Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Panama Papers and its aspects in Pakistani Politics !!!
On Sunday, May 15, 2016 Dr. Moeed Pirzada in the intro of program said that today’s holiday was quite and calm in respect to domestic politics. But this calmness is preparation for the Monday, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to join parliament session after a long awaited demand by the opposition parties. Expectedly PM will explain his stand on Panama Papers and Offshore accounts with document and answer the question raised by the oppositions. Today Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif meet former PM Yousaf Raza Gillani who recently demanded resignation from PM Sharif. Besides congratulating on the release of his kidnapped son, this meeting could be a soft diplomacy to calm the hard stance of PPP against PM Sharif. Dr. Pirzada also pointed out that one aspect of current politics on Panama Papers is that few politicians are trying to dragging the attention by narrating the crisis with the threat of Martial Law. Two days ago Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, Senator Farhatullah Baber and today Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafeeq stated such comment which gave the impression that democracy is under threat. Dr. Pirzada further discussed that the acceptance of Imran Khan of his offshore company through which he bought flat in London, was very late. He should have accepted it soon after the Panama Papers were released. Although his legal firm Yousaf Islam today released a letter which stated that Imran Khan have been declearing his assets and London flat in his tax returns and it was sold in 2003. But the question is why he kept quit while criticizing all others on having Offshore Company and he kept hidden his own.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Consensus on Panama Papers !!!
While Talking to Dr Moeed Pirzad ,Minister of State for Privatization and Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Zubair has said that the government is ready to talk with the opposition on Panama Papers to evolve a consensus on the matter. The Prime Minister, he said, had stated that if the Supreme Court directed to change the Terms of Reference ToRs for the judicial commission the government would make the same. M Zubair criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and remarked sarcastically after he revealed that he formed an offshore company in 1983 on the advice of his accountant.M Zubair said Imran Khan has no answer. Why didn’t declare, the money trail, why he didn’t share with the nation even after he launched tirade on offshore company, why he did not declare his offshore company and why didn’t file tax return?
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Response in USA over PM Sharif’s family name in Panama papers !!!
The topic under discussion in this segment of “Tonight with Dr Moeed Pirzada” is concerns of Pakistani origin Americans and American Academician’s concerns over Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family’s names in Panama papers leaks. Dr Shahbaz Gill a professor of International Business University of Illinois Urbana Champaign USA in this exclusive discussion told that almost 80 Pakistani origin Americans and US citizens had written letters to respective state’s US senators and requested them to highlight issue of alleged corruption of Pakistani Prime minister for owning four offshore companies as revealed by Panama Leaks. He said that this campaign will get gradually more famous as more people will come and join in this cause.While giving perspective of people joining this campaign, Dr Shahbaz said that US must be clear that it will not continue to fund until Pakistani government investigates this corruptions because our hard earned money is not to support these corrupt leaders. Dr shahbaz stressed the need to develop a mechanism so that Secretary of state can satisfy the US congress and Senate if the funds given to other countries for public sector development was actually used for the same purpose. He also said that hypocrisy of Western world should also be exposed. Legislation should be made to question and financial disclosures by the heads of states getting US funds while investing in offshore companies and properties. Heads of the states should declare their assets and sources before investing in offshore properties. Dr Shahbaz said that in a democratic Government Prime minister should be accountable to give reply to queries and establishment’s role is not to watch quietly and jump in suddenly in form of Martial law. Also not only US funds but all international financial institution like IMF, WORLD BANK, ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK etc should make sure before giving loans to countries that it is actually spent for the purpose of Public development purpose.
PPP & Khurshid Shah: Nawaz Sharif’s Opposition or Strategic Ally?
Moeed Pirzada |
For the past six weeks, PPP leaders have been playing the ‘Punjabi gallery’ and playing well with rhetoric, acrobatics of emotion and feigned anger to present themselves as an ‘opposition’ to the reign of Nawaz Sharif. Moment of truth is now only few hours away.
In the morning of Mon, 16th May, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will hopefully present himself to the parliament; this, if the moment is genuine, can probably be the most difficult performance of his political career. However, whether he swims or sinks, emerges out laughing or ends up crying will mostly depend upon the theatrics of one man; his name is: Khurshid Shah of PPP.
We have been told ad-nauseum that PPP Punjab sees ‘Panama Files Leaks’ as its opportunity to reenact itself in its birth place: Punjab. We have heard that Bilawal Bhutto, is the new young dynamic supreme leader of the party, who believes that Nawaz Sharif should resign and who has declared a ‘soft coup’ within PPP against his own father: Mr. Asif Ali Zardari.
Much acrobatics, of anger and bewilderment, have been done by the usual brigade of PMLN wannabees to divert attention, to dilute importance of these questions. It appears that PMLN ‘fight brigades’ are prepared to indict, burn or lynch half of Pakistan to create a situation where Nawaz can somehow avoid answering these questions.
However they say: Once bitten twice shy; we remain incredulous since we know how both these parties – PPP & PMLN – have struck a Faustian bargain in the APC of London in 2007, a Faustian bargain essentially against the people of Pakistan and state of Pakistan and how they fooled everyone till it became obvious that they have a ‘muk-mukka’ and they are only playing ‘Opposition-Opposition’ game like children play ‘doctor-doctor’ in a village.
So when Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan says, as he said again in my program, on Dunya News, on Saturday, 14th May, that ‘PPP is united behind Bilawal, we have no differences, Khurshid Shah sounds different only because he is soft spoken’ we want to believe because Barrister Aitzaz is an honorable man- a rare breed in our politics – but we still want to remain cautious; we need to see the proof, and fortunately the ‘Moment of Truth’ of what lay behind Bilawal’s rhetoric or what PPP really stands for is only a few hours away.
Read more: Panama case sharpens existing divisions within the PML-N
Why Khurshid Shah is important? Because despite never personifying genuine opposition to the Nawaz Govt, despite only making occasional cosmetic gestures, few purrs here and there, he is still nevertheless the ‘Leader of the Opposition’ in Pakistan’s inconsequential debating club, euphemistically referred to as ‘national assembly’. This was off course part of the scheme of things thrown up by the 2013 Elections. So whereas PTI represented the original hot molten opposition on the streets and on the media, within the national assembly even this title belongs to Zardari’s party, an entity that has been aligned with the ruling Nawaz regime since their pact of 2007. So what will Khurshid Shah do on Mon, 16th May?
The needs of opposition and Nawaz Sharif are at 180 degrees apart. The so called ‘Combined Opposition’ wants Nawaz to answer its seven questions; those seven questions are designed to obtain ‘facts’ and ‘statements’ from him, on the floor of the assembly. These ‘statement of facts’ – regarding his wealth, his assets, asset accumulation since 1985, and taxes paid etc – are needed if a Commission is required later to examine these. Without these ‘statements of facts’ any Commission will be meaningless, cannot reach any conclusion, will be a waste of public money and time.
