[PML-N supporters protest in Islamabad, AFP]
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court nullified last year’s election of Punjab’s chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, and “also declined to rule on a challenge to an electoral ban on…former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, effectively maintaining a bar on him standing for election,” reported Dawn. GEO and AAJ News reported that Punjab governor Salman Taseer will assume executive control over Punjab province for the next two months.
The court’s decisions could subsequently mean a confrontation between the country’s two main political parties – the Pakistan People’s Party [led by President Asif Ali Zardari‘ and the Sharifs’ party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz [PML-N]. According to Reuters, the development “raised fears of a return to the political instability of the 1990s, a decade that ended in a military takeover.” The news agency cited political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi, who stated, “The political impact of this decision will be extremely negative and if not handled properly this can undermine prospects of democracy in Pakistan…This virtually amounts to excluding one of the major political parties from the political process.” Zaffar Abbas, an editor at Dawn Newspaper echoed, “The political ramifications will be felt for many months to come. We may be looking for a very long, drawn-out battle between the government and the opposition forces led by Nawaz Sharif.”
Although the court made its ruling on the grounds that Nawaz had been convicted of a crime [in 1999], his lawyer immediately denounced the decision, “asserting it was a political decision ordered by President Asif Ali Zardari,” reported the NY Times. In a news conference following the court decisions, Nawaz Sharif told reporters, “This is an attack on the country and on the country’s constitution.” According to The News, the PML-N chief claimed that Zardari had “offered that we [Nawaz and Shahbaz] would be declared eligible by the Supreme Court if we accept the present judiciary including Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.” He added, “I would have accepted the deal if power had been more dear to me than principles…we have embraced our disqualification but will not compromise on the national interest.” Dawn quoted Nawaz, who further asserted, “Our real judges are the masses, and not the PCO [Provisional Constitutional Order] judges. Have a referendum, I say! And only that way we can come to the real verdict – the verdict of the masses.”
Supporters of the PML-N took to the streets today to protest the decisions. According to AAJ Television, “An angry mob of some 800 people gathered on the main Mall Road in Lahore, blocking traffic by burning tires and chanting slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari. Witnesses said the crowd, including women supporters, attacked banners of the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party and tore down hoardings carrying pictures of the president, prime minister and the provincial governor [Taseer].” Similar protests took place in Multan and “more than a dozen cities and towns” in Punjab province, reported the news agency. The Sharif brothers, especially Shahbaz, are very popular in their provincial stronghold, and protests are likely to continue over the next few days.
Today’s development will also impact the country’s judiciary movement, and will likely galvanize support for both the movement and the Sharifs. Nawaz had pledged to join protesting lawyers [who are calling for the restoration of deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry] in a long march from Lahore to Islamabad next month, and to take part in a planned sit-in in the capital. According to the NY Times, “Such a move by Mr. Sharif could raise political passions on the street. With Pakistanis suffering economically and security concerns paramount, Mr. Sharif had the potential of causing grief for the unpopular civilian government.”
For further background on the judiciary movement and the Nawaz Sharif controversy, read the articles tagged in this CHUP category, particularly this article.
CHUP! - Changing Up Pakistan 
Apparently everything is going to be closed in Lahore tomorrow and there have been riots all morning. Sigh. God help us.
Karachi’s quiet but Lahore is erupting. Such a bad move on the part of the government, and it seems to me that the judges were totally biased.
Judges always always rule on stuff looking at popular sentiment and NS and Shahbaz are the most popular leaders in Pakistan. So the credibility of the court is highly in doubt.
Poop is going to hit the fan.
Disciplined military dictatorship like that of Fidel Castro is the solution for Pakistan. Leadership in power do not have respect for constitution since they are at will to change it. Opposition do not need to follow it since it is no longer will be theirs, until they get to power.
This puts the question to Jinnah, for whom did he fight. If he hadn’t fight for Pakistan, the subcontinent would have been leaped by 20 years ahead in time.
Keep at it Nawaz and Zardari!! and the take the country down with you.
If we listened to the will of the masses, a new leader would be in power every 6 months in Pakistan.
