By: Dr. Farooq Hassan, D.Phil.;
BA (Juris),MA,M. LiTT (OXON);
DCL (Columbia),DIA(Harvard);
Sen.Adv.Sup.Ct. (Pakistan),
Barrister at Law (UK),Attorney at Law(US).

Astute analysts on Pakistan are generally astonished that despite the lapse of four months since the February 18 elections, there is no substantive change in the federal governments outlook, image or composition. Indeed even major policies, both domestic and external, remain the same. The NYT in a recent powerful expose on Pakistan, dated June 24, says quite accurately that there is “a leaderless drift in Pakistan four months after the elections.”

To begin with, the country’s top officials are unchanged; attorney general, an arch supporter of the Musharraf dictatorial elements, is still there as have been the Governor Sindh and, until lately, of Punjab as well. All the premier Ambassadors of the country, like that at UN in New York and in Geneva, are still unchanged; indeed the former Ambassador in Washington has just moved a step closer to the seat of power in Islamabad by being made the National Security Advisor. With same faces, little can one expect of true index of a representative government in harness in Islamabad.

Politically, Nawaz and his PML-N, despite being a coalition partner of the PPP led government, has no clue about what is going on and admittedly is never consulted on any major issue. More recently, both the ANP and indeed the JUI said they were considering withdrawing from their participation in the coalition. Even the PPP does not really know what is going on. All the real and established PPP leadership did not have much rapport with the current supremo Zardari until the untimely passing away of Benazir thereby creating a strange kind of consequence. No one in the government, including the PM, really is in a position to take any decision since that prerogative ostensibly only vests in Zardari who is often abroad when crucial decisions are needed within Pakistan.

———- snip

Please read the full essay here.

Other Columns by DR FAROOQ HASSAN

NRO: Musharraf’s proxy war
Impeaching the president
Musharraf following Fujimori
NRO prevents judges restoration
Restoration resolution

Posted by: Jock Gill

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