Let us leave behind what is behind the scene. We cannot decipher the exact meaning lost in the ambiguous language of the PML (N) leadership until and unless they state it clearly and meaningfully. However, we can judge on how dangerous its well-defined policy of vacillation towards Taliban is. We can see how its noncommittal position ultimately serves the interests of the Taliban and their allies, and how seriously damaging it is for the reputation and popularity of the PML (N). Last but not least, we can speak of what one of the Pakistan’s largest political parties should be doing now, amidst the Taliban’s terrorist onslaught, and how it is avoiding taking sides.
By Dr. Khalil Ahmad
It was a combination of various factors that pushed PML (N) to support the cause of the restoration of the deposed judiciary. However, it is unkindly not to give it benefit of doubt and a big chunk of the credit that really should go to the lawyers’ fraternity and its leaders in the first place. Actually it is our experience of Pakistani political parties spanning decades that does not allow us to trust them and entertain a good will vis-à-vis their role in betraying the cause of the people which otherwise may be termed opportunistic and malicious.
No doubt, Mr. Nawaz Sharif came back home wiser from Saudi Arabia, and then emerged taller and victorious too out of the struggle for the restoration of the deposed judiciary. He was cool, calm, composed, calculated, and not least boastful on the fateful morning of March 16 when Prime Minister announced the restoration of the deposed judges. It was the moment when almost every Pakistani leader would have lost his balance and temper in a frenzy to grab the credit. Had it been for any of the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, we would have still being bombarded with their ear-deafening and mind-boggling bragging. Ah, but it would have saved us from their sacrificial tell tales instead.
However, it was Mr. Sharif and the top leadership of the PML (N) which behaved as any gentleman should. That was rare in Pakistani milieu. Perhaps, it was due to this milieu and intrinsic nature of the Pakistani political parties that Mr. Sharif was equally cool, calm, composed and calculated when after the resolution of the top most issue of the country, i.e. issue of the deposed judiciary, the issue of the Taliban tangle came on top of the list. It was just misplaced on the part of Mr. Sharif not to make his party’s position clear. After the restoration till now when the Swat deal is collapsing under its burden we have witnessed a Mr. Sharif and his PML (N) dead shy of committing to anything like a clearly stated policy on the issue.
Was it not based on and derived from a clearly formulated policy that PML (N) passively raised its hands in favor of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in the National Assembly? It was obvious enough that it approved of the Swat peace deal with the Taliban’s rather armless wing, Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Sharia-e-Muhammadi. It was all quite in accord with the PML (N)’s Taliban policy. It has consistently been making a case for dialogue with them. The question is: do things look as they are. Did PML (N) want to vote for the Swat peace deal or was it again a combination of various factors most important of which was Mr. Asif Ali Zardari’s throwing of the NAR to the lot of the National Assembly that pushed it to do so? Whatever is the case the fact is Mr. Sharif put his stamp on the peace deal!
However, within days after the implementation of the NAR, Mr. Sharif had to express his cautioned displeasure over the deal proves that he was not all happy with his approval of the agreement between the ANP government and armless wing of the Taliban, TNSM. Or may be it was just for public consumption? Or, for running with the hare and hunting with the hounds? That’s the case that is being framed against Mr. Sharif and his PML (N). A cursory look at the statements made by the PML (N)’s leadership during the last few months clearly points to the existence and continuity of a Taliban policy of perfect vacillation while continuously uselessly harping on the drone attacks. It is nothing easier to interpret it this or that way. It has been reported that the PML (N)’s leadership deliberately avoids talking on the issues related to Taliban.
The latest evidence is the outcome of a May 5 meeting of PML (N)’s central leadership at the end of which in a press conference its Mr. Sharif mainly talked of the prevalent crisis in Balochistan and reiterated its resolve to fight for the rights of Balochi people. Still there was no mention of any coherent policy towards the issue of Talibanization!
Let us leave behind what is behind the scene. We cannot decipher the exact meaning lost in the ambiguous language of the PML (N) leadership until and unless they state it clearly and meaningfully. However, we can judge on how dangerous its well-defined policy of vacillation towards Taliban is. We can see how its noncommittal position ultimately serves the interests of the Taliban and their allies, and how seriously damaging it is for the reputation and popularity of the PML (N). Last but not least, we can speak of what one of the Pakistan’s largest political parties should be doing now, amidst the Taliban’s terrorist onslaught, and how it is avoiding taking sides.
Sure, if it does not come clean on this issue, it will remain open for everybody to conjecture its intentions, fears and apprehensions. Recently, it was surmised that as PML (N) sees Taliban winning the war, it is not committing itself to anything against the Taliban so that possibility of a comfortable arrangement with them does not dissipate. Or as it is believed it wants PPP expends its energies to the last and thus it will have the arena of power politics all open to the whims of PML (N), and then they will come and resolve the issues. Whether it is likely or unlikely for the PML (N) to think in such ways, the crux of the matter is that by not committing to any meaningful policy on the issue of Taliban and Talibanization, the PML (N) and its leadership is not only abandoning the people of Pakistan to moral policing of a brute elite, the Taliban, but it is fast losing time to bring the state and nation of Pakistan back to a constitutional rule also.
The sooner the better that Mr. Nawaz Sharif and the leadership of PML (N) realize the urgency of the crisis and the need to prepare their party to lead the people out of this morass. For to do this, first of all it should give up the policy of “We don’t take sides!” Second, it should devise a detailed policy on the issue of Taliban and Talibanization that must include a strategy to deal with them in a decisive manner. Third, it should determinedly rally its voters and people at large also to counter the threat of Taliban and Talibanization. Fourth, it should declare its position on the tangled relationship between the federal and provincial governments, Pakistan Army, and the Taliban. Fifth, in order to be doing all these four things meaningfully and effectively and not stopping half way it should devise a long-term comprehensive strategy to resolve this tangled relationship once and for all by establishing supremacy of the constitution and civilian government in Pakistan.
No doubt, the PML (N) is all free to do or not to do it. However, it must know well that due to its passivity or ‘wait and see policy’ options now open to it are fast disappearing. Soon it will have to choose between the devil and the deep sea – whether fade in to a PPP like party dead and rotten to its core or emerge like a PML (N) as it was on March 16 all victorious and strengthened with might of the people at its back. Sure, it will break its back if it does not come forward to lead the people to fight the Taliban and Talibanization!
The writer is founder/head of the Alternate Solutions Institute, Pakistan’s first free market think tank.