The Great Game

Act One Scene One:
It is a bright sunny morning on Khwaja Nazimuddin road. The houses are adjacent to the forest, sited on the other side of the road, so it has the continuous ambiance of waking up at a hill-station. Exactly the purpose for which Mr. Abbas bought this luxurious villa. But it does not seem to fulfill that purpose anymore; the pollution makes it seem like waking up in a busy colony in Lahore. Thank God for no noise, he says. That would be the only problem disturbing him. He should rather Thank God that he does not have to worry about the problems his constituency-members have to worry about; how their stomachs will be filled the next day, and will their children get quality education or a brighter tomorrow. Such thoughts evade him effortlessly. He notices two tall, broad men on the either sides of his lawn, wearing black glasses and frequently pressing their index fingers against their ear, and suddenly remembers his high-profile guest waiting inside. He closes the sliding glass door behind him and moves towards the living room.

Jonathan Norman: That took you quite some time…
Sameer Abbas: Oh… you know how I am. Always need a breath of fresh air before I start my day.
Jonathan: Good habit… unless it hinders work.
Sameer: (chuckles) Where I work, it doesn’t matter if I’m late or not.
Jonathan: Good for you. Even the President Of The United States Of America cannot afford to be late for the Oval Office.
Sameer: Well atleast you made the front page. And I always told you. Such are the demands of public office in the super-power. Even the boss obeys the rules. But you’d never listen to me. That’s why you always lost the student president elections at Harvard.
Jonathan: But I won the last year!
Sameer: That’s only because you listened to me and took charge, you stuttering moron!
Jonathan: Yes yes, take credit for my victory why don’t you?
Sameer: Why shouldn’t I? I had to keep my scholarship so I had to look after my grades. Otherwise look at me. I’m a Senator here. Plus I hold a strong, coveted office.
Jonathan: Well you’re not the Commander-In-Chief of the Most Powerful Army in the world are you?
Sameer: You should thank your lucky stars that I wasn’t born American, otherwise you wouldn’t be boasting about that either. But we’re not here to show off. We’re here to do business…
Jonathan: Always the same, Sam. Get down to business, no time to chat.
Sameer: Ladies and Gentlemen! The President Of The United States! Pretty soon you’re going to bring your country to our level… Anyway, that was college and we did a lot of chit-chats… andd! Some other stuff too (Sameer rolls his eyes) Okay I just did that so you wouldn’t accuse me of having lost my sense of humour.
Jonathan: Atleast I make the front page almost everyday…

Jonathan sips his tea, now intent on discussing the issue at hand. His eyes gaze into the teacup as though searching for a solution. And the question is not where the milk went. Jonathan holds the most powerful office in the world. Sameer is a member of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense. Both are college friends. Many of their discussions have always been like this; Jonathan lightening the mood while Sameer emphasizes the intensity of the matter at hand. The actual theme only starts after Jonathan chooses it to. Sameer realizes that the order of business is about to begin, and takes his seat across the sitting table. Jonathan signals the Secret Service agents guarding the living room to evacuate, which they do with immaculate nods and impressive style. Sure that nobody else is around, Sameer tips closer…

Sameer: Everyone smiles when a powerful enemy visits…

President Norman views the newspaper more intently. The front page shows him shaking hands with the Mr. Ismail Shah, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He has a smile on his huge plump face (which is quite out-of-proportion with the rest of his slim body), but he’s a moderate fellow, and supportive of us, says the President’s mind.

Senator Abbas: (smiling) Again thinking you know the better of what I say, eh, Johnny-boy?
President Norman: If you mean him, I don’t understand what you mean by powerful “enemy”.
Senator Abbas: Do you remember everyone you met?
President Norman: Almost…
Senator Abbas: You support “lollipop”, and you won’t be stung by the taste. He needs your support to stay in power.
President Norman: Even the bloody bearded fatties were smiling, Sam. What do you expect me to decipher out of all this?!
Senator Abbas: Turn the page.

President Norman turns to Page 2 of the Daily Observer. Though that isn’t one of Pakistan’s leading newspapers, Senator Sameer Abbas seems to have picked this one up for his purpose. Or he made his case according to this. Page number two showed President Norman sitting with Pakistani Prime Minister Abdul Basit Jatoi. Walnut-skinned and skeletal, he had an ear-to-ear smile on his face as well. He is too pathetic to pose a threat, thinks Jonathan.

