Changing priorities in the national politics

The changes in political preferences are all situational. These are mostly governed by the exigencies of interest that may be personal, and at times civil, to either consolidate party strength or to further it's relations with other political parties pursing the same cause but in different manners.
Such decisions are seemingly not harmful in countries where politics has ethical standards to govern its members' conduct but where these practices do not exist, explanation to deviations from the accepted mode of conduct needs elaboration.
Muttaheda Qaumi Movement on Wednesday showed it's shrewdness toward the national politics where personal likes and dislikes, narrow self political interests and pecuniary considerations are generally the guiding principles. They opted to ask General Pervez Musharraf to remain in uniform.
This assumption that MQM has begun to mature in a particular manner gets support from the review of Pakistani style politics, spread over a period of 57 years. During these years, and even today, the composition of the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies shows that the public representatives are either from the landed aristocracy or from the industrial background.
In such cases where the traditional representatives could not get a chance to make it to the assemblies, their children have occupied their elders' seats. Women representatives present no different picture. They are nominated on the basis of their family relations in majority of cases and less on their political affiliations with a party they represent.
Political analysts are of the view that 500 families that have been in the process of "permutation and combination" for the last 57 years, and even before, control the entire Pakistani politics.
They have bred half-cooked and full crocked politicians to protect family interests through various means. One of the most common phenomenon is marriage alliances, business contracts and partnerships and religious bondage that these 500 families keep nearer to their hearts.
These 500 families that are in national politics and have memberships of one party or the other irrespective of it's manifesto, have been the supporters of the party in power. They also have their representatives in the armed forces and civil services. These triangles of relationship-politics-business-services - is the right mix these families try to achieve at all costs so that they may survive all situations. The dictatorship or a seemingly civilian democratic set up has no relevance for them as their personal interest is protected in all circumstances. Not only this but they are there to provide manpower to rulers who wish to show their support and strength to the ordinary man in the street. These easily available supportive-community-in-all-circumstances constitute the third dimension of the kind of politics the common man in Pakistan is exposed to. The role of this third dimensional group has been crucial in all times.All political parties welcome this group.
Despite severe criticism and opposition from the armed forces, civil administration and political parties, Muttehada Qaumi Movement emerged as a force to reckon with. There were moments of hope for the common man who had no constituency, no home and no domicile to identify with, from this party.
The party did strive for the common man and his representation in the national and provincial assemblies, pleaded the case of low-income people but did not achieve the desired success. In all elections MQM nominees have been from the local community and from low-income groups. The election record shows that the MQM representatives carried the charisma that a unifying slogan carried; MQM is for the suppressed, oppressed and for the middle income group, and it brought landslide victories to the party in all elections.
Even the bitter critics of the MQM had faith in it's politics and knew that the party would not compromise on its principles and would stick to its manifesto come what may.
The MQM had created a threat to landed aristocracy, moneyed and corrupt politicians, Jagirdars and waderas as the common man had begun to look up to the MQM as a redeemer of their dreams and a fighter against the rich, looters and usurpers of rights of the common man. There were perceptions that the MQM would not compromise on it's principles and would continue to do politics on behalf of the have-nots at all cost but this belief and confidence is slowing vanishing as the MQM has taken U-turns on many situations. This party had always been blaming "hidden hands" for all its problems, difficulties and even killing of it's activists. It is now colluding with the "hidden hands".
The interpretation and explanations in respect of "hidden hands' would always be a reference to armed forces of Pakistan and its intelligence agencies. They knew it well that it was not the case in all the circumstances and had little to do with intelligence agencies whenever its activists die.
Political analysts are of the view that the MQM had, and still has, it's bitter opponents within it's own ranks and would like to hit hard it's upper leadership whenever such an occasion arises.
There is an apprehension that the MQM which got divided in the Jam Sadiq era and faced its breakaway faction for considerable time, is likely to face the same situation before the next local bodies and general elections. The main argument that supports this assumption is that some of the senior leaders have either deserted the party, or have refrained from following the dictation that usually comes from the party chief. Some more defections are likely to take place if the differences of opinion on major issues are not addressed.
One of the issues that has kept the party divided is the role of the armed forces and civil bureaucracy in politics. There is a strong lobby that supports army for the simple reason that political parties have not fared well whenever they came into power. It were the political parties who criticised and opposed army's intervention into politics and it were they who wrote letters requesting them to come and topple the existing government. The MQM used to ask where is the scruple and where is the moral justification for such invitation. But now the situation has changed.
Despite the MQM's resistance to such rejections of army rule and invitations by others to army to come and rule, many political parties have recently been in direct contact with the army to manipulate a position for them in the existing set-up. The Muslim League and its Ittehadis are a classical example of political manoeuvring even at the cost of good principles of democracy. The MQM is one of the partners of the PML and it has been following the lines of the alliance but now it seems as if the MQM has learnt the lesson well and is all set to apply the knowledge independently.
The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to remain in uniform and continue to hold the offices of the President and the Army Chief of Staff. Speaker Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah was in the chair.
MQM MPA Mohammed Hussain moved the resolution, which was carried with a majority vote of 92. The Opposition protested against the resolution and walked out to stage its protest against the "uncalled far resolution."
The Opposition is mainly Pakistan Peoples party and Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal. These two parties have been trying to reach a workable relationship with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf but their luck did not work. The resolution that was provided to the press read as:
"Since 9/11 Pakistan has gone through turmoil and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has been negotiating with US President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Colin Powel and other international leaders.
"Further more, negotiations with India to reach a peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir are at a very crucial juncture and President Pervez Musharraf has taken the responsibility to take the new peace process forward.
"Besides, the situation on Pakistan's western border on account of Taliban and al-Quaida elements is very delicate.
"In the interest of national security, this house is of the firm opinion that it is imperative that Gen. Pervez Musharraf remains the President and the Chief of Army Staff simultaneously."
After presenting his resolution Hussain defended the MQM's stance on the presence of armed forces and their interference with the civil rule and democracy in Pakistan but said that it was only the indispensability of the situation that the MQM would like Gen. Mushharraf to maintain status quo.
He traced the history of 52 years to substantiate his arguments in favour of uniformed president.
Hussain moved the resolution under Rule 102 of rules of procedure and requested the Speaker that under Rule 211 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh the provisions of sub rule 2 of Rule 103 may be dispensed with so as to enable him to move the resolution.
Rafique Engineer from the Opposition opposed and said that the Sindh Assembly was not competent to discuss this matter. He vehemently opposed the resolution.
The Opposition protested against the resolution and gathered around the table of the Speaker. They termed the resolution as illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic and walked out.
The move of the MQM is not restricted to any condition but is designed to forestall any attempt by the "hidden hands" to divide it into two and pit one against the other in the next general and local bodies elections.
The MQM at this stage must consolidate its position, work for the people who have voted them to assemblies and supported them in the formation of the national and Sindh cabinets.
Their voters are least bothered what Gen. Musharraf puts on or walks in swimming suits; they want him to deliver -- undisturbed flow of water, electricity and natural gas. People want security, employment and a secure future for their children. The MQM, supporter of the President's uniform, must now promise availability of basic facilities to the common man and indulge in the kind of politics
it likes. None of it's
supporter would question it's 180-degree turn.