Firebrand Nawaz Sharif - The refusal to learn from history
You must have seen Nawaz Sharif’s press conference. So it is over. The PML-N has parted its ways from the PPP at the center. I must say I have been studying Nawaz Sharif’s movements after return from Saudi Arabia quite closely. The PML-N leaders off the record used to say that Nawaz had changed dramatically and he was now more a smooth operator than an impulsive politician. Unfortunately now we know that such claims are absolutely untrue. Let us compare the past and the present Nawaz Sharif for your convenience.
NS comes from the political legacy of dictator General Zia ul Haq. Indeed had Zia not appointed him as his Chief Minister in Punjab the political landscape of the country would have been different. NS after Zia’s demise was catapulted by the establishment on the national scene. It is true that he was overthrown by Pervez Musharraf in 1999 but there was a history behind it too. Nawaz after gaining a proverbial mandate had turned quite boorish. He had appointed a hitherto unknown Saifur Rehman as the head of its accountability bureau who was tasked with bullying the political challengers and harassing the dissenting voices. On the eve of the Kargil War the country’s leading intellectuals like Najam Sethi and Husain Haqqani were in the custody of the government agencies and being tortured. Country’s leading Newspaper group, Jang group was being pushed to extinction. Pervez Musharraf in his memoir recounts a time when Nawaz Sharif wanted him to COURT MARTIAL Najam Sethi. The only crime of these men was only dissent. Likewise it was during Nawaz Sharif’s time that the Supreme Court of Pakistan was physically assaulted. What was the crime of judges? Some of them including their Chief Justice were hearing a case against Sharif. How very interesting indeed. It was in those days when the judiciary was heavily manipulated through bribes. Now Mr Sharif is presenting himself as the custodian of free media and judiciary. I am sorry but it is hard for me to believe.
But that was then. We know his radical policies and attempts at naively ejecting two military chiefs brought an end to his government. But have things changed even a bit now? I regret to report not. The first indication of this came during the talk of Musharraf’s impeachment. Nawaz Sharif was clearly baying for the retired general’s blood. Somehow it was clear that the man was indulging in his traditional brinkmanship. No matter whatever the excuse he wanted to take revenge and the entire country and its stability could go to hell. Even though Musharraf had spared his neck, Nawaz wanted to see the general hanged. There is something maximalist about the man which refuses to go. I am sure the man wanted his own man as President. When Zardari’s nomination became clear he had to use the name of lawyers to separate the paths. It was the PPP which had fought Nawaz’s case when he was in exile. It was the PPP which refused to bow to the pressures of the establishment and to forge an alliance with Musharraf loyalists in the PML-Q. But when he was back and Zardari decided to move cautiously the most damaging propaganda against the PPP came from the PML-N camp. I have met many PML-N supporters who do not hesitate to claim that Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by Zardari and his allies. Likewise it was the PML-N that went to court to challenge the NRO. If we are talking of the conspiracy theories then let us also raise some guinine questions. Slightly prior to Benazir’s return Nawaz Sharif tried to return to the country. He was stopped at Islamabad Airport and sent back. The establishment was then not ready to tolerate his return. Then Benazir came back and we know the establishment tried to threaten her. The humungous response of the people to her return is a matter of fact and not opinion. Her progress was stalled by an alleged suicide attack. I know the establishment got cold feet after witnessing her popularlity. The next thing we know is Musharraf rushes to Saudi Arabia and within no time the Sharif brothers are back. I have seen Benazir and Nawaz’s rallies in Punjab. Nawaz was finding hardly any response. Then the next thing we know is that Benazir is assassinated and the elections are held. The Nawaz league repeatedly tried to boycott the elections and it was the PPP which convinced its leader not to boycott and the league emerged as the most popular force in Punjab. Who was the beneficiary of Benazir’s return and then assassination? Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. So if the PMLN workers can blame Zardari for the assassination of his beloved wife then why can the PPP supporters not blame Messrs Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif along with the establishment? Please read my following post too:
Benazir murder, establishment’s game plan, our foreign peers and the fallout
In our hearts we had known that this day will come. However it came so soon is very sad. It tells one thing. While Asif Zardari has learnt something from history, Nawaz Sharif clearly has not. If the establishment doesn’t have any change of heart it will play its politics through Nawaz and Punjab. May God have mercy on us.