And disqualifying Nawaz Shariz does not at all “amount to excluding one of the major political parties from the political process.” If his party is actually committed to democratic principles, why not hold primaries to elect a new chairman? Why is Nawaz Sharif the self-appointed leader of PML-N for life?
riots in pindi…tires burn on peshawar road
I wonder how long before this unrest in Lahore will seep to other cities wreaking havoc nationally….so disheartening.
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Welcome back to the blog Ravi! However, I disagree with your assertion that the military should come in. I think the military is twirling their muchis (moustaches) right now on the sidelines (laughing maniacally), but I am of the school that we should allow the democratic process to play out. If this government fails, the people should vote in a new regime – that’s how the process rights itself. Not that I think it’ll work the first or even the fifth time, but in Pakistan we’ve never had a regime play out without some kind of coup interrupting it. If we allow the military to come in (again), the blasted cycle begins again.
HGW, the Sharifs are the leaders of the PML-N just like the Bhuttos are the status quo in the PPP. True democratic principles just don’t apply!
Or selectively apply in the case of our political parties 🙂
nawaz sharif’s hair plugs will be deeply missed…
Both these Leaders are Power Hungry & the Majority of the People are just plain & simple Hungry & will soon be very very Angry.
These Leaders should be addressing the basic needs of the People like, Unemployment, Load shedding, clean drinking water….and the List goes on. The day we get Leadership that genuinely addresses these Issues & shows Austerity & not living or seen to be living a life of luxury, that will be the day when he/she will be a Powerful & Respected Leader.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the majority of the people care whether it is a Democrately elected or a Military Leader, they just want someone to address their Problems…..how very sad.
Ravi:
Kals was too kind in her response to you but since I don’t want to be the new Rafay Kashmiri, I’ll just disagree with you without bristling any hair.
She is right when she says that you have to let the democratic process take root. If we go on disrupting it and think the real power lies in Rawalpindi rather than Islamabad, then we are just doing ourselves a huge disfavour. It has been shown and proven time and time again that democracy has far reaching consequences, economically and politically, all in a good way.
Yes, as they say battlelines have been drawn and we might witness the musical chairs of the 90’s but trust me, the army has ruined Pakistan. They’re good, disciplined and want the best for the country but that’s just not enough. You need to have the knowledge to govern, not just the leadership skills.
OKay last point and I shall shut up. Just look at KESC. It was given in the hands of the army and people think it’s during the rule of the army that the KESC was doing well. Well, that’s totally wrong. The army came in, tried to shape up the place and root out corruption but at the same time got rid of the technical staff and replaced it with their own people. KESC lies in shambles now…
Musharraf did the same to the country…oh how I hate that man. I hate AAZ too but get my point?
Just when you think that nothing will shock/jolt/kick you in the shins, our politicians come up with something even more outrageous than before.
I also wonder, while the rest of the country is busy in this debate, how are things shaping up in Swat and Bajaur?
Guess the region is in for some Long time turmoil. Unfortunately, the Pakistani Society is being more and more towards another Martial Law. If we look at the political repurcussions of the verdict, then Democracy in Pakistan will keep burning an bleeding for quiet some time before things settle (for good or worse – time will only tell).
Even more unfortunate is the fact that this political instability will only create more vaccum and increase distrust in Democratic Form of LIfe and Governance. Something that the TNSM and their kind want. These elements will waste no time and utilise this as an opportunity to drive home their point. The Mullahs, would use this as a platform to assert their views and also persuade the masses to accept their way as the only way to go forward. Especially since Pakistan has seen both Martial Law as well as Democratic Govt. fail miserably.
@HGW,
what about PPP ? was there any elections within
that party ? and what about MQM, ANP ?
Pakistan’ s Justice is running on proxy as well, like
war on terror ?? what a cruel joke !!
IMPEACH PPP’S GOVT. AND ZARDARI, the remedies of
ill is in impeachement, punish them.
Punjab when will you wake up ? you wasted arse !!!
Is it bad that I have the biggest urge to compare the Sharif brothers to Moe, Larry, and Curly of the Three Stooges? Probably…
@ my urge, justified, is to compare PPP’s gang of three
to ” Charlie Chaplin ” mien Furher made in Hollywood,
110 % ! ! or Pinochet part II. !!!
@ Yawar,
happy with your new “thearter “, you have to be an
actor not copier, mate !!!