Much acrobatics, of anger and bewilderment, have been done by the usual brigade of PMLN wannabees to divert attention, to dilute importance of these questions. It appears that PMLN ‘fight brigades’ are prepared to indict, burn or lynch half of Pakistan to create a situation where Nawaz can somehow avoid answering these questions. Perhaps Nawaz’s appearance in national assembly on Friday was delayed since Imran’s confession on his ‘offshore company’ had to be secured through the Ptv-2 and Pakistan Times. [work must have been going on this, for a while; all critics including useless people like me in media are being mercilessly scrutinized, through all means available to the state, to create a scandal; Imran offcourse is ‘democracy’s enemy No.1]
But it is not in the interest of Nawaz Sharif to answer these seven questions. Listening carefully to Mohd Zubair, State Minister for Privatization, in today’s program with me, in which he blurted while explaining the 1993 purchase of Offshore Accounts and Apartments that ‘Sharif Clan’ needs to be differentiated from ‘Nawaz Sharif and his children’. My ears started to buzz, alarm bells rang in my head; I had a sick feeling that the explanation ready for the ‘Supreme Court Commission’ will claim that ‘Sharif Clan’ – namely Mr. Mian Mohd Sharif late father of Nawaz Sharif and his sons like Abbass or cousins etc – had created the companies and purchased the properties and now since they are dead, most details are missing, not available, cannot be traced. Children of Nawaz Sharif have merely inherited the family wealth in 2005 – as Mohd Zubair hinted. You must watch this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6Hb4xRCngs
Some Saudi certified documents – or may be Pakistani- will be ready for the Supreme court commission; money trail will be missing since its very old; Can Imran Khan produce the money trail of his 1983 income? We will be asked: how do we know he earned through playing cricket? he could be selling porn. However these statements on the floor of the national assembly will be treated with the derision they deserve, so the controlled, managed, regulated, safe and secure, sanitized atmosphere of a Commission is needed – where lawyers will rule instead of common sense.
Nawaz will thus prefer to appear in the national assembly, make some gestures of regard to the parliamentarians, say some consolatory sentences, some kind words, and then tell them what he has already told us many times before that while his name is not in the Panama Files, and while Imran Khan had an Offshore Company (and no one knows if Imran made his money from country cricket or drugs or gun running or porn stuff) but ignoring these unsavory details, about his principal and the only opponent, he will generously offer himself and his family up for all kinds of accountability – through a Supreme Court Commission. And will offer them and request them negotiations for creating ‘Consensus on TOR’s’. He won’t answer the ‘Seven Questions’ the ‘Seven Golden Bullets’ of Truth. It is not in his interest to do so. He needs a Commission to hide behind it; a Commission where facts will be debated, obfuscated, defeated, and submerged through points of law, through principles of ‘past and closed transactions’ legal precedents, judgments of high courts, violations of human rights, issues of discriminatory treatment and conflict of laws with foreign jurisdictions. Panama Papers & Pakistan’s Kingdom of Lies!
Read more: Will there be any resolution on Panamagate?
This will be the moment, where we will find out what PPP really stands for and whether Bilawal has any real control on this old machine. Will Khurshid Shah, welcome Nawaz’s great benevolent gesture, thank ‘King Nawaz’ for coming to the parliament (as brown Indians had thanked white English King George V for coming to the Delhi Court in 1911) and do his wishy washy speech, swinging from left to right, going up and down, to stress the need for ‘Consensus on TORs’ or else will he politely but firmly demand, as leader of the opposition, that PM Nawaz should first answer the questions raised by the combined opposition, with facts and statements, with documents as Aitzaz has explained in so many media interactions in the last few days? What will Khurshid Shah do, with his speech, his comments, will determine what PPP actually stood for and what will follow.
As I pointed in my earlier piece “Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari” [15th May, 2016] Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari? Nawaz has two kinds of allies: Declared and Undeclared. Declared; those like Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Mehmood Achakzai and Hasil Bizenjo’s National Party who are aligned openly and ‘Undeclared’ like Sherpao, MQM and ANP – and may even be Jammat e Islami. Once the signal for need for ‘Joint TOR’s” emanated from Khurshid Shah, these ‘declared’ and ‘undeclared’ allies of the PM Nawaz will thunder in applause appreciating the great gesture from Nawaz and will all align behind Khurshid Shah’s demand for ‘Consensus TOR’s”. No one will ask PM to answer the Oppositions Questions, no one will demand his statement of the facts. Imran and PTI will be left alone, gawking like idiots into blank space. A section of media – Unholy Trinity of a TV Channel, an English Paper and a Urdu Paper – will immediately bring the good news to the whole nation. There will be ‘special prayers’ in Akora Khattak to thank God for the saving of democracy.
The needs of opposition and Nawaz Sharif are at 180 degrees apart. The so called ‘Combined Opposition’ wants Nawaz to answer its seven questions; those seven questions are designed to obtain ‘facts’ and ‘statements’ from him, on the floor of the assembly.
If one listens to the pronouncements of Chairman Senate, Raza Rabbani and Senator Farhat Ullah Babar – both close to Mr. Zardari – over the last 48 hours, then the stage for the ‘saving of democracy’ has been set once again. Today railways minister, Kh Saad Rafique also reminded his audience that martial laws have always taken the country back. Trick is obvious: instill the idea, the fear in minds, that Panama Leaks represent Establishment’s conspiracy against civilian democracy. Initially it was American CIA conspiring against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. But don’t miss the point, though this is all bogus, but yet this ‘implant of bogus idea’ this rubbish, this utter nonsense is coming from both sides: PPP and PMLN. Two entities joined at the hip since the APC of London in 2007.
I hope PPP and Khurhsid Shah prove me wrong; and I hope PTI and Imran Khan have imagined this eventuality and have something up their sleeve too. All analysts love their analysis, like their ‘dear and only child’ and so do I, but I will love to be proved wrong in this case. I want to trust Barrister Aitzaz.
Read more: Justice delayed is Justice denied: Panama Case nearing the end?
There used to be an old advertisement on Ptv. It said: “Chai Chahye; Konsi Janab? Lipton Umda Hay” Today the political situation is: Commission Chahye; Konsa Janab? ‘Supreme Court ka Commission with Opposition’s Consensus’. From the day one, I am pointing out that one man desperately needs a Supreme Court Commission; his name is Mian Nawaz Sharif. His needs cannot be met without this kind of commission. But if he had asked for this ‘commission’ straightway then all his critics, his enemies and his real opposition – namely Imran Khan and PTI – would have denied him what he needed the most. All the chivalry, emotional outbursts of tv brigades, the angry tricks, the colorful gimmicks of PMLN firebrands and its allied parties were to develop a situation of acceptability for a ‘Supreme Court Commission’ with ‘Opposition’s Consensus’. Without opposition’s consensus such a Commission will be useless. It will serve no purpose.
