IS PAKISTAN IN TRANSITION?

OCEAN OF PEOPLE IN WHICH ZARDARI'S ARROGANCE SANK

Pakistani establishment tasted people's power twice in recent times. First during the Parvez Musharaff's regime and second in the present Zardari's period. Incedently in both the cases deposed Chief Justice Itkhar chaudhari was the central issue.

When Parvez Musharaff dismissed Justice Chaudhari, the entire legal fraternity rose in defiance. The lawyers started the movement for restoration of what they called, judicial independence. This movement gradually gained in momentum with the confluence of urban middle class. Naturally, when mobs gather, leaders assemble. Nawaz and Benzir joined the movement and gradually this entire movement metamorphosed into an allout and full fledged war against Parvez Musharaff. The situation in Pakistan, then, started deteriorating and taking advantage of the chaotic political and administrative sitution prevailing, USA also exerted immense pressure on Musharaff under which he succumbed. The military dictatorship in Pakistan again came to a bloodless end.

Taking cue of the movement, both Benzir and Nawaz rode the people's movement. Elections were announced, but unfortunately Benzir was shot dead allegedly by the terrorists. Elections were held and none of the political parties secured absolute majority in the National assembly.

Any way the first priority among all the waring factions in Pakistan that time was restoration of democracy by formation of government therefore both Zardari, the widower of Bhutto,and Nawaz reached on a truce and zardari formed the govt.

Zardari, essentially a businessman, tainted with serious corruption charges, wanted to keep maximum powers with him. Althouth Gilani, comparatively a less known face and clean image political figure, was made the PM, Zardari retained the reigns of power. He did not do away with the provisions in the constitution (article 52B) which empowers President to dissolve the Parliament. He committed the same mistakes. He took Pakistani people, especially middle class, for granted. He committed blunder again and did not reinstate deposed CJ of SC.

Nawaz, in the mean time was gradually going into oblivion. He was in quest of an oppotunity to come back in the mainstream. He got this god sent opportunity when the SC in a verdict disqualified Nawaz and his brother, the CM of Punjab from holding any public elected office. Zardari, a naive politician hurridly removed Shahbaz from CM ship of Punjab and imposed governor's rule. This political immature and miscalculated step of Zardari costed him dearly.

Now the situation was ripe for Nawaz to launch an all out war against the establishement. 'Long March to Islamabad' this slogan was given by Nawaz which mustered unprecedented support from the lawyers and middle class.The muzzled media in Pakistan too came in sharp against the government.The Long March gradually became the anti-government protest rally in which hundreds of thousands of civilians, human right activists, lawyers, students and above all political workers started joining. Zardari left Musharaff behind so far as mechanism to tackle this problem is concerned. Kayani met PM Gilani and speculations in domestic as well as international media that Zarari is going to be ousted by a Military coup. One minister resigned so did a host of police officers. It was an unprecedented situation. The clash was imminent. USA, thank god could learn the mood of common pakistani, and exerted Zardari to yeild. Like a good mama's boy, Zardari accepted the demand of restoration of Justice Chaudhari.

Although, till now the main issue of restoration of Judiciary had been hijacked, the sudden retreat of government on the main issue left Nawaz with no option but to call off the stir.

This episode of a high voltage dramma has again showed that the people can and only common people can change the fate of Pakistan. What we need is this type of movement against terrorism and militancy. No establishment whatsoever is more powerful than the voice of common man, what a power it posses!