The legacy of Bhutto continued even by his heir Ms Bhutto, who faced a continuous trauma and turbulence during her, both tenures. She was compelled to leave the country after not finding justice even from courts of that time, but even then she struggled along with her bitter political enemy for the survival of democracy during Musharraf’s military regime. The combined struggle forced Mr Musharraf to step back and start negotiations with Ms Bhutto and thus was the beginning of ‘The doctrine of reconciliation’, which was continued even after brutal assassination by her husband Mr Asif A. Zardari in the making of his coalition government along with their political opponent Mian Nawaz Sharif.
It seemed in those days that Pakistan will soon emerge as a strong economical and peaceful country in the region again, where a bloody war continued in Afghanistan due to American vandalism and terrorism took the life of the only most popular leader of the country.
However, a series of blunders turned the new friends into worst enemies.
It is certainly not funny to see the recent history of decisions by the co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party. The series of rolling over started refusal of restoration the judiciary which ended Musharraf’s stable government. Mr Zardari, however, again convinced Mian Sharif about his compulsions and they struggled together to remove Musharraf together in the mid of 2008. After the removal of Musharraf, Mr Zardari chose himself to become new president of Pakistan as at one side he did not wanted another Leghari to end their government and at the other side he was afraid by the re-opening of the cases which were ceased by the NRO.
He was elected with a huge majority and it was possible not to create any conflict by again refusing the restoration of CJ for which he struggled to kick out Musharraf out of the country. However, the inside men of PPP claims that he still was helpless and had to follow the instructions of the unseen. Anyway, he took the blame on him, and said that promises are only promises and they shouldn’t be taken as verses of Quran.
His statement provoked anger and rage in the leadership of PML-N and from beginning of 2009, an incredible movement was started by Mian Nawaz sharif, which was highly supported by the top class civil society, media and even by the inner core of army. The governor raaj in Punjab and the solid statements of presidents let everybody think that the mind-set of PPP’s government is clear, and they would never step back. However, the whole exaggeration ended by a four line summary issued by the presidency for the restoration of CJ at mid night, Mian Nawaz Sharif was convinced by the ‘unseen’ to go back and sleep at home instead of continuing long march towards Islamabad.
That decision certainly ridiculed the whole regime of PPP, that if they had to step back then what was the reason to upraise the issue. Publically, whatever they said but in private most of the PPP ministers confessed with embarrassment that even they would not know an hour before that such order is going to be issued by presidency, they further said that if Nawaz Sharif would succeed to reach Islamabad, it might end their newly born government. Therefore, the high command had no other way left but to rollback.
Nevertheless, the series of funny decisions continued, it had become the trademark of PPP on behaving rigidly on important issues, uprising the chaos on that particular issue, allowing ministers for furious statements and then again rollback at the same position, from where they started.
A same drama has been repeated in the recent conflict with MQM (Which is Karachi and Hyderabad’s largest part). The controversy started on the possession of the seats in Karachi for AJK elections. MQM’s leader Altaf Hussain claimed that they were told to surrender one seat for PPP. Which they wouldn’t accept in any case, after his typical furious speech, they resigned from the provincial government and as the reaction, PPP’s government announced to end the recent local bodies electoral system along with bringing back the old commissionaire system. The order was passed by the acting governor Sindh Mr Nisar Khoro and was approved in a very convulsive session of Sindh Assembly where majority of members supported the ordinance.
This decision did not only bring back an impetuous and warm welcome by native Sindhis but at the other hand brought massive clashes and massacre backs in Karachi as well. Hundreds of people killed in a week, PPP and ANP blamed MQM, while at the other hand MQM blamed ANP and PPP for the massacre. Police remained powerless and helpless to catch any vigilant. The situation became worst with the statement of Ex-Provincial Interior Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, in which he highly criticized Mutehada’s leader Altaf Hussein. The next day MQM showed up the street power by aiming his house, hundreds of people gathered on the roads of defence to burn out the house of Dr ZulfiqarMirza who is also husband of Pakistan National’s assembly’s speaker Ms Fahmida Mirza. The show created a significant turbulence in president house to calm down the anarchy. The statement was highly disowned by the own leaders of PPP and Dr Mirza was left alone to face the fury of Muhajirs. He did not only immediately issued a video apology but was also called and ridiculed later in president house. However, even that couldn’t stabled the situation. Now there was another voice on roads, which was for a separate “Muhajir Province”, The campaign could not make a significant respectable place even after a number of supporting statements by MQM’s leaders or by non Sindhi media. MQM however, never owned publically that the wall chalking is actually by their own workers, but they warned that such voices were the reaction of the muhajir community after the massacre, and it could rise if they are pushed towards wall.
President Zardari tried to resolve the issue, the analysts says that it was whole set plan by PPP to restore the commissionaire system but they wouldn’t know about the reaction of MQM, which was worst by the statement of Dr Mirza. He made a trip to England and tried the back channel diplomacy by his close friend Dr Asim, but that failed at that moment. The MQM leader Altaf remained very furious and the massacre continued in Karachi. Police, rangers and FC seemed to be completely helpless in that whole scenario. They couldn’t even enter to ‘No Go Areas’ to keep the law and order situation in control rather than to arrest any, it did not showed a complete failure of administration but again it showed the hold of MQM in those particular areas. According to an international observer for UN, the circumstances of Karachi turned worst than Baghdad and there were the signs of a clear civil war between major political groups of Karachi on the hold of areas.