So we have moved through a carefully crafted journey of ‘Offer of a Commission Under Retired Judge” then Prime Minister’s team sending unilateral TORs to Supreme Court with a clear realization that since opposition has not been consulted so the Opposition will reject that initiative. This is called ‘softening’; PMLN team has played well. On 16th May, you will find PM Nawaz quiet willing to accept the Opposition’s TOR’s; offering negotiations to create consensus. And you will find a Khurshid Shah willing to play along. But don’t expect Nawaz Sharif to answer you the questions set by Aitzaz and company.
What will Imran Khan do? Difficult to predict, since he has always been an unpredictable cookie; but all this stage has been set to capture him and lets see if they got him or he has a trick or two up his sleeve? Lets see! I wait for myself to be proved wrong!
Moeed Pirzada is prominent TV Anchor & commentator; he studied international relations at Columbia Univ, New York and law at London School of Economics. Twitter: MoeedNj. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy. This piece was first published in Moeed Pirzada’s official page. It has been reproduced with permission.
Moeed Pirzada is prominent TV Anchor & commentator; he studied international relations at Columbia Univ, New York and law at London School of Economics. Twitter: MoeedNj. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy. This piece was first published in Moeed Pirzada’s official page. It has been reproduced with permission.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Oppositon Parties on Panama Leaks !!!
In the first segment of Tonight with Moeed Pirzada on Saturday, Dr. Moeed Pirzada gave an articulated analysis on the updated situation on Panama Leaks and response of various political figure expressed in couple of days. Dr. Pirzada said that it’s been never a dull moment in Pakistani moment. Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry who is now head of Justice Democratic Party appeared before media and expressed his views on Panama Leaks, he has demanded a rational decision from PM Nawaz Sharif that he should resign but it’s not necessary to dissolve the government. Former Chief Justice also said that there should be transition in the leadership of PML(N). Dr. Pirzada analyzed today’s press conferences by Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed who criticized Imran Khan after it was revealed and later accepted by him that he owned off-shore company through which he bought his flat in London in 1983. In response to it Imran Khan’s spokesperson Naeem ul Haq responded that if PTI’s leaders have done anything illegal then it’s the responsibility of government to act against it. Dr. Pirzada also analysed the politics of PPP in the current scenario. He said that the PPP Punjab’s leadership like, Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have surrounded Chairman Bilawal Zardari, who are taking harsh stand on Panama Leaks against government which is necessary for the revival of PPP. While on the other side Zardari’s close aide Syed Khursheed Shah, Farhatullah Babar and Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani are trying to bailout Nawaz Sharif from Panama crisis. They are trying to portray as if any hidden driving force who is trying to gave new model and might derail democracy. His latest blog “Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab Rebelled against Zardari?” is also a worth reading piece
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Aitzaz Ahsan’s Strong Determination on Panama Leaks !!!
While talking to Dr Moeed Pirzada , Opposition Leader in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is unaware about the parliamentary norms and traditions.
The prime minister should come to the National Assembly with preparation as the opposition is ready for cross examination on his replies in parliament, he said.
Aitzaz said a defeated attitude was visible in the government ranks as senior ministers were reluctant to defend the prime minister and even information minister was also on the backfoot.
Senate Aitzaz Ahsan warned that the opposition would increase their questions if the prime minister failed to come up with a satisfactory response. We want a detailed response from the prime minister about our seven questions on the PanamaLeaks issue.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Siraj ul Haq Perspective on Government & Bangladesh Executions !!!
Dr Moeed pirzada talks about recent execution of Bangla desh Jamat Islami leader Motiurehman and explained to the viewers that these prosecutions were purely political and brought forward under a one sided war tribunal. Also it was violation of point 14 of tripartite agreement in 1974 between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. According to which Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to forget and forgive past and move forward. While talking to Dr Pirzada in the program Senator and Ameer Jamat Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq said on Bangla Desh Executions issue that these are brought forward purely on political basis to please India and four Jamat Islami Bangla desh leaders were prosecuted so far including the recent one Motiurehman Nizami. According to Sirajul haq Indian high commissioner in Bangla desh was in close coordination with bangla Desh government regarding death penalties. Sirjul Haq showed his concerns that Pakistan Government was not taking serious actions against the prosecutions. Sirajul Haq said that recent hangings are only carried out to please Indian Government as all the hanged people were pro Pakistan and Pakistan Army during war of 1971 as Bangla desh wasn’t created at that time. Sirajul Haq said that he had talked to Ambassadors in Pakistan, Government of Pakistan and important ministers to raise their voices on these prosecutions but Government didn’t show strong response to it. Government didn’t raise this issue at any international forum. Local Politics of Pakistan was also discussed in this segment. On the issue of deadlock on Panama scandal investigation Sirajul Haq explained in detail the proposed three point’s formula by Jamat Islami to settle this matter. First point was that Government and Opposition parties should initiate dialogue on Terms of Reference for the Judicial Commission on panama papers investigation. Another point was that both sides should join hands to make necessary legislation for the judicial inquiry, and third, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should constitute a judicial commission for the inquiry as a national obligation in line with the national consensus and Supreme court should analyze Terms of References from all three sides including Opposition, Government and Bar council and formulate its own Terms of references.
Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari?
Moeed Pirzada |
Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking in my program on Dunya News on Fri, 13th April hinted that Zardari has lost control on PPP; he argued, albeit cautiously, that Zardari is no more running the show and Bilawal is setting the agenda on Panama Leaks along with PPP-Punjab. Qureshi was responding to my insistent queries that why will PPP lead by Khurshid Shah, under command of Zardari, not ditch PTI during the Assembly debate on Panama Papers now set for Monday, 16th May.
Shah Mehmood is not the first politician or analyst to argue this with me – though coming from him it has a different meaning and importance to it. For he has been a lifelong member of PPP and in recent days he had been the PTI’s point man to organize an ‘All Parties Alliance’ on the issue of Panama Files. So we can reason that he is a kind of ‘insider’ on PPP especially in these days of inter-party negotiations.
Read more: Zardari condemns PML-N for not telling Pakistan’s story to the world
What all these people are referring to is then a soft-coup inside PPP lead by none other than Bilawal Zardari Bhutto against his father: Asif Ali Zardari. Could this be true? Or we are being taken for a ride, through careful perception management the end objective of which is to bail out PM Nawaz from a difficult situation, gain time for the election and boost PPP’s standing in Punjab in the meanwhile by playing along PTI and a popular agenda set in tune mostly by PTI and country’s electronic media?
sending unilateral TOR’s to Supreme Court could be another trick, another trap, with clear understanding that once these are rejected then it will lead the way towards finally a ‘Consensus Commission”
Last year, somewhere around in May 2015, when Fawad Ch and I used to do a show together in Express News, called ‘Siyasat Aur Qanoon’. We did a program on new potential leadership of Pakistan from Maryam to Hamza to Bilawal. When we reached Bilawal, I argued that Bilawal is tall, fair and handsome; features needed for success in Pakistan’s shallow politics and top of that he has a great profile, an unmatchable cv, being the son of Benazir and grand son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but even if you ignore his ‘pinkish Urdu’ he has one big baggage: his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Fawad who had worked with Bilawal and who still interacted with him on an intimate level and who had to meet him soon, was visibly perturbed; but I kept on building my case that the only and only way Bilawal can claim leadership across Punjab, KPK and Karachi, amongst the new educated youth is by creating a wedge with his father, by disowning him, by repudiating him, by politely but firmly telling him that your time is over, you are not needed any more; I am your best defense but you are my worst liability. That Express program should be available somewhere on You Tube.
