|
Puppets & Puppeteers
January 07, 2011
But, so far corruption, bad governance and cronyism holds sway, democracy will remain a hostage to the establishment because of lack of mass support. People don’t come out in to streets in support of corrupt and self-serving governments. However, they do lend support to governments who hold service to the people above everything else.
|
Puppet shows have been used, since ancient times, to entertain people and to convey, in a subtle manner, laudatory, critical or motivational messages. Being a popular medium, in some regions puppet shows formed an essential component of government campaigns aimed at motivating people. For example, the authorities in Sri Lanka made use of this medium, in the 1960s and 1970s, for introducing the concept and themes of population planning with great success. Fascinated with puppet shows and efficacy of this technique, in some regions, the powers that be replaced dolls with living human-beings to promote their vested interests and grand agendas. Examples: In late 1970s, a despot replaced the leader of an ethnic party with a bird released from Hyderabad jail to cripple the influence and traditional following of a political party in a coastal town. Another manoeuvre by the despot, in the 1980s, resulted in the replacement of leadership of a mainstream political party, which is recognised as the country’s founding party, with cronies trained and groomed by the despot’s team. A later day despot enlisted the support of some political dwarfs and using state might positioned them in offices of the political party earlier hijacked by his predecessor. Whenever the mighty ones decide, these puppets, masquerading as politicians, create ’mayhem’ so as to create an impression and convince the people that the incompetence of the ruling hierarchy has taken the democratic system to the edge of precipice. In parliamentary democracy, the prime minister has the power and authority to pick-up or to drop his cabinet of ministers. Recently, the prime minister sacked two ministers who had picked-up a feud and started indulging in mud-slinging in the public. One of the sacked ministers is an MNA elected on majority party’s ticket; while the other is a rich expatriate, who has reportedly been using his wealth generously to bankroll a religious-cum-political party that had fielded him in the last general elections and also nominated him for the minister’s high slot.
Ouster of the wealthy expatriate from the cabinet remains religious party’s dilemma and a major cause of anger of the sacked minister and his party chief. In a fit of rage, the party chief has demanded replacement of the prime minister. The party chief’s demand for sacking the prime minister speaks volumes about the role of money, pursuit of personal agenda under the garb of politics as well as the nature and type of parliamentary democracy in the country! Readers may recall that WikiLeaks quoted diplomatic cables as having revealed that JUI chief had been trying to enlist the support of the US Ambassador for grabbing the slot of prime minister. This uncalled for demand has created doubts and people want to know why and on whose behest this untimely/uncalled for demand has been made? Meanwhile, intelligentsia remains engaged in trying to locate the invisible hands that wish to unnerve the ruling party and weaken the nascent democratic set-up.
While furore over religious faction’s parting ways with the government had not yet died down, a provincial minister’s contention that some parties in alliance with the ruling party were harbouring criminals for creating disturbances in the main port city, has opened a Pandora’s box, resulting in the quitting of two federal ministers belonging to the party and its subsequent decision to occupy opposition benches in the Parliament. Meanwhile, rumours have been rife about government’s fall because JUI and MQM’s quitting leaves it short of majority in the National Assembly (NA). But, wizards say that partying of ways by JUI and MQM at this juncture was part of their strategy not only to retain their public following but to improve upon it. Remaining coalition partners, both the political parties would now play the role of opposition and agitate public issues, aimed at bagging more votes and assembly berths in 2013 elections.
PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, however, believes that the move has been made at the behest of ‘invisible hands.’ Addressing 104th foundation-day of the Muslim League on December 30, 2010, he declared: “We won’t become part of any puppet show as we’ve buried the dirty politics forever.” Criticising what he called managing of affairs by the establishment, Nawaz Sharif said, he felt sorry for prime ministers who were booted out either by martial law administrators or presidents.
When viewed in this context, one can understand the cause of PML-N’s row with MQM. According to sources, addressing in Muzaffarabad, Nawaz Sharif took on MQM after he got a fair idea that efforts were afoot to create a situation for wrapping up of the democratic system through the old practice of creating dissensions among coalition partners. “We have exploded the myth that junior partners in coalition, acting on their own or at behest of some quarters in the establishment, can cause collapse of coalition governments again and again by distancing from them and that too after enjoying the spoils of office for major initial period of the tenure. They have been doing so over the past few decades only after sensing that the government of the day has become relatively weak and unstable,” underline PML-N leaders. However, one needs to appreciate that no politician or political party of substance, except JUI who has only seven berths in the NA, has called for Prime Minister Jilani’s ouster. Meanwhile, on December 31, 2010, ruling party’s another coalition partner – ANP extended complete support to Gilani, saying they would never forget acceptance of their demand for renaming of province and for giving provincial autonomy. Prime Minister Gilani has, however, ruled out the possibility of PPP government’s exit, saying rumours don’t lead the government to exit, but cause only problems and are impediment on the way to development. Quoting Washington Post, news agency Online reports that General Ashfaq “Kiyani has been furious with Americans lately because of the WikiLeaks fiasco, as diplomatic circles depicted him as chummy with the US and was quoted as discussing a possible removal of Pakistan’s president and his preferred replacement.” Kiyani is believed to be the most powerful man in Pakistan and many have suggested that, if he ever wished, he could easily execute a coup and seize complete control of the country. Yet, he is also prudent and does not want the military running the country – however, he is ready to fill a power vacuum should the civilian government collapse.
Meanwhile, Pir Pagara, a politician who had been publicly claiming during General Ziaul Haq’s rule, has predicted that the New Year (2011) will bring change and accountability, saying that he cannot predict about its nature.
On the other hand, some circles contend that resignations by JUI and MQM ministers were planks of President Zardari’s grand agenda to ensure that PPP’s government completes its full tenure of five years. To arrest the decline in PPP’s popularity due to bad governance, corruption, and deteriorating law and order situation, they say, President Zardari wanted to replace Prime Minister Gilani with Asif Ali someone who could stem economic rot, reduce unemployment and wipe out corruption so that on the basis of government’s remaining two-years’ performance PPP could win the next elections. President Zardari has, in the meantime, stepped up efforts to create harmony among political parties. He has announced that the PPP’s policy of reconciliation and taking on-board all stakeholders will continue as before. He has asked Sindh cabinet and PPP to address MQM concerns. With PML-N, in a telephone call to Nawaz Sharif, President Zardari has proposed a joint committee of PPP and the country’s main opposition party – PML-N – to look into economic issues, including RGST, and reorganisation of state-owned enterprises.MQM’s decision to quit the government benches and join opposition makes it obligatory for the President to ask the Prime Minister, who has lost majority in the NA, to seek fresh votes of confidence, under Article 91(7) of the Constitution. However, Law Minister Dr. Babar Awan has ruled out any possibility of President Zardari asking Prime Minister Gilani to take a fresh vote of confidence from 342-member Assembly, where the Prime Minister has lost simple majority by 13 members.
President Zardari has also the option to join hands with PML-N and ANP and bring a new Prime Minister. These three parties have 231 members in the NA and with 18 independent members from FATA their strength could rise to 249, while the Prime Minister needs the support of 172 members to form the government.
Furthermore, post-restoration of democracy, for the first time in the country’s history, in a welcome move none of the politicians have suggested any intention to remove the government or to derail the democratic dispensation. This bodes well for the growth of democracy and indicates that the country’s politicians have now matured somewhat.
But, so far corruption, bad governance and cronyism holds sway, democracy will remain a hostage to the establishment because of lack of mass support. People don’t come out in to streets in support of corrupt and self-serving governments. However, they do lend support to governments who hold service to the people above everything else.
|