Open Letter to Prime Minister Jamali

Dear Sir,

It is with deepest concern and regret that I write this letter. The events of the past two years have taken such a vicious turn that I can no longer keep quite and contain myself.

You are the elected Prime Minister of my country, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. You are meant to be the leader, the beacon of light who is to take the people of Pakistan toward a better future. Yet, all I hear about are rumors that you will be replaced. This has caused me great distress as the very future of my country is at stake.

I know you will say that you have done everything possible to remain compliant with everyone. However they have all taken this as a sign of weakness. Today I heard M. Ziauddin- resident Editor of Dawn- on the ARY channel, claiming that you were never selected for your leadership qualities. He went on to say that it’s not like the possibility of a change in the PM seat will leave your supporters flabbergasted. In fact, M. Ziauddin was audacious enough to claim that you were selected precisely because of your total lack of leadership abilities! He sounded like an awfully rude gentleman!

Everyone is contemplating replacing you and don’t even care to think about how you’ll feel about this. It’s like you don’t even exist! Is this what has become of our democracy where a Prime Minister is treated like garbage and with such lack of sympathy? These ‘elements of instability’ as I call them need to be reminded of the great things you have done. Well, come to think of it, you have done absolutely nothing. However, this is not the reason why you may be unseated and that it only further aggravates me as to why anyone would want you replaced.

You have complied with the PML-Q leadership. You did not even whimper when President Musharaf took on the role of broadcasting governmental policies. For example, during the recent ceremony announcing the multi-billion rupee package for lining water channels and providing loans and relief to farmers, just about all the federal ministers were present while the President confidently proclaimed himself to be the best friend of the farmers. Many were shocked that you were not there. But they didn’t realize that your absence was to show that you weren’t interested in hogging the limelight. Am I not right? Not only have you shown an acute sense of accommodation towards the local power players, you have time and again stressed in public your hope that President Bush gets re-elected in November. No other leader has ever so openly suggested their choice of candidate in a foreign country! You may have set a precedent there Prime Minister Jamali!

When you have shown such devotion to every possible power, why do you still have to sit on the edge of your seat not knowing whether you’ll be there tomorrow or not? Despite your best intentions, the major players in the current regime are not satisfied. What is hard to understand is how anyone more suitable to the military regime could replace you Sir!

Sadly, politics in Pakistan is to a large extent viewed as entertainment and nothing more. And the opposition parties have lost no time projecting to ridicule the house of cards laboriously erected by the Fauji government. Sensing that your end is nigh, the major opposition parties, PPPP, PML-N, MMA and MQM have all said that were a no-confidence motion to be pursued against the Prime Minister in the Parliament, they would whole-heartedly support you.

Sir! This would be the first time in the history of civilization that a sitting Prime Minister’s only supporters were his opponents (or your humble civilian supporters such as yours truly). Whereas those arguing for your downfall are all members of your own party! It would make for great TV to have the no-confidence proceedings telecast live and would surely shame the PML-Q’s thankless MNA’s!

Such needlessly self-created predicaments make one speculate that perhaps the Faujiz have a sense of humor and that this ‘crisis’ is merely created to let the masses have some fun. However, in the face of a severe credibility crisis, no one in khakis is laughing. And I too am not laughing Prime Minister Jamali; for the destiny of the country is being tampered with!

As the political gimmickry continues to backfire and provide great entertainment to the indifferent man on the street, there is little doubt that the political structure created with the excuse that it would bring stability has failed to fool even the die-hard Fauji supporters.

Don’t let everything crumble without a fight Prime Minister Jamali! Enough of this compliance with everyone! Take charge! Show us that you are more than just a docile ‘teddy bear’! Lead Prime Minister Jamali! Lead!


Your ardent supporter (though now a bit wavering),

Rozaiba