The last few days for Pakistan by any reckoning were extraordinary. Like a bolt from the blue, a Canadian of Pakistani origin jumped into the political arena. After establishing his importance, by holding a huge rally at Lahore, he announced a long march of millions to Islamabad. Appearing on the TV channels talk shows, he passionately pleaded for an instant revolution. His aim was nothing less than a quick cleansing of the political system. He successfully led the long march to the country’s capital where his followers occupied space in front of the Presidency and Parliament. For four days and four nights the highly-motivated men, women and children, in tens of thousands, sat, stood, chanted, slept and kept their resolve to bring about a change in the body politic as spelt out by their leader. All the while they remained disciplined and peaceful. Dr Qadri would address them every few hours, exhorting them and challenging the government to accept his demands ranging from dismissal of the cabinet, dissolution of the elected houses and the Election Commission to holding of elections on the basis of a drastic electoral reform. His successful long march and spirited calls for reform, accompanied by a threat to sweep away the government of the day, shook the country and dramatically stirred up the political scene.
The MQM initially declared that it would join the long march, but later changed their mind. Dr Qadri quietly absorbed the shock. Imran Khan held a press conference in which he expressed support for Dr Qadri’s agenda, but remained somewhat hesitant to join the march. Later, he clearly announced not to join Dr Qadri’s programme and came up with his own seven points, including the demand for President Asif Zardari to resign. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif reacted by holding a meeting with most of the opposition political parties and hammered out a charter of 10 points. He and the opposition leaders expressed doubts about the credibility of Dr Qadri’s political initiative, calling it a circus and a tamasha. This was followed by a press conference held by the Federal Information Minister in which he pooh-poohed Dr Qadri and made fun of his inelastic demands. The Interior Minister too spoke and  warned of an operation against the long march.
Dr Qadri remained undeterred. Even the cold weather and rain did not weaken his will to face the odds. He threw a challenge giving the government just a few hours either to accept his demands or be prepared for a new course of action that he would announce after the deadline was over. Almost suddenly, the government agreed to talk to him. Senior representatives of the coalition partners were seen assembling at Dr Qadri’s improvised “residence” in a container. After discussion of various points, an agreement was reached that was signed by the Prime Minister and later announced to the crowd. This agreement, briefly, requires the dissolution of the elected assemblies before March 16 and holding of the elections within 90 days, the scrutiny of candidates under Article 62 and 63 and of their papers during a period of one month, the nomination of two names for the caretaker PM by consensus of the coalition partners and Dr Qadri for the consideration of opposition parties, the holding of a meeting on January 27 at Lahore to discuss the possibility of forming a new Election Commission, as also the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment of June 8, 2012, about electoral reforms.
It is, indeed, amazing how Dr Qadri managed to achieve what he did, so soon. It is also somewhat puzzling as to how the government in Islamabad suddenly changed its stand and agreed not only to discuss Dr Qadri’s demands, but also accept most of his points. Suddenly, the villain stood transformed into a hero. One possible reason is that they were apprehensive of untoward happenings, considering the large number of women and children braving the inclement weather they could not rule out the possibility of a dreadful incident somewhat like the Lal Masjid episode.
The opposition PML-N, JUI and others are sceptical of the authenticity of the agreement reached. One of the leaders has dubbed it as “muk muka”.
Whatever may be said to belittle the consensus reached, the fact remains that –
l    A significant headway has been made to ensure that elections would be held on time and the letter of the constitution would be observed to screen out corrupt and dishonest candidates. How will this be actually achieved will depend on the character and calibre of the Election Commission, and also how neutral and competent the caretaker government would be;
l    The long march and Dr Qadri’s spirited and eloquent speeches have sensitised not only the political parties and the civil society, but also the public at large to the desirability of a change for a cleaner and people-oriented government;
l    The discipline, peacefulness and the passion displayed by Dr Qadri’s followers - old and young men, women and small children - certainly enhanced the image of the people of Pakistan internationally.
I opened this column by saying that the last few days in Pakistan were quite extraordinary. One may in this behalf mention also the brutal Hazara killings in Quetta and how their near and dear ones kept sitting with the bodies of the deceased for four days in severe cold, refusing to bury them unless the government was dismissed and an assurance of security was provided. And in sympathy with them, hundreds of people in Lahore, Karachi and other places too staged sit-ins for days till the government was kicked out and the Governor’s Rule imposed.
Not to be ignored during these days was the Supreme Court order relating to the arrest of the Prime Minister. Though the case has been deferred for a few days on procedural grounds, in any modestly civilised country, the Prime Minister would have resigned particularly when the charges pertain to corrupt practices.
Last but not the least, there was suddenly a hotting up of the Line of Control and exchange of fire between the Indian and Pakistani troops. The first casualty was of a Pakistani soldier and in all three Pakistani personnel were killed. Two Indian soldiers (one of which, according to Indian military, was beheaded) also died, but Pakistan insisted it had not launched any attack on LoC nor intruded into the Indian occupied part, only fired back when attacked. The Indian reaction was unnecessarily belligerent. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went to the length of saying that there could be no longer “business as usual” with Pakistan. The Indian Army Chief also used aggressive language. Pakistani theatre plays were banned and the Pakistani women’s cricket team was no longer welcome. The visa facility for senior citizens at the Wagha Border was also deferred. Our Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar responded proportionately and accused India of “warmongering”. She proposed a meeting of the Foreign Ministers to defuse the tension. The excessive reaction on the part of India was also criticised by a section of the Indian media. Said the Indian Express in its Thursday’s editorial: “An increasingly jingoistic clamour has been worked up in TV studios and outside; government has passed up every opportunity to underlying the imperative of keeping the bilateral dialogue separate.” Good sense has prevailed and India realising its larger interest is willing to talk to Pakistan to settle the differences arising out of the recent incidents.

n    The writer is an ex-federal secretary and  ambassador, and a freelance political and international relations analyst.
    Email: pacade@brain.net.pk