Pakistan

Finding his name in recently published list of beneficiaries of National Reconciliation Ordinance, the advisor of Punjab Chief Minister and principal secretary of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Saeed Mehdi has tendered his resignation stating that he never made any corruption nor took advantage under NRO. He further said that he was involved in the matter maliciously, therefore, quitting from the office as moral obligation. Mehdi said he would not accept any official designation till clearance.

Unless there are some hidden and political ramifications, the resignation of Saeed Mehdi is indeed commendable. Is he going to be the lone exception or going to be followed by hundreds of others in the government led by the worthy President of Pakistan?

The News International, Pakistan, Monday, July 20, 2009 writes,

Gilani said: “Enough is enough. I have assessed the performance of my ministers during the last one year. Now I have to make some changes according to merit, not according to somebody’s liking and disliking because I am responsible for running a country of more than 170 million people”.

It's a tall claim. I doubt if Mr. Gilani is serious about it. Even if he is, the next question is whether Mr. Zardari and his party will let him do it. There are over 90 persons working as ministers or enjoying the status of a minister. Not only the number is too large for a poor country like Pakistan to afford, most of these are the nominees of Mr. Zardari. Curtailing this number or replacing some of these will be at the cost of losing parliamentary support of these and the ones supporting them. These are the ills of democracy which are not likely to let him move in the right direction even if he so desires.

Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker, Dr Fehmida Mirza, on Tuesday, announced a 27-member Special Committee of Parliament on Constitutional Reforms. The committee has been formed after consulting the parliamentary leaders of 15 political parties having representation in both houses. It has been tasked to finalise the recommendations of political parties for constitutional reforms, including repeal of the 17Th Amendment. And, this is to be done under the scope of the Charter of Democracy, the speaker said.

It has taken more than a year to form a committee for the constitutional reforms. Keeping in mind the enormity of the task, it will take years to finalize the recommendations, implying that PPP will be able to complete its tenure with the constitution as it is, the constitution which grants more powers (including 58(2)B to dissolve the parliament) to the president than the prime minister and the parliament. Mr. Zardari will continue to rule as the Chief Executive with Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani and the parliament playing only as second fiddle to the president. It may be recalled that Mr. Zardari had announced, prior to the presidential election over a year ago, that whoever was elected as the president, the first gift he would give to the nation would be the repeal of 58(2)B. The country is awaiting the receipt of that gift. What a contradiction between the words and deeds of our worthy leaders!

Commenting on the presentation of pardon documents, duly signed by PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif, by advocate-general of Sindh in the court, Khwaja Asif of PML(N) accused that it was done on the instructions of President Zardari. Khwaja Asif stated in the Parliament that Mr. Zardari had once again started the politics of confrontation. Khwaja Asif commented, “If they continue character assassination of our leadership then we will also tell the people how Farooq H Naek brought the NRO (National Reconciliatory Ordinance) before us to give indemnity to Gen Musharraf” . He further said," The president lacks credibility and no body trusts him". Responding from the treasury benches, Ms Mehreen Anwer Raja said those who are criticising the NRO should tell the people who begged the military dictator for pardon. The speaker expunged the remarks from the proceedings on the request of Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mehreen Anwar Raja and Fauzia Wahab.

Politics in Pakistan has nothing to do with principles which are nothing but a rhetoric to befool the masses. The above event very clearly indicates the tacit understanding between the two major political parties that neither would expose the other as both have a lot to hide. The moment one side tries to violate that understanding, the other side 'blows the whistle'.

Leaders lead by personal example. It's just not understood as to why Mr. Zardari, The President of Pakistan, had to delay his address till as late past mid night. Was the nation going to war? The footage of his planned address started appearing in the evening. The seven minute address did not carry anything special or anything new. Mr. President! try to be punctual. This is the least you can do; at least do that!

Supreme Court of Pakistan made a landmark judgement overruling one of its earlier verdicts regarding the disqualification of the two brothers to contest parlimentary elections. The decision of the bench of five judges was unanimous. The bench also included two judges of the previous bench which had given the judgement of disqualification. This has paved way for Mr. Nawaz Sharif to return to parliment by contesting bye elections and Mr. Shahbaz Sharif to continue as Chief Minister of Punjab.

The judgement could not have come about without the restoration of judiciary after the threatening long march of March 16, 2009. This is the first personal benefit Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his party have got of their supporting the movement of restoration of judiciary. This judgement is going to have far reaching effects on the political course of our country. By giving this judgement, Supreme Court has set a course for itself which is pretty clear. Whereas, PPP has welcomed the judgement, it will now be keeping its fingers crossed over the issue of NRO. The government will have to be extra careful and arbitrary decision will become difficult. Mr. Nawaz Sharif's return to parliment will provide him inner strength and confidence to lead his party, the parliment will become more active and it will become further difficult for PPP led coalition to ignore PML(N). And, from now on, Nawaz Sharif will be in a position to pose real personal threat to the politics of Zardari.

After the recent visit of President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari to France, Foreign Minister of Pakistan states that France has agreed to provide civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan on the lines of recent American Indian deal on the subject. However, the French spokesperson says that France has offered its services to Pakistan with regards to nuclear safety of Pakistan's arsenal. Who is to be believed; foreign minister of Pakistan or French spokesperson!

A suicide car-bomber drove into a Pakistani military convoy on Saturday. 25 soldiers and police personnel were killed besides two passers-by, and 65 others were wounded. The incident took place, 190 km (120 miles) west of Islamabad. Seven out of the 65 wounded were said to be in a critical condition. About eight vehicles in the convoy were destroyed.

A spokesman for Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud said militants would continue its attacks on security forces.
"It was retaliation for the U.S. drone strikes and security forces will have to see more attacks because our people have suffered many losses in the missile attacks," Hakimullah Mehsud said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

President Asif Ali Zardari told aid donors on Friday he would step up the fight against militants and said defeat for nuclear-armed Pakistan would be a defeat for the world.
His nation is a vital U.S. ally in its efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.