Topsy-turvy politics

After listening to Bilawal Zardari making an innocent plea on TV through a press conference. “We ask the PM to resign so then there is no need for our long march,” I have to say, ‘’How cute!’’

First of all, the ingenuity of timing of the ‘Long March’ entry into Islamabad in the month of March is remarkable. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate on 15th March. That day became infamous as the Ides of March. The name given to a truck journey from Karachi to Islamabad as ‘Long March’ is an affront to history. The historic Long March led by Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-Lai is ignorantly copied by our politicians as a march to victory. In fact, it was a tactically vital retreat! The Long March lasted just over one year, and Mao and his followers traversed some 9000 miles on foot and mule.

One often wonders that if Bhutto rose like sort of a revolutionary and improved the lot of workers and tillers, what did Asif Zardari or his proxy stand for? Without getting into the merits and demerits of Bhutto’s earth-shaking role in Pakistan’s history- he was a world class leader who dared big powers and galvanised Muslim ummah- what are the credentials of those leading the PPP? It’s like the undeserving mijawars of shrine collecting money at the shrine of a saint.

Our political bearings are not what they used to be. History and global events used to guide politics- wars, decolonisation, military take-overs, and CETO/CENTO impacted our politics. In the process, political maturity and principled political practices took birth. We used to do politics of opposing the dictatorship. It was wholesome, full throttle and no holds barred. Socialism was the in-word. Ragtag attire, Che Guevara’s poster, red book and a puff of hash! Voilà! We were doing politics. There were mass arrests, prison comrades and tumultuous release scenes to die for! Lashes were a severe punishment during the draconian rule of General Zia. Even the sentence of it by a military court was like nomination for Oscars! Those actually whipped were the winners.

Politicians were by and large right wingers attached to Muslim League believing in the status quo where their exploitation of the people remained, and their unearned lands were protected through the instrument of political power. Those politicians feared change that would empower a tiller of the land or a factory worker.

The concept of self-preservation and laisse faire in politics put Pakistan’s progress on hold. That was the politics. All went down the drain and what was left was vintage black and white footage.

Are we expected to listen to the most boring TV news coverage of the second-tier leadership of the present-day opposition, trying in vain, to front for their corrupt leaders? They are unaware of two things: one, that this is bogus politics and, two, there have been seismic changes around us which are far greater than the politics of wailing over accountability. Just place the pictures of our today’s politicians in the rogues’ gallery!

Politics has changed since Che Guevara’s time. Now it’s either China or no China! Earlier, it was said notoriously, “Either you are with us or against us”. The Chinese have a stamp over the real estate of Pakistan. We are very importantly located on this globe and Chinese interest in our territory is directly impacting our politics. China developed the Belt and Road concept 8 years ago and politics in our country changed. Only the military pattern of working and corruption free governance could advance the Chinese flagship project of their Belt and Road dream: the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The space got constricted for mega thieves, money/launderers and American sell-out politicians running Pakistan. The Chinese could not make a headway through shallow, pedestrian, and unclean political dispensation. General Pasha is said to have picked a forlorn Imran Khan, living with a dream of making a corruption free Pakistan for which he was running from pillar to post, seeking support to create a political party to reckon with, as the new leader of Pakistan.

Now the politics is plain and simple to understand. Run through CPEC with diligence, stay articulate and presentable abroad, cleanse politics of corrupt and hold tight to the khaki. It’s no more romantic. Plain simple collaborating prime minister of Pakistan! No harm in that. In fact, it has proven to be very practical, pragmatic, and workable politics.

Imagine martial law! Sanctions, boycotts, cessation of fundings, reversal of democracy and unending restrictions plunging Pakistan into depression, both financial and physical.

Remember, it’s China, military and Imran Khan combined to present the realpolitik of Pakistan. The rest is periphery, irrelevant and meaningless, no matter what you write or what you say on TV.

In reality, the new marshalling of the troops for the developing mega world conflict finds Pakistan on the “forbidden” side of countries like China, Russia, Iran, Qatar, Turkey et al. No more US toddy!

In this Great Game, where our survival as a country rests in protecting its nuclear establishment and staying on the right side of China, we cannot arrest the course of correction in the name of politics of convenience. It’s an open case of plunderers of the past trying to evade accountability and recklessly trampling over order and progress in the name of democracy.

The earlier we get rid of these phoney politicians, the better. At least our younger generation will see sobriety and purpose in the politics of the future.

The writer is a former Senator and a practicing lawyer in England and Pakistan