Tazeen and Happy 2 B a Paki-
It is sad that while the parties get distracted with their political quibbling, the people throughout the country – esp. in conflict areas like Swat and Bajaur- are often forgotten – or are used as tools for political leverage.
@ PML must regroup and demolish this US Sponsored
dictatorial Pinochet regime in Pakistan.
Demand for Impeachement of present regime is
increasing, day by day, should make moves within
popular unrest.
Nawaz’s ” shamil-baja ” politics failed !!
Mian jee, you have to form your own coalition, your
enenmy is deeply relying on foriegn powers, its time
to use head and attack only one of their five weaknesses.
1…………?
2………..?
3………..?
4………….?
5…………. ?
contd………………….
Kalsoom, you talked about preferring the principles of democracy vs. a military take over. How come the “principles of democracy” don’t apply when it comes to internal party politics? How was it democratic when a teenager was appointed the head of the PPP and his daddy is controlling everything and everyone as president? Isn’t the party itself run like a dictatorship?
Also, throw in Hamza and the Stooges are complete.
Though the present decision by the govt seems prejudiced, zardari felt confident in taking that step only beacuse he knew that though there wud be protest they wont be strong enough to destabilize him.
And there in lies the power of the electorate. If people feel that that the govt has lost credibility to rule it should bring in more deserving people to power next time. And as people get more educated the system develops enough check points to deter any ambitious leader from decimating his opponents unfairly.
Democracy has an inherent virtue of correcting the evils over a period of time. However it demands patience and perseverence.
@ The dropscene of US sponsored drama,
of so called democracy ” imposed ” on Pakistan
which never had any ” OPPOSITION ” this is called,
Pinochetism a la Americaine.
Sharifs have to repair such error otherwise resign,
they will be finished , if they don’t build up a very strong
Opposition and impeache The Zarbhutts, NOW !!!!!
@ YWC,
your observations on nepotism and suspicious
democratic principles, to Kalsoom are impeccable,
your suggestion for Hamza might give Kalsoom
some hollywoodienne illusions, prefer counting
present Govt’s 40 theives and Ali Baba.
YWC,
Exactly, which is why I said “selectively apply in the case of our political parties.” Neither of the forces in our country are good – we don’t have a black-and-white scenario that the military is bad and the parties are good – but tell me, in your opinion, which is the lesser of the two evils? In the long term, would supporting democratically elected parties (different from actual democracy) be more beneficial for the country or would a strong military presence in the political sphere be more helpful?
I have a mental image of Zardari as a tight rope acrobat constantly balancing his pole and for that I don’t envy the guy (not to be confused with feeling sorry for him, which I don’t). He’s got the US banging down his door to do more, the Indians nagging him to crack down on terrorists, the military trying to pull the rug out from under him, and an insurgency in Swat as the cherry on top. The government has made a lot of maneuvers in the past few weeks (releasing AQ Khan, toying with India), and it’s hard to discern which pressure they are reacting to or who they are hedging against.
Recently I thought Zardari’s top goal would be to restore public favor and get control of his country, one would logically assume that to be the most important thing. Which is why this move with the Sharif brothers confuses me, since it certainly seems to have riled up the public and created even more social tension. I’m waiting to see how he tilts his pole to compensate this time. I wish I could be a political cartoonist and recreate the image.
Happy 2B’s comments are spot-on realistic, and I applaud their homge to the most basic principles and purpose of a government, lest we ever forget. Those comments also read like something out of Rosseau or Montesquieu, leading up to the French Revolution, but without Versailles and the oversized powdered wigs, of course. It makes me wonder if the situation is ripe in Pakistan.
Hey Kalsoom, I didn’t mean to attack what you were saying at all. Was just posing some questions. I guess my opinion may be different than most of the people commenting on here. I feel that a stable military ruler/regime would be a lesser evil. Nothing is worse than Zardari’s control over parliament AND the judicial system.
I’m not saying I’m pro-Zardari AT ALL, YWC. I think the way he has governed and esp. on this recent issue is mind-boggling and atrocious. I’m just saying the democratic PROCESS (i.e. free and fair elections, or our version of those) is necessary to eventually voting in a leader that is accountable to the people. Musharraf was a stable military ruler for at least four of the eight years he governed – but the last four years show what happens when elections and hence accountability are not allowed. The same should occur with the Zardari government – which of course isn’t democratic in its governance – but the people should be able to hold these leaders accountable, NOT the army.
