pakistan political situation analysis 2017

‘Panamagate’ refuses to die as the New Year has begun with new bench of the Supreme Court, which will start hearing petitions of Imran Khan and others from Wednesday. However, the new chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar, has recused himself from the case. In all probability, the outcome of the case will dominate the emerging political scenario in 2017, which even otherwise is the electioneering year and we will witness lots of political happenings in the next 12 months.

Both, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the main opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are confident of winning the case, but it is good that both will accept the judgement, at least this is what they say right now.

However, Imran Khan was disappointed when the previous bench, headed by former chief justice, Anwar Zaheer Jamali, adjourned the hearing till the first week of January, and said, the new bench would hear the petitions.

When the senior most judge, Justice Saqib Nisar, took the oath, he ended all kinds of speculations over 'Panama case’, by keeping himself out of the bench. Whether elections will be held as per schedule in 2018 or earlier, the battle for Islamabad will be between the ruling PML-N and opposition PTI, the SC verdict on Panama will also determine the political career of both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and also of Imran Khan.

Imran, who had lost his campaign over election rigging in 2013 after the Judicial Commission findings in 2015, wants to win 'Panama case’, as his chances of victory in the next general elections has a lot to do with the court verdict.

Defeat in this case will further reduce his chances of winning the upcoming elections, but a victory could give a new lease of life to his party and he could go into polls with high spirits. On the other hand, stakes are also high in the other camp. There’s a lot more than the political career of PM Sharif which is under threat.

Any adverse ruling would seriously dent his political legacy, as he often sees his daughter taking over power from him in future. But, the PML-N is ready to take the challenge, as the political battle between the PML and the PTI has now entered the crucial phase and political temperature has also soared.

The kind of language being used by both sides during TV talk shows and in public meetings also reflects rising tensions. The battle for Punjab is the battle for Islamabad. The PML-N has been ruling the province since 1985 and has retired General Pervez Musharraf not staged a coup on Oct 12, 1999, Sharifs could have enjoyed an uninterrupted rule. Musharraf's era had created a split in the party and Chaudhrys of Gujrat and Moonis Elahi sided with the former president as an alley.

However, for the first time, the Muslim League emerged as an opposition party, unlike in the past when leaguers had the reputation of changing loyalties. But many who changed their loyalties during Musharraf's period are now part of PML-N, something which went against Shairfs’ post-Musharraf politics.

Imran Khan, who also supported Musharraf from 1999 to 2002, not only regretted his association with him but is also seriously challenging Sharifs’ political supremacy now. Thus, in 2017, the battlefield will be Lahore, which since 1970s had witnessed major political transformation. Once it was the stronghold of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is the city where three major political parties, PPP, PML and PTI were founded.

So, the city will witness one of the most crucial political battles in the next elections between the 'might of Sharifs’, and the rise of Imran. Some PML-N leaders conceded that for the first time the party faced serious political challenge in 2013 elections in Lahore, and the PTI did jolt the party. "In a way it was good for the party, as competition always helps you correct your mistakes, said a PML-N leader on condition of anonymity, as he criticised some of the party leaders.

Now where would stand the other mainstream political parties in this 'two-party battle’? The PTI has practically replaced the PPP in Punjab, and the latter may witness some important party leaders leaving it before the elections.

The decision of former president, Asif Ali Zardari, to take the centre-stage is something which had been opposed by many leaders of the PPP Punjab. They had even suggested to Mr Zardari to either stay away from the party or become the party's 'Rahbar’ (patron).

The only option for the PPP is the post-election scenario, as they are unlikely to stage a big comeback in near future. In 2017, the party would try to regain some of its lost glory in southern Punjab and sweep in Sindh including improving its position in Karachi.

