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Time for more sweets in Pakistan

“Oh yes,” Mr Right agreed. “But you can’t blame the politicians, our people love sweets. It’s a nation with a sweet tooth. And I am happy that they have something to eat.”

“But," I said, "think of poor judges and the ‘black coats’ whose faces have turned black due to their countrywide ‘roadshows’ over the past one year. Will their struggle go in vain?”

“Which struggle?” Mr Right asked.

“The ‘Bee Jay Bee’ struggle,” I replied.

“ You mean, ‘Bring the Judges Back’,” Mr Right said.

“No Sir,” I said, "It means ‘But Justice is Blind, that’s why they are blindly after it.”

Mr Right laughed. “Sure, justice is blind that’s why it is seen stumbling again and again, despite the ‘brotherly intentions’ of two great lovers of justice and democracy.”

I said, “It is the deadlines which have proved deadly.”

Mr Right continued, “I think the ‘brothers’ are dying to restore them, but the judges, including the honourable chief justice, seem to be showing no interest.”

“I don’t believe this,” I said. Except the general masses who are more interested in getting uninterrupted power supply than knowing about the continuing games in the corridors of power, the whole Pakistan wants the judges to resume their work. The representatives of the civil society, the media moguls, the intelligentsia, the law-makers and even the law-breakers want them to come back. What’s the hurdle now?”

“Obviously, one man,” Mr Right said.

“That one man is already gone, Mr Right," I said. “He made a fine speech while saying good-bye. He prayed for the country and for the well-being of the well-intentioned democratic forces and expressed the hope that they will resolve the problems the nation will face after him.”

“Such as? ”

“Such as the problem of presidentship,” I said. “Musharraf was an excellent inventor of problems. Even while quitting he left one last problem for his successors: who should be the next president? Although the largest party has proposed its own solution by naming its co-chairman for the post, there are others who need to be convinced. This seems to be another problem that could put the coalition on a collision course.”

Mr Right said, “Well, when the coalition has come out of Musharraf’s shadow, one hopes that now every issue can be solved.”

“But the problem is that Musharraf’s ghost is still haunting the coalition which is unable to decide what to do with him. Whether he should be put on trial or whether he should be left alone. If a decision is taken to put him on trial then which judge will be suited most to his case? There are so many questions which need to be answered.” I said. “Sir, the coalition government is quite self-sufficient as far as the problems are concerned.”

“No wonder the government has no time for other petty matters. I hope the people would understand the government’s position,” Mr Right said. “ But if the judges are restored at least one big problem will be out of its way.”

“What is the best way to resolve this issue without breaking the coalition? I asked.

“The key to this problem is one man,” Mr Right insisted.

“But who is this one man, Mr Right. Can you give me a clue, please. Do you think like others that the solution is in the hands of Mr Zardari?

“Certainly not,” Mr Right said. “ It is in the hands of the honourable chief justice. He should also show some sportmanship in the larger interest of the nation. Instead of insisting on going to the court room he should pick up a racket and enjoy a good game of tennis like Musharraf did after quitting. His action would revive the coalition and save the NRO or the National Reconciliation Order from turning into a ‘No Reconciliation Order’. Otherwise this will be no justice to Pakistan or its people,” Mr Right stressed. “I believe poor Pakistanis deserve a bigger round of sweets soon.”

Najmul Hasan Rizvi is Assistant Editor of Khaleej Times