Opinion Printline pakistan
A register of reports and views from the Pakistan press
Urging a coup
A political storm is gathering in Pakistan,with a controversial suggestion made by the London-based,self-exiled politician,Altaf Hussain,who heads the pro-mohajir (migrants from India in 1947) Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The party is a PPP coalition partner both at the centre and in Sindh. Dawn reported on August 23: In a surprise move,MQM chief Altaf Hussain said the MQM will openly support the patriotic generals if they take any martial law-type action against corrupt politicians and feudal lords. In a telephonic address from London,Mr Hussain… also lashed out at the US for what he called supporting the feudal lords instead of the masses. A few hours later,MQM leader and federal minister Farooq Sattar said Mr Hussain had not supported imposition of martial law,but rather issued a policy statement that reflected his courageous stance. The country is in the ICU and needs surgery, Sattar said.
As expected,this comment drew fire from political parties across the spectrum. Daily Times quoted PLMNs Nisar Ali Khan,leader of the opposition,on August 24: Ill call upon the apex court and the CEC to take notice of the statement and take action against Altaf Hussain under Article 6 of the constitution for trying to sabotage and act against the spirit of the constitution. Even the religious right condemned the statement: Political parties,including the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal criticised Altaf Hussain… terming the statement reflective of the partys double standards on national issues. PMLQ,former allies of the army,also criticised Hussain: PMLQ has termed the statement labelling it a statement of a disappointed politician. They said he should have proposed this solution while remaining in the constitutional ambit… In the case the coalition members feel so helpless they should quit the government and demand for midterm polls instead. President Asif Zardari,reported The News on August 25,ruled out the imposition of martial law,saying the problems the country faces are too great to inspire a usurper… I dont think anybody in his right mind will be wanting to take this responsibility. Its only democracy that can carry this yoke. PMLN even submitted a privilege motion in the National Assembly against the statement,reported The News on August 25.
The quarter which obliquely gave Hussain a nod is the fringe Sindhi party,PPP-F,led by Pir Pagara. Interestingly,his daughter is married to PM Yousaf Raza Gilanis son. The News on August 24 reported: Pir Sahib Pagara put his weight behind the controversial statement,saying this was a dire need. He refused to comment further. Whatever I wanted to say,I said that. I do not want to comment more than that, he maintained.
MQM appears unfazed by the furore. The News reported on August 24: The MQM leadership in London is not at all concerned about the reaction in Pakistan… and a senior adviser says we will continue to make our efforts while staying within the system. However,a reaction was reported in the Daily Times on August 25: Nawaz Sharif is himself a product of martial law as he was brought up under the tutelage of General Zia-ul-Haq, said MQM member Anis Khan Advocate.
Flood diary
As the angry Indus continues to leach swathes The News reported on August 23. According to a highly dismal,but realistic assessment made by the finance ministry,Pakistans economy is faced with 0 per cent GDP growth and a galloping inflation of 25 per cent in the financial year 2010-11… Prior to the floods,a GDP growth target of 4.5 per cent had been fixed while inflation was to be brought down to 9.5 per cent from the current 12.3 per cent.
A report in Dawn on August 26 points out that the ancestral graveyard of the Bhutto family is in peril: The administration got down to building a four-kilometre-long embankment around Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. The village is the resting place of former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
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