, time  and money in this colony. Now all the rest is on God as Military, Mullah, Awaami party and USA are all on the side of a dictator . These parties take votes to chuck out the dictator and in return on the name of the exit of the overall dictatorship give the very military man 5 years who is the cause of all this mess. All top former judges, Civil society, Lawyers movement, ex military men, 30 former ambassadors and those millions eligible voters currently favour restoration of 2 November Judiciary by way of a resolution followed by an executive order, however clear divide in two political rulers may cause enormous damage to the state as negating the will of people will be ultimately resulted in a downfall of the organs of the state.

Weakening Presidency by curtailing its powers sounds a good idea in the long run to enforce "˜Charter of democracy' in its letter and spirit. However, ruling party devoid of the required numbers in the upper house of Parliament is lulling themselves to get it through if and when they get to that stage as the country in such an economic mess that after a few months things may go out of hands of even General Musharraf who may be sitting eyeing on the economic decline to make a basis of their dismissal. Public only punishes who came directly on their votes making promises and high claims as public does not go after dictators, but deal severely with  their  collaborators as they did with the league of Q.

3rd November emergency is an act of desperation of a man who was losing public support against all the free thinking people of Pakistan and in particular against a new born "˜gini' of  "˜media.' He himself takes credit of liberating it. He did not realise that in any democracy, there is ups and downs, however he was of the belief that he is there to live forever. This tendency is similar to that of Pharaoh, Pinochet, Hitler, Stallin and so on, its an endless list and the end is the same. But in the end the name of God shall live and its public which rules. General Musharraf must pay heed to the angry intelligentsia as well as commoners of Pakistan and must submit to the will of people which is akin to God's voice before its too late.

The angry segment of society if comes in a wave may take many things along with it and Parliamentarians who have shown callousness towards a genuine public demand may have to pay the price for their rude indecisiveness if the masses decides to restore the judges themselves and sought punishment for the dictator akin to a style we witnessed in Karachi where mob set fire the robbers who are caught red handed. Corrupt ruling class devoid of merit intending to pursue thieves who robbed in last 8 years after getting pardon certificate for themselves is painting a bleak picture of their passion for true democracy, rule of law, accountability and justice as time is running short and public may never believe the same people to decide for them in Parliament as once bitten twice shy. 

Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a political analyst based in UK

9 June 2008