Source: ET
The only thing we know about Tahirul Qadri’s January 14 Long March in Islamabad is that it will be attended by a lot of people. We still don’t know who has gathered those people and if they are being paid to attend. We don’t know who is behind Qadri and what his ultimate game is. Most bizarre of all, we don’t even know exactly what Qadri is protesting against. He claims that the democratic system has failed Pakistan and what is needed is a long period of caretaker rule by technocrats, appointed in conjunction with the military and judiciary, before we can ‘clean up’ our system and hold democratic elections. These are hardly the kind of soul-stirring revolutionary words which bring people by the millions out to the streets and yet, if one is to take Qadri at face value, he has struck a vein and become one of the most popular political figures in the country.
Not all the contents of ET editorial aught to be agreed. Close observation of all the unfolded events explicitly indicates establishment and judiciary supporting the event though in an implied way. In his whole conversation, “Sheikhul Islam” many a times praised both the institutions. Except for PPP and PML (N) no one is his target. The military in the past has also suggested that free and fair elections can be held only after the system is cleaned up, said Raza Rumi, director of the Islamabad-based Jinnah Institute.”TQ clear stance is also that elections should be delayed, that way cleanse the electoral system and then go for elections.The Pakistani establishment is widely believed to dislike both the PPP and the PML-N and wants a more pliable government that would protect its interests, though it has denied playing any role in Qadri’s campaign.In a country where conspiracy theories abound, there are also rumors the U.S. and Britain are backing him, something both their embassies have denied.
Establishment and judiciary both wanted some strong person to jolt the politics of these two main stream parties. In the hat of Sheikul Islam they found a right man for the right job and that too when the iron is quite hot. Long march is bound to be held as is the aim of establishment and judiciary. Lot many people will attend it. Probably there will be no violence and extremist attacks. Shiekh will submit his charter of demand and will force the government to bow its head to some of these points. Most important is the appointment of care taker PM. Sooner this demand is met will call off the march. At the other end is also a genius politician in the form of Mr Zardari. Till the end he will keep on playing his cards.
On the other side ET editorial has a clear cut message for establishment and judiciary to let the democracy work in the country. However it is also true the current democratic system does not permit morally good people to share the governance of the country. Some thing in middle is needed and hopefully this long march will lead to this aspect to an extent. Now let us see how events unfold.