Who will fill the vacuum?

There are no clear signals that Musharraf’s political venture is being supported by the establishment; nor can there be many reasons for such support. One, the army is clearing the very mess that Musharraf had admittedly created and two, why would anyone reuse a fired cartridge instead of getting a fresh one?
After all, there was nothing special with the person of Musharraf, which he himself seems to firmly believe in, except the stick that he no longer holds. But Zardari must have smelt some rat when he questioned who was backing Musharraf in a rather confident tone, a tone that is not much in vogue after the raid on 90.
How can then the recently enhanced activity of Musharraf be politically interpreted? But, assuming there is no such thing as was perceived by Zardari, does this question bear any relevance? He is probably reading too much between the lines.
What is more relevant, perhaps, is that the MQM is in trouble; no political party can survive for such a long time as the MQM has with the tactics that are so commonly associated with it. The JI is another example but violence in the JI has been mostly limited to its various wings and has not become a part of the mainstream politics of the JI in such a big way as it did in the case of the MQM.
A fear is now gripping the PPP – that the same model that has been applied on the MQM can be repeated in the former’s case too. The party is picking up signals of imminent danger and is emitting some of them in a rather cautious manner. The reason for the PPP’s probable ill fate is again similar; no political party can survive for such a long time with the tactics so commonly associated with it. The many journalists and anchors considered close to the establishment are not foretelling a similar fate for the PPP for nothing.
The PML-N, having learnt the ‘right lessons’ from its survival from dharnas, is happy with whatever little is on the table for it and is more interested in enjoying those ‘perks and privileges’ that are associated with whatever little is on the table.
Meanwhile, the PTI, after selling every ideal and making every compromise possible under the sun in order to get access to the power corridors, wants to enjoy the ride now. After its (mis)adventure, it would rather avoid any ‘unnecessary risk’ and wait and see what turn the establishment’s machinations take and how it can fit into them. So, the agreement on a judicial commission, out of the blue, demonstrates that both parties are exhausted now and are up for a break from confrontation.
When the PML-N is in survival mode, the MQM in exit mode, the PTI in entry mode and the PPP in flight mode, the all-powerful establishment is in fight mode. It’s back in the driving seat. Apex committees, not much heard of before, are not that novel a concept. Does the old demand of a National Security Council ring any bells? A lot of them have now been established at all levels that matter. Even at levels not demanded before.
Leaving aside the power struggle among the power players, what’s going on at the governance level – the level that directly impacts the life of the man in the street? The PML-N takes governance as large multi-billion visible projects with allegedly big kickbacks. The PPP usually achieves that kickbacks flight without bothering much on big visible projects.
And what about the harbinger of change? The party of change has changed little except on its social media pages; by all accounts, in substantial terms, it is business as usual in KP. Anything substantial that is being done is to the credit of the establishment, which is carrying out a major operation by exposing the bad governance of politicians and by discrediting democracy in the garb of getting the political class ridiculed – on which, though, it has the complete cooperation of the political class.
On the larger political canvas, however, the space for the establishment is diminishing despite the recent comeback. Its peak time is long over but it’s the political class that’s been failing us by not rising to the occasion and grabbing the real power that is up for grabs since some time and placing it where it belongs ie with the people of Pakistan. Owing to the failure of the existing political class, a huge political vacuum is there for new political forces. The million-dollar question is: who will fill that vacuum and when?
The writer is a former diplomat and currently practices law.
Email: aiddi11@gmail.com