Curtain Rises Once more: Zardari Returns

Shakespeare referred to this world as a stage and everyone in it as actors. The reference is quite adequate when considering Pakistan and its politics. When we talk about a stage and when we think about curtain rising, we assume that something exciting and new is awaiting us. As a reaction, the audience is happy, it cheers and rejoices and thinks and hopes about what lays ahead. Even though the reaction of the crowd is the same, nothing new awaits them. The curtain may have risen, there may have been cheers, there may have been dances and loud music but there’s nothing new. Any sane or logical individual would no doubt argue, then why cheer? Why be happy? To answer that question, I actually do not have an answer. I too am equally baffled as to why this crowd cheers and rejoices.

What change does Mr. Zardari bring? What promise does he have? We all know what he is capable of thanks to his previous tenure as President of Pakistan. No promises delivered, no opportunities offered, nothing actually achieved: that is what those five years comprise of. Then why would anyone hope that something different would happen if the same man reclaims power in Pakistan? The dilemma doesn’t just stop here, there’s more to it. The King is followed by the Prince, the succession continues. Holding hands, the father and son intend to come into power and enter as representatives in the national assembly.

Among the many targeted questions, one that slips our minds and is now becoming a rather acceptable fact is that the prince is rather ashamed of his succession. Why would that be? There may be quite a few answers to that but I say this because the prince doesn’t even directly use his father’s name. As our culture dictates that the name of the son is followed by the name of the father; that is not the case with Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He is by no means the son of Bhutto, nor by any logical argument would the name Bhutto be fit to be attached with his name. Why is it attached? Why did Mr. Zardari only called him Bilawal Bhutto and not Bilawal Zardari? It is quite evident isn’t it? The seat they’re targeting is the same seat that Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto succeeded from. Our actors are quite magnificent when it comes to the manipulation of the stage. They are most certainly legendary when it comes to that.

In conclusion, even though nothing new awaits us, we dance and rejoice with the appearance of an old veteran manipulator and actor. Why can we not see past the smiles, the music and the shiny promises that they make? Why even the educated must bow their heads before these chosen few? Only time can answer such questions.

What’re your thoughts about this dilemma? Would you agree? Would you disagree? Let me know, share, let’s analyze this dilemma togethe