What next for Pakistan?
London, Jan 1: 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.
Following needs to be done to halt the process of disintegration:
Postpone elections and give new date before month of Moharam;New care taker or national government which has some credibility; Allow Nawaz Sharif and his brother to contest elections;Declaration from Musharaf that he will resign after new Assemblies are elected; Re instate judiciary the one which was there before Emergency was declared; Reinstate constitution of 1973, as it existed in October 1999;
Abandon policy of promoting and exporting its 'ideology" and 'Jihad" to other countries as was the policy in 1980s and 1990s; Abandon policy of getting more land, and try to secure and consolidate what legally belongs to Pakistan;
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.
ANI