While Imran Khan is confident that the PTI would retain its position in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, only an anti-PTI alliance comprising PML-N, JUI-F, ANP and PPP could pose challenge to the PTI-JI alliance.
Therefore, we may see hectic political manoeuvring in 2017, in the post-Panama scenario. But, for the first time, Karachi will be most unpredictable in the aftermath of a split in the MQM, between the MQM-Pakistan, MQM-London and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP). Will this split help any of the three or parties like PPP, JI and PTI, is yet to be seen.

The year would determine the future political discourse for 2018. Thus, the visit of Imran Khan and his stay in the city for three days clearly showed that he sees the party chances and has decided to hold public meetings here in the next few months.

While there are little chances of any grand opposition alliance before the election, the PPP is at crossroad right now. The only positive response which Mr Zardari has got was from the PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who met him recently. But, his own party's position in Punjab and elsewhere is not much different from that of the PPP in Punjab.

The Supreme Court, since the historic lawyer movement, had taken some historic decisions. It has done what the successive governments and Parliament have failed to do, like holding of local government elections or population census on time as a constitutional obligation. In fact, they failed and put the burden on the SC.
While the mainstream opposition parties, led by Imran Khan, and even persons like Sirajul Haq, have stated that if they did not get justice from the SC, they would settle the issue on roads, i.e. agitation. For them, ‘justice’ means decision in their favour.

Thus, in many ways we have not only tried to politicize the case but also the judiciary, something which could have negative repercussion on the independence of judiciary.
The year 2017 will be the test of political maturity, independence of judiciary, autonomous Election Commission of Pakistan, constituted with consensus and the test of parliament to adopt consensus 'electoral reforms’, and implement it before the next polls.

Source;

https://www.geo.tv/latest/

Nawaz Sharif Becoming Worse Than a Dictator

During the era of PMLQ government, the leaders Moonis Elahi, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had ended the draconian law where prime minister vested the power to sack the heads of Public Sector Entities (PSE's) without any warnings. It was a rule widely practiced by the older PMLN and the slain Benazir Bhutto of PPP. The power to sack any head of the public sector was to simply terrorize them to obey any order issued by the government no matter how harmful it may be for the nation at large. 

Using the power before, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto (late) had created unrest in the country and both were on a looting spree unstoppable by any state department. Moonis Elahi, a member of the parliament and son of former CM Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has expressed deep concern over the powers Nawaz Sharif now possesses. The N League government has silently restored the 3 decades old power where the Prime Minister would sack PSE's heads without any reasoning. He said the misuse of this power is the reason why we see the Panama Gate scandal today. 

Had there been any head of state powerful enough to question him then, the flight of money which has now become a national issue would not have happened. Now Nawaz Sharif has become powerful once again and it is sign of increased corruption in future. Moonis Elahi shed light on one incident last year when SNGPL Chief Executive Arif Hameed was sent home packing without any previous notice. 

He was laid off his duties unceremoniously because he refused to sign agreements related to imports of LNG and its sale as it was not in the interest of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. Nawaz Sharif has become a dictator and doesn't take no for an answer. He only thinks about personal interests and not for the national cause. Honest government officers are finding it hard to work under his rule and the ones who resist are sacked without any notice.

PMLQ's young political leader Moonis Elahi is deeply concerned about the trends being set by the incumbent government. The negative trends will leave a mark for centuries to remove and the ill practice of using force over government institutions for personal gains will pave path for corrupt people to come in power. Our country will be destabilized very easily once we have corrupt people at the top looting the country without resistance. It will be hard for future politicians to weed out the corrupt practices PMLN is rooting today. We as a nation must stand against these practices today to save our future and the future of Pakistan.

Moonis Elahi Expresses Grief Over Jehangir Badar's Death

PPP's senior leader Jehangir Badar's death occurred on Sunday 13 November 2016 due to cardiac arrest. The senior leader was a close aide of Benazir Bhutto and was always in the center light whenever he stepped on the stage. Moonis Elahi expressed grief and sorrow over his death and said "despite our political differences, he was a good person and I pray may his soul rest in peace".  

