Let's begin with the common man and his mounting fears of what can lie ahead. Let's begin with the anxious mood that began on Saturday evening when the collision course surfaced. Let's begin with the gnawing question of what lies ahead. What can happen if the present turmoil aggravates? Will the collision between the judiciary and the executive deteriorate to such an extent that it will turn violent on the streets?
By Monday evening there were grim questions being asked given the many signs that a confrontation of disturbing dimension was emerging. Effigies of President Zardari and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, as well as those of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry were being burnt angrily by political activists of both major parties in various parts of the country. The politics of reconciliation coming to an end and the feigned alliances being undone.
Indeed the differences between the PPP and the PML-N are fundamental and their vision and values as opposed to each other as possible? And the fact that effigies of the CJP were also burnt reflects one side of the story - that the workers of ruling party (PPP) in bringing out rallies for the support of the President and their party Co Chairman, were protesting over the Supreme Court's decision to stop the implementation of the Presidential order vis-a-vis two judges.
But significantly enough the other side of the collision shows that the country's lawyers and civil society have come out openly to support and stand by the judges. The coming days will tell whether this new platform will enlarge, as there are indications that a political storm threatens much that is at stake in the country.
Stretch the phenomenon of enraged rival political activists and emotional hostile party supporters, face to face, and were there to be an escalation up of the battle, whose lines seem to have been drawn very clearly, is there a likelihood that the army will have to step in?
The country has seen this happen before, and therefore citizens venture to contemplate that familiar route also. It is an imperative mention here that once again, it has been reiterated that the "army is going to maintain distance" for the time being, said a news report referring to defence sources. Time being means what? This is a variable indeed.
One would like to refer to a story that appeared in an English daily, datelined Islamabad, which said that "the military leadership was committed to its professional responsibilities and had no mind of indulging in political issues" referring to the tensions that have surfaced between country's judiciary and the executive over the appointment of judges, the defence sources were quoted as saying that "the armed forces considered it unnecessary to jump in to ease the tensions as there was no immediate danger to the political system of the country and its institutions." The danger is not immediate, but it is there all the same.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his press conference in Islamabad spoke with clarity, and vehemence, saying that President Zardari was the biggest threat to democracy. He did not give any details of the timeline for the present government, which is to be disclosed soon. Declaring that his party would not remain silent any longer on the wayward ways of the rulers he said that the poor man's money that was "stashed in the Swiss banks (reference to Zardari obviously)" should be brought back.
The press conference was telecast live and that enabled viewers to have a feel of the mood in which the ML-N chief was, and the tone in which he expressed his disgust, disappointment and distrust with what had happened a day before, and with the man who was responsible for the way in which the present democracy was being rendered vulnerable.
It is essential to mention here some of the speeches of President Zardari in Punjab in particular which were telecast live, as they also reflected the tough, uncompromising stance that he reflected on various issues that his government feared, and the fears that he had about conspiratorial efforts and designs of the "pen and the sword". This comment by Zardari has been greatly discussed, analysed and even criticised. For the deeper meaning that it could have. The sense of combat that Zardari mirrors as the country's president emphasises that he has been playing on the front foot all along.
And as a contrast his party man, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who seems to send out contradictory signals on some vital issues, seems to be playing on the back foot - has tried to play down the crisis, and the stand-off between the judiciary and the government. He emphasised that "for every wrong there is a remedy" and that the government would implement the decisions of the Judiciary. People wonder why the previous decisions of the superior court have been not been implemented so far. The point that the Prime Minister overlooks and understandably so is that there is a price that is paid for every wrong, including the remedy that is sought. Who is paying for this wrong that he is referring to? The people of Pakistan.
In fact, the people of Pakistan have every justifiable reasons to be worried at the way the country is being governed and the disappointment that has come in the last two years, especially when it comes to the cost of living. All this that is happening in the country is seriously impacting the common man on a daily basis - who is suffering as prices rise, corruption rises, governance fails and a rising sense of futility that justice is still elusive.
Therefore, if public opinion appears to be leaning in favour of the superior judiciary, and in which the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry appears to be promising a credible way out of this economic and socio-political injustice, it is plausible.
With reference to what Prime Minister Gilani has said on Sunday about wrongs and remedies, I am reminded of banker-turned-politician Shaukat Aziz, who as Prime Minister had the habit of talking of Pakistan's soft image each time he was supposed to be serious about how his major policies were not delivering. Pakistanis wonder at the way he came and left quietly. Were he to be around at this stage he would effortlessly have talked of Basant or Valentine's Day or the joys of kite flying! He was kite flying, anyway. And all under a military umbrella all the time.
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