Benazir Bhutto's Victory Appeal

Was at Uncle's place today. He had entered politics by successfully putting up a front man as the candidate for Nazim during the local elections last year from one of the most run-down areas of Lahore. Thus he had done his homework in preparation for his run for the MPA seat this year.

Punjabi politics more than those of other parts of the country perhaps are rarely about larger issues. You team with anyone who can help you win. Parties don't really matter - in fact as a rule of thumb, you keep the door open for all parties. So the Khokars, the Bhattis, the Chaudhary's all end up having members/siblings in all parties.

But Uncle (not a blood relation - but our small-farm families have worked together since inhabiting south-western Lahore in the 70's) is not too sure about the ticket's he's been assigned without his permission by the local Chaudhary from N-League who was the MNA from our district. The younger Chaudhary brother will replace him but on the PPP ticket in some apparent deal-making going on with the N-League. We have heard that Javed Hashmi had met BB in Karachi the night before to see how the two largest parties can work together on the future political course of the nation.

N-League probably realizes they may even forgo their 16 seats won in the last election if they do not do something different. Making a principled stance may not amount to much - particularly in their own Punjab which hasn't been too disturbed by the forced absence of their leader Nawaz Sharif. Thus for the short-term it seems Muslim League - Nawaz may opt for an electoral alliance with the PPP so that they can tackle Musharaf and the Army with the Supreme Court's backing. The fervent Constitutionalist Aitezaz Ahsan now heading the Bar and a Supreme Court sure that the legislature will not let its decisions down can thwart any attempt by Musharaf to practice the 58-2b clause. So for Nawaz Sharif, striking a deal with the PPP to crush the Pro-Musharaf politicians of the Q-League makes sense. PPP is in it as a real party. Q-League may not even be an astrix in five years time. Nawaz's future lies in getting rid of those who are killing his political career.

Uncle's in a dilemma. He wasn't asked when his name was brought up with Jehangir Badr and was only told when it was approved. PPP is looking to finalize the election strategy asap. He says his 'zameer' is against what BB's done vis a vis the 'deal' with the military and her statements about AQ Khan. The Chaudhary (not of Gujrat) with the PPP ticket for the MNA race is persistent that Uncle take up the PPP ticket for the provincial assembly and refuses to take no for an answer. The Chaudhary is sure that Uncle will not disappoint him by Monday.

"The PPP is going to for the next government for sure. What would you do if you were in my shoes?" he asked me.

"You know I am a PTI activist! We're not going to win anything, so we don't really matter!" I stated sarcastically. Last year when I'd just joined the PTI he had asked me to consider running for the MPA's seat - not as a member of PTI, but what in Punjabi politics should be termed as the 'winning' ticket where there is no real party, just an alliance of various clans and neighborhoods cobbled together - a form of demeaning politics gifted to us by constant military rule. But that was last year. Now it's a different story.

"Joining the Q-league is out of the question at this point in time. N-League is fighting for it's life. But joining PPP..., maybe I should wait another five years and then run." He was in a real quandary.

I told him to look at it like this. This is all a short-term alignment. The larger issue is dethroning Musharaf. PPP is the only party who can do that.

We went over the dynamics being played out with the Supreme Court, the new Bar President, that BB is not Shaukar Aziz and that she is the shrewdest politicians alive. For the short-term taking up the PPP ticket will open opportunities in the future for the other parties. As long as the military is there, there is going to be hell for everybody - including the PPP.

"You could play a role in bringing Musharaf down," I quipped.

Not sure what he's going to decide. But if someone like him is seriously considering moving with the PPP, then there are hundreds and hundreds of others aching to join. PPP's got the victory appeal and that's what eventually counts in Punjab. BB is not just lookin' pretty, she could be set to outdo her father's overwhelming victories. If NS makes his 'deal' with BB, the so-called BB-Musharaf 'deal' could turn out to be Musharaf's ticket to permanent exile - in a matter of months if elections are held.