President for National Reconciliation
By Mohammad Jamil

WHEN Asif Ali Zardari was released on bail, a perception had gained currency that it was a confidence building measure, and ensuing negotiations would resolve the ‘conflicts’ through dialogue.

In February 2005, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a television interview had remarked: “Should Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain like to contact the Government its doors were open for the dialogue”. Some political analysts had smelled a deal between the PPPP and the Government, which was later denied by the Government and the PPPP leadership.

Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, however, acknowledged that the government and the PPPP have been in touch for quite sometime. He indicated having made some progress in understanding each other’s point of view, but had cautioned Asif Zardari before he came back to Pakistan on 16th April 2005, hinting that if the PPPP workers became obstreperous while according welcome to him, the chances of reconciliation would evanesce.

President Pervez Musharraf has often said that extremism and terrorism posed the only threat to Pakistan’s sustained development. In view of non-cooperation from the PPPP and PML (N) on 17th amendment, he was left with the other available option of taking the MMA on board. The MMA took full advantage of the situation; its leadership was successful in ‘securing’ its National and Provincial Assemblies’ seats and also forming its governments in Balochistan and the NWFP.

It also outmanoeuvred the other Opposition parties and got Fazlur Rehman nominated as Opposition Leader in the National Assembly. The MMA, indeed, helped the Government in passing 17th amendment, but prematurely started criticizing President’s uniform, after having accepted him in uniform up to 31st December 2004. In fact, the MMA leadership drew flak from the ARD for having given legitimacy to the President through the said amendment. To regain the lost prestige it started raising slogans against the President’s uniform.

President Pervez Musharraf felt betrayed by the MMA, and perhaps also due to criticism of the religious right internationally that he went so far as to say: “There is need to bring enlightened and moderate leaders to the fore in the upcoming Local Bodies elections, and also 2007 general elections”. There is no denying that Benazir Bhutto and President General Pervez Musharraf have identical views on foreign policy vis-à-vis relations with the US and also with India.

There also seems to be unanimity of views on empowerment of women, and even about broad contours of socio-economic system, which is why some analysts consider President Musharraf and the PPPP as natural allies. Meanwhile, Benazir Bhutto has given sensible statements, and expressed her desire to cooperate with the President in his efforts for national reconciliation. However, the PML (N) as a party has not reciprocated, as its leadership seems to be divided. It appears that it will join hands with the MMA, of course, after withdrawing from the ARD.

In Pakistan, most of the politicians were bereft of political scruples, and our history was replete with instances when the leaders betrayed their parties with a view to saddling into power. In mid-1950s, Republican Party was born overnight out of the then Muslim League. In 1960’s Late General Ayub Khan formed the Convention League, and majority of the Council League members joined it. PML (Junejo) was the brainchild of General Ziaul Haq, and when differences emerged between General Ziaul Haq and Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo, Mian Nawaz Sharif sided with the former and took over the party. After 12th October 1999, majority of the PML (N) members joined the new Pakistan Muslim League under the leadership of Chaudhry brothers.

Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan was instrumental in creating an atmosphere of distrust against PML (N) Government by describing it as the most corrupt government, and Mian Nawaz Sharif a security risk. But within two months after Nawaz Sharif was overthrown through what President General Musharraf called a counter-coup, the GDA was considering the application of PML (N) to join the GDA, and the new alliance was named as Alliance for Restoration of Democracy. Mian Nawaz Sharif, however, negotiated with the Government through a friendly country for safe exit; and off went Mian Nawaz Sharif leaving his allies in a lurch. Now, Mian Nawaz Sharif wants PPPP not to enter into any deal with the Government.

One could infer from President Pervez Musharraf statements that he wants to give political space to the mainstream parties. But Pakistan Muslim League (N) and PPP are ideologically poles apart, as the PPP stands for joint electorate to bring minorities in the mainstream politics, empowerment of women, and also share identical views that fit into President’s vision of Enlightened Moderation.

As a matter of fact, only political adversity has brought Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif together, and even if they achieve the shared objective, they would conduct exactly the way they did in the past. In this backdrop, if Benazir Bhutto got a chance to have a level-playing field in the next elections as promised by the President, why should she not avail the opportunity?

President General Pervez Musharraf in view of situation in Balochistan and NWFP, and also to counter external pressures, and also to prove that he is moving towards real democracy, he set the goal of national reconciliation. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid had confirmed the Government was in back channel contacts with PPP, and went so far as to say that if an understanding could be evolved between the ruling party and the PPP, an adjustment of seats in forthcoming election would be possible. It was perhaps a subtle way to convey to Benazir Bhutto that PPPP would benefit if she contributed towards the objective of national reconciliation.

Since President General Pervez Musharraf is committed to provide a level-playing field to all the political parties in the country, the ruling party would not get the support it had in the previous elections.

In this backdrop, the ruling party will have to enter into alliance with one of the mainstream parties. The PPP, a major party in the ARD, blames the MMA of a sell-out over the 17th amendment that gave President Pervez Musharraf the mandate to stay in uniform up to end of December 2004.

The date, however, was extended up to 2007 under the new law passed by the simple majority in Parliament and ratified by the Senate. PPPP leadership feels that MMA derived benefits from the Government together with securing the slot of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.

In addition to ideological differences, there is another difference of opinion with regard to mid-term elections. PPPP demands elections in 2005, whereas the MMA wish to complete the term that ends in 2007. Therefore, the possibility of any understanding between the PPPP and the MMA could be ruled out.●

© 2005 Mohammad Jamil