Pakistan has gone through a period of trial and tribulation for the last fifteen years or so, It was expected that the exit of Gen Pervez Musharraf would have ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity and the democracy that dawned would herald in a new beginning but that dream has remained elusive, not because of lack of virtues that democracy presents but because of the follies of the rulers who failed in nurturing it. The present government has managed to complete its 5 year tenure and that in itself is a significant achievement in Pakistan’s turbulent political history, indeed this is a new turning point in our history, something that should signal genuine change. But many uncertainties continue to linger. Once again it is an election year in Pakistan with elections to be held on May 11 this year and as happens every time one sees some political polarization taking hold. In their zeal to outdo each other in proving loyalties our political leaders and their cronies are engaged in a bitter game of publicly running down one another. The hunt by political parties for candidates and allies to secure the maximum number of seats in the federal and provincial legislatures is on in short defections have taken place. Pretty soon a caretaker government is expected to take over and our politicians are busy doing what they do before each election run down each other and extol their own virtues as was very evident in the Prime Minister’s, last public address to the nation just before the National Assembly completed its term Once again the political parties are falling Poker faced they lie through their teeth. Talking about their “magnificent achievement”, “fairness”, “opportunity”, “security” and a better future but do their best to avoid saying anything meaningful. Ominously some voices are being raised, including a few responsible ones, about conspiracies by unknown quarters to delay elections, the ultimate aim being to prolong the caretaker set-up. And so it goes on without any answers. Many people can be forgiven for wondering if they will ever experience true democracy in their lifetime or if they will see a change of faces. The coming five years will be extremely crucial to the future of the nation For the benefit of readers I am reproducing my article “A LITANY OF LIES”.
Remember military dictator Oliver Cromwell telling the members of the Rump Parliament on 20 April 1653, “You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God go!”, unquote. Just before the National Assembly (NA) completed its term, PM Raja Pervez Ashraf gave the nation a concentrated dose about “the magnificent performance of the PPP-led Coalition. The plethora of mistruths included gems like “bettering of the lot” of the common man by “turning the economy around To influence the voters’ choice of their preference as rulers for next five years, a constant drumbeat of lies will be disseminated, mainly through paid agents in the electronic media. “A fool and his money are easily parted” should be paraphrased in the context of Pakistan as “a fool and his vote are easily parted”.
A clutchful of awards for making false statements (including oath) must surely go to Rehman Malik. Consider his farewell speech, “when I became Interior Minister, the main challenge was that of terrorists”, However we have succeeded in breaking the backbone of terrorists unquote. Some consolation for the relatives of those recently martyred because of terrorist action in Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar and elsewhere! Will the COAS be comfortable with Malik possibly letting the cat out of the bag by generously recommending that “Kayani be awarded the title of Field Marshal for his services for democracy”?
According to PML (N)’s Khawaja Asif, “the govt brazenly located public money on the last day of its tenure.” Keeping banks open by declaring the last Saturday a working day, one-minute Summaries were approved and changed by the dozens to withdraw enormous amounts of funds, former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor called it “unlawful and immoral. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had put a ban on releasing funds for projects, they were told the Rs.4 billion needed for holding elections could not be released unless they retracted the ban. Those who thus looted the county’s exchequer did so out of sheer habit, operating on the Oliver Cromwell saying, “Necessity hath no law,” the Coalition’s very own version of the “Doctrine of Necessity”.
Threatening imminent return to Pakistan for years, this time Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf means it. The business community likes him, unlike in the rest of the country Musharraf has support in Karachi. Interestingly he is very popular among non-Pakistanis, pricularly govts. The MQM owe him big time for their revival after being targetted by successive PML (N) and PPP govts in the 90s. That MQM will support his possible candidacy for “Defence and Clifton” area is no secret, augmented by Tahir ul Qadri’s fol. Musharraf stands to get quite a welcome at Karachi airport. Thereafter ground reality will take over, facing many count cases including a non-bailable arrest warrant for murder by the Balochistan High Court. One is seriously concerned he would become a victim of “kangaroo justice” even before going on trial, rumours are “arrangements for a blanket “bail before Store in place. A hat potato for the Caretaker Govt, he will on acute embarrassment for the Pakistan Army. Notwithstanding reservations among the rank and file about Musharraf’s failure to address their welfare in contrast to those of superior military rank, his promoting favourites rather than on merit and meticulously superceding those with combat experience, he was their Chief. He cannot be treated like a common criminal. One complicating factor, Kayani was Musharraf’s DG ISI, his trusted pointman in the negotiating and drafting of the obnoxious NRO. Inconvenient truths emerging from the woodworks is a possible “Sword of Damocles”.
Citing life threats to his person the UAE Govt may be requested to restrain Musharraf from departing for Pakistan that could let Musharraf off the hook about his repeated failed pledges to return. Conveniently being departed after receiving a warm welcome could also shore up his political credentials for the future is the much-vilified Asif Ali Zardari can become president and refusing to adhere to numerous Supreme Court judgments or declare his assets, complete almost a full term in office, in contrast Musharraf smells roses. Anything is possible in Pakistan!
With the PML(N) regrouping after Imran’s historic Oct 2011 rally, Imran lost political momentum. With some rather dubious characters joining his bandwagon and putting stain on his credibility, Mian Nawaz Sharif’s comeback combination of good politicking and back-door negotiators took good effect. A massive PML (N) propaganda exercise slowly but surely eroded the perception about Imran’s grassroots support. Though somewhat disillusioned (and even demoralized), his core supporters remained steadfast and loyal. While the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) elections were marred at a few places by violence, it was the only political party in Pakistan to actually hold intra-party elections, with due respects to the ECP the rest were mere eye- wash (avoiding the more appropriate word “hogwash”) but PTI remains a distant third as of today. With 80000 elected party representatives forming the core of what could conceivably be a force-multiplier, Imran Khan’s rally on Mar 23 in Lahore will generate the necessary momentum (the big “Mo”) for the 50 days or so going into the elections, the political game-changer not only in Punjab politics but even Pakistan as a whole. The PTI Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) alliance in KPK is very significant, barring Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Fazlur Rahman) – (JUI (F)) strength in their strongholds it could almost wipe out the Awami National Party (ANP) while making PML. (N) and PPP marginal. The huge PPP victory in the Punjab in 1970 was only possible because of the overwhelming female vote. If the Jl connection in the Punjab and elsewhere holds, Jl’s disciplined cadres plus the small but significant female vote bank will add to the massive female adulation Imran Khan presently enjoys in countless homes in both urban and rural areas. Musharraf and Tahir ul Qadri’s followers will support Imran’s candidates, most probably with (or even without their leaders’ consent. Imran could conceivably have done better in Sindh by allying with PML (F) but did not because of likely MQM support in many urban and urban-rural constituencies throughout the country, and possibly a post-election alliance. In total disarray in the Punjab except in the South, PPP could well lose safe seats, even give vital ground in Sindh.
To quote Murtaza Haider “democracy is all about fulfilling the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Pakistanis though the democratic rule has meant darkness, hunger and violence”. Haider goes on, “law and order has disappeared and corruption is ubiquitous, economy and utilities have faltered, prompting the electorate to question the value of electoral democracy,”.
It was shocking and disappointing to hear a potential Caretaker PM and a renowned TV anchor, both of whom one deeply respects, justify condoning of fake degrees, nepotism, corruption, etc to sustain the democratic process at all costs. That sacrifice above and beyond the call of conscience by the superior judiciary and the Army kept the PPP. led coalition in power for five long years. With such an inclination to compromise pervasive among the best of the best for some unexplained reasons, God help this country!
