Articles of the year 2010

Nawaz Sharif, it seems, is not aware of the danger staring us in the face. The economy of Pakistan is hurtling towards disaster. Fifty percent of industry in Karachi is closed and further closures are a daily feature. The position in Faisalabad and Gujranwala is equally bad, with brother Shahbaz trying his best at damage control, but to no avail

Watching Pakistan slide inexorably into ruin, Nawaz has come forward with many reasons not to disturb the stability of the system. The similarity between Nawaz and the Roman emperor Nero is alarming. Nero, after 2,000 years, has been blamed for fiddling while Rome burned. Similarly, Nawaz Sharif is standing by while the economy of Pakistan is crashing about our ears. Our people have never faced such hardship. People are losing jobs and incapable of feeding themselves. With load shedding of gas, the bleak winter has been made worse for many families for being unable to cook food. These hungry jobless people consider this system as their enemy, far worse than the Indians from across the border. In case this system were to collapse, the people would be out to welcome the new arrivals, be they booted or barefoot. The masses would join in the rampage, for in a short period of three years, they have seen the dark side of democracy in all its ugliness, where, thanks to the media, the corruption scams surfacing daily are highlighted and the scorn and venom directed at the PPP is making it the most reviled party in the history of politics in the short period of only three years. It has lost its way completely and the new stalwarts do not care for the future of the party or the country for that matter.

Nawaz Sharif, it seems, is not aware of the danger staring us in the face. The economy of Pakistan is hurtling towards disaster. Fifty percent of industry in Karachi is closed and further closures are a daily feature. The position in Faisalabad and Gujranwala is equally bad, with brother Shahbaz trying his best at damage control, but to no avail, as events are spinning out of control, and it will take a miracle for us to survive. The Sharif brothers will also be swept away, only this time the newcomers will not be in a forgiving mood. Also, the crowds will be mobs, out for vengeance for the broken promises and shattered dreams, destroyed by corruption.

Nawaz Sharif has tried to shirk his responsibility but when the final results come in, he will be tried as equally guilty for the damage being done to our precious country. The judiciary also seems to be dragging its feet, except for a few suomotu notices, which the executive has tossed upon the heap marked 'go slow', which surely also amounts to a deliberate contempt. It is disgraceful that the entire political spectrum of Pakistan has been completely exposed as being corrupt and determined to destroy Pakistan. Not one politician has seen fit to challenge the prime minister on some of the glaring scams that are surfacing, and this can only be considered part of the 'Nawaz fiddling' while Pakistan burns. His soft opposition can only be seen as an 'arrangement' between two political parties whose motives have always been suspect. Only this time the mismanagement by the party leadership has exposed its dark side. Unfortunately, the masses, especially in Punjab, are sure that Nawaz is also not to be trusted. That is why the change, when it comes, whether by bullet or ballot, will reject Nawaz for having ignored the call when Pakistan needed him. The comfort and safety of Raiwind will not be sufficient to protect him from the fury of the Punjabi, who is also without gas or food or a job.

The MQM is fast emerging as the new leadership in Pakistan, for their behaviour has shown consistency, and set an example for the others. The way they blocked the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and now the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST), the masses are fully awake to their strengths and faults as well as those of all the rest. The MQM may have to step up the cry for a change as the city of Karachi is experiencing the most pain. The MQM leadership does make an effort and this is not lost on the voters, including those in Punjab. Nawaz may suddenly realise that his ostensible protection of the system may cost him the mantle of leadership he is seeking to protect. It is time for PML-N to bear witness that their leader stood by while our precious Pakistan was being systematically pillaged by the politicians.

Zardari never made promises of any rose garden, but for Nawaz there is no excuse for such a criminal and insensitive lack of action or courage.