The shuttle to anarchy

 

 

It is widely perceived in Pakistan that the one who controls Lahore controls Pakistan. This is an old adage and time and again has proved to be a reality, where the rulers in Pakistan strengthen this notion by their blatant disrespect for the views expressed by people other than Punjabis. Pervez Musharraf is no different. He has ruled Pakistan with an iron hand, as his bastion Lahore was tranquil. Lahore has finally spoken.

In what may prove to be the Waterloo for Musharraf, Lahore witnessed a massive rally last week, that was addressed by deposed Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and illustrious names from the Punjabi intelligentsia. The rally, which was led by a group of not less than 10,000 lawyers, started from the banks of river Ravi and went through the streets of Lahore, before culminating as an anti-Musharraf rally at the High Court premises. While addressing the rally, Justice Chaudhary said, “Nations and states which are based on dictatorship, instead of the supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law and protection of basic rights get destroyed.” Although Justice Chaudhary stopped short of taking names, it was evident that the salvo was against Musharraf. He added, “I am fighting for the independence of the judiciary, but the protests in my favour have turned into a broader campaign against military rule.”

Justice Chaudhary might be working overtime to shake the foundations of Musharraf – who wants to get re-elected as president before the tenure of the Pakistan Senate expires – but he is yet to find proactive support from the mainstream political parties. It is bizarre and sorry at the same time that while democracy is being trampled upon in the streets of Islamabad, leaders in Pakistan are either busy protecting their backs or striking deals with Musharraf to grab a share of the power pie. This, in the long run, might prove fatal for their ambitions.

As Samiullah Koreshi, a leading journalist and political analyst from Pakistan told TSI from Islamabad, “Talking of Benazir and her party, the public believes that the agitation has become an issue between the military rule and democracy, and anybody aligning with Musharraf is seen to be against the restoration of democracy.”

Tough luck. The masses are angry with their leaders for remaining impotent. The Prime Minister drops a hint about a possible emergency and almost all the leaders, including Casanova-turned-supernova Imran Khan, are keeping mum. It is high time they spoke up, because if they don’t, Pakistan might be freed of dictatorship but there is a certain possibility that the reigns may pass into the hands of Jihadis, compounding the anarchic conditions.