It is somewhat of an irony that the man who was considered to have sold Pakistan several times over is today the person who seems to be playing a major role in trying to save it. Asif Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party is seen to be doing more for the country in the past week or so than most other political players put together, President Musharraf included, have done in a longer time frame. His measured statements on sensitive issues and his inclusive approach on matters of national interest show him in a new light. One can only hope that he is able to remain on the right side of the establishment and the powers that be in Pakistan so that new stories about his supposed scandals do not start appearing again.
For some reason, the mere mention of Zardari makes some of our businessmen and bureaucrats panic. For them, this is the beginning of the end, in the words of one senior Islamabad based official. In fact, the opposite is the case. Many also argue that with the induction of a political government, the reform programs introduced by the Musharraf government will come to an end and that there will be reverses in economic policies. Investors — both foreign and domestic, need to understand that while the Musharraf government, particularly Shaukat Aziz as finance minister, has done a lot of work in setting things right in terms of economic reforms, the agenda was not theirs.
Banking sector reforms, privatization and economic sector reforms started prior to General (r) Musharraf coming into power. There is every indication that these policies will continue. And with Pakistan’s image improving the world over following the elections, the chances are that we will be seeing more economic activity and investment.
Coming back to the elections, while Zardari was a pleasant surprise, the international election observers who arrived in the country with much pomp and show seem to be a sore disappointment. Pakistanis looked at these observers, like the American team of senators and the team from the European Union (EU) to pinpoint the flaws and irregularities in the polls that were held. Instead, what we got was a clean chit. In their over eagerness to endorse these elections as was required by the west, the observers failed to point out the massive irregularities that were seen in the process of elections.
Most Pakistanis are happy with the results that have emerged. But if the irregularities were checked, it is very clear that the coalition partners of President Musharraf, like the PML-Q and the MQM, would have secured a less number of seats. Take for example what took place on polling day in Karachi. Almost every voter in Karachi has a tale to tell of irregularities, cheating and bullying at the polling stations.
Thousands were turned away on the grounds that their votes had already been cast. Several thousand were told their name was not on the rolls.
Many were simply given a ballot paper and told to vote in full public view for a particular party. Anyone who resisted was threatened, harassed or attacked. But all this seems to have escaped the eagle eyes of the EU election observers who were stationed in Karachi. Now they say all is well.
Simply because the PPP and the PML-N were able to win more seats than was expected and the PML-Q fared much worse than we thought, many contend that the elections were fair. This is not true. First of all, the electoral rolls were full of holes. In Lahore, one man complained that he had three votes. Another said he had none despite having a computerized NIC and also seeing his name on the ECP website. In the same areas, thousands voted without identity cards. These were no exceptions but quite common complaints. Where was the Election Commission and the law enforcers then? Why could we not simply adopt the NADRA list of computerized NICs as the polling list for every station. But then, that would not allow the powers that be to manipulate the rolls. And that is why millions in tax payer money were spent on a separate list that is full of holes.
It is obvious that the rigging was done to check the ability of any one party to form a government. At the same time, such results which gave the PPP and the PML-N electoral gains would be welcomed in the west and stop the powers that be from worrying too much about the legitimacy of the electoral exercise. This is killing two birds with one stone. Some media outlets, particularly the foreign ones, made a hue and cry over the possible exit of President Musharraf. One should not forget that neither the PPP nor the PML-N have an absolute majority in parliament and hence either can be swayed or convinced as and when required. The president emerges powerful in a coalition agreement. He may have gone into the background for the moment, but this should not be mistaken for weakness. His continuity is assured.
Now the question of course is what to do with Asif Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif. The Americans are already jittery. They have expressed doubts about the politics of Mian Nawaz Sharif. Asif Zardari also poses a problem. Should the Americans love him or leave him? The American media was the first to blacken the name of Asif Zardari. Now the US government will have to work with both these leaders. It is a worrisome proposition for them. President Bush has also indicated that President Musharraf should stay. If he stays, then who goes?
In the meantime, the NRO sword hangs over the head of Asif Zardari.
Already there is talk that if the PPP does not cooperate, Zardari may again be tried in different cases. Despite the overwhelming endorsement from the people, the establishment of Pakistan continues to view Zardari with suspicion.
Needless to say the first hundred days will be crucial for the new government. As things stand, the PPP is talking of including all parties like the MQM while the PML-N is also looking at the PML-Q. The press conference of Zardari and Sharif on Thursday evening in Islamabad was a proud moment for Pakistan. Our two major political figures have decided to work together in the greater interest of the country and for democracy. But mere rhetoric will not do. We need to see whether the leaders from these two parties will be able to bear the onslaught of disinformation, mud-slinging and attempts to sow seeds of discord and discontent. This should start once the honeymoon period is over.
Another question is whether we should move on, as some politicians are quick to suggest, or look at the incidents of the rule of the PML-Q and its allies and try to ascertain blame and punish. Too much has happened in the past years to ignore. People have been harassed, tortured and killed. Prices and crime have risen. Scandals and irregularities have been identified but ignored. As a nation, we need to identify where we went wrong. And then work on addressing these areas.
In the final analysis, one should understand that the elections, no matter how rigged and faulted, have put Pakistan on the right course.
The politicians who have been elected have also acted maturely and have so far come up to the peoples’ expectations. Now it is time for the elected government and the empowered parliament to work at addressing the wrongs of the past decade. At the same time, the economy of the country should be given the priority it deserves. Owing to power and energy crises, we are facing hard times. What we need to avoid now is another political confrontation. We can do without the uncertainty. President Musharraf should now sit back and let the show go on. This will be best for Pakistan in the long term.