All the political parties are now geared up for the elections. Whether they like it or not, the game, as they say is on! Zardari the wheeler dealer extraordinaire, has shown that Machiavelli, were he alive, would have smiled, and may have asked for a lesson or two at the feet of the acknowledged new maestro. For this incredible success in such a huge country, with so many factions arraigned against him, was impossible. The textbook on politics, ‘The Prince' for five hundred years, is now being updated by a Sindhi Politician, with an innate touch of the twist and feint, having everyone looking everywhere, but where they should be.
In my view, the similarity lies with the 1977 election. Bhutto had clearly won the election fair and square, but the people were not prepared to accept the result. In 2013 all the players are insisting that the rigging has already started. Imran and his Party will not accept a result under Zardari. Meanwhile the PPP is so discredited that they will not be believed anyway. The stage is being set for a massive bloodshed, with no side willing to step back.
The PML-N feel cheated as they played fair, and by the rules of cricket it is their turn at the bat, plus this was in the original agreement. They are not aware that in Pakistani politics goalposts are moved all the time, and are an accepted part of the game. And the PML-N is slowly realizing that politics is not cricket, and that the wily Zardari has already learned that the golden rule is that there are no rules. It is another ruse to fool your opponent while you proceed to check mate him using any and every trick that you may possess.
Imran meanwhile is plodding on regardless, confident in the wish of the people, who are chanting Imran, Imran, Imran! Knowing full well that there is no second place, it’s the ‘winner takes it all’, and the people of Pakistan realize this. The people are determined to make their vote count. This is the first time in our history that people are being offered a viable opportunity to change the status quo. The ZAB government was bogus and was removed, even though he had won the election. The governments that followed were continuously looking over their shoulders, fearing the boots. It is now too late, and the election fever has gripped the country. The People are convinced their time is here. Regardless of the outcome, the people want a change. They will not allow more of the same.
In his home province Zardari is fast losing ground to Imran, and to the Nawaz league. The most powerful man in Sindh Pir Sahib Pagaro has spurned an alliance with Zardari, and this has added power to the aura surrounding Pir Sahib. All of this has been noted by the Chief Justice. In an election when political parties tend to distance themselves from the weak, a new partner may be hard to find. The law of the jungle is that the weakened King will be removed.
FAKIR S AYAZUDDIN,
Karachi, May 2.