What is going on?

During the recent days, both President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have been making divergent statements with regard to the issue of national government or a government of consensus, as the President put it, creating confusion about the future shape of the political set-up. Sunday's papers quoted the President as having told a local TV channel that he wants all the political parties to form a national government, and also that he expects a positive response from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The same day the papers also carried Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's statement in which he had ruled out the possibility of a national government. So far as he was concerned there was little confusion on the subject.
"When we talk of national reconciliation," he averred, "it should not be misconstrued as an indication of the formation of a government of national consensus. We want reconciliation on a national agenda."
That though is not how others in the government view the situation. At least his Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, appears to be just as baffled as everybody else.
When asked to comment on what the President meant when he talked of a government of national unity, he said he was not aware of what the President had in mind.
The President's latest remarks, though, are in perfect harmony with the government's recent decisions, under which it released the PPP leader, Asif Ali Zardari, from an eight-year long imprisonment. Sheikh Rashid had then clearly said that it was the outcome of a government decision rather than a court verdict.
Thus he had made it plain that Zardari's release had come about because of an understanding between the two sides to start a new phase of political accommodation.
However, in the TV interview, the President sought to abandon the government's earlier stance as he denied that Zardari was released under a deal, saying that it was purely a judicial decision. Public memory may be short, but it is not as short as not to recall a minister's statement made only a few days back.
Moreover, making yet another confusing observation, the President went on to say that the PPP had helped in improving the political atmosphere, however adding that this was not because the government was engaged in formal talks with the party. In other words, it may not be engaged in formal talks, but some talks are on.
Meanwhile, while speaking to journalists in Lahore on Sunday Sheikh Rashid confirmed that "direct" or "indirect" talks for national reconciliation are continuing. So far as the PPP's response is concerned, he said that "if it is not positive, it's not discouraging either, it will be a win-win situation for both."
He also indicated that rapprochement with the Sharif brothers might be possible via Mian Shahbaz Sharif's accommodation, as he insisted that Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif had divergent views on political issues. In any case, the President's assertion with regard to the PPP begs the question why the party would want to help improve the political atmosphere unless it has been offered a quid pro quo.
The arrest of Zardari in Islamabad after cancellation of his bail by a court on his failure to appear in person at the hearing of a murder case against him and his release the next day, has fuelled further speculation as to the goings on. In fact, Zardari has been saying consistently and firmly that 2005 will be an election year.
He would not be saying that unless he has some kind of an assurance to the effect that a change in the present political set-up is indeed on the cards.
As things stand, contradictory statements from the government quarters have created much confusion, for which there could be two explanations: first, that it is part of a deliberate scheme to keep the opposition parties under pressure while they negotiate the terms of reconciliation that is under way; or that the President is already working towards the establishment of a national government, but for obvious reasons the idea finds unfavourable response from the ministerial, PML(Q) and Sindh government quarters.
Hence different interest groups within the government are pulling in different directions, speaking in different voices.
Whatever, the reason may be, such confusion is good neither for the health of the political system nor for our fragile economy. The powers that be must stop playing games.
They must come clean about their thinking on the future scheme of things, bringing to an end the political uncertainly that has been created by their conflicting statements.