Is the country headed for a civil war? We ask this question because the civil society appears to be sharply divided. There appears to be a profound split within the establishment. Those who claim that they believe in the rule of law and constitutionalism argue that a change cannot be brought about through mobocracy. Change in government needs to be effected within the constitutional limits. Others, however, argue that the present dispensation ie, within the constitutional parameters, will only bring back the electables and that the 1973 Constitution has not and will not bring about a socio-political change that is direly needed.
The leadership of the All-India Muslim League successfully persuaded a great majority of Muslims of undivided India that socio-economic change for their betterment cannot be achieved, as desired, because the Hindu majority mainly due to its myopic vision would not allow it. But now the question that is being asked is why the socio-economic indicators (health and education) have not improved. Even countries that overthrew the colonial rule later than 1947 are way ahead of Pakistan in terms of per capita income and GDP.
Comparing city states with a heterogeneous country can't be a fair comparison; however, our collective failure to create a large middle class - the combination of the labour, aristocracy, professionals and white-collar workers - is a direct consequence of our failure to achieve and sustain a democratic dispensation. First past the poll system and long years of military rule have reduced legislators to local councillors trying to meet the desire of their constituencies for drainage, utilities and other civic amenities.
Practising democracy is not just holding of elections with regularity; nor does it mean tyranny of the majority. Inclusiveness of opposing views is definitely needed in a democratic dispensation. The failure of the Morsi government in Egypt to treat all groups equally and without exception is a recent example. Also in sharp contrast is the success of PPP-led dispensation, from 2008 to 2013, which successfully completed its five-year term, held general elections and handed over the reins of government to another civilian set-up as the first civilian transition in the history of the country. This is indeed a success of the inclusive policy followed by the then President Asif Ali Zardari. However, the system failed to deliver in terms of improvement of socio-economic conditions of the masses.
Everyone and most of all a leader is expected to learn from his past mistakes as well as replicate success of others. Unfortunately, however, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a different person. He tends to repeat a mistake with a view to convincing others that the mistake he had earlier committed was no mistake. His present predicament is testament to this. It is widely believed that besides a close coterie of advisors, his other party members do not have access to him. His failure to give importance to Parliament or his Cabinet has isolated him further.
Business Recorder is indeed troubled with the rest of the country as growing uncertainty is badly hurting the national economy. Politicians have to come up with solutions of political issues. Courts or the Army/Civil bureaucracy cannot do it. Trying to settle differences between political forces through court challenges is not the answer.
Societal division at present is clearly reflected in the division of media as well as the country's political class. Packing off the Parliament and the Courts; and using force to restore order by the Army through martial law has been imposed far too many times in the past. And that too did not eradicate the malaise. The situation in Fata and Balochistan was different then. Military might was used to quell the uprising in the then East Pakistan. The result of that folly haunts us all till this day. Let us avoid a repetition of previous mistakes; otherwise the portents are too grim to be speculated about. That the country is in an extraordinary ferment is a fact that has found its best expression in an estimated Rs 800 billion loss to the national economy in less than one month. The question is: Who cares if all of us have decided to torpedo our own ramshackle economy? Is anybody out there listening?
Last but not least, army chief General Raheel Sharif and prime minister Nawaz Sharif met yesterday amid grave political crisis and reportedly discussed solutions. According to Prime Minister's office, the army chief and the prime minister agreed to resolve the issue "expeditiously in the best national interest". Their meeting seems to have provided this beleaguered nation with some grounds for optimism.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Pakistan: Not economic, nor security: our troubles are political
Is the country headed for a civil war? We ask this question because the civil society appears to be sharply divided. There appears to be a profound split within the establishment. Those who claim that they believe in the rule of law and constitutionalism argue that a change cannot be brought about through mobocracy. Change in government needs to be effected within the constitutional limits. Others, however, argue that the present dispensation ie, within the constitutional parameters, will only bring back the electables and that the 1973 Constitution has not and will not bring about a socio-political change that is direly needed.
The leadership of the All-India Muslim League successfully persuaded a great majority of Muslims of undivided India that socio-economic change for their betterment cannot be achieved, as desired, because the Hindu majority mainly due to its myopic vision would not allow it. But now the question that is being asked is why the socio-economic indicators (health and education) have not improved. Even countries that overthrew the colonial rule later than 1947 are way ahead of Pakistan in terms of per capita income and GDP.
Comparing city states with a heterogeneous country can't be a fair comparison; however, our collective failure to create a large middle class - the combination of the labour, aristocracy, professionals and white-collar workers - is a direct consequence of our failure to achieve and sustain a democratic dispensation. First past the poll system and long years of military rule have reduced legislators to local councillors trying to meet the desire of their constituencies for drainage, utilities and other civic amenities.
Practising democracy is not just holding of elections with regularity; nor does it mean tyranny of the majority. Inclusiveness of opposing views is definitely needed in a democratic dispensation. The failure of the Morsi government in Egypt to treat all groups equally and without exception is a recent example. Also in sharp contrast is the success of PPP-led dispensation, from 2008 to 2013, which successfully completed its five-year term, held general elections and handed over the reins of government to another civilian set-up as the first civilian transition in the history of the country. This is indeed a success of the inclusive policy followed by the then President Asif Ali Zardari. However, the system failed to deliver in terms of improvement of socio-economic conditions of the masses.
Everyone and most of all a leader is expected to learn from his past mistakes as well as replicate success of others. Unfortunately, however, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a different person. He tends to repeat a mistake with a view to convincing others that the mistake he had earlier committed was no mistake. His present predicament is testament to this. It is widely believed that besides a close coterie of advisors, his other party members do not have access to him. His failure to give importance to Parliament or his Cabinet has isolated him further.
Business Recorder is indeed troubled with the rest of the country as growing uncertainty is badly hurting the national economy. Politicians have to come up with solutions of political issues. Courts or the Army/Civil bureaucracy cannot do it. Trying to settle differences between political forces through court challenges is not the answer.
Societal division at present is clearly reflected in the division of media as well as the country's political class. Packing off the Parliament and the Courts; and using force to restore order by the Army through martial law has been imposed far too many times in the past. And that too did not eradicate the malaise. The situation in Fata and Balochistan was different then. Military might was used to quell the uprising in the then East Pakistan. The result of that folly haunts us all till this day. Let us avoid a repetition of previous mistakes; otherwise the portents are too grim to be speculated about. That the country is in an extraordinary ferment is a fact that has found its best expression in an estimated Rs 800 billion loss to the national economy in less than one month. The question is: Who cares if all of us have decided to torpedo our own ramshackle economy? Is anybody out there listening?
Last but not least, army chief General Raheel Sharif and prime minister Nawaz Sharif met yesterday amid grave political crisis and reportedly discussed solutions. According to Prime Minister's office, the army chief and the prime minister agreed to resolve the issue "expeditiously in the best national interest". Their meeting seems to have provided this beleaguered nation with some grounds for optimism.
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