President Norman: Jatoi’s got a smile on his face too. You don’t mean him now do you?
Senator Abbas: You trust bamboo-stick?
President Norman: Why not! He seems so mild and childish. He could possible not overthrow someone as well-connected as Shah! Shah even has Aftab behind him.
Senator Abbas: Don’t make the same mistake as Bhutto, Mr. President.

Sameer stands up and turns around, facing the sliding glass doors that open into the ground. He has a triumphant grin on his face. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto placed General Zia-ul-Haq as the top army officer in Pakistan because the mild-mannered son of a fruit vendor would pose no threat to the landlord’s ambition. Zia deposed the all-powerful Bhutto in 1974, and hanged him in 1977. Disturbingly, Prime Minister Jatoi resembles Zia extraordinarily. He only doesn’t have the moustaches. Jonathan looks at the picture, even more rapt now. They both had studied the case of post-1971 Pakistan at Harvard while they had their politics seminars. This seemed to lighten up some bulbs in Jonathan’s minds…

President Norman: But Zia had the whole army and Bhutto’s political opponents backing him. Sure, Jatoi could always bag Shah’s adversaries in the bureaucracy and parliament, but how could he bribe Aftab?
Senator Abbas: Look up American history and see what happened when America trusted Pakistani Generals for too long. They became a pain in the ass themselves. You have Zia, again. Of course, carrot-top is Lollipops’s faithful sidekick, ally, what you will, but that does not mean bamboo-stick isn’t well connected with the uniforms himself.
President Norman: What do you mean?
Senator Abbas: Wait… (indicates by showing his index finger)


Act One Scene Two:
Sam gets up and walks to him bedroom. Jonathan looks around. Quite a lavish place for someone who’s 37 and single, he thinks. Sameer returns, with a card in his hand. He places the card in front of Jonathan. Jonathan picks it up. It reads;

(Something in fancy Arabic text)

You are cordially invited to the Wedding Ceremony of

Rukhsana
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abdul Basit Jatoi

With

Aamir
Son of Mrs. and Lt. Gen. Nasir Hameed

It continued with timings and names of r.s.v.p.’s, but Jonathan was not interested. This meant that the Vice Chief of Army Staff, or the future Army Chief, was related to the current Prime Minister. The marriage of their children had created a deadly political alliance…

Senator Sameer: So you finally agree that parents can even sacrifice their children’s dreams for their own?
President Norman: This is sad. For their children as well as for us. We know that Jatoi and Shah don’t get along, and for that very reason Jatoi has been very critical of the Army in the NSC. Mr. Jatoi and or Mr. Hameed are going for their own dreams at the expense of their own children. And maybe, even at ours.
Senator Sameer: Your men are both dependent on each other. If one goes, the other will fall like this (snaps his fingers). One swift move is all it could take to take out lollipop. Then bamboo can convince whiskey to support him, easily doing away with carrot-top.

Jonathan laughed at Sameer’s obvious and apparent excellence at drawing comparisons, the analogies of influential figures in Pakistani politics. Lieutenant General Syed Nasir Hameed did have an insatiable craving for whiskey, and had named most of his military operations against rebels in FATA and Afghanistan along the lines of famous brands of alcohol; the most famous and provocative being Operation Jack-Daniels, a martial manoeuvre to capture the dissident former-allied governor of the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. And General Mashad Aftab did look like a carrot-top with his beret, sporting a broad chest, a slim waist, and an involuntary stance of standing on his toes. Sameer always used codewords while referring to political figures in Pakistan. And he had never confused Jonathan.

President Norman: But what gives you the suggestion that Jatoi is planning to do something like that. And especially after now, when I have visited Pakistan?
Senator Abbas(eyes Norman): Ambition exceeds everyone regardless of time and state of affairs. Bamboo (emphasizes deeply) knows that lollipop is extremely moderate, and wants to see the Hudood Ordinance out of working condition, and is going to ask bamboo to bring it up in the Assembly quite soon, since this (waves an open palm at Jonathan) was a mark of his confirmation of power and dominance in Pakistan’s political arena. And the religious bloc is certain to meet them with more than what lollipop expects. Bamboo can easily and mildly shift allegiance, since he did that when the last time power changed hands, after General Khalid was assassinated and his principal secretary, lollipop, assumed power. With the beards, bamboo can get a sufficient majority in the parliament and senate to manipulate the Constitution at his whim. The ruling party, the DUP (Democratic Union of Pakistan) has 154 seats, sufficient to form a government. The QIBC (Quwat-e-Islam Balatar Committee – Committee for the Sovereignty of the Power of Islam) has 107; that would give bamboo a more than sufficient majority, exceeding the two-thirds requirement by a mere 4 votes in the National Assembly. They could call in whiskey to do away with lollipop and carrot-top, and put their own Head of State, who would eventually promote whiskey to Chief. Whiskey and bamboo know that a president in the army would also lead to a ruckus, so you need not worry YET about whiskey becoming all-in-all. Plus he’s not too bright (Sameer points at his head). Bamboo only answers to you because of lollipop on top and the aid. Once his personal plans are finished, he can reject your money at any time he wishes. Like Zia and peanuts.

