Proud to be a Pakistani !

[Pracs]

<b>Pakistan Revisited — II A Day in a Den of Intrigue</b>

Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]

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The Nadia Coffee Shop at the Islamabad Marriot Hotel is a place to be seen and heard. Evoking memories of Humphrey Bogart and Casablanca, its ambiance of intrigue does it full justice as a den where plots are hatched by the minute. It does not take a visitor long to run into politicians and deal makers from the various political parties and organs of the government, each busily engaged in some hush-hush conversation while indulging in a lavish delicacy promoted as high tea. A smattering of Chinese and American delegations added to the conspirator theme of this colorful gathering.

In one short evening, I had the opportunity to chat with several colorful figures including Pakistani Attorney General Malik Abdul Qayyum, Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and a host of other political and media figures who sauntered in and out of Nadia.

To a visitor such as myself interested in Pakistani party politics, there was enough material to fill a book in such a short time. One individual briefed me on the current situation at the time including the upcoming deadline for the restoration of the judges sacked by President Musharraf.

“You should know that Musharraf representing PML-Q is the best thing that has happened to Pakistan in these difficult times. We were unfortunate to be the only country that had to deal head on with the Afghan situation for so long and it could have taken this country to an abyss from which we would have never recovered had it not been for his policies.

“And contrary to what has been reported and what you may have heard, Musharraf is an honest man and a patriot. Navigating the country in such difficult times is not an easy task, yet he has managed to forge Pakistan on the road to progress.

“Today our economy is booming, and new industries are emerging. Foreign investment has increased along with the stability of Pakistan. These other political parties have their own agendas, which I assure you are self-serving, and not in the interest of the people of Pakistan. Our national treasury has surplus funds, something that was missing for many years under the other crooked politicians.”

Another, a staunch PPP supporter, was dismayed by his party’s embrace of Asif Zardari. “Look, I was the late Mrs. Bhutto’s biggest supporter. But after her death, I feel lost. Her husband who is currently manipulating the judge’s issue for his own benefit will let this party down.

“I worked with her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and was dismayed that she was married off to the son of a cinema owner with little education or political acumen. He was previously known as Mr. 10%, but today defines himself as Mr. A to Z with everything in between. Can you imagine that?”

Replying to my question of corruption charges that had been leveled against the late Mrs. Bhutto, he countered that it was her husband who was the root of all evil. “She would have been better off if she had married Imran Khan. His honesty and her political savvy would have indeed given this country the ideal first couple. Unfortunately, she allowed her husband Zardari a long leash, and it didn’t take long for this man to amass a fortune at the expense of the people. Sadly, now we have to contend with a lame-duck prime minister in the form of Gilani who is just warming the seat while Zardari manipulates the party politics behind the scenes.”

Another, expressing distaste for Musharraf and his policies told of how he felt his country had sold out to the Americans. “Musharraf is a Bush baby. When Bush talks, Musharraf listens and very attentively at that. In the US president’s desire to strike at terrorists, countless innocent Pakistani lives have been lost. He has to bear the conscience of their spilled blood. He has traded out our sovereignty for his political survival.”

A media personality described how Nawaz Sharif (PML-N) was perhaps the best thing for Pakistan in these difficult times. “The way he administered his province and some of the progressive actions he took as prime minister for the benefit of this country are still evident today. Look, he went ahead in spite of all international objections and permitted our first nuclear testing.”

Responding to my question on Sharif’s removal on unflattering charges, he went on. “Those were all trumped up charges. You have to understand Pakistani politics. He represented Punjab, and naturally that did not sit well with other ethnic groups. Yet in the times he was in charge, a lot of progress was made in Pakistan. He will be back in power I assure you, for it will not take long for Zardari to make a mess of things.”

An MQM spokesman soon joined my table. He lamented his party’s treatment at the hands of Nawaz Sharif, stating that nothing good would come out of that man. “Today, there is hope; with an alliance of the PPP with our party, we should be able to neutralize this man.”

Asked about the violence in Karachi reportedly attributed to his party, he snorted, “What utter nonsense! Our party is peace loving and we too want to play a positive part in the political process.”

With the buzz of such diverse views still ringing in my ears, I decided to call it a day. What I found fascinating however was that in that coffee shop each of these individuals would warmly greet others who were on the opposite spectrum of the political sphere. But then, isn’t that what democracy is all about?