Lately Jehangir Badar had reduced his political activities due to his ailment but he was still not forgotten in the political world of Pakistan. He was an avid supporter of democracy and had even been imprisoned during Gen Zia ul Haq's martial law. It is a day PPP has lost a loyal leader who never backed out even in tough times.

Moonis Elahi Vision Of Safe and Corruption Free Streets in Punjab

City Traffic Police is a Public Friendly & Service Oriented initiative, envisioned by the leadership of PMLQ under the Good Governance Program of Punjab Government. Officers of the team were very carefully chosen to be designated "Traffic Wardens Lahore" instead of "Traffic Police" as the word police is intimidating and somewhat considered corrupt in the Pakistani community. Choosing a public friendly name clearly depicts the notion and mission to facilitate the public by PMLQ. The vision behind its conception was to take care of road users instead of policing them. People of Punjab were already fed up by the corrupt and sparsely educated traffic police whose main aim was to take hefty bribes from motorists.

Traffic Police a Symbol of Previous Government's Corruption

Earlier governments of PPP and PMLN had always used the police department to undermine their opponents. Their malpractice of using police for personal gains, wrecked the department's infrastructure and it got deeply involved in corruption. The department was deterred from its main purpose i.e. to protect the public, and was being used for VIP protocols and blackmailing. Hence when Moonis Elahi came into power, the infamous traditional traffic police was recognized as a dishonest and crooked force. The need of the hour was to provide unhindered and non-biased law enforcement institution that would prove to be a public service instead of a force to be used against them.

Moonis Elahi Emphasizes on Recruiting Educated Youth

A state owned law enforcement department has many rights that can prove to be lethal if used negatively. Moonis Elahi was aware of the fact that if uneducated people would be introduced to Traffic Warden force it would soon become shady like its predecessor. Traditional traffic police's entry level was Matric and even lower, but this time the bar was raised to give the educated youth a chance to serve their nation with pride, so entry level education requirement was restricted to be at least graduation. It is believed that 70% of Pakistanis are under the age of 25 years and the announcement was hailed publicly as it created jobs for the educated youth.

Gender Equality and Women Rights

Moonis Elahi has always stood up for women rights. It was already clear to him that the daughters of this nation are courageous and can work well under stress. So, for the very first time, in a department considered only for the male staff, females were inducted giving an equal opportunity. This enlightened a new ray of hope in the females and they enthusiastically applied. As the new force completed its training and were formally deployed on the roads, citizens rejoiced and the traffic soon became organized causing the graph of road accidents and traffic jams to plunge. For the very first time Transparency International Report mentioned in 2009 that Traffic Wardens had proved to be beneficial and the streets of Punjab were made corruption free.

Present Government's Attitude

Replacing traditional traffic police by educated, polite and dutiful traffic wardens was a gift to the nation by PMLQ which was appreciated by the public at large. This noble deed could not be digested by the present government and their vindictive policy to sabotage PMLQ's achievements came in to play. Soon after regaining power, PMLN started ignoring the vital department and began favoring the Punjab Police Department. Their spite was soon revealed when traffic wardens did not receive their salary for months. The department was deprived of funds hence there were no new uniforms and the motorbikes given for patrolling soon started falling off. Moonis Elahi was watching all this very closely and raised his concerns in the provincial assembly which resulted in the wardens having their salaries resumed after many months.

25th September Remembering Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, Moonis Elahi's Grandfather

"I only wish the rule of law and justice in Pakistan in the true sense." Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Martyr, delivered an unforgettable speech in the parliament in 1974. It was a clear message on Z.A Bhutto's unjust attitude and abuse of power. Being a brave and straightforward politician he was never on good terms with the PPP and became the first victim of Al-Zulfiqar, a terrorist organization founded and operated by Murtaza Bhutto.

 

Moonis Elahi, the grandson of Zahoor Elahi, follows his grandfather's footsteps, he is always outspoken towards government's vindictive policies and abuse of powers. During 2002-2007 PML has successfully delivered many projects that have resulted in uplifting living standards of the people of Punjab.