Neither mission nor vision: anarchy

A memorable quotation comes from the erstwhile highest leader of the PPP who until his visible displacement by the government was the heir apparent to Benazir. Amin Fahim said in a press conference: "The party is being kept in habeas corpus by the incumbent leaders and the country's overall situation is worsening." In emotional terms the Makhdoom stated that the party had been taken hostage by a few "new entrants and elements with vested interest" in its ranks. Clearly the current administration's joy ride into the Pakistani roller coaster of power has neither any mission nor vision. Anarchy seems to be everywhere and ominously for Pakistanis their lot is getting worse by the day.

Many unpatriotic elements are progressing daily to strengthen Musharraf's dying regime. Not much can be said to be demonstrative of a new republican regime in harness. The power of the coalition in the early days of parliament seems to be totally, as before, lying outside the elected chamber. Formerly all powers vested in Musharraf who to this day remains unelected under the constitution. All actual exercise of authority vests with Zardari and Musharraf, both non-members of the House that represents the Will of the People. Musharraf formerly had the assistance of a Quisling Muslim League created by him; now the PPP is doing the same service.

My description of this being "Musharraf's' proxy" warriors is vigorously being reaffirmed. It has been adopted by leading columnists writing for established western media such as the CNN and BBC. So what we now have is this Zardari-Musharraf regime to reckon.

Bereft of any consistency, all important policy decisions and the entire direction of the state seem to be adrift and utterly rudderless. It is easily forgotten that that there was a mandate for the parliament to undertake at least the following actions within 100 days of its inaugural session (1) the implementation of the Charter of Democracy signed personally by Benazir, (2) to achieve the reversal the ethos of 17th amendment, (3) restoring November 2 judiciary, and (4) ending the fundamental effects of military dictatorship of October 12 so as to ensure that any future coup d' tat does not occur. This is what was categorically stated unequivocally by the PM in his inaugural address to the parliament. However nothing of this nature has come about; the Islamabad administration is completely oblivious of this simple reality. Even its own supporters are now clamouring for it to act. The raison d'etre of the February mandate was to make Pakistan more democratic. Instead what are we seeing?

The country and indeed many abroad who are conversant with Pakistani political culture are aghast at the time serving manner in which the Islamabad administration is governing from Dubai! It was astonishingly noted by the press that even the PM went to Dubai to confer with him; the law minister is going there on frequent summons.