Mine was a nasty, brutal theoretical argument – but it had some sane logic, behind it, which can appeal to most who know the Pakistani political history and its narratives. Bilawal also ended up watching that program. So has the moment arrived for that break? Have the father and son decided to part ways amiably? Have they at least decided to give this impression to fool the young generation of Punjabis? Could Aitzaz, Kaira, Khurshid Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf all part of this carefully crafter narrative?
The logic advanced by the advocates of ‘soft coup’ is that the PPP Punjab was bitter and angry; they had realized since the elections of 2013 that how the the apolitical strategies of Zardari all geared towards personal survival and the perception of ‘friendly opposition’ with Sharifs, endlessly rubbed on by Imran destroyed them across central Punjab. They now see a rare opportunity in the ‘Panama Files Scandal’ of aligning themselves with the public mood; to them this is a God send moment of rejuvenation of PPP in Punjab and perhaps across the country. Argument is that Aitzaz, looking for a role in history, finally true to himself, has convinced the young Bilawal that this is his opportunity, his moment of claiming leadership.
Dr. Tanveer Zammani, once known to be very intimate with ex-president Asif Ali Zardari was recently in Pakistan. She also called me, informing that she is launching some sort of ‘PPP Foundation or Campaign’ starting from Karachi. She wanted to meet; we could not meet in the end, though intrigued by her statements I did ask: What is the purpose? And she said openly and bluntly that ‘Asif Ali Zardari Sb has been left in a kind of life boat from the ship of PPP and Bilawal, Aitzaz and Kaira have taken charge and I want to restore PPP”. Listening to this, unbelievable piece of information, magical revelation, my first reaction was that this is some sort of political gimmick, a cleverly orchestrated disinformation campaign to plant the idea that young Bilawal has taken charge and is now on his own, charting course on rough waters.
But later I came across others who argued that Zardari is practically in exile, cut off from Pakistan, and is losing control on the ground. Though he was comfortably placed in the ‘Desert Dream’ of Dubai for quiet sometime but was visiting now and then, now for the past one year he is literally forced out, and as the realization that he will probably not be allowed back is getting deeper and deeper, the secondary leadership of PPP, especially in Punjab are becoming more and more independent; they are becoming a leadership on their own, they are assuming a form of their own in search of their destiny. And they realize that if they still kept on following the ‘irrational diktats’ of Mr Zardari, that did not make much sense even before but now are totally out of sync with the political reality growing around them then they are finished. They have told Bilawal that they must align themselves with popular feelings to survive or else they will be better off leaving PPP – like Raja Riaz is doing at the moment.
Could this all be true? I leave this question to pundits of Pakistani politics, I am only raising issues and posing questions. I have no definitive answers.
Listening to this, unbelievable piece of information, magical revelation, my first reaction was that this is some sort of political gimmick, a cleverly orchestrated disinformation campaign to plant the idea that young Bilawal has taken charge and is now on his own, charting course on rough waters.
However what I see is that Khurshid Shah is the leader of Opposition in national assembly and while he maintains a deference towards young Bilawal, he does not appear to be speaking his language. Many of our colleagues, more in tune with the politics of Sindh tell us that Khurshid Shah Sahib alone represents the mind and will of the master, Zardari. So how Khurshid Shah acts and reacts in National assembly on Mon, 16thMay will determine where PPP really stands on Pakistani politics. It will be the litmus test of whether Mr. Zardari has lost control or he is speaking different mantras through different masks?
While PPP is now a sort of newly certified opposition that is negotiating, or trying to negotiate with PMLN on Panama Files, effectively displacing PTI, taking the leadership role in that process of dealing with the government whose B-team it was considered not long time ago, there are others like MQM, ANP and single member party of Aftab Sherpao who too are being considered an opposition to the Nawaz Govt at the moment -as they all are shouting for a ‘commission’. But are they really the opposition?
When this so called ‘opposition’ was drafting its TOR, on Panama Files Investigation, it was ANP and Sherpao party that took a stand against ‘resignation’ of PM Nawaz, since by then Bilawal had already roared in Azad Kashmir demanding that Nawaz must leave. So could this be a carefully crafted arrangement in which PM Nawaz is being represented on both sides: in his declared allies and through his ‘undeclared allies’ amongst his opposition. Purpose can be to shape a narrative step by step – taking it towards final acceptability.
Read more: Do you know the latest trend what Pakistani Presidents do when they retire?
Two weeks ago, avoiding ‘resignation demand’ from a joint opposition was the main necessity; now creating consensus around a weak, meaningless Commission could be the next goal. Supreme court had no option but to reject the Commission proposed by the government –as it did on 13th May. But we must not forget that government proposal was so one sided, so stupid, and was deliberately drafted without consultation with the opposition. Perhaps there was a method to the madness; could it be another
Perhaps there was a method to the madness; could it be another well thought gimmick like the Prime Minister’s speech of 5th April that offered a ‘Commission under retired judge’ knowing fully well that it will lead to demands for a ‘Commission under Supreme Court’. Similarly sending unilateral TOR’s to Supreme Court could be another trick, another trap, with clear understanding that once these are rejected then it will lead the way towards finally a ‘Consensus Commission”.
After all, PM Nawaz and government side will be seen on defensive and making one after the other concession forcing opposition (mainly PTI) to show flexibility. We must not forget that no one needs a commission except PM Nawaz Sharif. He needs a forum, where facts can be tempered, confused, defeated, submerged and finally trashed through points of law. Only a combined opposition that looks like an ‘opposition’ can achieve that for him. Narrative, over the past two weeks, was shaped by ‘govt. spin machine’ as if PM is being targeted and a Commission is being forced upon him. And they have done a good job. But finally while flying back from Tajikistan, on Thu 12th May, PM, in a moment of stress, uttered in desperate tone, to a team of ‘royal reporters’ that often flies with him, that he wants to make a commission.
