Welcome to parliament

Head of PPP Media Cell
Container politics is miles apart of parliamentary politics. It may be acceptable if it paves the way for true democratic politics but surely least desirable if it asphyxiates the worthwhile reason. At the outset, the impression was that the protests were meant to do the bidding of others because their demand of resignation of the prime minister merely on the basis of allegations looked outlandish by any measure. But, it died down when the proponents dropped this condition and saw brightening up of their prospects with the appreciation of ground realities. The longevity of protests also implied that men on the horseback were no more interested as they got what they wanted. In this situation, the only way forward was to continue the negotiations no matter how painstaking these may be. The politics of negotiations prevailed upon the politics of skirmishes at the end of the day. It was exceptionally pleasing for the countrymen to see the joint session of Parliament representing the whole country. The House was full. Welcome to the Parliament!
Asif Ali Zardari’s prowess in the art of practicing reconciliation for building bridges in the political fault lines of the country is amazing. The dividends are enviable. He neatly got elected Senator Raza Rabbani as Chairman of Senate who is an outstanding Parliamentarian with impeccable democratic credentials. He was a consensus candidate and elected unopposed as such. Asif Ali Zardari ensured the smooth sailing of elections of senators in the province of Sindh especially through his wisdom of making the political opponents as real stakeholders. He steered through the political upheavals to ensure the completion of the constitutional tenure of the PPP government through the policy of reconciliation and accommodation given by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. It will be proved as the ultimate prescription to address the national predicaments. He played leading and decisive role in scuttling the designs of those who were bidding on the disruptive politics in the country against the democratic process. He advised them to return to the negotiation table and the Parliament to rectify the anomalies in the system as a shared vision. But, they were imperious and visibly impatient without realizing the prophetic truth, haste makes waste. Ironically, they understood the truth later than sooner. The co-chairman took strategic decision f accepting the results of 2013 elections for the sake of democracy and its continuity. It will be highly appreciated by the political analysts as the game changer in favour of participatory democracy. Democracy and its continuity are the focal point of his politics. Overwhelming majority in the country is in agreement with the paradigm shift — democracy is right prescription to address all the ailments of the country created by the successive dictatorships.
His declaration on the 36th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto at Ghari Khua Buksh,’in case of danger to democracy he and his Party will be with Nawaz Sharif” stems from the same conviction ‘democracy and its continuity are non-negotiable’. He has put in a lot of political capital behind by extending unequivocal and consistent support to elected government despite the pressures within and without but he stayed put showing no sign of teetering. He is a leader of substance as platitudes have no meaning to him. He does not like to play to the gallery but conduct himself in a way to steel the hearts of adversaries by offering level playing field. His support to democracy is unconditional but not so to the government. It is conditional to the government so long as it treads on the trajectory of democracy, and will lose the same if it follows the path of democratic diminishing return.
His assertive advice to the prime minister in the recent past, ‘he should behave like an elected prime minister not as a monarch’ clearly unfolded the parameters of his support to the prime minister and his government.
The other piece of advice he gave in his speech was for the consumption of PTI leaders earnestly urging them to come home (Parliament) since the Judicial Commission for probing the allegations of rigging had been formed. Asif Ali Zardari has been consistent in favour of dialogue because brinkmanship never solves problems rather it unleashes the vicious circle of Gordian knot. It is absolutely true in a democratic dispensation where negotiations, debates and arguments and counter-arguments are practiced fiercely to reap the benefits of collective wisdom. Stalemates, deadlocks and stand offs for longer period of time are alien jargons in a functioning democracy because of their implausibility. The history of government and politics of Pakistan bears it out quite clearly and the resultant political and economic mess the nation had to face and is still bracing the aftermaths of appalling proportion. The politics of eighty’s and ninety’s exemplified the politics of vendetta and political victimization to the core. The then leadership learnt the lesson and huddled together and documented their commitment to promote democratic culture in the real sense of the word. They also committed to desist from creating space for the anti-democratic forces by jettisoning the politics of confrontation for trivial political considerations. The Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed in May 2006, was the reaffirmation of the two parties to promote democratic politics. Party politics should espouse the cause of democracy not against it.
PPP under the leadership of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and now Asif Ali Zardari had been following the CoD in letter and spirit. It may be recalled that Benazir Bhutto convinced Nawaz Sharif not to boycott the elections scheduled to be held in 2008 as he declared earlier to do so along with other political parties including PTI. Asif Ali Zardari also stood his ground and opposed the postponement of elections after the assassination of Mohtrama Benzair Bhutto. Had Nawaz Sharif not acceded to the advice of the Shaheed Mohtrama to contest the elections the country would have been very well under the shackles of Musharraf’s dictatorship for many more years?
Pakistani nation has been enjoying the dividends of democracy since then because the leadership did not bite the bait of General Musharraf and instead decided to march on the path of democracy jointly. The dawn of democracy set out in the country as a result of elections and the reminiscent of dictatorship were left with no option but to walk into the night. It was a democratic revenge in its best from and manifestation indeed. Now, the tormentor is facing scores of cases in the court of law. He is an embodiment of tale of hubris.
The overwhelming view across the country has welcomed the return of PTI members to the Parliament. Some of analysts will maintain that container and sit-ins politics have yielded no fruitful results and rather wasted so much time of the nation that cost heavily both internally and externally. The Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan was postponed due to the political turmoil while he paid visit to India at that time. The president of Sri Lanka also deferred his visit for the same reason. The world was laughing at us because the country was facing existential threat and yet our political leadership was engaged in a political duel unto death. The normal routine of national life was bitterly disturbed and the writ of the government was not visible. Nothing was more embarrassing than to watch on TV screens the PAT workers engaged in digging collective graves for committing collective suicide in front of the Parliament. The attack of the protestors wielding staves on state television, PTV, spoke volumes of the vandalism the parties were pursuing without remorse. Our heads hung in shame as workers were denying the access to the judges of the Supreme Court and the employees of the Pak Secretariat.
These are bitter memories hoping these will not revisit because the nation has no more appetite for this type of foray.
The convening of the joint session of the Parliament on the suggestion of the PPP turned the table against the apologists of destructive politics because the rest of the political parties rejected the method of intimidation and coercion as means of political change for being unconstitutional. The resolution of the Parliament took the thunder out of the container and sit-in politics. They have to resume the dialogues with requisite seriousness in order to grab the opportunity for an honourable exit rather than going along with brinkmanship. Co- Chairman Asif Ali Zardari also flew back to Pakistan and initiated a flurry of activity meant for rallying round the political parties to save democracy while urging the protesting parties to settle the political issues on negotiation table. He said, ‘solution lies in negotiations and negotiations alone’. He met political leaders of all shades without taking into account the ideological differences aimed at to save democracy and indeed the federation. He met Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami, at Party headquarters, Mansoora, and also Chaudhrys of Gujrat at their Lahore residences and others to save political system and ensure its continuity. His strenuous efforts have been fruitful because now democracy is out of woods and things are settling down fast— thanks God.
muhammadshaheedi@yahoo.com