Two ex-PMs talk on phone: Call each
other 'brother & sister'
Nawaz,
Benazir alliance throws Musharraf in panic
By
Abdullah F. Khan
ISLAMABAD:
There were increasing signs here on Sunday, Aug 31, that October
Elections may be put off as panic gripped the Musharraf military
regime following announcement of a pact between the two exiled prime
ministers of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to join hands.
The
two main political leaders had secretly worked out a strategy to
counter and remove the military regime and Sharif's party made it
public on Saturday by announcing that Nawaz Sharif was withdrawing
his election papers in supportof Benazir Bhutto, whose paper had
been rejected. They will work on a one-point agenda: Get rid of
the military rule.
Sharif’s
party announced in Islamabad that their leader was withdrawing from
the election race “to show unity and solidarity with Benazir
Bhutto,” sending a wave of shock and surprise all over the
country.
From
London Benazir telephoned Nawaz Sharif to thank the PML leader and
both talked for over 20 minutes, discussing their strategy against
General Musharraf, according to a news report. http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2002-daily/01-09-2002/main/main4.htm
Another
report said under the new strategy, "both the parties will
hold joint rallies in major cities to express their resentment against
the rejection of Benazir's papers. It is also likely that PPP Parliamentarians
will also withdraw its candidates against Kulsoom Nawaz and Shahbaz
Sharif in response to the gesture shown by Nawaz Sharif."
In
their telephonic talk both the exiled leaders agreed to bury the
hatchet and work together in future to fight fascism and dictatorship
and to step up efforts for the restoration of democracy. Benazir
told Nawaz that she was deeply touched by his gesture but even if
he had not done so she would have supported his return to Pakistan
in the larger interest of democracy, a report in Daily 'Nation"
of Pakistan said on Aug 31. http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/today/main/top2.htm
Talking
to the newspaper from London Saturday night, Benazir’s spokesman
Wajid Shamsul Hasan said both the leaders agreed to forget the past
and cooperate with each other under the umbrella of Alliance for
Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in the larger national interest and
for a struggle to rid the country of dictatorship. They also agreed
on having electoral understanding for October polls.
Perhaps
it was the first time that Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif did not
hesitate to admit that both of them in the opposition and the government
being relatively young and inexperienced had committed grave mistake
of opposing and victimising each other. They agreed that the extra-democratic
forces took advantage of this situation and found it easier to impose
military rule in the country.
The
PPP Chairperson told the PML-N leader that she honestly considers
him (Nawaz) as her real brother; Nawaz Sharif reciprocated this
gesture by calling Benazir Bhutto his sister and both agreed that
they would return to Pakistan to work together, the report said.
Even
the always watchful secret agencies of the military regime were
taken aback by the announcement of the former premier. Alarm bells
starting ringing across the country and top brains of the military
junta started speculating that Sharif and Bhutto were ready to launch
a mass movement in the country to challenge the election process
they describe as rigged.
Analysts
said the Sharif-Benazir move had raised the chances of General Musharraf
running away from the election to a new level, as it was obvious
that a joint struggle by its two main political rivals could end
up in a messy situation for General Musharraf forcing the rest of
the other junta members to dump him as a scapegoat.
Rejection
of Bhutto’s papers on the grounds that she was a convict and
acceptance of the entire Sharif family papers was considered by
the ISI as a smart move to create a wedge between the two dominant
political forces. But for the moment Nawaz Sharif has foiled this
attempt by showing a new political depth and vision.
"It was very important for the credibility of the October elections
that Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz should win
the National Assembly seats from Lahore but their party loses in
the rest of Punjab and elsewhere in the country. By withdrawing
his papers, Sharif has disturbed the scheme of things,” a
reliable source in the military establishment revealed to SA Tribune.
"Similarly,
we never wanted Benazir Bhutto to contest the polls and her nomination
papers were rejected at the first stage. We will always want the
new and establishment- friendly party PPP Parliamentarians to perform
modestly in the coming elections, minus the hard line pro-Bhutto
elements," he added on the condition on anonymity.
Military
rulers in Islamabad are forecasting an early launching of an anti-Musharraf
movement by both the PML-N and PPP. These rival parties, working
hand in hand, after deciding not to initiate any talks with Gen
Musharraf could go all out for his ouster from power at a time when
he is being isolated at home and losing credibility abroad, faster
than anyone can think of.
Many
pro-government elements and political leaders believe it was the
pressure from the Saudi rulers which forced the former premier to
withdraw from the elections, a view subscribed by many of the brains
closely monitoring the developments.
But
Sharif’s party sources confirmed it was a decision taken by
the former PM in the larger interest of democracy in the country
and not under any pressure. “If the military regime wanted
him to contest the elections, as reflected by the acceptance of
his papers, how could the Saudis object,” was the argument.
That
the Sharif papers were accepted under government orders is obvious.
The returning officer scrutinising Nawaz's nomination papers the
other day, rejected all arguments, including the one that he could
not accept papers of any convicted person, as had been done in case
of Benazir Bhutto.
According
to sources, Benazir Bhutto’s papers were almost accepted by
the Election Officer and even a judgment had been dictated but telephone
calls from ISI bosses in Islamabad forced the official to change
his decision within minutes.
Nawaz
was convicted by the Sindh High Court in the plane hijacking case
before he was pardoned by the president and dispatched to Saudi
Arabia in December 2000.
The
announcement by the Nawaz's party that their new president Shahbaz
Sharif and Nawaz's wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz would be contesting
the coming polls is being considered by many as a “window
of communications” to keep the channels with the military
government open. Benazir has also kept that window open in shape
of Makhdoom Amin Fahim and PPPP.
