Adulterating Democracy Via Manipulative Reconciliation

Indeed, politics is the art, and the Pakistani rulers’ survival shows that they’re well-versed in this art by hooks or by crooks. Now they control the Senate as well. During his fifth address to the joint session of the parliament, President Zardari said, “Prime Minister Gilani deserves our unqualified appreciation for his political wisdom in handling various challenges with courage and perseverance.” The President also recognised the support of the coalition partners to the PPP government during the last four years.
Certainly, this is a great achievement on the part the PPP, yet that means nothing for the majority of 180 million people living far below the poverty line.
Having taken full advantage of the vulnerable Opposition, the president always played smartly to keep enforcing his type of reconciliation - tactfully involving “the Opposition turned Coalition Partners” to overcome the possible woes pushing for the PPP’s derailment before the tenure actually ends in 2013.

After enjoying the ‘friendly opposition’ – offered previously by the N league, the PPP despite its sub-standard governance has been able to continue in power with the help of the ANP and (Qatil) Q league.

Most disturbing is “off & on” attitude of the MQM – which means nothing but always staying with ruling party just to continue milking some benefits through sharing the governance & stuff – that surely contradicts Altaf’s stand on rooting out feudalism from the country.
According to the Chairman Senate Mr. Nayyer Bukhari, the government has successfully met enormous challenges, established rule of law and assured supremacy of the Parliament. However, he made no mention of contempt of court committed repeatedly by the chief executive on several occasions openly.
Defiance of the unanimous verdict given by the bench of 17 judges of the apex court regarding the annulled NRO is mockery of the apex judiciary. Has this defiance been establishing rule of law as chairman senate claims?
There is no doubt about the ulterior motives of the defiant rulers who ridicule the orders of the apex court to actually run a campaign to cover up their corruption.

It’s important for the honourable supreme court to re-adust its position of lenient attitude towards those who have been ridiculing the judiciary; the defiant group would never learn without getting convicted and disqualified.
The disappointing attitude of Mr. Zardari during his interview by GEO Hamid Mir was a painful one when he specifically stated that no letter would be written by his government to Swiss courts, as it would be tantamount to putting the grave of Benazir Bhutto on trial; again this is legally flawed argument.

Whether the current president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is permitted to enjoy constitutional immunity from criminal cases, is far from being established until there is a legal case in the real sense before the relevant court to decide the issue of presidential immunity. But, the PPP regime never went to claim the said immunity in a court of law, and instead interpreted the immunity clause of the constitution claiming that it contained no ambiguity requiring any interpretation from the Supreme Court.
On the contrary, the Supreme Court’s sole contention has always been that since the NRO has already been declared null and void, therefore, the letter written by the ex-Attorney General to the Swiss courts, requesting closure of all pending cases on the basis of NRO, should be withdrawn as being unlawful document.
As withdrawal of the earlier letter would automatically result in the reopening of the corruption cases against Zardari. So the loyal regime has been stubborn enough to be defying the court orders to save the widowed spouse of the slain leader Benazir Bhutto under all circumstances.
The way, the government is using delaying tactics, corruption cases against Zardari may become time-barred in Swiss courts, and the matter would be shelved away forever.

Sadly, Prime Minister Gilani’s loyalty is with his president, not with the unfortunate people of Pakistan.
What about the immeasurable intensity in frustration of the general public over the inflated prices and low supply of gas and electricity? The legislators and senators are bent upon ignoring the public will.
Furthermore, the life of common man is difficult and a tension-free atmosphere to people at large is missing altogether.
Crystal clear is the message to the voiceless people—“accept the status quo or go to Hell –sort of thing.”
Horribly, the national debt is mounting on the weak shoulders of the future kids of Pakistan.
Of course, it’s gradually suffocating the people to death. And, tension in the shape of traffic jams and poor law and order situation is extremely painful as well.

Under the nasty scenario, policy of reconciliation has been successful to keep the ANP, MQM and Q league onboard to provide life support to the inefficient rulers.

In fact, mufahmat is nothing but hypocrisy.
Also, Muk muka (agreed adjustments) between the PPP and PML-N before elections is aimed at defeating the rising genuine voice of people.
Making rhetorical statements against PTI, some political parties have joined hands to put deep dents in the fast growing true voice of the nation. But the fact is “dirty politics cannot provide a level playing field.”

Way out: Unless PTI wins a landslide victory in the next election, the crooks in political mafia will sell the country through a liquidation sale. Developing newer breed of highly educated leaders with integrity and conscience is needed the most. The PTI’s “anti corruption tsunami” is the biggest challenge for the supporters of status quo and the momentum is in the making. The people have to stand up with courage for their constitutional duty to oust the crooks from the system permanently.
The honest media must play a positive role aggressively to bring about a positive change to steer the country out of the troubled waters, sooner the better.

