Will a maverick be the PPP’s messiah?

And if all of this was not enough to turn one’s stomach, the Pakistani maverick politician and barrister-at-law, Aitzaz Ahsan, was making restrained announcements of his recent meetings with the president, the prime minister and the army chief with loaded melodramatic and anticipative linguistic skills and tactics on every Pakistani TV channel. Aitzaz said: “If I fully disclose the nature of my discussions, many people will lose their night’s sleep.” Well said, but Aitzaz Ahsan, we pretty much know what’s up. Let me explain the riddle to my country fellows.
Be mindful that Aitzaz Ahsan was on a visit to the US when he was urgently summoned back to Islamabad by the prime minister for successive meetings with the president and the army chief. Do you see the emerging scenario?
The attorney general’s offer to him is a hoax to gain time. The political theatrics of the drama entitled Some will lose their night’s sleep unfolds as follows:
Ø On November 13, Aitzaz Ahsan’s membership is restored by the Peoples’ Party Central Committee.
Ø Behind the doors, work starts on yet another masterly crafted NRO out of public view and in absolute state secrecy.
Ø The president resigns and is given a safe passage out of Pakistan along with his political-financial cohorts. Zardari’s and his friends’ massive financial assets are saved in foreign countries. The deal is hailed as a victory for the fledgling Pakistani democracy. Not a bad arrangement for the incumbent president, his associates, Aitzaz Ahsan and the PPP.
Ø The PPP elects a new party chief from Sindh. This person could be even Mumtaz Bhutto.
Ø The ruling party and all the opposition in Parliament elect Aitzaz Ahsan as the new President of Pakistan.
Ø Nawaz Sharif, Altaf Bhai, the rest of the political leadership and the army all celebrate the victory of democratic forces over the evil powers that had besieged Pakistan.
Ø A new saviour, the messiah, in the person of Aitzaz Ahsan, is born and presides over the nation.
Ø American patronage continues: the Obama Administration’s escalation of the War on Terror remains undisrupted and undisputed. Arms and money keep pouring in as military aid and socio-economic grants. Neo-capitalism continues steadfastly on its forward march.
Ø The Pakistani democracy is saved. PPP completes its five years in power. Hail Caesar: a divine intervention gives Pakistan a new head of state - honourable, dedicated, poised, determined, charismatic, honest and patriotic. Suddenly, Pakistan turns into a “Heaven on Earth.”
Not so fast, though. A vital question in a change of political power structure (whatever that maybe) in today’s Pakistan is: Will the present day political status quo continue in the country? Will US-NATO stay on a course of military solutions for purely political problems in Afghanistan and expand it further into Pakistan?
What if Seymour Hersh’s theory on Pakistan’s nuclear assets is not proven wrong?
Aitzaz Ahsan’s ascendency to political “Messiah” will be a welcome development in Pakistan. But is he up to the challenge?
But Barrister Ahsan’s American baggage is a thorn in the equation!
Fellow Pakistanis! Heaven was not made in a day. Present and future NROs must cease to exist. US-NATO must pack-up and go away. Begging must stop. Self-reliance on our own resources and people is the only recipe for our future survival.
This has been an imaginative and innocuous piece of writing to envisage what might be coming our way in Pakistan in the next few days!
But I have a serious question: Will this nation live with yet another concealed and camouflaged NRO?
That is what would ultimately shape this nations destiny!
The author is a professor, political analyst and a conflict resolution expert.
Email: hl_mehdi@hotmail.com