Posted on August 25th, 2008 under General • 
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August 26th, 2008 at 1:45 am
What is wrong with u ur ideas have completely changed.U r becoming like the doctor who was appointed ptv chairman.Although i am no supporter of nawaz,nawaz sharif DID THE RIGHT THING.why becuz zardari had broken all promises.it is zardari who has not changed .as far as punjab victory is concerend pml-n will always be a winner in punjab becuz it is the the stronghold of pml-n.not in a million years will the ppp win from punjab and it was becuz of the seat adjustment that people party got so many seats in punjab.remeber gillani’s brother lost in his home constituency but ‘won’ in an other coz nawaz sharif choise not to have anyother canidate in that area.same was for gillani himself coz pml-n fielded no candidate from that area.What is wrong with having an impartial president.our defdence minister won from gujrat coz pml-n did not field a canidate there.nearly all of the ppp ministers have won becuz of seat adjustment.do you knbow who won the mpa seat from gujrat city.a person who nobody knows and who was given a pml-n ticket.although a ppp person was competeing on the same seat and he won by a landslide.quite impressive for a first timer.why(pml-n).Everybody wanted to see the coalition intact and work for 5 yrs but no mr zardari continued to break promises.everybody knows he was not goiung to restore judges even after taking an oath on Holy Quran and denying it the next day.How can u trust such a person who does acts like this.You were my favourite blogger and let me say that i am dissapointed.Instead of having an impartial approach which i noticed in your earlier blogs u have chaznged.I do want to know ur response regaring my reply.and plz dunt mind i am just giving my opinion.and i donot belong to the pml-n so dun t start bashing me as a ppp supporter.bye.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Pakistani coalition government has splintered, the Taliban have stepped up their brazen suicide bombings claiming more innocent lives in Pakistan, and new violent protests followed by Indian government crackdown in Kashmir are making the headlines. It has hardly been a week since President Musharraf’s exit and the four-headed monster of political, economic and security crises within Pakistan and, rising tensions in Kashmir, is raising its ugly head. Who will slay this fire-breathing monster? How will a sense of security and stability be restored for Pakistanis? How will rising tensions in Kashmir be handled? These are the questions that are begging for answers.
Please read my detailed perspective at http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/08/pakistan-political-mess-emboldens.html
August 26th, 2008 at 5:55 am
James as a reader your views are most precious to me. And please believe I respect your sentiments. But honestly I cannot be compared to Dr Shahid Masood. I am not changing a bit. It is only that I am a person of strong opinions and I am not at the receiving end of any great prizes like Dr Shahid. I am just an ordinary man with nothing to gain. It is my belief that no one but the PPP can save the day. As for breaking promises see it this way. Pakistan is a complicated federation. The democratic force trying to pull things together has to win the leading element of each ethnic identity. MQM has also to be taken on board. And the MQM has problems with the CJ particularly owing to privatization issue of the Karachi Steel Mill. I believe that the PPP will eventually restore all judges but it wants to consolidate its position first. That is what is called politics. And I agree. Please do not drag religion into it.
And Haq, Musharraf’s departure was to affect things certainly a bit. But such a thing was inevitable. Things have to get worse before getting better. They will improve eventually. And btw the Swiss govt has dismissed the case. Now what?
August 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Pakistani politics and democracy have no real extraordinary bearing of zardari or nawaz and the nation smoothly transcended into democratisation without them..the squabble for power and ‘baadshahiat’ kingmaking at islamabad is not possible with the two togewther..shahbaz nawaz’s brother gesticulated with chaudry’s a couple of days before he took punjabs chiefministership.. the top is null void enslaved by media, and have no single word to lead pakistan, or plan to bring the prices of food and schooling down,as pakistani’s with musalaman fervour are moving into tentage as refugees with the uno water and food, the rest who have new sectretive contracts of prosperity will be serving the jew that islamabad always looks at for approvals..and shrugs away any real peice of knowledge …
August 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
It is so naive of us that we believe of what our politicians say; though in our heart we know they are lieing. Generally, we do not (want to) look what is behind but just follow what we see on our TV screens.
If someone believes that Nawaz Sharif parted his way from PPP just because PPP did not restore the judges, then mercy on him. I would take “judges” issue as an excuse to part ways (as described in this post) rather as “priciple” stance of PMLN.
