There is an eerie feeling that the engine pulling the 'Democracy Express' has run out of steam and we are about to be left stranded miles short of the destination. The passengers' familiarity with the eventuality notwithstanding, the sense that this is going to happen so soon after setting out on the journey is quite disconcerting.
If our national history is any guide, the train should have run for about a decade before it was forced to stop, surrendering the track to the 'Armed Forces Mail'. And for all this none else but the political leadership is to blame. The leaders are engaged in a murderous sport. They don't care who wins; if at all a winner emerges from the amphitheatre. The final round is about to begin.
The PML (N) has thrown down the gauntlet to the Zardari presidency: shut down the anti-Nawaz smear factory within 48 hours. Accepting the challenge, the presidency has picked up the gauntlet: a new 'Battle Royale' is in the making. Keeping political peace is essentially the responsibility of the parties in power. But they are at each other's throat, to the utter disappointment of the democracy-loving people of Pakistan.
The PPP seems to be busy putting in place a mechanism to keep Nawaz Sharif out of power, now and for ever. The PML (N) seems to be zeroing on President Zardari to eliminate him from the political scene by prompting Prime Minister Gilani to act as a henchman. Till a few months ago, the struggle between the two was largely simmering. But it exploded on the scene as scams like the sugar prices, rental power plants and the apex court's verdict on General Musharraf gave the handle to the PML (N) to target President Zardari.
There was this get-Zardari 'Minus-One' formula. The presidency struck back, perhaps, by activating a band of long-sleeping spymasters, who are, perhaps, rightly accused of sparing no technique to paint Nawaz Sharif as an unscrupulous power-hungry politician. As the political scene turns into a huge laundry to wash the dirty linen, the cross-fire has intensified putting on the line the sanctity of the electoral process - proving right the cynics who say that it failed to throw up a competent and honest political leadership.
Consider the challenges the country faces today and the response the political leadership is making to them, the mismatch is simply frightening. Ever-defiant insurgency, serious erosion of state authority, mega scams, dangerously poised forces on the borders and growing international isolation - these are the challenges that confront Pakistan today, but little is in evidence to suggest that the main political players feel concerned. In the evolving grisly fight, the past is being dug up with a vengeance, with the help of hired guns.
No doubt a lot of dirt has gathered under the carpet and it would keep coming up as long as there is no nation-wide, day-light confession by all and sundry of his/her partnership in the unholy deals. We recommend, once again, the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission where all that sits on the hearts and minds, as guilt, is off-loaded and a fresh beginning is made.
Such has been the nature of politics and quality of governance over the last many decades that finding out a clean politician is next to making a rare discovery. The alternative to cleansing politics is inviting the armed forces, who have institutionalised interference in politics, as their sacred duty. And if and when this happens, the people come on the streets and dance with joy. Before the political rivals go for the final round they should pull back and reconsider their options - that is our hope.