There is harmony, we were assured time and time again by the minister of information as the political show moved around the world during the past weeks. She termed it perfect harmony between the two teams playing the judicial match, shuttling between Pakistan, Dubai and London. Harmony, was the word stressed right up to the resignation farce. The honourable minister was obviously out of sync. The "political actors" of the Republic of Pakistan, as US Deputy Secretary of State John Dimitri Negroponte so aptly named those now attempting to run our political show, are certainly entertaining the nation (though we are not laughing, not even smiling) as they play out their mystery drama scripted by the US government and directed by President General Pervez Musharraf, with the leading role filled by political actor Asif Zardari. All those in the sub-roles are really irrelevant in the scheme of things. As some members of the cast move from country to country (who pays for the travelling expenses, board and lodging?) so do the some of the American script writers. In London, Assistant Secretary of State for our zone, Richard Boucher, briefed lead man Zardari on the next move expected of him. And as soon as Zardari arrived back in Pakistan who was it who "called on" him? Well, none other, surprise, surprise, than US Ambassador Anne Patterson. We were duly regaled with the usual boring press photograph of them beaming at each other. The leading man was presumably given further directions as how to nobly fulfil his role. Thrust totally unexpectedly upon the stage, Zardari continues to be lustily rewarded with the National Reconciliation Ordinance which has nothing to do with reconciliation and all to do with conning the nation. The brazen American directors have no qualms about revealing their directorial role, whereas Musharraf at least attempts to lurk in the background pretending he has nothing to do with the ongoing burlesque while most of us are fully aware of what strings he is pulling and in which direction. Zardari seems quite amenable to playing the leading role - he blossoms in it day by day, the smiling suave kingpin of our national political actors. He has no moral compass to guide him, he does not need one on the stage that is Pakistan. His lengthy spells in jail and sub-jails (hospitals and so forth) have not made him cautious, have imparted little wisdom. Experience has not taught him. He has assembled around him a bevy of inept and largely corrupt sycophants simply because they were the ones who stood by him in his adversity. Such are the lesser political actors who occupy the national stage, aiming to garner rich pickings. The man given the role of prime minister is the joker in the political actor pack (has he shed his military minders yet?). Poor chap, his role is minimal. When the Mian of Lahore's men handed in to him their bunch of resignations - part of the drama and suitably orchestrated - all he could do was to tell them he was helpless and could do nothing until the leading man arrived from his trip abroad. His role and that of all the appointed ministers is largely redundant, with the one exception of the man who has been charged with the role of the villain of the piece, that suspect prince of darkness, Rehman Malik who is not to be trusted by anyone as far as he can be thrown. Now, the script writer, the directors and the lead man all bleat on at us say after day about the blessings of "democracy" and how the country is trotting happily along the democratic path, whilst staging their most undemocratic drama which they hope is successfully befooling the people of Pakistan. What is democratic about Zardari or his party? He is not an elected representative, yet he is the leading actor. And his party is the leading factor, and as such it now needs to move away from all the "sacrifices" and the shaheeds and get down to present realities and brass tacks. The same applies to the Mian of Lahore, the transformed in looks and speech Nawaz Sharif. As the second star in the present firmament (for how long?), he also preaches democracy without being a democrat, without being a representative of the people. He is also wooed by the Americans but not for the same reasons as Zardari. As one US congresswoman pointed out recently he is not to be trusted, he is to be "watched." As for his role, he seems destined to take an early exit. Sensing this, he has threatened to take to the streets in support of the cause which is the scripted bone of contention. The judiciary matter is a mess, and it seems it will continue in that state. According the unelected unrepresentative Zardari, the issue will be resolved "in due course," there are to be "no timeframes to any issue." Fine and dandy, but what we want to know is what is the time frame for the enacted drama. Are we witnessing Act I or Act II? Are we nearing Act III and if so what is the denouement? Uncertainty prevails day after day as one crisis overtakes another without any resolution to the previous one. E-mail: arfc@cyber.net.pk