I’m not a proponent of a Jeffersonian democracy in Pakistan – I think we’ll eventually have our own version of a democracy that fits with the ground reality and the sentiments of the country – however, this will mean the military cannot remain in the foreground, in the shadows ready to pounce. With a country that has an increasingly strong civil society, how can we expect the military to govern the way it has in the past? The realities on the ground are no longer the same as it once was in 1999.
I think Bangladesh is actually a good example of this. In the recent elections, I think the people finally voted in a government that may have included the same leader from the past, but made attempts to really change its ways in order to get re-elected. Sheikh Hasina reportedly recruited a lot of young people to be part of her party and cabinet to show the new direction the Awami League is trying to take. I don’t know how sincere it is, but it’s significant nevertheless.
Kalsoom,
I have a question based on what you’ve said
Kalsoom: “I’m just saying the democratic PROCESS (i.e. free and fair elections, or our version of those) is necessary to eventually voting in a leader that is accountable to the people.”
Didn’t we hold free and fair elections (or our version of those) in February 2008? Isn’t that what you’re saying is required? Why then do we not have a leader that is accountable to the people? Why do we have a leader that does not listen to the voices within his party and is able to manipulate judicial decisions in his favor?
Looking fwd to your opinion!
Regards,
YWC
YWC,
Focus on a part of the sentence I wrote, please: is necessary to EVENTUALLY voting in a leader that is accountable to the people.”
Eventually is the key word here. And then take the comment I made above:
“If this government fails, the people should vote in a new regime – that’s how the process rights itself. Not that I think it’ll work the first or even the fifth time…”
Again, I never said that this government was accountable to the people – that’s why when elections are held again, the people vote in a new regime. If that one fails, we vote again – maybe this process is doomed to fail in our country, but MAYBE, it’ll allow for the ushering in of new political actors/parties that better the government and the institution.
I think you and I should agree to disagree – I see the value in your points, believe me, I just think the patience that we have not seen manifest itself before should be present now. Do I think that will realistically happen? Given how the current state has so quickly deteriorated, probably not.
I guess you’re right…we’ll have to agree to disagree. I’m just scared that with the deteriorating security situation and plummetting economy, we do not have the time, energy or patience to experiment and volley between Sharif and Zardari for the next few years. Frequent elections only bring additional instability to the country.
However, I do see the point you’ve been trying to make. I guess I’ll get in touch after the fifth election then….cheerios!
[…] the political turmoil mounts following the Sharif Supreme Court ban [see related post], several Pakistani news agencies threw in their two cents on the matter. Today’s Dawn […]
J Rabbit, Unfortunately the situation is ripe or close. I wonder if the Lawyers Movement is the one that will take it to the next level, ie…spark/ignite the spirit of Revolution. Pakistan burns while these 2 clowns play Leader Leader.
I may be becoming a blog troll since I’m commenting at 9:45 on a Friday, so be it….
I agree with Kalsoom you need to press ahead with the democratic process, and give it your very best effort. But I also hear YWC’s points because you can only have faith in your elected officials if they demonstrate responsibility, caution, and understand the weight of their office. When they don’t, there needs to be a democratic support system to keep people in check or to get them to move along. This is what seems to be missing in Pakistan- where is a jormal government judiciary with some teeth to debate the legality of Zardari’s decision? Where is a strong legislature to represent all these people taking to the streets?
@ YWC,
Elections ? which elections ?
Ah, yes those which were run,
Instructed and ” managed ” by US Ambassador,
John Bolton, under Secretary and condi while they
regularly visited Pakistan Election Commissioner
in his offices asking about his hernia operation ?
[…] [which nullified Shahbaz’s election and declined to rule on a challenge to Nawaz’s electoral ban, see related post]. According to GEO News, Malik “said the statement being issued by the Sharif brothers […]
[…] will not be a popular development. According to several analysts and pundits, the PPP orchestrated last week’s Supreme Court decisions so that the Long March would not have the full backing of the Punjab provincial government. […]