Generals rush to
buy ‘Lotas’as Jamali takes over a defiant, united
Parliament
By
Javed Rana
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan got a well crafted, carefully created, political government
last week and now the target of the Generals are the provinces
where they want equally compliant administrations, no matter if
they have to beg, buy or beat the players to achieve their goal.
As
Balochistan’s Zafrullah Jamali took over as Prime Minister,
with political eyes and ears of Musharraf like Shaukat Aziz, Sharifuddin
Pirzada and Zobaida Jalal keeping a close watch on him, the focus
has shifted to the provincial capitals where a massive “buying
spree” is going on.
Still
many analysts were of the view that as compared to a totally army
dominated authoritarian regime, a civilian government, built on
a little shaky moral foundation, would be much better for the
country and could slowly consolidate itself into an effective
government run on democratic lines.
The
transition from Musharraf’s total control to a shared system
with cooperative politicians was made smooth by some deft politicking
by all the major political players, who did not want to rock the
boat even before it got into the uncertain waters of a power transfer
mechanism.
General
Musharraf and his agencies took full precautions that they should
keep the control in vital decision making sectors but they had
to take off the white cloak of high morality and good governance
in creating the coalition of approved politicians.
The
worst part of the whole game, which exposed Musharraf’s
dirty power play for his self rule was the buying of PPP turncoats
who were given such a major share in the new cabinet that immediately
a new batch of “lotas” was ready to join, both in
the Center and in Punjab where the PML-Q needs some votes.
But
the blatant manipulation of the constitution and the floor crossing
laws by the government gave General Musharraf the name of “General
Lota” as millions and millions were paid in cash from secret
funds to get to the ‘holy’ figure of 172, finally
managed by Mr Jamali in the National Assembly.
The recent formation of government by military rulers cost between
Rs 2 to 2.5 billion to the people of Pakistan, according to knowledgeable
estimates. As many as 28 Opposition Parliamentarians were “purchased”
to successfully install the pro-military establishment Prime Minister.
Bags of the official secret funds were opened as several powerful
mafias also came into this powerful political “make and
break” game, the first phase of which ended up with Jamali’s
slippery election.
These
mafias known for their nasty criminal credentials extended generous
financial support in trading vulnerable elected horses. The mode
of payments was cash in most of the cases and compensation to
switch over their loyalties in the name of “national interest”
that continue to serve only personal vested interests of few in
the corridors of power.
The highest individually paid among the defectors was rewarded
with a huge amount which sources told the South Asia Tribune
was in the neighborhood of one billion rupees. This is not all.
All pending corruption cases would be gone and so would be some
bad loans, equally huge.
Palms of several others were also greased with tag of payments
that sources say ranged from Rs 50m to Rs 100m depending on negotiating
skills of these defectors for whom perks and privileges and other
material benefits will come as a bonus.
The man who had the highest bidding for his single vote was a
religious one-man peoples movement, as he calls himself. He surprised
many in the galleries by siding with Jamali after he had run a
systematic campaign against General Musharraf and his Q League
in pre and post elections. This religious “Aalim”
helped himself with almost Rs 500 million knowing well the worth
of his one vote which gave life to Jamali.
A federal Minister from Rawalpindi Division currently frantically
engaged in converting his image to an anti establishment guy from
one of a lover of military rulers, is believed to have fallen
in the category of those who have exploited the current situation
to the maximum. He allegedly gained most of the benefits by seeking
concrete assurances which include addition in his current real
estate.
The 10-member forward block of defectors has been asked by the
military handlers to bring more of their colleagues in Q League
to strengthen Jamali’s government whose shelf life presently
hinges upon one vote ahead of his constitutionally mandatory vote
of confidence from the National Assembly in 60 days.
SA Tribune learnt that the one vote victory of Jamali
shocked the President. The military handlers were expecting a
comfortable margin with up to 182 votes out of their target of
190 in the House of 242. However, unexpectedly six Parliamentarians
of PPP-P, who were paid well in advance, several independent MNAs
and a few from MMA, sided with their respective party candidates.
