Pakistan wants its own way

Before the January 8, 2008 elections in Pakistan, major political parties proclaim their political manifestos.

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ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the new Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People's Party (PPP) manifesto, the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) election manifesto has many shocks for the United States, which may be an indication of some change in the thinking of the Pakistani establishment. The most important part of the Q-League manifesto is about defense. The party supports the development of an indigenous defense capability and defense production. It has emphasized cutting down dependence on outside assistance and it has clearly stated that “Pakistan will not accept double standards on the nuclear issue nor allow intrusion into its nuclear program or provide access to any of its nuclear installations and scientists to outsiders”. The manifesto makes it clear that no foreign country has the right to dictate or interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs and the party will seek to build friendly relations with all the countries on the basis of equality and reciprocity. When PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was asked as to why his government took action against Dr A.Q. Khan under foreign pressure and why Khan was detained, Shujaat responded: “Dr A.Q. Khan is no more under detention.” Secretary-General of the party Mushahid Hussain Sayed added: “Chaudhry Sahib has met Dr A. Q. Khan many times recently.” The PML-Q also feels that terrorism has no religion since terrorism is a common enemy of all humanity and Pakistan shall not allow its territory to be used against any neighboring country. His party would like to strengthen relations with China, deepen relations with the Muslim Ummahand build stable and friendly ties with the West. The PML-Q strongly advocates the rule of law in international politics and said that “we reject any notion of might is right as that would mean reverting to the law of the jungle”. The manifesto touches many sensitive international issues. Kashmir is a problem of humanity and the party supports the right to self-determination for the Kashmiris through the UN resolutions. It says that the war against Iraq was wrong and illegal and feels that the way out is a peaceful solution through termination of foreign occupation. The PML-Q supports the establishment of an independent democratic state of Palestine withJerusalem as its capital. It has suggested that foreign forces in Afghanistan must initiate a dialogue with the “resistance”. Some diplomats in Islamabad think that this is the first time a pro-Musharraf party has used a legal and diplomatic phrase to describe the Taliban rather than calling them terrorists or militants. The party has also supported Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear program under the IAEA. The PPP has also mentioned the UN resolutions on Kashmir in its manifesto but the party is silent over the US occupation of Iraq, the Palestine dispute and the nuclear program of Iran. Both the parties have promised an independent judiciary, independent media and sovereign parliament but the parties are silent over a popular demand for the restoration of the judges who refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) last month. Diplomatic circles in Islamabad are giving lot of importance to the manifestos of these two parties. They are now waiting for the manifesto of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) the party of NawazSharif. These circles think that Benazir Bhutto of the PPP and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q are not the only two serious candidates for the premiership. The PML-N will also play an important role in the making and breaking of the next government. There are chances that Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif will try to chalk out a joint political strategy and find out a way for seat adjustments to defeat the PML-Q.

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