Therefore, Mr Zardari stepped back to their demand (if there was any) for keeping one seat in Karachi. Moreover, it brought back MQM’s governor back to his office to resume charge as Governor Sindh. At that point a senior analyst and journalist Mr Najam Sethi predicted that it would not only end here, but PPP has to roll back the commissionaire system again. However, at that point it was strongly denied by the PPP’s ministers that there is any chance of rolling back the decision. However, at the other hand, their efforts to bring back MQM in power continued, not only this, there were hidden orders to Police not to arrest major political players in recent riots. According to a high rank police officer (posted in Karachi, who requested not to disclose his name) Police is in completely hopeless and helpless condition, as they clearly know who the killers are but they politically pressurized not to arrest them despite of the fact that MQM was in opposition.
As the result, Economy collapsed, business and other activities paralyzed, people suffered but the massacre continued in that cursed city. Besides this whole story, Sindh government kept doing transfers and postings to adjust officers of Police and District management group to place officers in the new system. Dozens of officers posted and transferred, dozens of posts abolished or created.
This situation put MQM too into more pressure, they tried to overcome the crisis by their typical threats, Altaf Hussein appealed to Muhajirs to sell jewellery and buy ration for whole month. It indicated the very serious preparation of upcoming serious civilwar. Not only this, he again issued a highly provoking statement against native Sindhis, which blew the temper of Sindhi nationalist leaders and nations. People immediately came on roads, Nationalists called for an immediate strikes and demanded him to apologise.
His statement was not only taken seriously in India but in UK the vice, foreign minister Mr Alistair Burt expressed his deep concern on that statement with a telephone call to Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad. ( As according to UK Laws, such statements can be taken against peace , which could harm the stay of Mr Altaf Hussain, and it would not matter that either he is British or not ) Therefore, it has been assumed that Dr Ishrat did not only promise for co-operation but, the statement was also immediately taken back with an apology to Sindhi nation by Mr Hussain. He, however, said that the core of his philosophical statement was not for the division of Sindh province and was completely misunderstood by the Sindhis.
However, PPP continued the back channel diplomacy to bring situation in control…, the active Sindhi ministers, and workers were told not to issue any provoking statement. which may have worsen the impacts of negotiations and even the Chief Minister Sindh could not play a major role in these talks with MQM, who did not only demand to roll back the old system but for some key ministries.
Mr Zardari was already facing a big opposition from PML-N in Punjab for the announcement of a new Sirayeki province within Punjab, There is another demand for ‘Hazara province’, (which is however, not that effective like the demand of Sirayeki Sooba), so naturally he was not in mood to continue controversy in Sindh. Therefore, he was left with no option but to withdraw what they announced in Sindh. He knew about the opposition and half-heartedly efforts of his Sindhi cabinet, therefore, he sent his personal advisor Mr Babar Awan to negotiate with governor. They hoped and tried to convince MQM for the current system, ,. However, MQM remained constant and rigid on their demand, and there was no way left but to accept. He therefore, called Governor to Islamabad and it has been said that he took the assurance for the stability of law and order condition and in return ordered to roll back the commissionaire system and again adopt the Mayor system which was introduced by the military dictator Mr Musharraf. Now what have decided, that Karachi and Hyderabad would continue the Musharraf’s system with same administration while the rest of Sindh would follow the commissioner system. District Hyderabad is again divided into five small districts and Karachi has been merged into one as per wishes of MQM.
Mr Awan and Governor Sindh announced that in their combined press conference. The stress and despair was clearly be seen by the faces Sindhi ministers who remained quiet in the whole announcement.
People in Sindh have taken the decision as betrayal with the soil of Sindh. The Sindhi nationalists leaders including Mr Ayaz L. palijo, Dr Safdar Sarki, and Dr Qadir Magsi have announced for a massive agitation against PPP’s government. They have also called for a full strike in Sindh on Monday 8th March. Sindhi journalists including activists (like Ms Arfana Mallah) has appealed people to come on roads for strong protests , spread agitation and throw trash, rubbish on PPP’s ministers. She further suggests people to show shoes on each and every MPA or MNA of the party. Sindhi newspapers are also appealing people to boycott PPP. Bringing all into an account it is really a very difficult position for PPP to defend their decision. PPP’s ministers are in a condition that is more awkward, as if they condemn the decision, they will face trouble by Mr Zardari, and if they support the decision, the public is certainly going to give them a very tough time. Because the question is still on same place that ‘okay fine’, he has pleased MQM but now what he would do to satisfy Sindhis, who are claiming to be betrayed by their own leaders. However, according to a provincial minister Mr Soomro, this decision is just an announcement and an ordinance, which would lose effect after 60 days if not passed by assembly. But, even if it is for time being, even if it is to keep situation in control, as the government is going to face a big task for division of Punjab. The people are fair to ask that why and how could they agree to divide Sindh into two parts, which is nothing but the beginning of the old controversy since 1973 for Sindh to be divided into rural and urban parts? They are fair enough to think that what was the reason behind this whole drama?
That has taken hundreds of lives of innocents and brought more bloodshed and anarchy in province. Which is already disrupted due to chronic old issues of inflation and load shading, besides this decision has given a new life to never elected Sindhi activists who may take the anger of public for granted and which would bring a major damage in the popularity of PPP in Sindh which is already at risk due to unemployment and terrorism.
However, again another senior party leader said in private meeting that wait and see, we are going to take it back again. Therefore, it can be assumed again that it is going to be another tactics of Mr Zardari to continue his doctrine of rolling back his own decisions, which is nothing but a new strategy in the modern age of politics.
Kindly ignore grammar mistakes. There are some missing apostrophe and coma's.
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