Now
the focus has shifted to Sindh and Balochistan where similar operations
have been mounted. Already in Punjab some 20 PPP turncoats are
ready to join the PML-Q set up which will provide Choudhry Pervez
Ilahi a stable government in the largest province.
But
Sindh is Musharraf’s main problem, where PPP has over 60
MPAs and Altaf Hussain’s MQM is asking for a very high price
to join the PML-Q and others in keeping the PPP out. Altaf Hussain
had first asked Benazir Bhutto to apologize for the “excesses”
her government had committed against the MQM but she refused to
do that, so a PPP-MQM coalition, which could have caused Musharraf
serious trouble, was averted by Benazir.
Then
Musharraf agreed to some of the demands by Altaf Hussain and started
a sweeping campaign against the Haqiqi faction of MQM which the
Army had itself created in the past. Some of the so-called No
Go Areas (NGAs) were cleared of the Haqiqi occupation but Altaf
Bhai was not satisfied and withdrew the names of his cabinet nominees
at the last moment.
SA
Tribune learnt that Altaf Bhai is also upset about the huge
share of the government and all the important ministries handed
over to PPP turncoats by the new government while his strong support
of 17 MNAs was offered only two cabinet posts, not so important
ones. The PPP Forward Bloc, got six cabinet positions including
the vital Home, Defence and Petroleum ministries.
Ironically
the Home Ministry went to Faisal Saleh Hayat, who was being chased
by the National Accountability Bureau, until a day before he decided
to join the Generals, under intense pressure. Faisal’s textile
mills loans also played a major part as he was threatened that
his industry would be taken over. Yet the moment he took oath
as the Interior Minister, NAB announced that cases against him
had been put on hold and will obviously be dropped. That would
be another black spot on General Musharraf’s political career.
But
as the political process was slowly revived, the mood in the National
Assembly where Prime Minister Jamali has a formidable Opposition,
was one of defiance. An unspoken sense of fraternity and unity
prevailed for the common cause of “booting the jackboots
out”.
In
the three brief sessions held in front of live cameras which beamed
the proceedings round the world, politicians seem determined to
get back their lost turf from the army. Angry protests and speeches
were made against the constitutional changes made by General Musharraf
and, surprisingly, not a single politician, even from the pro-Musharraf
PML-Q party, got up to defend the army or Musharraf himself.
All
agreed, including Choudhry Shujaat Hussain, the Gujrati leader
who managed the coalition for Jamali, that the sovereignty of
the Parliament was not up for negotiations and when the time comes
they will discuss and decide what to do with the amendments made
by Musharraf. It was the most ominous sign that once the political
government gets a grip on the situation, Musharraf’s word
may not be that sacrosanct.
Even
the new Prime Minister spoke in double speak when dealing with
the touchy issue of amendments and told his parliamentary colleagues,
on both sides of the aisles, that they should show patience and
wait. Wait for him to take charge and then he will sort out the
issue, he said.
Jamali
has an added advantage not known to many. He is an old and trusted
friend of current US Ambassador in Pakistan, Nancy Powell and
many believe her background approval and support for the man gave
Musharraf the confidence to go ahead and trust him for the post
which would, and could, challenge his own authority.
Analysts
believe this common bond of friendship with the US ambassador
could one day become a major threat to Musharraf himself as Washington
may find it preferable some day soon to deal with an elected leader
who they can trust equally confidently.
Musharraf’s
gravest challenge will come from two provinces, NWFP where he
can do nothing to stop the religious Maulanas from taking over
provincial government and in Sindh where he will have to cook
up a coalition, either submitting to hard MQM demands or conceding
the government to a PPP-Pagara coalition.
But
the hornet’s nest which has been shaken up in terms of in-fighting
between the two factions of the MQM will de-stabilize Karachi
for some time, until the shape of the new government becomes clear.
Understandably
some of the agencies of General Musharraf do not agree with the
idea that all the MQM Haqiqi strongholds should be eliminated
and Altaf Hussain should be given a walk over in Karachi as he
is much too unpredictable and the Establishment may need the Haqiqis
again to check Altaf Bhai, should things do not work out as they
are being planned now.
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