Though all this sounded highly unlikely, politics is a game where the players can change sides and rules can change even faster. To expect the worst is a mark of a good, consistent participant in politics, the very reason why Jonathan turned to his old friend instead of his trusted ambassador for an overview of the current situation.


Act One Scene Three:
President Norman (deep in contemplation, absorbing all that Sameer has told him): So what can be done about this?
Senator Abbas (smiling): I thought you’d never ask.
President Norman: Come on, Sam. This is no time to fool around. The last two times I didn’t agree to you and things went their way exactly as you said. I’m not willing to lose an ally, not right now. Elections are up next year and I need troops in Iran. With the Mullahs in control, Pakistan's out and nobody can help us by land. And your country’s commitment wavering, it could well put an end to your yearly three-point-seven billion dollar aid. Do you know how many strings I had to pull in Congress to get through that package? You’ve given me a summary of things as they are to happen. Now give me a solution.
Senator Abbas (still smiling): Third time’s the charm, my friend. And I answer to my people and my country. And don’t boss me around like I’m your security agent. I don’t save your ass from those skinheads anymore.

Jonathan eyes Sameer wearily. He knows Sameer has something up his sleeve; and that thing up his sleeve will be right. The suspense he created always kept Jonathan on the edge of his seat; and Sam loved every bit of keeping Johnny-boy tense. After Jonathan had enough of his tense silence, he speaks, keeping Sameer’s warning in mind…

President Norman: Well… ?
Senator Abbas: The ball always passes around, friend. When a tackle becomes imminent, the ball is passed to the closest member of the same team.
President Norman: This is no time for football. You can have your jokes later; you fail to realize that while my army knocks on the door of what may be a nuclear power, you reminisce of our football days.
Senator Abbas: You’re too damn dumb to see where I’m going. Trust me, you’re not going to get re-elected, and the only way you can manage to pull that off is if you keep Pakistan happy till Iran is under control. But you cannot convince lollipop to drop the Hudood Ordinance; you yourself “asked” him to see to it that every step to ensure the provision of human rights is taken immediately. That would be going back on your word, plus lollipop fails to realize the density of the situation; see what he did by ignoring the importance of strengthening the DUP in NWFP and Balochistan? So you need to remove lollipop anyway…
President Norman: That can be done.
Senator Abbas: (cutting Jonathan short) But not at the expense of putting total control in bamboo’s hands. Wood breaks easily, you know…
President Norman: (laughs)
Senator Abbas: Plus whiskey is the kind of person you can’t trust. Once you put away lollipop, you know carrot-top is going to go all out to keep himself in the scene. That would mean cutting whiskey down to size, and then asserting control over bamboo and his new President. Carrot-top CAN be quite convincing…

Senator Sameer Abbas was well aware of how convincing General Mashad Aftab could be. A highly decorated officer, having served in the 1971 war in East Pakistan, he was not new to pressure. He tried to forcefully persuade Sameer to appoint his man as Director General Sindh Rangers, but became aware of Sameer’s background; his family having their own record of valour and prestigious services to the army, and his personal “high-level” connections. Whenever Sameer needed to have some dirty jobs done, Mashad Aftab was the man to do it. He had the muscle to even force the Mullahs to shave their beards, as well as pull the right strings in place. Knowing this well, Sameer Abbas was quite aware of the fact that he would be next in line if Aftab was to take power in his own hands; just having Sameer barred from the Senate or the Assembly would not do. Sameer’s life could be put to danger. It was not difficult to kill a former Senator, or even one who was serving in the Senate. Anyone would gladly do for a hefty amount; and Mashad Aftab could well afford that.

President Norman: So to put away Shah, we need to put away Aftab as well. But that would leave all power in Jatoi’s hands.
Senator Abbas: So a suitable man must be put in a suitable office so that everyone is kept in check.
President Norman: Even if you could put in any president, chances are that Jatoi and Hameed could join hands and control everything without notice.
Senator Abbas: So that person needs to be powerful enough to take measures to keep them in check.
President Norman: Not possible.
Senator Abbas: Then one of them will be done away with.
President Norman: I can see where you’re going.