The theories of ‘Soft Coup’ inside PPP will be put to test on Monday 16th May. How PPP and Zardari Sahib’s point man: Khursid Shah react on the floor of the assembly once PM Nawaz tells or fails to tell the story of the ‘family’s treasure island’ will carry the litmus test. Will Khurshid Shah now be showing acceptability to whatever funny ‘Treasure Island Story’ is told finally paving way for a meaningless commission through consensus (with the help of ANP, MQM and Sherpao) or we will see ‘genuine dissection, genuine probing questions; from him and PPP on the ‘Treasure Island Story’? Whereas it is in the nature of political parties and politicians to fool the media and the public, to spin realities for them; it is the responsibility of free media to try to see through them. Media’s job is to pierce the mist of politics to find the truth behind smiles and threats. This is the reason for media’s existence in a democracy. That is why we are the ‘fourth pillar’ of the state. Lets see what we find out on Monday, 16th May.
Moeed Pirzada is prominent TV Anchor & commentator; he studied international relations at Columbia Univ, New York and law at London School of Economics. Twitter: MoeedNj. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy. This piece was first published in Moeed Pirzada’s official page. It has been reproduced with permission.
Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari?
Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking in my program on Dunya News on Fri, 13th April hinted that Zardari has lost control on PPP; he argued, albeit cautiously, that Zardari is no more running the show and Bilawal is setting the agenda on Panama Leaks along with PPP-Punjab. Qureshi was responding to my insistent queries that why will PPP lead by Khurshid Shah, under command of Zardari, not ditch PTI during the Assembly debate on Panama Papers now set for Monday, 16th May.
Shah Mehmood is not the first politician or analyst to argue this with me – though coming from him it has a different meaning and importance to it. For he has been a life long member of PPP and in recent days he had been the PTI’s point man to organize an ‘All Parties Alliance’ on the issue of Panama Files. So we can reason that he is a kind of ‘insider’ on PPP especially in these days of inter-party negotiations.
What all these people are referring to is then a soft-coup inside PPP lead by none other than Bilawal Zardari Bhutto against his father: Asif Ali Zardari. Could this be true? Or we are being taken for a ride, through careful perception management the end objective of which is to bail out PM Nawaz from a difficult situation, gain time for the election and boost PPP’s standing in Punjab in the meanwhile by playing along PTI and a popular agenda set in tune mostly by PTI and country’s electronic media?
Last year, somewhere around in May 2015, when Fawad Ch and I used to do a show together in Express News, called ‘Siyasat Aur Qanoon’. We did a program on new potential leadership of Pakistan from Maryam to Hamza to Bilawal. When we reached Bilawal, I argued that Bilawal is tall, fair and handsome; features needed for success in Pakistan’s shallow politics and top of that he has a great profile, an unmatchable cv, being the son of Benazir and grand son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but even if you ignore his ‘pinkish Urdu’ he has one big baggage: his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Fawad who had worked with Bilawal and who still interacted with him on an intimate level and who had to meet him soon, was visibly perturbed; but I kept on building my case that the only and only way Bilawal can claim leadership across Punjab, KPK and Karachi, amongst the new educated youth is by creating a wedge with his father, by disowning him, by repudiating him, by politely but firmly telling him that your time is over, you are not needed any more; I am your best defense but you are my worst liability. That Express program should be available somewhere on You Tube.
Mine was a nasty, brutal theoretical argument – but it had some sane logic, behind it, which can appeal to most who know the Pakistani political history and its narratives. Bilawal also ended up watching that program. So has the moment arrived for that break? Have the father and son decided to part ways amiably? Have they at least decided to give this impression to fool the young generation of Punjabis? Could Aitzaz, Kaira, Khurshid Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf all part of this carefully crafter narrative?
The logic advanced by the advocates of ‘soft coup’ is that the PPP Punjab was bitter and angry; they had realized since the elections of 2013 that how the the apolitical strategies of Zardari all geared towards personal survival and the perception of ‘friendly opposition’ with Sharifs, endlessly rubbed on by Imran destroyed them across central Punjab. They now see a rare opportunity in the ‘Panama Files Scandal’ of aligning themselves with the public mood; to them this is a God send moment of rejuvenation of PPP in Punjab and perhaps across the country. Argument is that Aitzaz, looking for a role in history, finally true to himself, has convinced the young Bilawal that this is his opportunity, his moment of claiming leadership.
Dr. Tanveer Zammani, once known to be very intimate with ex-president Asif Ali Zardari was recently in Pakistan. She also called me, informing that she is launching some sort of ‘PPP Foundation or Campaign’ starting from Karachi. She wanted to meet; we could not meet in the end, though intrigued by her statements I did ask: What is the purpose? And she said openly and bluntly that ‘Asif Ali Zardari Sb has been left in a kind of life boat from the ship of PPP and Bilawal, Aitzaz and Kaira have taken charge and I want to restore PPP”. Listening to this, unbelievable piece of information, magical revelation, my first reaction was that this is some sort of political gimmick, a cleverly orchestrated disinformation campaign to plant the idea that young Bilawal has taken charge and is now on his own, charting course on rough waters.
But later I came across others who argued that Zardari is practically in exile, cut off from Pakistan, and is losing control on the ground. Though he was comfortably placed in the ‘Desert Dream’ of Dubai for quiet sometime but was visiting now and then, now for the past one year he is literally forced out, and as the realization that he will probably not be allowed back is getting deeper and deeper, the secondary leadership of PPP, especially in Punjab are becoming more and more independent; they are becoming a leadership on their own, they are assuming a form of their own in search of their destiny. And they realize that if they still kept on following the ‘irrational diktats’ of Mr Zardari, that did not make much sense even before but now are totally out of sync with the political reality growing around them then they are finished. They have told Bilawal that they must align themselves with popular feelings to survive or else they will be better off leaving PPP – like Raja Riaz is doing at the moment.
Could this all be true? I leave this question to pundits of Pakistani politics, I am only raising issues and posing questions. I have no definitive answers.
However what I see is that Khurshid Shah is the leader of Opposition in national assembly and while he maintains a deference towards young Bilawal, he does not appear to be speaking his language. Many of our colleagues, more in tune with the politics of Sindh tell us that Khurshid Shah Sahib alone represents the mind and will of the master, Zardari. So how Khurshid Shah acts and reacts in National assembly on Mon, 16th May will determine where PPP really stands on Pakistani politics. It will be the litmus test of whether Mr. Zardari has lost control or he is speaking different mantras through different masks?
While PPP is now a sort of newly certified opposition that is negotiating, or trying to negotiate with PMLN on Panama Files, effectively displacing PTI, taking the leadership role in that process of dealing with the government whose B-team it was considered not long time ago, there are others like MQM, ANP and single member party of Aftab Sherpao who too are being considered an opposition to the Nawaz Govt at the moment -as they all are shouting for a ‘commission’. But are they really the opposition?
