In the not-too-distant past late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan was considered to be the past master in launching political agitation against any government he fell out with. His house in Lahore used to be the meeting place of all politicians who used to throng it daily. The Nawabzada’s doors were always open for the Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate. That historic house, alas, has been demolished recently as it came in the way of under-construction Orange railway project. His mantle has passed on to Chaudri Shujaat Hussain now. He always talks tongue in cheek. He recently said two things in the same breath which are quite meaningful but, difficult to decipher. . He said Pakistan lost to India in a Twenty20 match last week under the Doctrine of Necessity and that there is a possibility that a Mustafa Kamal may raise his head in Nawaz League also.
It is not difficult to understand why, all of a sudden there is a talk of formation of a grand political alliance by some political parties? Zardari feels piqued over registration of corruption cases against his blue-eyed boys. The MQM is hurt by defection of many of its stalwarts and it suspects that some hidden hands have bought their loyalty. Some of the religious bigwigs don’t see eye to eye with the government over Protection of Women Bill. Musharraf’s sudden departure to Dubai is also being made a political issue by the PPP conveniently forgetting its own kid-glove treatment with him when it was in the saddle for full five years. It is too early to make any prognosis in the matter. The opposition leaders’ bid to unite against the government might prove to be a storm in the tea cup because of inherent contradictions in their approach to various issues or it might succeed?Meat of one is poison of the other. It would be, therefore, a miracle if they bury their hatchet for the time being in their objective to oust the present government from the citadel of power. Every politician worth his salt wants to become prime minister of the country. Chaudri Shujaat Husain was right when he said that unless every politician stops dreaming of becoming prime minister of Pakistan it would be difficult to see the back of the present government.
The government can, however, draw consolation from the fact that the public opinion stands divided over the various issues on which the opposition parties are kicking up the dust. One can find difference of opinion in the nation whether it is the question of Protection of Women laws, permission to Musharraf to go abroad or split in the ranks of the MQM. The present rulers are business tycoons. They know the art of using immense power of wealth to buy political loyalties of parliamentarians. That was the precise reason why Ibne Khaldun had written long ago that woe betide the nation that is ruled by businessmen because they use their pelf to get power and then use their power to further increase their wealth by promoting their business pursuits. Odds are that they might weather the political storm that is brewing up one more time.
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