Anti-system, pro-system

IT is too early to state that Dr Tahirul Qadri has showed the government all his cards. The multi-party conference held by his Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Lahore on Sunday only hinted at what shape an anti-government alliance pioneered by him could eventually take. But even in its formative phase it was sufficient for a whole battery of government ministers and sundry PML-N members to cry foul. Typically, the PML-N dubbed the gathering a collection of old Pervez Musharraf allies, which is consistent with the theory that all the noise being created by some opposition parties in the country is directly linked to the Musharraf trial. The problem for the government, however, is that, regardless of its reason and origin, the initiative to forge unity in the ranks of the opposition could in time develop into a real threat for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It is not something that can be wished away. Nor can it be drowned out in a chorus of angry counter statements. The challenge in the making will require deft handling. The conference was in focus not so much for its declarations as for the names on its attendance roll. Apart from known PAT sympathisers such as the MQM, PML-Q and the PTI, one other important party which added value to the effort with its participation was the Jamaat-i-Islami. It was, by the Jamaat’s standards, a quiet cameo appearance that should have been enough to worry those wary of a grand alliance.

Critically for the government, the PPP chose not to attend the conference. Reports indicate that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari is so far resisting the temptation of the Qadri mix and does not want to be part of the PAT-led drive against the PML-N. There are also reports Mr Sharif is to soon call an all-party meeting of his own to discuss the ongoing military operation and the present political situation. Short of that, the prime minister is expected to have talks with Mr Zardari and PTI chief Imran Khan.

Mr Sharif’s message to Mr Zardari and Mr Khan would be the same: that their fortunes are tied to the continuation of the system. But he may get altogether different reactions from the two. Mr Khan in his current mood might not be willing to commit to the system and could in fact try and play on any joint defence put up by the PPP and PML-N — the parties he accuses of colluding to sustain an oppressive order that suits them. The Qadri conference did fulfil this purpose, of sharpening the divide between the anti- and pro-system forces. The best the pro-group can do in the circumstances is to appear to attempt improvement in the system on its own. By doing so, the PPP-PML-N combine would be trying to offset the almost inevitable anti-system assault.