No Genuine Senate Without Level Playing Field

[source of image: google]

The Senate polls play an important role in setting the course of future politics. The Pakistan People Party (PPP) and its coalition partners have been aiming at winning majority of seats on the basis of their existing strength in the national assembly (PNA) and the four provincial assemblies. Though, many predictions were made in the past about the early departure of the government, yet all of them turned out to be misleading indeed. Scared of being ousted from the political scene ahead of the senate elections, the PPP managed to have the said-election on time as scheduled to further strengthen their superior position in the national Senate.
With victory, the crippled PPP emerged as the largest party in the senate with the help of unethical payments of very high price in terms of cash money to buy votes.
Allegedly, the money was paid for voting and as well as for not voting.
During the recent Senate polls, the Pakistan People Party (PPP) won 19 of the 54 seats, making it a total of 41 seats in the 104-member Senate. The number of seats in the Senate was increased by four under the 18th amendment, with the addition of reserved seats for minorities.
Officially, the PPP is now ahead of all other parties in the Senate. The 2nd largest party in the Senate is the PML-N with its eight new seats making a total of 14 seats.
No matter what, the culprits can’t be caught due to flaws in the laws, lack of hard evidence, and other technicalities.
Ironically, this illegal trade is very popular among the law makers. As such, merit or integrity of the candidate is immaterial, and this of course is a sad situation to the greatest disadvantage of the general public.
Shamelessly, it’s quite common for the dishonest legislators to manage sitting in the parliaments by exploiting legal loopholes. Similarly, senators known to have purchased their seats in the Senate were never made accountable at all.
Nevertheless, if the unethical manuvering has paved the way for the coalition regime of the PPP to capture a major share of the Senate, it’s still meaningless unless there is substantial action by the ruling coalition in the best interest of the suppressed nation through backing up their tall claims and promises.
Beyond doubt, the governing alliance has now got two-thirds majority in the Senate and would be in a much stronger position to ward off any challenge to its smooth governance, which includes installing a care taker government and holding the general election this year to their best advantage.
In the pursuit of lust for power, they employ pressure tactics, including stinky mentality of rigging, using baits, dealing via stock exchange of votes. These are damaging enough to jeopardise the economic well being of 180 million people of the 65 year old so-called Islamic Republic.
Consequently, the unethically generated Senate with some dishonest members can’t do much for the betterment of its people except serving as a tool to give tough time to the lower house where the majority might be belonging to other political party.
Most of all, the diminishing comfort level of Mr. Head of State (Zardari) has returned suddenly. Now he is optimistic to be benefitting heavily from the Senate for the next three years as well as his party is in a position to enjoy a considerable influence over all others within the political system for a few more years to come. As above mentioned, the PPP can use its new strength in the Senate to frustrate law-making agenda of any other winning political party until the next Senate election in 2015.
Surprisingly, after the annulment of National reconciliation Ordinance, President Zardari is merely a de-facto Head of State. However, he insists on enjoying immunity from criminal prosecution during his tenure in office. New Senate is now the best cushion to protect immunity of Mr President with another tenure.
As Islamic law and jurisprudence does not show any immunity to anybody including the head of state. Question arises, whether 1973 constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is Islamic-- in the true sense – as per letter and spirit of the noble Qur’an and Sunnah; needs to be debated upon by the Muslim scholars.
Secondly, the president has been clinging to the dual office unconstitutionally, whereas, a president is required by the constitution to be non partisan.
According to media, elections on 12 Senate seats were marred by charges of horse-trading and vote-buying. It was a scene of open vote buying and selling by the PPP. To win votes through bidding as high as Rs 650 million per bid is cruelty with the poor nation.
After all, there was “no pain at the end of senate-game for gain,” as Pakistan People's Party is expected to be laughing comfortably for next three to six years - depending upon the environment of general public mood in a few days down the road. Much comfort will now be available to the PPP in the lower house upon re-election with no problem getting a 2nd passing grade at the upper house level.
Negative scenario: As there are no PTI senators in the upper house of parliament, the lower house with PTI members would face tough time with their bill-passing process in the upper house.
Under the current system, the competition among the honest people is impossible, as only the dishonest rich people stand chances in the absence of “anti corruption tsunami.”
There is trouble ahead, as many leaders are coming forward urging the Supreme Court and the Election Commission to take notice of the situation of the horse trading and vote buying spree.
But, there is the urgent need of Senate Reforms disallowing “vote stock exchange” and all unfair practices to save the country from greedy vultures.