FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

There is a good news in the store for the nation. What this good news really is? We were told in the National Assembly on Thursday that Asif Ali Zardari has been asked to act like a head of the state instead of PPP co-chairman. Who has given Zardari this advice? If you think the advisers were the law minister Farooq H Naik and parliamentary affairs minister Babar Awan, you are totally wrong.
This advice was given to him by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, the JUI-F chief and one of the mediators to broker at least a mid way between the PPP and the PML (N) for cooling down the high political temperature. What was the apparent response from the President? Maulana Fazal told the National Assembly that president paid attention to our advice. Mere attention, can it be an assurance? Both yes and no could be the answer.
The PPP leaders like Farzana Raja, Fauzia Wahab, Babar Awan, Farooq H Naik, Farah Isphahani and many others always make us believe that Zardari is leader of a high stature. Apart from these leaders, Zardaris advisers also include some well known property dealers and some well-off senators etc.
Maulana Fazal did not give any big or surprising advice, which, according to him, caught Zardaris attention. I think after his entry into the presidency in the wake of Musharrafs exit, none of his official and non official advisers ever reminded him that he is actually head of the state that requires having a different kind of approach. That requires him to have a national approach, which must be superior to what is being pursued by a party head.
When presidency becomes the hub of political activity, then the president toes a partisan line, resulting in a crisis which we face today. Nothing sure can be said about Zardari. The office of co-chairman of the PPP will never cease interest for him. From here he tries to relate himself to Bhutto family that could be his only strength.
If we interpret some pieces of Fazal speech, we would definitely come to the conclusion that mediators that also include the ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan are trying to find out a mid way. The burning issues like reinstatement of deposed judges, indemnity to Musharraf acts etc would continue to haunt the political system for a long time under the banner of Musharraf legacy.
Fazal said they are making good progress. His assurance came on the day when the PPP Punjab president Qasim Zia appeared in a press conference in Lahore with two-members of forward bloc of PML (N). But MPA Laila Muqaddas, who will lead the bloc, said she is having the support of 27 members of the Punjab Assembly. Good progress. If they were able to keep it up, the day is not too far away that the number of forward bloc could be more than double. I do not know why the PPP needed to have a forward bloc within the PML (N). Could the reason be the unwillingness of the PML (Q) to support the PPP in Punjab government formation? Nothing can be said for sure.
Qasim is dreaming of becoming the Punjab chief minister. He will leave no stone unturned to get to the top slot despite the fact that Fazal and Asfandyar are trying to find some common ground for talks. Creating forward bloc through the alleged use of public money will never augur well for democracy. Dont worry, it does auger well for Qasim Zia and Salman Taseer. For the sake of these two men, Zardari and his party has put democracy at stake. They have, actually, risked the countrys security.
The PPP Punjab leadership and Zardari can go to any extent to have Punjab government. For this they are even ready to pardon Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhuttos "alleged" murderers. To prove this point, I will rely on hard hitting speech of Raza Hayat Hiraj, a PPP turned PML (Q) leader.
"You called us Qatil League after Benazir Bhuttos assassination at Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi," he said in his speech. Who said this? questioned Jamshed Satti of the PPP. "All of you called us so," repeated Hiraj. "Now, you are anxious to get our support for the government in Punjab. For this you are even ready to pardon the Qatil of Shaheed Mohtaram Benazir Bhutto as alleged by you," added Hiraj.
"First of all, you need to give an explanation of the "Qatil" you used with the name of our party. If you are ready to cooperate with us, it means we are no more considered as Qatil of Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto, who is the Qatil then? Several times, the president said that the he knew the murderers of BB. He said they would be exposed at a proper time. It seems you have forgotten the murderers of BB for the sake of a government in province," he said.
Some senior analysts believe that creation of forward bloc is being used as a pressure tactic. Now a new phase of war of nerves has started. The emergence of PML (N) forward bloc is a message for Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, the disqualified brothers through the Supreme Court verdict. Behind the scene, the reconciliation efforts are underway. There is no other option for the government. The international pressure is mounting.
Some circles are, however, of the view that the countrys establishment does not support any role for Sharif brothers in countrys politics. Their punishment for conducting nuclear tests in 1998 is not over. This punishment will end only after receiving a green signal from Washington, which had taught a lesson to the PPP founder and former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on launching the countrys nuclear programme.
Nawaz Sharifs demand of trying Musharraf under article 6 and opposing the prospect of giving indemnity to acts of former military ruler is also a big hurdle in the way of bringing the PML (N) closer to establishment. There could be some bargain with the PML (N) sans any political role for Nawaz Sharif. If this is the case, there will be no difference between the present government and the previous Musharraf regime. The military ruler had tried his best to keep Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif away from national politics. He agreed to sign a deal with Benazir only, he was no more powerful. Since Benazir is dead now, the present government has been left to deal with Nawaz only.
The PML (Q) lawmakers acted very well in the absence of PML (N) MNAs. Riaz Pirzada, MNA said that parliament should be strengthened enough to make important decisions. He said that parliament could only be strengthened if the Prime Minister was made powerful. Exactly like the PML (N) leaders, he was also trying to stimulate Gilani to do something.
When he spoke, it seemed he spoke from the heart. When his party parliamentary leader Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat smiled at him after his speech, Pirzada never returned that smile as usually done by the MNAs after making statements for point scoring.