Here came the silence. Where Jonathan and Sam’s minds communicated. This is where their intellects and intelligence multiplied, and the most innovative of solutions were reached. This was not unbearable, but highly interesting. For them as well as people who watched over. Thankfully, nobody was around this time.

President Norman: I see you’ve got it.
Senator Abbas: And now hear it.
President Norman: Shoot…
Senator Abbas: Getting bamboo out of the scene in any case would mess up the situation. That is not an option to consider. Many aren’t happy with lollipop because of his extravagance, so many would be happy to see him out. Plus he was also getting sick of bamboo so he would not re-contest for the office next year; bamboo wouldn’t nominate him anyway. Carrot-top and whiskey are expendable; we have many others who would be more reliable and resourceful. Keeping carrot-top in would mess up the situation, since his thug antics would have bamboo and whiskey forced out. We can’t have him at top. If we do away with him and leave whiskey, that would create a power structure for him and bamboo, even if whiskey isn’t that ambitious. Neither was bamboo, but we see what happened to him. It could happen to whiskey too, and with the uniform on him, things could get rough.
President Norman: So what do you suggest.
Senator Abbas: This is the fun part. I talk to carrot-top and tell him that lollipop is intending to kick him out and a private summary has been sent to me, which I have withheld. I’ll get him to take over, bring in his troops, storm the assemblies and the president’s house. Its obvious it wont take more than a few hundred soldiers. A rush of blood to the head can render anyone useless, so I’ll step in, convince lollipop to resign, and get bamboo to nominate me for the top slot. He was going to give me a ticket for next year anyway, so might as well be now. I take oath, say that there was a break in the chain of command and the President took this decision in front of all of us in the NSC, praise him a bit, the old routine. Then I have laundering charges brought up against carrot-top. Bamboo would be only too willing to support me in this case, seeing that there's a power vacuum that can be filled by him or someone that supports him. Knowing that he would have no chance, carrot-top would resign and retreat to his penthouse in Palm Beach. Bamboo would be overjoyed that whiskey would be made the chief, only to be disappointed to find out that another mild-mannered yet pro-President man is even more qualified for the job; General Gul Achakzai. Once he was ordered to jump over the gates and take over the Islamabad PTV buildings when he was a Brigadier in the 1999 coup. He was sooo diligent in conforming with orders that his troops were jumping the gates even after somebody had the gates opened from the inside.
President Norman: (laughs wildly) Now THERE’S no threat!
Senator Abbas: Whiskey would be soo dejected that even having an extremely close relative in power, he was unable to get the top job, that he’ll resign in protest or give some other reason. He has enough money and doesn’t need to wake up at 8a.m every morning to earn a meager paycheck. Even he needs a thrill to be a general, and since he has none, there would be no point in him staying as one. And a serviceman from another force could be made Chairman of Joint Chiefs. Even The birds and the fish have no goal of ruling the land. So you will have your man in the top slot, bamboo in check, whiskey and carrot-top out, and the uniforms in control. What more could you ask for?
President Norman: Quite impressive Mr. Senator. Or should I say… Mr. President? (smiles wickedly)
Senator Abbas: Wow. You do catch on quick. You’re not that stupid after all. But I really wasn’t expecting you to… How DID you find that out?
Jonathan: Remember you never took Psychology in College…?
Sameer: Don’t play my own games with me. Get to the point. How did you know?
Jonathan: When you went to get that wedding card, I saw you were looking at yourself in the mirror, straightening your hair. You ARE quite photogenic, no doubt. And I… well… we both know that you’d love to see yourself in the newspaper everyday.
Sameer: I’m impressed, Johnny-boy…
Jonathan: (stands up) Third time’s the charm, my friend.

Jonathan Norman puts his arm on Sameer Abbas’ further shoulder as they walk towards the glass sliding door. Left in the living room is the edition of the Daily Observer. A few days later it would read “Army takes over again…”, “Shah resigns, Abbas takes over as Acting President”, “Parliament not to be dissolved: Abbas”, “Army sent back to barracks”, “Abbas nominated President”, “Abbas takes oath, vote of confidence with remarkable majority”, “General Aftab charged with corruption”, “General Aftab resigns, Shuffle in Armed Forces Top Brass”…………

Inspiration:
Waiting For Allah - Christina Lamb
Islamabad (28.06.2004 - 04.07.2004)





- Shemrez Nauman Afzal July 01, 2004