ANJUM ibrahim

Nawaz exception to at least one rule

“What I cannot understand is that while most heads of political parties are willing and, need I add, able to acknowledge if not to work within the ground realities and by this I am referring to the limitations of their power as dictated not by the constitution but by what is on the ground…”

“I get it, but what do you mean most heads of political parties? I thought all heads of political parties are fully aware of the ground realities defined as limitations to their power especially if they have formed a government in the centre and/or province!”

“Nawaz Sharif is an exception to that rule - I mean he repeatedly takes decisions that show that he has not taken account of ground realities!”

“That’s not true, Nawaz Sharif is a Pusher if you will, he will push and he will push till he comes against a wall…”

“And all the time the wall is the same, I mean no one has repaired it, or indeed constructed another one nearer or further away, besides Zardari sahib is a Pusher too but once he comes against the wall he simply retreats.”

“Don’t be facetious, anyway what I wanted to say and you didn’t let me finish is that leaders of political parties acknowledge ground realities only in relation to other institutions that wield real power in this country, but completely fail to acknowledge the ground realities of their own biradari (other politicians)…” 

“I agree and nowhere was this more apparent than during the recent Senate elections. I mean who in this country does not know that Senate seats are up for sale, which is precisely why the applicants of a political party first give or donate millions of rupees to get a party ticket or render immeasurable services to the party head, and once they get the ticket then they need to recover their investment with interest. I ask you which economic actor, and they are all economic actors, would invest a huge amount and then not expect to make more than was invested? Be reasonable.” 

“I see, so that’s how you explain that all three major parties won some seats through horse trading.”

“Yes and some were more successful than others and here Zardari sahib took the cake – he worked within the ground realities and was the most successful. And I don’t think the PPP lost that much to the PML-N given that PML-N is the ruling party. I mean 15 to PPP’s 12 senators is hardly a big difference – the only problem is that the PPP suffered a lot more mandatory retirements of its senators than the PML-N…”

“Hmmm, but the PPP made more appropriate choices than Father and Daughter!”

“I disagree entirely, had Nawaz Sharif selected more appropriate candidates, and by that I mean those who are not fighting criminal and financial charges or convicted or without merit, then they may not have supported the Father and Daughter after winning the seats as independents. Now they cant make deals with another party as no one else may want them…”

“Hmmm, I reckon Zardari sahib may!”

“Hmmm, let’s wait and see.”