Here is what it is:
- Zardari wants to save his govt. and would do anything for it. He becoming the president will make sure that no one (like Laghari) dimiss PPP govt. when Presidency still have powers of 58-2(b). He doesn’t want judges (read: CJ) to be restored not because of NRO but due to his judicial activism. (Honestly, it is same as running a parallel govt. and no govt. would allow it - not even Nawaz Sharif). I do not think NRO is a reason for not restroing the Judges. If history is any guide, then all previous rulers cleared all the cases against them when they became in power. Even if NRO goes, and cases are made active, why Zardari’s own govt. will persue those cases against Zardari? Why his own govt. will not withdraw those cases? He needed NRO only when he was not in Power. No ruler - in Pakistan - needs an NRO when he is in power.
- Nawaz on the other hand is keeping eyes on next election and scoring points by supporting the popular emotions AND opening guns on PPP whenever possible. He wants PPP (or Zardari) in Presidency IF 58-2(b) is removed. Why? Because if there is an early elections AND PMLN wins, then it would not fear any 58-2(b) even if there is a PPP president. Otherwise, there will be Zardari sitting in president house if PMLN, tomorrow, comes as winner and form the govt. in center.
To believe on Nawaz’s claim to support free Judiciar and media, one MUST first look:
- What he has done to media and judiciary when he has 2/3 mjority? (As mentioned in this post too)
- What benefits he will get to part ways? and what are other reasons to part ways - Surely its not only Judges or Zardari’s “wada-khilafi”.
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August 27th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Nawaz Sharif did not play wisely he took the country down with Musharraf. And for that future will never forgive him.
Before Lal Masjid Incident everything was on track. Yes Musharraf may have screwed up in Lal Masjid but his enemy Nawaz took advantage of his mistake to bring country back to stone age.
Politics hold Pakistan economy hostage
read more at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH28Df02.html
They (people) said Musharaf was corrupt, evil, blood thirsty dictator who should be thrown away, gotten rid of for the good of the country.
And, then choose Zardari?
Are we kidding?
Do we expect the pigs to fly in the sky?
Snake is snake, it will bite no matter what, bitting is its nature.
I am all for giving democracy a chance, but not at the cost of the country. Putting such a disgraceful personality at the Presidency is a slap to all those who voted for the _CHANGE_.
According to a report in NY times, senior officials in the Bush admin are apparently asking Zalmay Khalilzad some angry questions about his unauthorized contacts with Zardari.
This ties in nicely with the report on Mr. Zardari’s mental condition. Zalmay Khalilzad is the same guy who used to regularly badmouth Pakistan and was given a befitting response by our foreign office spokesperson Masood Khan who accused Khalilzad of suffering from attention deficit disorder:
http://www.dawn.com/2004/04/20/top6.htm
“It would be very helpful if he does a little less by talking less. He seems to be suffering from attention deficit disorder,” Mr Masood Khan said. “In the beginning, there was indignation in Islamabad, but now we are amused, because we think he is pushing the envelope to seek attention,” the foreign office spokesman said.
Pakistan presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari ’suffering from severe mental problems’
http://asifalizardari.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/pak istan-presidential-candidate-asif-ali-zardari-suff ering-from-severe-mental-problems/
The following events are bound to follow:
1) Mr. Zardari gets required number of votes and gets the president.
2) A dark era begins, where he’ll loot Pakistanis more than ever before.
3) Zardari Strikes a deal with USA and UK and EU to finish Pakistan’s nuclear program for heavy sums of money
4) Zardari in an effort to gain control of the nuclear and defense assets, replaces Gen Kayani and appoints some junior general as COAS.
5) The like minded elite, as mentioned above, gives required access to US.
6) The neighbouring countries start their interventions into Pakistan, and trying their best to disintegrate (Naooz-u-Billah) our beloved homeland.
I would strongly recommend that we wake up now, or it would be too late to stop this from happening. Zardari has a documents history of violence against his own family (Murtaza Bhutto, BB) and he can never ever be sincere to anyone if he hasnt been sincer to his own in-laws.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:24 am
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http://asifalizardari.wordpress.com/
http://aryoneandgeo.wordpress.com/
very important websites