Gilani's legacy

Posted on 12 months ago

Good Morning by Manzoor Ali
What kind of legacy ex-prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani leaves after his forced separation from power?
He did not go gracefully; he was kicked out by the order of the Supreme Court. He practised all kinds of political and legal trickery to stay. He used the Parliament to pass resolutions in his favour and against the decision of the Apex Court. He destroyed the credibility of the post of the speaker of the National Assembly by manipulating the situation so much so that the current speaker, Fehmida Mirza had to write a decision which left no doubt that she had overruled the verdict of the 7-member bench of the Supreme Court.
He boasted on the floor of the National Assembly that the Court didn't have the authority to remove him and that he will not leave his post on its orders. He also said that there was no law to dislodge a National Assembly member from his seat by the court. He also bragged that only the Speaker could declare him ineligible as member of the august house. But within hours of the announcement of the verdict he was seen travelling in a flagless car.
Even in the very beginning, it was clear that Gilani had to either write a letter to the Swiss court or resign. But he was bent on disgracing himself and chose the third and undignified option of going out in without dignity.
Gilani's name will however not disappear from the media. It will pop up time and again for all the wrong reasons. There will be hearings of his son's case and the cases of his favourites' whom he appointed without merit. Now that he will not be in charge of the government in person, there won't be such concentrated efforts to transfer honest officers and bring in investigators of dubious character to inquire into the corruption of his blue eyed boys and gals.
Of course, within days he will find out that the people around him don't consider him all-wise; that his expressed wishes are being stalled by the very bureaucracy which was ready to do his bidding unquestionably.
However, Gilani's most shameful legacy is that he left the nation worse off than it was during a military dictator's rule. The load shedding has become more frequent and longer than it used to be during General Musharraf's reign; the economy is, otherwise, in shambles too. The government is getting rupees three billion every day from the State Bank but is unable to pay the circular debt necessary to get the nation rid of the of load shedding. It is shameful that the people remember a military dictator with fondness in a democratic era.
It is even doubtful that there are enough resources in the country to pay for the budget Gilani's government presented. He leaves behind a gloomy outlook for the nation. The only good thing about Gilani leaving is that the PPP party has yet another chance to correct its mistakes.
However, as things stand, the PPP will not avail this opportunity. The feeling is that this party will elect a new prime minister but things will not change. The policy of burdening the ordinary people will continue. Corruption will be as rampant as it was during Gilani's rule. It will be hoping against hope to think that things will improve after his departure. The hope is only in holding fresh elections. Hopefully, that will happen soon.
goodmorningfp@yahoo.com

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