Daily Times

The political events and mechanisations have added a new ‘miscellaneous’ chapter to the hitherto treacherous political history of this land of the pure. So far, the salient feature of this inconclusive chapter is that every plot of the high political drama, initiated four years ago, failed to reach its anti climax according to the written script. It forced the script writers to add an impromptu post script of over action and reaction which was fraught with the risk of exposing the directors instructing in the backdrop.

The first highest achievement scored by Nawaz so far is, withstanding the onslaughts, of exposing those characters by bringing them on the stage before the anti climax. The rest is now a war of attrition that might lead to hand twisting at the risk of being wanton and devoid of any moralistic and legitimacy veneer.

Hypothetically, presently Nawaz’ detractors seem more in quandary because they have overdone their options, in simple terms over drafting always results in insolvency and bankruptcy. Nawaz has nothing to lose politically anymore but to gain not in terms of power only but place in history and that requires him to struggle. The way the events occurred or shaped have not sapped his moral and political capital, the two formidable weapons in the game of power will multiply with every punch he gets in the crude play of politics he is subjected to currently.

However, it is also a litmus test for Nawaz whether he will use the situation for gaining personal power or turn the perverted system straight once and for all. The last trick of Nawaz’ opponents will continue to paint his resistance as confrontation with institutions and a war of intra family succession to dampen his politically appealing slogan of sanctity of ballot.

In the past political actors, particularly the PPP, had opportunities but it fell for the lowest price.

The politically motivated decision of the Supreme Court of hanging Bhutto provided enough political capital for the PPP or say Benazir Bhutto but twice she accepted a government without power. The strings attached to her first government as conditionality made incumbency a liability amid the false hope of creating space for the civilians to enter the illusive corridor of power. That was a time that set the tone and tenor for the hotchpotch civilian stunts.

The most unprecedented opportunity of establishing civilian supremacy was the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Her blood could choke the impetus of the anti democratic forces if Zardari had held his ground firmly and negotiated for a system rather than falling for power crumbs. Instead of truncating the sword of Damocles hanging forever over the head of democracy and civilian supremacy, he yielded to his titular status.

The fate of Nawaz would be no different if he does not learn from history. He can make history if he puts this struggle beyond saving his skin and clinging to power without substance. Today, the PPP has lost Benazir Bhutto as well as face and stands as a discredited and debilitated political force.

Shahbaz Sharif’s ascendancy in the present political circumstances would be the first sign of giving up.

Firstly, Shahbaz might be an excellent manager or CEO but this quality does not necessarily tailor one as a leader and statesmen or make him a vote puller. Secondly, it will indicate, as compared to his younger brother, the person of Nawaz is problematic with whom the powers cannot or do not want to play ball. That will automatically discredit and reduce Nawaz’s efforts for ‘paradigm change’, for which he paid a huge cost, to personal arrogance rendering him unable to work with the institutions.

Recent events further consolidated Nawaz’ position politically and morally. The rejection of the proposed draft legislation of inclusive or across the board accountability by the opposition parties, particularly PTI, that wants to take credit for being the vanguard of anti corruption brouhaha.

This further gives currency to suspicions that PTI plays an auxiliary on the stage of orchestrated political drama that is shaped by the tamed media as a salvation movement. The PPP also succumbed to the pressure to exempt the powerful military and judiciary from the national accountability procedures by restricting it only to the civilian or more specifically to the politicians’ sphere. It can be potentially interpreted that PPP is ready to lend its shoulder either under pressure or under a false hope.

This move not only made the accountability narrative questionable but also put a fresh sign of interrogation on the impunity of powerful non civilian quarters. If ‘all power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ then in our polity merely holding an office does not mean being powerful. And therefore, all power, de jure or de facto, must be held accountable or at least should be subjected to some public scrutiny. If our lords and generals are sure of their infallibility, they should encourage inclusive accountability, which would not only put them on highest moral ground but will also put the process above board.

The rejection of an already agreed upon draft legislation of inclusive accountability has rent asunder the veneer that accountability is an instrument of political purge to weed out the unwanted. Perhaps, the Saudi monarchy borrowed a leaf from our employment of accountability and anti corruption as a weapon for the recent purge of political dissenters.

Although containing names of heavy weights like the former Prime Minister Mr Shaukat Aziz, the recent Paradise Leaks did not cause the same tremors like the previous Panama Leaks. It also gives credence to the Nawaz narrative that Panama, which did not include his name at all, just provided an illogical justification for his premeditated ouster in the name of accountability.

Thus, Nawaz’ hue and cry has been painted as confrontation with the institutions, perhaps because the decision of his ouster cannot face public scrutiny. In politics, strategy and tricks apart, silence and inaction is a killer. Nawaz’ political survival and not to be trashed in the dust bin of history depends on resistance and challenging the invisible status quo. Along with his 40 years long political history, currently a compromise can only offer him a tarnished ‘rest in peace’ legacy.

The writer is a political analyst hailing from Swat. Tweets @MirSwat

Published in Daily Times, November 8^th 2017.