Both dominant political entities in the country, the Pakistan Muslim League — Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have been cut to size.
The PPP was formed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1967 in Lahore to challenge the establishment’s strangle hold, while the PML-N came into existence in the eighties to neutralize the influence of Bhutto’s party. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) declared Lahore to be the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) of Pakistan. He wished to be buried there as well, but instead Zia stealthily dispatched his body to Larkana, his hometown. Nawaz was then facilitated to create ‘Takht-e-Lahore’ which has since grown into a political monster.
ZAB believed in the power of the people, while Nawaz relied on the administrative machinery to win elections by manipulating the ballot. While PML-N’s influence increased, PPP’s popularity waned in the metropolis, and finally Zardari’s misrule between 2008 and 2013 proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Bhutto’s party.
Nawaz’s third stint in power, between 2013 and 2018, proved to be equally disastrous and finally, we could see the end of Zia’s political circus which had managed to consume over forty years of nation building (1977 to 2017). Today, the PML-N has been reduced to a Lahore specific political outfit, while the PPP’s influence is now confined to Larkana. Thus, perhaps both parties could consider a change of name, with the PML-N being called PML (Lahore) instead, and the PPP (Bhutto) being called PPP (Larkana).
The two can even be merged, and can operate under the banner of ‘corruption’, a reference to their recent insistence for another ‘Charter of Democracy’ (COD) to prolong their era of loot and plunder that they are afraid is coming to an end. According to indicators, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), together with independents and smaller parties, will form the next government, while the corrupt will bite the dust at the ballot box.
Lahore is the last battle ground for the PML-N, and even here their fight against the PTI is quite close. ‘Takht-e-Lahore’ is no longer in a position to rule over Pakistan, while on the other side, Bilawal is trying hard to revive his grandfather’s party, but he carries the Zardari burden which does not sell in this country. The Lahore and Larkana boys can now play ball only in their home grounds.
Both the PML-N and the PPP did not feel the need to amend the NAB ordinance that they are now being being tried under; instead their focus was to appoint favourites in the bureau to get away with their corrupt practices
At best, if PML-N and PPP come together, they can only extend their political demise by coming together to oppose the change taking place across the country. The first COD signed in London by Nawaz and Benazir did not produce the desired results for the nation but did expose all the players. While Kaptaan exposed corruption and brought down the government of Nawaz, the Ex-PM challenged the role of non-democratic forces by invoking Article-6 of the constitution against the last dictator, who then had to flee to save his skin. By coming back to face the courts, Nawaz has demonstrated courage but it is mainly to pass on the political mantle to his daughter Maryam.
The sentiments on the streets of Lahore are mixed. Diehard supporters of PML-N still believe that, despite his corruption, Nawaz is the best option for the country. There is a lack of clarity about his conviction. He has been convicted for having assets beyond his means, under the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, in which the onus of proof lies with the accused, not the prosecution. Both the PML-N and the PPP did not feel the need to amend this ordinance that they are being tired under; instead their focus was to appoint favourites in the bureau to get away with corrupt practices.
The Panama Leaks proved to be the proverbial bolt from the blue. The diehard rogues within the party thought that time would be able to minimize its impact, yet Kaptaan proved to be a tenuous fighter. The PPP sought a parliamentary intervention to resolve the crisis, but the PML-N miscalculated its chances. Almost all elected leaders worldwide whose names were revealed by the leaks resigned from public office, but Mian Sahib decided to start a legal battle, which he eventually lost.
It is indeed interesting to hear some of the PML-N heavyweights regarding political cleansing. They now say that all four of the Khaki dictators to take over the reins of the government, did it under the pretext of cleaning up the political system in the country, but each one ultimately failed. Yet they do not acknowledge the fact that they themselves are a product of such a botched operation.
Most of the players in the political arena today emerged through manipulated elections, with the PML-N being the most to gain, but now, both corruption and the corrupt are on their way out. By jumping parties they cannot prolong their political future. Neither the ‘Bat’ nor the ‘Lion’ or the ‘Arrow’ can provide cover to the corrupt. In a free and fair election they will face extinction as they did in 1946 and 1970.
Elections are only a few days away, ‘Naya Pakistan’ with clean players elected through a credible ballot is the only way forward. The menace of corruption is finally being targeted, and all the upright and honest politicians in the country have nothing to worry about.
The writer is Ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be reached at fmaliks@hotmail.com
Published in Daily Times, July 25th 2018.