Daily Times

The MQM is proving itself to be the only political party with a conscience, and one that has the interests of Pakistan at heart. They displayed this when they opposed the infamous Nation Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which would have become part of our law, giving corruption an official position, one that would be repeated over and over. For that we should be grateful. They have stopped threatening the PPP and have taken action, while the PML-N is dithering with its principled stand, while obliquely giving tacit support to the rampant corruption of the PPP. Nawaz Sharif, meanwhile, does not for a moment realise the despair in the people. Living in the luxury of his Raiwind estate, he is far removed from the pain of the people. The power of the PML-N provides a cloak, which distances him from reality, allowing him only a bird’s eye view, which filters poverty and pain. In fact, he is as far removed from the real people, as is Zardari, cloistered in the presidency. Nawaz, we are led to understand, is working according to a plan (one that only he knows) wherein demons are lurking in dim shadows prepared to leap out and thrust daggers into Sharif’s bosom. It is obvious that he is being fed a diet highly enriched with suspicion. He must not fear the enemy, for there are many, but must take them head on, and do battle — to win. Waiting in the wings forever will not get him the crown. Rather it robs the people of the rights that could be theirs, and which they are being robbed of. These rights are education and livelihood — basic rights — being denied to them due to corruption and mismanagement.

Nawaz Sharif must understand that his first duty is towards the people. The people are being deprived, and they are ready to fight for their rights, with or without Nawaz. They are not scared of his demons. They have their own demons to worry about — hunger and facing hungry children. For them religion too does not put bread on the table but the dark forces offer alternatives that are far more dangerous for the people and the country. It is, therefore, imperative that the Sharifs’ demons be ignored, and competent honest people be brought forward. The Americans must also wake up to reality, for they have put themselves into a war they cannot win. With every drone attack they are hated even more, making their exit more difficult. They have also given up on Zardari, allowing him to concentrate on making money, assuming that he will spend it on the people of this hapless country. With his mismanagement, more and more factories are closing down, and less money is reaching the hands of the needy, most being siphoned off by middlemen. The Americans already know all this, and are choosing to leave him alone. That spells disaster. Three years down the road, Pakistan is distraught.

Most Americans are insisting that we should remove Zardari ourselves, but that becomes difficult when in the same breath they say they are supporting Zardari’s government. Nawaz Sharif is also perplexed by this doublespeak. We of course are not privy to the discussions in the inner sanctums, and WikiLeaks has not got the latest cables. Understandably, that will take time. Till then we will have to be satisfied with our leaders bumbling along.

Nawaz Sharif must understand that the million people who went along for the restoration of the judge were not there for the love of Nawaz. They were there for Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The WikiLeaks cables have revealed how Ambassador Anne Patterson had bitterly opposed the appointment of Justice Chaudhry. It was the will of the people. If the announcement for the reinstatement had not been made, then the wrath of the people would have visited the presidency, General Kayani and Nawaz Sharif. It is time for Nawaz to walk amongst the people and feel their pulse. Their desperation and anguish is palpable. If Nawaz does not listen, he will also become the target of their hatred. The MQM is very smart indeed, and the secret to their success is their proximity to the masses. Their feedback is extremely fast, leading to decisions that are invariably correct. That is the wonder of democracy — the will of the people is invariably right. It is about time that Nawaz realised this and cast aside the demons to face reality, which surely is much brighter, and where no ghosts exist. The nation cannot be kept waiting much longer.

The writer is a freelance columnist