Disgruntled workers out to expose 'lack of character' in leaders

Islamabad: With the chief justice fiasco providing the impetus to Musharraf's rejuvenated opponents, political parties are becoming acutely aware of a most inopportune hurdle.

Disgruntled political workers, who had gone into hibernation soon after Musharraf seized power on October 12, 1999, have started resurfacing unassumingly - not to extend street support to their party leaders - but to slam them for what they dub a "lack of character" on their part.

In the words of Riffat Ali, a Jamaat-e-Islami die-hard of yesteryears, "The political leadership in this country has no character. After going for each other's heads yesterday, these leaders are openly embracing today, with the sole intention of clinching power. They are forming unholy alliances. In the not-so-distant past, they got naive workers fight on the roads for their whims. Their agenda today is different. I am not a puppet. I am not paid for it. I cannot go about hugging a Peoples Party or a Muslim League (Nawaz) worker, whom I fought for years over political differences. The lawyers have helped them salvage their pride; otherwise they don't have the street power left with them to create an impression on the rulers. They are basically using the shelter and strength of the lawyer community."

Mostly hailing from the downtrodden strata of society, these erstwhile political workers can be seen thronging roadside tea stalls and food corners till into the wee hours of the day, bluntly putting across their views about the fast-changing political scenario.

Abdul Ghani, known for his affiliation to former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, asserted, "The leaders of the three top parties are either in a self-imposed or forced exile. This goes to Musharraf's benefit. I am not sure if polls will be held this year and if at all they are, we might see engineered results. However, I am no longer associated with any party because none have tried to lessen my miseries and, if I still do not learn at 64, my children will have the right to call me a fool."