Democracy restoration: not an easy task in Pakistan

The general elections in Pakistan for National Assembly got over last month but the way to form a democratic government is still not an easy task for the victorious Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), who have got quite a lot of problem to solve now. Any political showdown is in no way going to set a smooth path of transition.

The two main opposition parties PML (N) and PPP after winning a clinching election victory over ruling PML (Q) supported by Musharraf and after taking much time and long consultation eventually agreed to form the government.

But over the issue of the party’s nominee for the slot of the prime minister the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and the party president Makhdoom Amin Fahim locked horns, which could not be unlocked in the dinner meeting between them at Zardari house on Wednesday evening.

Makhdoom Fahim has been the strong contender for the post of prime minister and Zardari too had posed him as the prime ministerial candidate till some days ago. It was Fahim, who strongly stood against the President Pervez Musharraf and successfully succeeded in united PPP in one string during the late PPP chief Benazir Bhutto’s seven years exile to Pakistan. So it was quite but natural for Fahim, who offended with Zardari for denying him the prime ministership.

Reportedly, PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif has also expressed his dissatisfaction with Fahim as the next prime minister.

The reason for showing distrust upon the Fahim is completely different for the duo- Nawaz and Zardari. The former knows well that Fahim is a strong leader and a champion of politics and being him at the centrestage; the chance for Nawaz to come at the front of Pak politics would not be so easy. Secondly, if any other leader comes in place of him or even Zardari becomes prime minister, the shrewdness of him would only weaken the party gradually, and thereby chances for Nawaz to clinch the premiership in due course of time would somewhat uncomplicated.

On the other hand, materialistic and astute Zardari though still has not disclosed his trump card, himself want to become the prime minister. As political analysts also say that all these gradual moves taking by Zardari is only an attempt to set the path easy for him to take the second-top seat in Pakistan after President.

But, as he had not contested the election so he would be eligible to occupy the post only after by-election to the National Assembly.

Speculation was also shot in air that Zardari might nominate a reliable puppet as an interim prime minister for the time being, who could easily step down the post on the date Zardari is ready to take over the post. However, senior PPP leader Khurshid Ahmed Shah has assured the Pakistani awam (People) not to rely on rumours during the prevailing crucial circumstances and has said the next prime minister would not be interim but permanent instead.

Fahim’s disgruntlement can be justified considering his dedicated service to his party and moreover the topmost leader of the party, but eventually he muddied the water by going public with his discontentment.

He even threatened to call a meeting of the ‘Alliance for Restoration of Democracy’ (ARD)-a Pakistani political movement that resisted President Pervez Musharraf- and pushing air to rumours that he has at least 25 Member of National Assembly (MNAs) on his side and can form a forward block in case of failure of giving him a suitable slot.

Whether Zardari becomes the prime minister or not or instead, any other take the post, but any move of bifurcating the party will not work for the well being of the nation. It has never worked in Pakistan and also did not work during the last PML (Q) government. Democracy restoration is not going to be easy. People have given their mandate, now it’s the turn of political leaders to write country’s democratic future by sacrificing their vested interest for the well being of nation.