When this so called ‘opposition’ was drafting its TOR, on Panama Files Investigation, it was ANP and Sherpao party that took a stand against ‘resignation’ of PM Nawaz, since by then Bilawal had already roared in Azad Kashmir demanding that Nawaz must leave. So could this be a carefully crafted arrangement in which PM Nawaz is being represented on both sides: in his declared allies and through his ‘undeclared allies’ amongst his opposition. Purpose can be to shape a narrative step by step – taking it towards final acceptability.
Two weeks ago, avoiding ‘resignation demand’ from a joint opposition was the main necessity; now creating consensus around a weak, meaningless Commission could be the next goal. Supreme court had no option but to reject the Commission proposed by the government –as it did on 13th May. But we must not forget that government proposal was so one sided, so stupid, and was deliberately drafted without consultation with the opposition. Perhaps there was a method to the madness; could it be another well thought gimmick like the Prime Minister’s speech of 5th April that offered a ‘Commission under retired judge’ knowing fully well that it will lead to demands for a ‘Commission under Supreme Court’. Similarly sending unilateral TOR’s to Supreme Court could be another trick, another trap, with clear understanding that once these are rejected then it will lead the way towards finally a ‘Consensus Commission”. After all, PM Nawaz and government side will be seen on defensive and making one after the other concession forcing opposition (mainly PTI) to show flexibility. We must not forget that no one needs a commission except PM Nawaz Sharif. He needs a forum, where facts can be tempered, confused, defeated, submerged and finally trashed through points of law. Only a combined opposition that looks like an ‘opposition’ can achieve that for him. Narrative, over the past two weeks, was shaped by ‘govt. spin machine’ as if PM is being targeted and a Commission is being forced upon him. And they have done a good job. But finally while flying back from Tajikistan, on Thu 12th May, PM, in a moment of stress, uttered in desperate tone, to a team of ‘royal reporters’ that often flies with him, that he wants to make a commission.
The theories of ‘Soft Coup’ inside PPP will be put to test on Monday 16th May. How PPP and Zardari Sahib’s point man: Khursid Shah react on the floor of the assembly once PM Nawaz tells or fails to tell the story of the ‘family’s treasure island’ will carry the litmus test. Will Khurshid Shah now be showing acceptability to whatever funny ‘Treasure Island Story’ is told finally paving way for a meaningless commission through consensus (with the help of ANP, MQM and Sherpao) or we will see ‘genuine dissection, genuine probing questions; from him and PPP on the ‘Treasure Island Story’? Whereas it is in the nature of political parties and politicians to fool the media and the public, to spin realities for them; it is the responsibility of free media to try to see through them. Media’s job is to pierce the mist of politics to find the truth behind smiles and threats. This is the reason for media’s existence in a democracy. That is why we are the ‘fourth pillar’ of the state. Lets see what we find out on Monday, 16th May.
Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari?
Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking in my program on Dunya News on Fri, 13th April hinted that Zardari has lost control on PPP; he argued, albeit cautiously, that Zardari is no more running the show and Bilawal is setting the agenda on Panama Leaks along with PPP-Punjab. Qureshi was responding to my insistent queries that why will PPP lead by Khurshid Shah not ditch PTI during the Assembly debate on Panama Papers now set for Monday, 16th May.
Shah Mehmood is not the first politician or analyst to argue this with me – though coming from him it has a different meaning and importance to it. For he has been a life long member of PPP and in recent days he had been the PTI’s point man to organize an ‘All Parties Alliance’ on the issue of Panama Files. So we can reason that he is a kind of ‘insider’ on PPP especially in these days of inter-party negotiations.
What all these people are referring to is then a soft-coup inside PPP lead by none other than Bilawal Zardari Bhutto against his father: Asif Ali Zardari. Could this be true? Or we are being taken for a ride, through careful perception management the end objective of which is to bail out PM Nawaz from a difficult situation, gain time for the election and boost PPP’s standing in Punjab in the meanwhile by playing along PTI and a popular agenda set in tune mostly by PTI and country’s electronic media?
Last year, somewhere around in May 2015, when Fawad Ch and I used to do a show together in Express News, called ‘Siyasat Aur Qanoon’ in which Fawad joined me in end April we did a program on new potential leadership of Pakistan. When we reached Bilawal, I argued that Bilawal is tall, fair and handsome; features needed for success in Pakistan’s shallow politics and top of that he has a great profile being the son of Benazir and grand son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but he has one big baggage: his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Fawad who had worked with Bilawal and who still interacted with him on an intimate level and who had to meet him soon, was visibly perturbed; but I kept on building my case that the only and only way Bilawal can claim leadership across Punjab, KPK and Karachi, amongst the new educated youth is by creating a wedge with his father, by disowning him, by repudiating him, by politely but firmly telling him that your time is over, you are not needed any more; I am your best defense but you are my worst liability. That Express program should be available somewhere on You Tube.
Mine was a nasty, brutal theoretical argument – but it had some sane logic, behind it, which can appeal to most who know the Pakistani political history and its narratives. Bilawal also ended up watching that program. So has the moment arrived for that break? Have the father and son decided to part ways amiably? Have they at least decided to give this impression to fool the young generation of Punjabis? Could Aitzaz, Kaira, Khurshid Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf all part of this carefully crafter narrative?
The logic advanced by the advocates of ‘soft coup’ is that the PPP Punjab was bitter and angry; they had realized since the elections of 2013 that how the the apolitical strategies of Zardari all geared towards personal survival and the perception of ‘friendly opposition’ with Sharifs, endlessly rubbed on by Imran destroyed them across central Punjab. They now see a rare opportunity in the ‘Panama Files Scandal’ of aligning themselves with the public mood; to them this is a God send moment of rejuvenation for PPP in Punjab and perhaps across the country. Argument is that Aitzaz, looking for a role in history, finally true to himself, has convinced the young Bilawal that this is his opportunity, his moment of claiming leadership.
Dr. Tanveer Zammani, once known to be very intimate with ex-president Asif Ali Zardari was recently in Pakistan. She also called me, informing that she is launching some sort of ‘PPP Foundation or Campaign’ starting from Karachi. She wanted to meet; we could not meet in the end, though intrigued by her statements I did ask: What is the purpose? And she said openly and bluntly that ‘Asif Ali Zardari Sb has been left in a kind of life boat from the ship of PPP and Bilawal, Aitzaz and Kaira have taken charge and I want to restore PPP”. Listening to this, unbelievable piece of information or perhaps disinformation, my first reaction was that this is some sort of political gimmick, a cleverly orchestrated disinformation campaign to plant the idea that young Bilawal has taken charge and is now on his own, charting course on rough waters.
But later I came across others who argued that Zardari is practically in exile, cut off from Pakistan, and is losing control on the ground. Though he was comfortably placed in the ‘Desert Dream’ of Dubai for quiet sometime but was visiting now and then, now for the past one year he is literally forced out, and as the realization that he will probably not be allowed is getting deeper and deeper, the secondary leadership of PPP, especially in Punjab are becoming more and more independent; they are becoming a leadership on their own, they are assuming a form of their own in search of their destiny. And they realize that if they still kept on following the ‘irrational diktats’ of Mr Zardari, that did not make much sense even before but now are totally out of sync with the political reality growing around them then they are finished. They have told Bilawal that they must align themselves with popular feelings to survive or else they will be better off leaving PPP – like Raja Riaz is doing at the moment.
