As in international relations so in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies and marriages of convenience do take place which may or may not last long. In this respect the recent coming together of erstwhile rivals PPP and PML-N calls for special attention. The two leading political parties of Pakistan since revival of democracy in 1988 after long period of dictatorship ruled alternatively for a decade. Most of the time they were at each other's throats and in the process did no service to democracy or to the country. Politics they say makes strange bedfellows. In view of the fact that PPP and PML-N are identified by the party leaders Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Shariff, it would not be appropriate to use the popular phraseology to describe the unexpected coming together of the two parties, suffice it to say that they have buried the hatchets.
Going back into the recent history, BB came to power in 1988 claiming her dynastical right to rule. She got elected not so much on her own merit, but because of the popular legacy left behind by her father ZAB, who people believed, was unjustly hanged by a military dictator. It was, therefore, a vote against the army. When she failed to come up to the expectations of the electorate, the establishment managed to oust her in mid-term. They had groomed Nawaz, then chief minister of Punjab, to replace her and succeeded in getting him elected.
His own individual capabilities and competence were questionable, resulting in the early demise of his rule. There being no other leader of all Pakistan stature, BB got a chance to bounce back to power for the second time. It was expected that having learnt lessons from her past mistakes, she would fare better in the second term. But alas! it was not to be. She failed to make amends.
This time her spouse Asif Zardari contributed to her downfall, as in the Islamabad corridors of power he ran amok like a bull in China shop. Once again Mian Nawaz succeeded her. It had now become a game of twiddledum and twiddledee between the two political leaders.
Now Nawaz had secured a substantial majority in the house and posed as Lion of Punjab, becoming too big for his boots. As a safeguard against presidential hatchet he got section 50 2-B removed, defied and insulted the apex court and forced the C-in-C to resign.
However, he paid the price when he summarily and crudely dismissed General Pervez Musharraf, his own appointee. The army staged an impromptu coup, arrested Nawaz, took over the reins of the country, convicted him, and sent him in exile. Towards the end Nawaz had become so unpopular that neither politicians nor public protested against his ouster, and welcomed the military intervention.
By birth, upbringing and background BB and Nawaz were as different as chalk and cheese. BB was a westernised belle while Nawaz was a desi boy - mundia Bhatigatia. Her repast was wafer thin cucumber sandwiches for afternoon tea, while he relished wholesome nihari-paya for breakfast. BB the daughter of a sophisticated wedera-cum-politician believed that she was born to rule. Nawaz the son of a self-made steel maker had politics thrust upon him by accident. Perhaps it was Pakistan's destiny to be ruled for a tumultuous decade by two such diverse personalities.
They intensified the tumult by mutual dislike bordering on enmity. When in power both patronised friends, followers and flatterers and missed no opportunity to persecute and prosecute the opposition with vindictive glee. Both are presently in exile - one to escape the law and the other forced by an edict, pining for power and the days of glory. All their anger and hatred is concentrated on one man blocking their return.
Presently circumstances have compelled Musharraf to consider rapprochement with PPP preferably without BB, but that not being possible as she has a tight hold over the party, he has reconciled to her substitute - spouse Zardari. Nawaz in wilderness must have fumed at the news. He was advised to swallow his pride, hold BB's apron and attempt to ride back to Pakistan on the hobby horse of democracy as an ARD partner.
He, therefore, hastened to invite BB to his golden prison in the Saudi desert and hosted her as a long lost sister. Perhaps BB may not need Nawaz in her struggle for power. Her party in Pakistan is still strong despite some deserters who jumped out of the sinking ship as 'patriotic' rats. In comparison PML-N is a shadow of its former self. The Chaudhrys of Gujrat - the pillars of Nawaz edifice - have gone over to Musharraf en bloc leaving the party tottering for survival. Because they are in power BB considers them a road-block to power.
She, therefore, wants an alliance with the remnants of PML-N to augment her vote bank in Punjab to loosen the Chaudhry stronghold. If the strategy succeeds initially Nawaz would be a loser, but with hopes of sharing power and biding his time to stage a comeback of his own.
MMA has served its purpose for Musharraf by granting him constitutional legitimacy but of late is becoming too obdurate in pursuit of their grandiose ambitions and need to be cut down to size. Alignment with the remaining two opposition groups is, therefore, to ensure his continuity. He is aware that PPP being anti-MMA, will fully endorse secular policies, but PML-N will have to be coaxed as its leadership has in recent months supported the mullahs in their anti-women tirade and generally tend to be against moderation on religious issues.
It appears that both parties are reconciled to have Musharraf as a civilian president. However, presently the general holds all the cards. How he deals them remains to be seen.
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