Blogging on Meds

Safe money bets, the coalition will be saved…

Hassan Chop, a Med A writer who is at work and cannot access the blogging software, writes:

Nawaz Sharif and Zardari had recently agreed to push back the date for the restoration of the deposed judges to May 12th, but since they couldn’t agree on the elements of the plan by today, Sharif just announced that his party’s ministers will quit the cabinet.

It seems that they’re also leaving the coalition, but that’s a little unclear at the moment, since Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s brother, said that “We will support the government issue by issue - we will not let the government destabilize.” Whatever the case, this move could draw the PPP into a pact with Musharraf’s “King’s Party,” the PML(Q).

The PPP has suggested that the only real disagreement is about how to restore the judges, not whether or not they should be restored. They’re saying that there’s some legal wrangling over the issues, but they’re hopeful that those will be resolved soon. Of course, the real issue here for Zardari is that if the sacked Supreme Court judges are reinstated, they could start proceedings against Musharraf, and his removal would only strengthen Nawaz Sharif and his party, who have taken on the mantle of judicial independence (nevermind the irony that Sharif’s goons rushed the Supreme Court when he was Prime Minister). Zardari’s likely worried about Sharif angling for another shot at the PM spot.

The PPP is apparently also worried that restoring the sacked judges would set up a conflict with Musharraf, as the current Supreme Court could ask Musharraf and the Army to protect it, which could lead to parliament getting tossed.

Personally, I think that it’s unlikely that Musharraf would sack parliament, as this would almost certainly lead to more national unrest, and he’s still in a weakened position. Whatever Zardari is thinking, he needs to find a solution fast. Aligning with Musharraf’s party, which just got crushed in the national election, is hardly a good idea. In my opinion, such a move would only invite a public backlash, and weaken the PPP in the long-run. The editioral board of The News seems to agree, but still, others think that the PPP will still be “comfortably in power.”

After facing the world’s condemnation (except from the US) following his November “emgency plus” declaration, and being humiliated during the election, Musharraf has to be sitting back and smiling today.

Meanwhile, there are reports of a new crackdown on the media afoot.

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