Revival of democracy

It is now six months since the new government has been functioning but it is still not clear who is running the country. Inspite of, or possibly because of, frequent high level meetings and press conferences, TV interviews by ministers, advisers and party office bearers and with little or no change in the situation on the ground, the people are confused about who is in control? Or whether anyone in fact is. It is clear that the prime minister certainly is not. Mr Asif Ali Zardari who is frequently on visits abroad has the last word and the adviser to the ministry of interior which has no minister, appears to be throwing his weight around and is often laying down the policy of the central government in matters that often fall in the provincial governments’ sphere of responsibility. To add to the confusion, the United States has a big say in how things should be handled, specially when it concerns matters of security. The dire state of the economy and our dependence on United States further complicates matters.

This is not a very good start for a popularly elected government after months of public demand for the end of dictatorship. The unnatural alliance of the PML-N and the PPP brought about by peculiar circumstances and their declared resolve of getting rid of a military dictator has weakened, as the president’s powers to interfere have been reduced. With his removal from office the unifying force of these two political parties is likely to further weaken and their differences are likely to surface in a manner that is likely to make their working together more unnatural and difficult.