Given their biased perceptions of European politics the founding fathers of America did not envision any role for political parties in their future republic. So when they wrote the constitution they tried to secure the workability of the new republic by introducing ideas like separation of power, checks and balances and independence of judiciary.
But to their utter frustration they could not stop partt-based politics entering the American system. Within a few years parties and factions were in vogue, so much so that in 1800 the presidential elections were fought by the countrywide political parties. The trend continued. But there was the difference from their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere in that the United States nurtured and groomed two-party politics and there lies the strength of American democracy.
At the forum of Capital Talk on the Geo on Wednesday there was no mention of the American precedent, although the participants, at least two of them, tried hard to justify their parties' first desertion of mother party, the PPP, and then their merger. Compered by Hamid Mir the talk show guests were PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr, Senator Anisa Zeb for the Sherpao group of PPP and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Hirag Hayat Raza for the PPP (Patriots). But the show took off on the wrong foot.
Badr was not ready to sit with the second ranking leaders of the breakaway factions. He was given to understand he would be contesting positions with top leaders of factions, Aftab Sherpao and Nuraize Shakoor. Hamid Mir was apologetic for the development but he could not help. He was informed that Shakoor was summoned by Prime Minister Jamali and Sherpao is on the way from Lahore. He was "caught up at Gujrat"-an oblique reference to Gujrat Chaudhrys' irresistible influence, Mir told the participants.
After initial bickering and point scoring the two sides settled down to debate, of course bitter and contentious. The defectors of PPP claimed that they responded to their conscience and their action was motivated by nothing else but national interest. They also found some unacceptable practices under Benazir Bhutto's leadership. For instance, they said party tickets were distributed not on merit, but were sold. Badr's position was that contributing to party funds is a universal practice. Badr termed the argument empty. If that was their excuse then all those who deserted the party should have resigned and contested. " All the renegades have come to the parliament courtesy a computerized election".
One would have waited for Sherpao to join the fray, but the PTV World was airing a more interesting event. Nasim Zehra was interviewing Hamid Karzai in Kabul. The Afghan leader committed elections under the new constitution by June or July if the number of registered voters reached the 10-million mark. She has acquired quite a reputation by her interview of India's Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the eve of his Pakistan visit. One could sit through the whole affair but for power breakdown at the cable-operator's end.
Jawabdeh (answerable) is always quite topical if a little hurried programme. The compare would not let the subject complete his sentence or argument and ask the next question. Yet there were some sensational disclosures by the Pakistan Film Centors Board chairman Ziauddin. The board did not let go a few remarks in a film against President Bush. These could have disrupted Pakistan's relations with the United States, he argued.
That reminded one of Hasan Tariq's Tehzeeb. The Foreign Office representivce on the film Censors Board had objected to the song mentioning "Misr Ka Bazar" because in those times when East Pakistan was beset with a rebellion Egypt could not be annoyed. Hasan Tariq did not comprehend the logic of this very sound argument, and changed the offensive words with "Husun Ka Bazar" and the board passed it.
The task is probably far more formidable now, as the channels and dishes crowd Pakistan audience market. And, more so now the Ministry of Education censors films while the television censoring is Information's job.
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