Pakistan - Sarwar's tearful exit

That somebody from the inner sanctum of power would show the mirror to the Nawaz Sharif government was not expected - much less from someone who was imported and appointed the governor of Punjab. However, what Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said, as he made a tearful departure from the gubernatorial mansion in the heart of Lahore on Thursday, was nothing new. Everybody knew, before he said, that the present political system had been serving only the elite of this country, that the much-desired local governments were not being installed, that social sector was suffering from chronic shortcomings, that criminals were not being punished and justice was only for the rich and powerful, and that the valuable contribution of overseas Pakistanis, who send home some $15 billion every year, was disregarded. Perhaps he was saying all this and probably more to the ultimate rulers in Islamabad and Lahore all through his 18 months in office in private exchanges and brief official encounters. In fact, motivated to serve the people as he seemed to be, Mohammad Sarwar also did a few things on his own. He launched clean drinking water schemes, introduced merit-based admissions to the prestigious Aitcheson College and used his European connections to secure GSP-Plus status for Pakistan. But one would be only profoundly naïve to believe that the Sharif brothers were upset over these initiatives and decided to show him the door. There was something more to this painful adieu - the villain of the piece who wrecked this assiduously built Sharifs-Sarwar companionship is realpolitick.

The Sharif brothers must have come to conclude that this Chaudhry from central Punjab was asking for something more than what he had as the governorship of country's biggest province. That a person of Chaudhry Sarwar's familiarity with the art of statecraft would be asking for a role and powers that are not available to a provincial governor under the constitution is an argument that will have not many buyers. Article 105 mandates that "Subject to Constitution, in the performance of his functions, the Governor shall act on and in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet (or the Chief Minister)". In a parliamentary form of government there is no such thing as 'The Nawab of Kalabagh' as the governor. The narrative now being given to his tenure as governor by the national media tends to convey that Chaudhry Sarwar knew from the very beginning of his landing on the lush green rolling lawns of Governor's House in Lahore that he was cut out for a bigger, more active and high-profile role in Pakistan. And his moves and movements clearly showcased that mindset. He is said to have been an attendee of the so-called London Plan, was the one who could successfully persuade Tahirul Qadri to land in Lahore instead of Islamabad where a rousing welcome awaited him and persuaded the federal government to let the Azadi March reach the D-Chowk in front of the Parliament House. Some say that but for Nawaz Sharif's stout refusal he would have even resigned and possibly joined the protestors. But what proved to be the proverbial 'last straw on the camel's back' is said to be his take on President Obama's visit to India which he loudly pronounced as a diplomatic failure of the government - of which he was a part. Had he been the foreign minister he would have secured Obama's visit, he claimed. We don't know if he had been eyeing the foreign minister's post. Someone from his own camp should declare his foreign policy a disaster - only a week or so after another from his camp, Riaz Hussain Pirzada had accused Pakistan's close ally Saudi Arabia of fomenting extremism in Pakistan - that was not on anymore with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Chaudhry Sarwar has announced that he will stay put in Pakistan, except for a brief absence when he will be in the UK to campaign for his son's reelection to Glasgow Central MP seat - unlike former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and caretaker prime minister Moeen Qureshi. He would like to join politics; the more the merrier!