Politics of democracy and federation

Head of PPP Media Cell

Co-chairman of PPP’s track record is rife with prioritising the national politics over party politics solely for the progression of democracy and the consolidation of the federation. Former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, surrendered his powers to the Parliament voluntarily for the same reasons. The 18th Amendment enacted with consensus under his leadership restored the Constitution in its original form mutilated by the dictators. He promoted consensus politics as 98% bills tabled in the Parliament carried this unique characteristic ensuring smooth legislation because opposition was always taken into confidence. Democratic best practices were in full swing during his watch. He considered this pursuit as the best tribute to the founding fathers of the nation and the PPP alike, Mohtarma Shaheed and the workers who had left the legacy that the people of Pakistan cherish so much.

It is this legacy that is worth preserving as being the source of inspiration for those who are committed to stand by the people of Pakistan through and through. Democracy is the only solution to extricate the country from the quagmire of dictators’ making. Co-chairman’s unequivocal commitment to democracy and constitutionalism has a very strong basis because it has sprouted from the sacrifices rendered by those leaders and workers of the PPP who kept the flag of peoples’ rights flying high even in the face of ferocious dictatorships. PPP’s arduous struggle for the empowerment of the poor segments of the society was testimony to its priority in politics. Power politics for its sake only has never been its preference. People’s politics is the bedrock of PPP politics. It always came to power through the votes of the people, while others could not resist the temptation fueled either by their vested interests or capitulation.

His leadership was put to difficult test after the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 when the country was in deep turmoil. He proved his mettle and played decisive role in averting grave dangers to the federation when he declared at the top of his voice “Pakistan khappay, long live Pakistan.” The whole country at that time was gripped in an acute state of estrangement, hopelessness and despondency and the people of the province of Sindh were extremely bitter in particular. Asif Ali Zardari’s slogan dampened the fire of inferno proportion in the country and the situation started returning to normal fast. His pivotal role at that time paved the way for the return to democracy as well. Elections were held in 2008. The democracy was restored with the elected government firmly in the saddle led by Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Asif Ali Zardari’s biggest challenge during the PPP led government was as how to keep the political opponents on the right side so important for the survival of the political system. He decided to follow the politics of reconciliation as the solution of the multiple problems facing the country. As a result, he contacted the political opponents of all shades, PML (Q) and the MQM, and others to seek their support to ensure the smooth functioning of the democratic system notwithstanding that the few parties were in collusion with general Musharraf in unleashing the worst type of political victimisation of the PPP, and the Shaheed Mohtarma was forced to exile along with others.

But, after the installation of the PPP government in Islamabad he religiously pursued the policy of consensus politics as a modus operandi to strengthen the political system. He took the strategic decision of adopting the politics of understanding as a potion to deny the space to the enemies of democracy who were always in a state of high preparedness to derail the system. The signing of Charter of Democracy in May 2006 between PPP and the PML-N leadership was the declaration of the commitment of not biting the bait of anti-democratic forces come what may.

Co-chairman’s recent clear cut position as reported in the media suggests that he has rejected the moves of NAB against Sharif brothers and their governments by arguing that he would not favour the ‘return slap.’ Taking the monolithic view of politics and the imperatives of its continuity, he explicitly opposed the expected bellicose of NAB in the Punjab like in the province of Sindh where the FIA and the NAB had literally paralysed the provincial government. Unfortunately, the foul crying of the provincial government had fallen on the deaf ear on the federal government. Despite PML-N leadership’s apathy in this regard, he advocated forcefully that all institutions should work within the ambits as defined in the Constitution. Trespassing is a dangerous game in governmental affairs. 

His disclosure in a recent TV interview revealed that the anti-democratic lobby is overwhelmingly contemplating of pulling down the elected government caring less of the imperative of the continuity of the political system. Their desperation to enter in the corridors of power at the earliest is limitless and they are least pushed to take into consideration the element of legitimacy between the means and the ends. 

They invited the PPP also to join the “grand alliance” but PPP refused to join hands because it did not, at all, want to put the system in jeopardy -- This is national politics indeed -- The parallel of co-chairman’s commitment to democracy is hard to find today on the political horizon of the country. How ironic, the Nawaz government has been hounding PPP leaders and its provincial government on frivolous basis? On the contrary, the co-chairman took the principled stand and rejected NAB’s expected ingress in the Punjab. Doing politics on the basis of malice is both dangerous and petty at the end of the day and therefore should be jettisoned for the good without the slightest hesitation. For PPP, democracy is non-negotiable regardless of the fact as who is the beneficiary as put across by the former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in a TV interview.

PPP incumbent leaders and workers are aware of the debt of the blood of their highly respected leaders and workers. They consider themselves under an obligation to retire it by ensuring the continuity of democracy on sustainable basis. They are committed not to disappoint their leaders no matter how many more sacrifices they have to render. Their promise to uphold the legacy of the martyred leaders and workers is unflinching and their conviction clearly suggests that preserving and promoting the legacy was the corner stone of their politics.

Judicial activism made the PPP government ineffective and it could not focus on addressing the governance issues holistically. The vagaries of civil-military relations due to the OBL debacle and the Memogate scandal was like hanging sword on the head of the PPP government. Nawaz Sharif was also prepared to dislodge the government as he appeared in the Supreme Court wearing his black coat and filed a petition to the utter disregard to the (COD). Obviously, his move was quite incompatible to the Charter of Democracy in which he committed that he would not destabilise the government. However, the PPP government of the day had to pass through difficult times but remained unwaveringly committed to the functioning of democracy. Its government completed the constitutional tenure, the first time in the history of the country for which co-chairman’s role was very important. The holding of elections after the completion of the constitutional term of the government was another feather in the cap of PPP leadership that steered the ship of democracy subtly and resolutely in the desired direction. The power was transferred to the new government peacefully in an enabling environment with the assurance of cooperation to the new government to complete the term as well. He has been keeping his words since then. This was not a small gesture when two Sharifs had been very unfair to the PPP government.

Asif Ali Zardari and PPP would have paid back in the same coin to Nawaz Sharif during the post elections period when they had a rocky start due to the allegations of rigging by Imran Khan who launched agitation against the government and vowed not to settle down less than the scalp of the prime minister. The pressure generated by the sit-in politics spread over months was too much for the newly installed government and the rumors were circulating that the government’s days were numbered. Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP came to the rescue of the government when they declared solidarity with the system adding no unconstitutional political change would be accepted. 

The convening of the joint session of the Parliament on the advice of the PPP leaders took the winds out of the sails of the sit-in politics and they had to leave the arena after eating a humble pie. PML-N leaders should not be oblivious of the support of PPP at critical times that made the big difference in salvaging the government, democracy and indeed the state.

muhammadshaheedi@yahoo.com