Could this all be true? I leave this question to pundits of Pakistani politics, I am only raising issues and posing questions. I have no definitive answers.
However what I see is that Khurshid Shah is the leader of Opposition in national assembly and while he maintains a deference towards young Bilawal, he does not appear to be speaking his language. Many of our colleagues, more in tune with the politics of Sindh tell us that Khurshid Shah Sahib alone represents the mind and will of the master, Zardari. So how Khurshid Shah acts and reacts in National assembly on Mon, 16th May will determine where PPP really stands on Pakistani politics. It will be the litmus test of whether Mr. Zardari has lost control or he is speaking different mantras through different masks?
While PPP is now a sort of newly certified opposition that is negotiating, or trying to negotiate with PMLN on Panama Files, effectively displacing PTI, taking the leadership role in that process of dealing with the government whose B-team it was considered not long time ago, there are others like MQM, ANP and single member party of Aftab Sherpao who too are being considered an opposition to the Nawaz Govt at the moment. But are they really the opposition?
When this so called ‘opposition’ was drafting its TOR, on Panama Files Investigation, it was ANP and Sherpao party that took a stand against ‘resignation’ of PM Nawaz, since by then Bilawal had already roared in Azad Kashmir demanding that Nawaz must leave. So could this be a carefully crafted arrangement in which PM Nawaz is being represented on both sides: in his declared allies and through his ‘undeclared allies’ amongst his opposition. Purpose can be to shape a narrative step by step – taking it towards final acceptability.
Two weeks ago, avoiding ‘resignation demand’ was the main necessity; now creating consensus around a weak, meaningless Commission could be the next goal. Supreme court had no option but to reject the Commission proposed by the government –as it did on 13th May. But government proposal was so one sided, so stupid, and was deliberately drafted without consultation with the opposition. Perhaps there was a method to the madness; could it be another well thought gimmick like the Prime Minister’s speech of 5th April that offered a ‘Commission under retired judge’ knowing fully well that it won’t be acceptable giving way finally towards a ‘Consensus Commission”. After all, PM Nawaz and government side will be seen making concessions. No one needs a commission except PM Nawaz Sharif. He needs a forum, where facts can be tempered, confused, defeated, submerged and finally trashed through points of law. Only a combined opposition that looks like an ‘opposition’ can achieve that for him.
The theories of ‘Soft Coup’ inside PPP will be put to test on Monday 16th May. How PPP and Zardari Sahib’s point man: Khursid Shah react on the floor of the assembly once PM Nawaz tells or fails to tell the story of the ‘family’s treasure island’ will carry the litmus test. Whereas it is in the nature of political parties and politicians to fool the media and the public, to spin realities for them; it is the responsibility of free media to try to see through them. Media’s job is to pierce the mist of politics to find the truth behind smiles and threats. Lets see what we fine out on Monday, 16th May.
[Moeed Pirzada, is TV Anchor and Editor Strategic Affairs Dunya News. He studied International Relations at Columbia University New York and Law at London School of Economics & Political Science London]
Soft Coup: Has PPP Punjab rebelled against Zardari?
Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking in my program on Dunya News on Fri, 13th April hinted that Zardari has lost control on PPP; he argued, albeit cautiously, that Zardari is no more running the show and Bilawal is setting the agenda on Panama Leaks along with PPP-Punjab. Qureshi was responding to my insistent queries that why will PPP lead by Khurshid Shah not ditch PTI during the Assembly debate on Panama Papers now set for Monday, 16th May.
Shah Mehmood is not the first politician or analyst to argue this with me – though coming from him it has a different meaning and importance to it. For he has been a life long member of PPP and in recent days he had been the PTI’s point man to organize an ‘All Parties Alliance’ on the issue of Panama Files. So we can reason that he is a kind of ‘insider’ on PPP especially in these days of inter-party negotiations.
What all these people are referring to is then a soft-coup inside PPP lead by none other than Bilawal Zardari Bhutto against his father: Asif Ali Zardari. Could this be true? Or we are being taken for a ride, through careful perception management the end objective of which is to bail out PM Nawaz from a difficult situation, gain time for the election and boost PPP’s standing in Punjab in the meanwhile by playing along PTI and a popular agenda set in tune mostly by PTI and country’s electronic media?
Last year, somewhere around in May 2015, when Fawad Ch and I used to do a show together in Express News, called ‘Siyasat Aur Qanoon’ in which Fawad joined me in end April we did a program on new potential leadership of Pakistan. When we reached Bilawal, I argued that Bilawal is tall, fair and handsome; features needed for success in Pakistan’s shallow politics and top of that he has a great profile being the son of Benazir and grand son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but he has one big baggage: his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Fawad who had worked with Bilawal and who still interacted with him on an intimate level and who had to meet him soon, was visibly perturbed; but I kept on building my case that the only and only way Bilawal can claim leadership across Punjab, KPK and Karachi, amongst the new educated youth is by creating a wedge with his father, by disowning him, by repudiating him, by politely but firmly telling him that your time is over, you are not needed any more; I am your best defense but you are my worst liability. That Express program should be available somewhere on You Tube.
Mine was a nasty, brutal theoretical argument – but it had some sane logic, behind it, which can appeal to most who know the Pakistani political history and its narratives. Bilawal also ended up watching that program. So has the moment arrived for that break? Have the father and son decided to part ways amiably? Have they at least decided to give this impression to fool the young generation of Punjabis? Could Aitzaz, Kaira, Khurshid Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf all part of this carefully crafter narrative?
The logic advanced by the advocates of ‘soft coup’ is that the PPP Punjab was bitter and angry; they had realized since the elections of 2013 that how the the apolitical strategies of Zardari all geared towards personal survival and the perception of ‘friendly opposition’ with Sharifs, endlessly rubbed on by Imran destroyed them across central Punjab. They now see a rare opportunity in the ‘Panama Files Scandal’ of aligning themselves with the public mood; to them this is a God send moment of rejuvenation for PPP in Punjab and perhaps across the country. Argument is that Aitzaz, looking for a role in history, finally true to himself, has convinced the young Bilawal that this is his opportunity, his moment of claiming leadership.
Dr. Tanveer Zammani, once known to be very intimate with ex-president Asif Ali Zardari was recently in Pakistan. She also called me, informing that she is launching some sort of ‘PPP Foundation or Campaign’ starting from Karachi. She wanted to meet; we could not meet in the end, though intrigued by her statements I did ask: What is the purpose? And she said openly and bluntly that ‘Asif Ali Zardari Sb has been left in a kind of life boat from the ship of PPP and Bilawal, Aitzaz and Kaira have taken charge and I want to restore PPP”. Listening to this, unbelievable piece of information or perhaps disinformation, my first reaction was that this is some sort of political gimmick, a cleverly orchestrated disinformation campaign to plant the idea that young Bilawal has taken charge and is now on his own, charting course on rough waters.
