Coalescing troubles

As the coalition of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) continues to falter at the starting line Cyril Almeida explains the “return of politics” to the scene.

“Another patch-up is on the cards but the damage is real, whatever the transitionists say. Cabinet splits go beyond teething problems. The idea of transition is to keep the democracy jalopy sputtering and inching forward, not slipping into reverse. The uncomfortable comparisons to the decade of democracy are already being trotted out. Ignore what the Sherrys and Farhatullahs say; it’s setting the bar pretty low for parliamentary stability if cabinet upheavals become the norm. Credit to Nawaz for trying though. Like a forlorn lover, he flew to Dubai and then to London, desperate to break the Asif-Musharraf marriage of convenience. Asif wore his perma-grin and preached reconciliation, but he wasn’t about to give up his meal ticket so easily.

“Zardari could have handled the negotiations very differently. He could have been — hold on to your hat — honest. He could have flatly refused to reinstate the judges without culling a few. He could have admitted that it was the pound of flesh Musharraf demanded. He could have chosen not to play footsie with every loathsome character in politics. He could have treated Nawaz with more respect.”