PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008, FRIENDS BECAME FOES.

                        Nothing is static and constant in this World but in politics, it is very difficult to trust anyone because the experience of the last 60 years of country politics has shown us that every thing is legal and justified in war, love and politics. It is very strange that every thing is done in the name of people of Pakistan but the fruits of every act are yet to be reaped by the people of Pakistan. Every person when nominated for the post is termed very 'honest', 'competent', 'patriot', 'well-wisher of people', 'symbol of federation' and all other good words are used for him but when he is elected, he becomes Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Farooq Legari. The recent events have shown the nation that where is the original source of power. People are just burning their blood and hearts in opposing some personalities and favouring others. People are just spectators and have no role in anything. 

                        Only six days after resignation of President Musharraf, the coalition of those two parties who signed 'Charter of Democracy', broke and a very bad message went not only to the people of Pakistan but to the whole World that the only reason of their friendship was President Musharraf and the moment he separated himself from the affairs of the State, the internal hatred, age-old complaints and other stories which remained dormant due to the Majestic personality of President Musharraf came to surface and the nation is witnessing another drama of the two big parties. It is strange that PML (N) separated itself from the Government in the centre but do not wish to see the separation of PPP in Punjab. Although the PPP is assuring its unhappy partner that the coalition in Punjab would remain intact but these assurances are yet to be seen true in the future events.

                        The other coalition partners have their own compulsions and grievances from the PPP and would come to surface when the tenure of the Government come to an end which we have seen in the past in case of MMA Government in the NWFP between two major parties and which ultimately resulted in their complete separation. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is really an outspoken person and did conceal the facts when he got 72 hours for the resolution for the dispute between the big parties. He stated that those 'forces' which compelled President Musharraf to resign were not willing to accept the other partner. Now it means that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari is the chosen person not only of the elected persons but those 'forces' who cleared the way for his presidenship. The smaller parties in the coalition are politically matured and they thought it useless to have any complaint of having no consultation with them. PPP even suppressed the only desire of its Chief Minister from Baluchistan that the next President should be from Baluchistan.

                        The common person is witnessing the whole scenario with complete silence because he is as much helpless as in the Government of any other party. The heap of his problems is still high from K 2. Recently a conference on Psycho-trauma was held in Islamabad. The participants were discussing the causes of terrorism on the minds of the people. If I were a participant I would have pointed other causes also. Main agent whose various measures have disturbed the minds of the people is the Government (Previous, present or future). Those who have killed themselves by suicide have never named any suicide bomber or any terrorist activities of the terrorists but have shown the causes which can easily be attributed to the Government like price-hike, unemployment, food shortage etc. Pakistani media is highlighting only those events which are suitable to their own interests. The discussion in the Senate on Rs. 6 Millions monthly salary of the head of Pakistan Television fell on the people as thunder and have badly disturbed the balance of the minds of the people. The situation was aggravated when the Federal Information Minister termed the salary 'not more'. It means that Rs. 200 thousands is not more per day. Friends of charter of democracy have no concern with the people problems. In this Country, some get Rs. 200 per day and some get Rs. 200 thousands per day. Very strange! Where are the 'hidden forces' to see this disparity in the income of the people? Who has endorsed this unjustifiable and outrageous distribution of salaries? Every day the Government is adding a new trauma to the bodies and minds of the people. Why? I do not blame any political party or any political personality after the astonishing disclosures of the Head of JUI (F). He has termed themselves as puppets whose strings in the hands of someone else. I also request to those hidden forces to take mercy on the condition of the people and politicians of Pakistan because now they have no power to sustain any more injuries. Our people are suffering from the hands of their own people. I also request the PML (N) to come forward with a renewed spirit to work for the people. When PPP and MQM can sit together, when ANP and JUI can sit together then alone you cannot do any thing. If you have in the mind that you would succeed in winning majority in the future, it is very difficult because you have narrowed your working sphere only to Punjab and have totally neglected the other areas. ANP in the NWFP have brought forward such leaders who have the talent to put forward the demands of its people to the Federal Government. So far the people favour them because people know their constraints. JUI is also working to regain its lost status in the country and for this reason have happily supported the candidate of PPP. People do not like those who believe in confrontation politics.

Manzoor Ahmad

Marghuz Balar Khel, District Swabi, NWFP, Pakistan.

Email: manzoorahmadjalalmallb@hotmail.com

Dated: Tuesday, 02 September 2008.