A politician friend, who is one of the up and coming political leaders of relatively good reputation in Sindh, recently invited me to join him in his crusade against the political dark forces. The proposition was very tempting given the way the chessboard is being laid out in the country these days.
I am part of a USA-based organisation which is well respected due to its work in the social, cultural, and educational sector in Sindh. On the other hand, my friend is well-known throughout the country for his political wisdom, oratorical skills, and aggressiveness. He also enjoys a considerable following in Sindh and, to my understanding, a soft corner in the hearts of those who really matter in the affairs of the country. His political acumen and my association with the aforementioned organisation, combined with a little help from the angels above, would have brought mutually favourable results for both of us for sure.
In the past, this friend had joined forces with Imran Khan in one of the latter’s — to quote Imran Khan’s own words — invasions of Sindh, ala Mahmood Ghaznavi’s attacks on Somnath. Therefore, winning a seat, with the help of ‘almighty’ would have been a great possibility and mutually beneficial.
But this is not just wishful thinking — it’s a game plan becoming more obvious with every passing day. Forming a non-PPP government in Sindh is not impossible with the way the things are being channelled in the country these days. The flight of fair-weather birds from one tree to another, with Fahmeeda Mirza’s parting ways makes it crystal clear what the end result of the whole exercise is going to be.
So, the process has already been set in motion. While in Punjab and the rest of the country, the opinion-building factories are working overtime to prove Nawaz Sharif as devil incarnate, in Sindh, the media has started to stoke the fires of sectarianism through a separate province move by Farooq Sattar and other negative tactics.
Pir Sahab Pagaro, who wakes up at the time of elections, has a few rallies, issues a couple of fiery statements, receives his nazrana (tribute) from Zardari and goes into hibernation, has woken up again and has met a motley crowd of political nincompoops to form GDA, a coalition against formidable ‘Zardari group’.
A highly ‘independent’ and ‘original’ analyst who has inroads into the drawing rooms of army chiefs, the one who has played the role of Imran Khan’s propellant for last several years has started eulogizing Mustafa Kamal, the former mayor, and currently of PSP (yes, the same one who was found warning businessmen from outside Karachi during Musharraf’s tenure, that the day was not far when they would need a visa to come to Karachi. The video is available on social media). Reportedly, Mr Kamal is being touted for the top slot in Sindh, with the help of purchasable pir and mirs of Sindh. This fact made clearer by Ms Fouzia Kasuri making a beeline to join his party.
Political pundits are pushing similar thoughts, as is evident in Pakistani newspapers. All of their analyses converge on one point. The exercise is meant to bring about a hung parliament, in order to manage and manoeuvre future governments
Whosoever proves more favourable at the time, Kaptaan, or, The Chief Servant (Khaadim-i-Aala) with the help of the Sab pe bhari (Heaviest of the Heavy) in the centre, and a potpourri of pirs, mirs and sardars in Sindh, accompanied or led by Mustafa Kamal, only time will tell. In Punjab, the same composition will take place as in the centre. Balochistan might have the independents, in order for the magician to pull a Sanjrani or Bizenjo out of the hat at the last instance. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it could be PML(N) with the support of the religious alliance of Muttahida Majlis-i Amal (MMA). Or, it could even fall in PTI’s way, depending upon the circumstances.
One can envision some of the Southern Punjab members joining PPP after winning the elections as independent candidates, in order to keep governments in Punjab and the centre in check. However, with the wholesale supply of them to PTI by the brokers, that scenario doesn’t seem likely.
The experiment of granting the two-thirds majority to a favourite having failed twice, this time the power would like a thinly balancing government. With PML(N) or PTI, whosoever proves luckier, forming the government with the support of PPP and PML (Q), there will be a strong opposition in the shape of left out parties, including the unfortunate of the two, PTI and PML(N).
The similarity of thought of political pundits is evident in Pakistani newspapers. All of the analyses converge on one point. The exercise is on to bring about a hung parliament in order to manage and manoeuvre future governments in the centre as well as provinces. Is it that great minds think alike or is that the same symphony is being orchestrated by the unseen forces to prepare the people for the future?
When such ‘independent’ and ‘original’ political analysts start vouching for Khan and Kamal’s legitimacy and honesty, is there any doubt left in anyone’s mind as to what kind of future the benevolent forces have in mind for hapless Pakistanis?
So, the next government in the country is being formed with the help of parties and individuals borrowed from differing groups, with little affiliation or respect for each other, in the same way children build houses with the help of Legos.
In this game of Lego, each piece will hinge on the other in such a way that if one of them becomes unmanageable in the future, the supporting piece could be removed, easily bringing down the transgressing government.
However, the master players, are hell bent on building a government out of the Lego pieces collected from here and there. They are completely ignoring the fact that a house made of Lego pieces or any other non-cohesive material, with whatever good intentions, is very fragile and can break into smithereens with the first gust of wind.
Given the current geopolitical situation outside as well as within the country, a weak government made of an amalgam of amenable individuals should be the last thing to consider for the plotters of nation’s strategic direction.
The writer is an independent political analyst based in the US
Published in Daily Times, June 25th 2018.