But later I came across others who argued that Zardari is practically in exile, cut off from Pakistan, and is losing control on the ground. Though he was comfortably placed in the ‘Desert Dream’ of Dubai for quiet sometime but was visiting now and then, now for the past one year he is literally forced out, and as the realization that he will probably not be allowed is getting deeper and deeper, the secondary leadership of PPP, especially in Punjab are becoming more and more independent; they are becoming a leadership on their own, they are assuming a form of their own in search of their destiny. And they realize that if they still kept on following the ‘irrational diktats’ of Mr Zardari, that did not make much sense even before but now are totally out of sync with the political reality growing around them then they are finished. They have told Bilawal that they must align themselves with popular feelings to survive or else they will be better off leaving PPP – like Raja Riaz is doing at the moment.
Could this all be true? I leave this question to pundits of Pakistani politics, I am only raising issues and posing questions. I have no definitive answers.
However what I see is that Khurshid Shah is the leader of Opposition in national assembly and while he maintains a deference towards young Bilawal, he does not appear to be speaking his language. Many of our colleagues, more in tune with the politics of Sindh tell us that Khurshid Shah Sahib alone represents the mind and will of the master, Zardari. So how Khurshid Shah acts and reacts in National assembly on Mon, 16th May will determine where PPP really stands on Pakistani politics. It will be the litmus test of whether Mr. Zardari has lost control or he is speaking different mantras through different masks?
While PPP is now a sort of newly certified opposition that is negotiating, or trying to negotiate with PMLN on Panama Files, effectively displacing PTI, taking the leadership role in that process of dealing with the government whose B-team it was considered not long time ago, there are others like MQM, ANP and single member party of Aftab Sherpao who too are being considered an opposition to the Nawaz Govt at the moment. But are they really the opposition?
When this so called ‘opposition’ was drafting its TOR, on Panama Files Investigation, it was ANP and Sherpao party that took a stand against ‘resignation’ of PM Nawaz, since by then Bilawal had already roared in Azad Kashmir demanding that Nawaz must leave. So could this be a carefully crafted arrangement in which PM Nawaz is being represented on both sides: in his declared allies and through his ‘undeclared allies’ amongst his opposition. Purpose can be to shape a narrative step by step – taking it towards final acceptability.
Two weeks ago, avoiding ‘resignation demand’ was the main necessity; now creating consensus around a weak, meaningless Commission could be the next goal. Supreme court had no option but to reject the Commission proposed by the government –as it did on 13th May. But government proposal was so one sided, so stupid, and was deliberately drafted without consultation with the opposition. Perhaps there was a method to the madness; could it be another well thought gimmick like the Prime Minister’s speech of 5th April that offered a ‘Commission under retired judge’ knowing fully well that it won’t be acceptable giving way finally towards a ‘Consensus Commission”. After all, PM Nawaz and government side will be seen making concessions. No one needs a commission except PM Nawaz Sharif. He needs a forum, where facts can be tempered, confused, defeated, submerged and finally trashed through points of law. Only a combined opposition that looks like an ‘opposition’ can achieve that for him.
The theories of ‘Soft Coup’ inside PPP will be put to test on Monday 16th May. How PPP and Zardari Sahib’s point man: Khursid Shah react on the floor of the assembly once PM Nawaz tells or fails to tell the story of the ‘family’s treasure island’ will carry the litmus test. Whereas it is in the nature of political parties and politicians to fool the media and the public, to spin realities for them; it is the responsibility of free media to try to see through them. Media’s job is to pierce the mist of politics to find the truth behind smiles and threats. Lets see what we fine out on Monday, 16th May.
[Moeed Pirzada, is TV Anchor and Editor Strategic Affairs Dunya News. He studied International Relations at Columbia University New York and Law at London School of Economics & Political Science London]
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Prime Minister Under Pressure Due to Panamagate !!!
Dr Moeed Pirzada explains in detail two important developments on the issue of PM Nawaz Sharif’s son’s names in Panamagate for owning offshore companies and properties. One of the important developments was chief justice refusal to constitute the Judicial Commission on the basis of Terms of references proposed by Government. Earlier due to pressure from opposition Government had requested Supreme Court through a letter with Terms of References to investigate Panama papers scandal.
The basic reasons given by Supreme Court for not forming inquiry commission for panama papers scandal were that Apex Court thinks Terms of References given by government were two broad and commission formed wouldn’t be strong enough as Government requested it to be constituted under inquiry act 1956. Another reason given in letter to the government was that as Terms of references are too broad, it could take years to investigate; also new act would be required to formulate that judicial commission. Dr Moeed Pirzada also explained that in his blogs he had also expressed similar views that commission should be restricted to investigate about only those politicians whose names appeared in panama papers otherwise it would be waste of time and public funds.
Dr Pirzada discussed in detail the other important development which was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif postponed his visit to the parliament from Friday 13th May 2016 to Monday 16th May 2016. Opposition demanded that Prime minister should give replies to their seven questions regarding Prime minister’s children name in panama papers. Dr Moeed Pirzada explained with sound clips of PM Nawaz sharif that how his tone changed from very confident in Bannu KPK province address to public to shaky and worried on his way back to Pakistan from Tajikistan, while talking to Journalist he said that he is not answerable to opposition on their questionnaire regarding panama paper scandal PM Nawaz sharif showed his eagerness for the judicial commission formation. Again Dr Pirzada gave reference of his blog on 27th April 2016 in which it was explained that PM Nawaz Sharif was desperate to form judicial commission so that his name gets cleared from the corruption scandal.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Overall discussion on current politics with Analyst Hassan Nisar.
In the last part on Friday, Dr. Moeed Pirzada discussed overall political situation on Panama Papers with renowned analyst and critic of PML(N) government Mr. Hassan Nisar.He said that government wants to fire from judiciary’s shoulder, Supreme court denied terms of “Chatar Chalaq” clever people. They have been using these tactics in 80s and 90s. But now it seems that this drama serial is going to end although government tried for damage control prior to Panama leaks. He further said that from whom opposition is trying to get answers. By not answering the simple questions, it is obvious and understood that he doesn’t have any answer.Dr. Pirzada inquired that about the dynamics of PPP and whether it is trying to bail out PM Nawaz Sharif? Mr. Hassan Nisar responded that PPP is a myth and there are only two political realities existing right now which are PTI and PML(N). In response to Dr. Pirzada’s question that is there any transition possible in PML(N) leadership, Mr. Hassan Nisar said that it is a turning point but there could be any possibility in coming days.