Setting what was largely called "a national agenda" at the outset of coming into power, one year down the line the government is in total loss of direction and clueless how to resolve even the minor problems being faced by common man.
Personal agendas overpowered the initial "national agenda" that is mainly responsible for the unprecedented quick downfall of the present regime which replaced PML-Q government with Musharraf de facto decision maker.
For most analysts, the return to democracy as a result of early last years elections meant only change of faces. Musharrafs powers were simply transferred to Asif Ali Zardari. The country came out from one mans rule only to switch over to another same pattern.
The present set up is, perhaps, the most unlucky in terms of getting maximum benefit from the congenial atmosphere in which it had taken over the country. Almost all the political parties, small and big, leftist and rightist, liberal and conservative backed it when the National Assembly unanimously gave vote of confidence to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani a year ago.
Again, the PPP government miserably failed to fit itself in the new situation where the military establishment was busy in the rebuilding of army image. Musharraf left the army in shatters. The new military leadership was and is still busy in improving the image of the countrys most important institution. But the PPP leadership was after reviving the 1990s decade politics in which the ruling party and the PML-N were pitched against each others.
There are some people who suggest that the countrys Punjab establishment is after damaging President Zardari image. But independent analysis of the situation will make it abundantly clear that it was Zardari who initiated what is largely called "the path of self-destruction". In the back of his mind, he was on the way to capture Punjab without having any homework and knowledge that this could have deprived him of his power in centre.
Almost all political parties allied with PPP in centre opined that there are thousands of cases in which the superior courts hold back their decisions for years. In Sharif brothers disqualification case, the Supreme Court could have delayed its decision for the sake of political stability.
One year is enough time to grasp the situation. Probably, the Prime Minister feels the pulse of the nation, but Zardari is known for the politics of confrontation. He is said to have stopped this confrontation right now, but the events in the recent days made his credibility more doubtful.
The PPP as a party is known for its association with liberal forces, lost the confidence of most civil society organisations, human right activists, legal fraternity and above all the people of this country.
The government defended Musharraf-appointed former Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in the alleged scam of improving his daughters grade in her intermediate examination. The rulers ignored the reinstatement of deposed judges after they came to power.
In his first address to the joint sitting of the parliament Zardari said that he was ready to strip himself of powers including that of dissolving the parliament under 17th amendment of the constitution. Despite his promise, the government did not introduce a bill in the parliament to undo the 17th amendment despite the fact that almost all the opposition parties pledged to support the PPP move.
The PPP is still double minded over the Swat peace accord. The ANP, a PPP coalition partner, holds this agreement as a big achievement of it. The PPP on the other hand is following an ambiguous policy as the President, in an interview with foreign newspaper the other day, had clearly stated that he had not yet signed the regulations of setting up Qazi Courts in Swat.
Asif Ali Zardari tendered his apology to the people of Balochistan soon after the PPP emerged as victorious in general elections. But on ground, his government took no practical step to undo the injustices done to Baloch by the previous governments including that of Musharraf.
There is constant inaction over the new resource distribution formula between centre and the federating units under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. It seems that the government would not come into action to resolve this issue in near future.
There are positive overtures from time to time from the Prime Minister, but he has been overshadowed by the party co-chairman for most of the period under review. On the judges restoration, he played a crucial role. He is on conciliatory path with the PML-N.
But it will be seen, how the two parties will do in future largely depends on Zardaris attitude. The two parties would definitely have a difference of opinion on the implementation of Charter of Democracy (COD). At that stage, the PPP close to Zardari will come into play.
They will keep the government engaged on constitutional issues and the rulers will again forget the peoples problems like electricity shortage, soaring inflation, rise in the number of TB and hepatitis in the country.
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