What
Next For Pakistan?
By
Dr Shabir Choudhry
31 December,
2007
Countercurrents.org
Just
like her father, Benazir Bhutto, a towering figure in Pakistani politics
has gone. Both became victims of biased and uncontrollable establishment
and army dictatorship. Like all popular and great people, both were
controversial figures, and would always be remembered in history for
good and bad things associated with them.
No human
being is perfect and she was not perfect either. She had many faults
and her record in government was nothing to be proud off, but despite
her not so good past she was still adored by the masses, and considered
as last hope for democracy, freedom and the federation of Pakistan.
In any case she did not deserve this treatment – she did not deserve
to end like this; and what ensued after her tragic killing Pakistan
did not deserve it either.
Her termination
is a big loss to Pakistan and fury, anger and resentment that erupted
after her killing is also a big loss to Pakistan. It showed deep hatred
for the rulers and love for her, but according to some experts Pakistan
has already lost more than 40 billion rupees as a result of this, not
to mention loss of respect and prestige to the country.
Those who
are responsible for this loss need to understand that loss to Pakistan
is not personal loss to Musharaf, his cohorts, establishment and 'lotas'
who have helped him to stay in power for so long and weaken Pakistan
and its federation. As a result of this destruction, arson and fury
ordinary people of Pakistan have lost. It is a body polity of Pakistan
that has suffered. It is ordinary people who suffer and continue to
suffer.
However as
a result of this tragedy Pakistani government once again finds itself
in a dock, and doesn't know which way to go. Its response and actions
are similar to those when the government killed Nawab Akbar Bughti,
and they had to tell lies and plenty of them. Government Ministers and
spokesmen changed story everyday and that exposed them further and further
in eyes of the people.
Musharaf
has earned himself reputation as a man of crises - a trained commando
prepared to surprise people with his actions. His tried and tested method,
like some Kashmiri leaders is to create crises, when people complain
he commits a bigger blunder and people forget the previous one. He believes
in ending crises with more crises- treat poison with poison, and what
we have witnessed is a series of blunders since 1999.
In this process
he has mastered the art of creating crises and managing them by propaganda,
lies and oppression; and still claim that he is great believer of democracy,
liberalism and independence of judiciary and media. But there is limit
to what he can get away with and what Pakistani society and federation
can take. Many Pakistani leaders and commentators say his first priority
is not Pakistan as he claims, but power at all costs; and if continues
with this policy then Pakistan might not stay as a nation state. But
question is does he care?
When he illegally
overthrew an elected government in October 1999, he declared seven point
agenda and people thought he, unlike previous military rulers, might
put Pakistan back on the track. But he with help of his cohorts and
'lota politicians' who were deeply involved in corruption and nepotism
brought the country to the brink of civil war and disintegration.
In view of
some experts on South Asian politics and Pakistan, the country does
not have a bright future. They think the process of disintegration was
already on the way before the killing of Benazir Bhutto, and her killing
has accelerated that process. Many Pakistanis will reject this view
and with their emotional thinking call it a conspiracy and declare that
Pakistan is here to stay till doomsday.
They need
to understand that nations and countries do not become strong or prosper
just because people have strong desire or passion for that. They become
strong and flourish because rulers carefully plan what is to be done
in future. They set certain goals and create a system which helps them
to implement that planning and achieve those goals for the benefit for
the country. These rulers regard themselves as servants of the people
and country, and always regard country's interest as paramount.
If Pakistani
brothers compare that with what has been happening in Pakistan then
they will see that in Pakistan there is no system in place, and rulers
are like emperors and their personal interest is paramount to everything.
Rule of law, fairness and sense of belonging is not there; and moreover
the will to become a nation or thrive as a nation is getting weaker
day by day.
This process
cannot be halted just by some slogans or calling conspiracy or foreign
hand after every blunder. In my honest opinion it is still not too late,
and 'melting' of Pakistan could be halted, but for that the rulers have
to be brave and take some decisions which might not be in their personal
interest.
But if they
continue with the same policies and the same mind - set then nothing
can save Pakistan and the country will not survive as a nation state,
no matter how loudly people shout Pakistan Zindabad, or say that it
was created in name of Islam and Allah will save it.
They need
to understand that Allah was also there in 1971, and Pakistan lost East
Pakistan not because it was Allah's wish but because of blunders of
Pakistani rulers. If Pakistani rulers commit blunder after blunder,
impose their will on society and deprive people of justice and basic
human rights; and people instead of challenging their rulers keep on
shouting slogans and hope that Allah will help them, then take it from
me it won't happen, because Allah only helps those who help themselves.
In my view
the following needs to be done to halt the process of disintegration:
1. Postpone elections and give new date before month of Moharam;
2. New care taker or national government which has some credibility;
3. Allow
Nawaz Sharif and his brother to contest elections;
4. Declaration
from Musharaf that he will resign after new Assemblies are elected;
5. Re instate
judiciary the one which was there before Emergency was declared;
6. Reinstate
constitution of 1973, as it existed in October 1999;
7. Abandon
policy of promoting and exporting its 'ideology' and 'Jihad' to other
countries as was the policy in 1980s and 1990s;
8. Abandon
policy of getting more land, and try to secure and consolidate what
legally belongs to Pakistan;
9. As Pakistan's
many problems are directly linked with its obsession to get Kashmir
which is not part of Pakistan, it is time to abandon that policy, and
accept Azad Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan as separate political entities
Many Pakistani
brothers, especially those with little knowledge and foresight, and
those who are in government will once again call me 'anti Pakistan',
without realising that this is the best course forward to save Pakistan.
I sincerely want Pakistan to do well and survive as a nation state.
I want Pakistan to be a democratic and stable country in peace with
itself and its neighbours. Allah forbid if Pakistan disintegrates, with
the people of Pakistan we Kashmiris will also suffer; and I sincerely
don't want that to happen.
Writer is
Chairman Diplomatic Committee of JKLF, Director Institute of Kashmir
Affairs and author of many books on Kashmir. He could be reached at:
[email protected]
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