Dear Readers,
As the sun set for the last time in 2017, we stepped into the new year with renewed hope of better things to come. While the challenges and opportunities of the new year will prove to be historically momentous, we must take some time to ponder where we stand today. 2017 was an extremely taxing year in more ways than one, with general uncertainty all around, the many political upheavals taking center stage. 2018 with hopefully be an electric year, that is, if nothing goes wrong, this will be a momentous occasion. If the will of the people is to prevail, the many anti- democratic forces that threaten us will have to be countered by the political class. The fight against terrorism and militancy continues with great success but extremism appears to be once again raising its head, this will have to be countered forcefully. The National Action Plan (NAP) was launched to counter the biggest to the nation, it now appears to be a moribund document, its implementation slow and half-hearted, especially where the civil administration is concerned NAP needs to be urgently reinvigorated. 2018 might prove to be more turbulent than we bargained for, are we even prepared to meet its challenges? It remains to be seen how the country will navigate the many thorny issues confronting it that could shape its future for a number of years to come. For the benefit of readers, I am reproducing my article titled “ASPIRATIONS FOR 2018”.
Events of national significance tend to linger on in our combined memories for some time, even then 2018 ushered in hopes of erasing some of our concerns and disappointments. The indications of the opportunities that have emerged despite the challenges are still imperceptible, even then 2018 promises to be a year of hope and resurgence viz, (1) most likely witnessing the third consecutive general elections in Pakistan, possibly delayed by a few months (2) Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification making the political playing field more competitive, changing the political landscape for the better and (3) the superior judiciary asserting itself in no uncertain terms, well on its way to being what it should be, one of the strongest pillars of the State.
Besides being an economic game-changer for Pakistan, the significant geo-political changes taking place in the region because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is best symbolized by the growing Russian-China-Pakistan cooperation. China-Pakistan military exercises are routine, but the ground-breaking Russian-Pakistan ones are certainly not. One should not expect Russia to abandon its deep-rooted long-term relationship with India but certainly its blind support is a thing of the past.
Our relationship with China has deepened because of China’s strategic compulsions. On national security issues the civil and military leader ship are on the same page, not only in dealing with India and Afghanistan but with the world powers, the US and Russia and in the immediate region. The measured joint civil-military response to US President Donald Trump’s recent tweet is a case in point, the operative word being KYC (keep your cool). We cannot be held hostage by the academic input of a few powerful intellectual elite, among them a handful of arrogant former diplomats, who pontificate about foreign policy “short-comings” while feeding the counsel of our fears (to paraphrase Field Marshal Slim) from his book “Unofficial History”, whereas on the other hand our recent foreign policy successes have shown that to quote another Slim adage, “it pays to be bold”.
Without effective participation of citizens in the affairs of even their own community, our present democracy is a sham. A stable democratic system can only be possible with participation of ordinary citizens in the decision-making process. Without electoral reforms providing a level playing field we will never be able to fight poverty, feudalism and extremism. moreover, indirect elections are a farce, the Senate is a shameful symbol of our sham democracy. Can those who are not elected by adult franchise be truly representative of the federating units?
The nexus of corruption with organised crime and terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon. Judicious use of technology must counter “terror financing” from the siphoning off of monies donated to charities. While certainly admiring those making legitimate profits from commerce and industry, we must target proceeds illegally acquired through corruption, fraud and deceit. This includes manipulation of the Stock Exchange by unscrupulous brokers. Monies fuelling terrorism must answer for the blood of innocents and cannot be allowed to be legitimised by using the Zardari-sponsored bogey of “provincial autonomy!” Accountability requires all the assets of those in our elite society awash with illegal gains to be confiscated.
Arbitrary or wide discretionary powers in practice today makes the rule of law impossible to prevail in Pakistan. Equality before the law or the equal subjection of all classes to the ordinary laws of the land must be duly administered by the courts. Justice can easily be subverted by influence and/ or money presently. The rich and powerful must be held accountable, the accused must not be allowed to hide behind technicalities exploited by clever lawyers while he poor who cannot afford them suffer. Judicial prevarication must stop, the old saying ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ holds true. To be truly credible accountability must not be selective and should be applicable to all, the corrupt among the judiciary and the Armed Forces included. My Jan 1, 2009 quote on corruption is still applicable today, “Corruption and accountability remain a major challenge. Even handed accountability without exception must strike at the roots of corruption without bias. The National Accountability Board (NAB’s) anti-corruption mechanism not compromised by selective application for personal and/ or political purpose. Justice must be made simple and inexpensive. What is the reason for extremism except lack of fair play in justice and frustration at seeing the corrupt prospering?” Can we by default accept that the corruption codified by “Pakistan-First” Musharraf ‘s infamous National Reconciliation Order (NRO), force-multiplied subsequently by Zardari’s corruption-ridden Presidential years, be given legal cover? ” Unquote.
To quote my article “Wishes for 2017” of Dec 30, 2016, “The calibre and integrity of the incoming Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Mian Saqib Nisar, does not merit the insidious slander campaign on the social media. Given his track record, one knows that the incoming Chief Justice will not be selective in being deaf, dumb and blind,” unquote. One reiterates with great satisfaction and pride what I wrote then, “Mian Saqib Nisar is literally Pakistan’s last hope, he must remain true to his integrity and character and to his calling”. Similarly with the calm and effective presence of Justice Javed Iqbal as Chairman NAB, those testing his patience and commitment to eradicate corruption may find it hard to survive. In fact, the present conduct and commitment of the entire superior judiciary is some thing to be proud of.
The Army is doing exemplary work fighting terrorism and extremism, firmness in the selection and the maintenance of its aim requires the military to wipe out not only the vestiges of militancy in both political and religious camouflage but all the extraneous forces and factors subscribing to it. The military momentum directed: against terrorism in the Pakistan· heartland, particularly in southern and central Punjab, must continue. The sacrifices of our soldiers in the most successful counter-insurgency at the present time has made Pakistan today a much safer place. On a different analogy, we must take decision’s, we vacillated too long past the fail-safe point 1971, we cannot, to quote Richard Nixon, “debate a decision to death”.
The superior judiciary must take notice of attempts to gamble with the existence of the State by the consistent targeting of its vital institutions, particularly by politicians who are well on the way of becoming convicts? The responsibility of governance is a sacred trust that no individual or entity has the right to sacrifice at the altar of personal survival and greed. Can any individual be greater than the nation he (or she) has been given the opportunity by Divine Providence to govern?
“The opinions/views expressed in Defence Journal are entirely those of the writers and cannot be construed to reflect the official views of Defence Journal”.
