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Reading men (and women)
There are 2 kinds of men: those going with the flow; those venturing out, create spark to ignite spirit or burn down.
The writer is a defence analyst who retired as an air vice-marshal in the Pakistan Air Force
If ever there is a form of existence that has taught me more about life and its manifestations, it has been simply observing and reading men dealing with life’s vicissitudes. There are essentially two kinds in my grammar of things: those that go with the flow, and the few who will tend to venture out every now and then, create a spark that could either ignite the spirit to new vistas or simply burn down whatever was already there. It is the second type of man that has held my interest through the years. God knows, I have saved a few in my life from ignominious end to what I knew could be exceptional careers if ever a moment arrived when something out of the ordinary was needed. It may have been exceptionally long-term hedging, but without it can you ever have a Malik Riaz rise from the ashes of ordinariness?
Here are a few examples that we all are familiar with: My most favourite from the great land of Americas are the Clintons — and I say this in all seriousness. America hasn’t had a sharper president in recent years. He dealt with the most difficult global issues plaguing his time in office with a classy ease. Whether it was war, or the international stage to forge peace, or to envision ‘globalisation’ which would underwrite the future of the world, he waltzed his way through with that great elegance of his. And yet, yet, there was time for fun. Whitewater, the Health policy woes, the shutdown of the government, the threat of his impeachment, were all taken in stride. His comfort level was such with his surroundings that even a moment’s escapade, be it in the adjacent pantry to the Oval Office or the search to find his quarry in a tumult, gave him that opportunity to explore and venture beyond the routine. In fact, the closing down of the government gave him even greater time for other engagements. Full marks for creativity. Look at his voluminous biography; is there another in recent times, from 40 to 44, that can present itself with such great depth; and simple intellectual brilliance? I am certain he would have led America brilliantly in another World War. He would have surely been on my side if I ever had anything to do with him.
Hillary is another type; consummately intelligent, but too organised for my flavour. She had the good sense to keep the errant Bill around for better times. She is ‘planned’ — in a good way; and, knows her ‘smart’ from the rest. She may be tiring a bit now, but wow, what a couple. Explosive, in all manners of saying. But put them against Articles 62 and 63 of our Constitution, and they don’t make it. Good, they weren’t born in Pakistan.
I will leave Barack Obama out. He is work in progress and given what he had at inauguration of 2009, a possibility to begin with a clean slate, he chose to retain the filthy one that Bush, the squanderer, left. No, I wouldn’t have noticed him in the middle of a mob unless, of course, he had to make the speech at a convention. My other problem with him — he is compulsively over-rehearsed, even with his self-written speeches; there are no moments of a ‘city on the hill’. May be he will be back and maybe that is good for America given their current crop of options, but nay, he couldn’t lead America in a World War. Heck, he can’t extract America out of one in Afghanistan.
Of the recent Indian lot, only Vajpayee ji was the right kind. Most other Indians, I have met are the type that I have always expected them to be: staid, serious — too serious, a little unsure, perhaps a bit insecure, wary and apprehensive, untrusting; simply unwilling to hang out for longer than a drink; much more the regular types. Vajpayee was different and that is why he ventured out to Pakistan. By Indian standards, he was reckless; almost agreed to putting to rest the mockery that rules India and Pakistan. But then, he hit the proverbial ‘wall’ of the Indian Establishment with some help from Musharraf, and things never changed. Nehru, again, was the right kind. Sure, suave, sophisticated, with a well functioning mind which was clear and well directed too. In India, as in Pakistan, mostly systems have governed, not men and that shows in a lack of any ‘spark’ or enterprise in their societies and especially within their establishment structures. Exception should be made for Bhutto and Benazir.
But why do I take this road at all? Thanks to Malik Riaz and his nemesis, Arsalan Iftikhar, Pakistan is in the midst of another ‘gate’. I will leave young Arsalan to his father and let them sort matters out between them, but I find Malik Riaz fascinating. He is what he says he is; make of it what you want. Show me the one who may have earned his riches by staying on the straight and narrow. But is there another who has brought and put in place twenty-first century living within the reach of ordinary Pakistanis. He, to my mind, is a creator of sorts and brings dreams to reality. In doing so, the ordinary people have only gotten better. Others hold onto their precious swathes of real estate, he converts ordinary land into real estate. Real estate is precious only when it is used; unused, it remains only potentially precious. How he may get it is another story and needs to be ruthlessly regulated. Among all the rascals that man this land of ours, he is a productive rascal. No question, he must pay for his latest and other crimes, if proven. As must others who begun to get in as the net widens.
Here is the recommended list of punishments that the courts may consider: charge him to make up for the power shortages that debilitate Pakistan today; he should introduce and develop hygienic housing for our village folk in villages that surround major cities; a part of his wealth should be used to set up technology towns in parts of Pakistan where the bulging youth population should find its future. Were he to do this under the watchful eye of the Superior Courts, we would wish him even greater wealth and riches. He needs to be preserved, gainfully employed with his enterprise and not wasted. Any takers.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2012.
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Reader Comments (24)
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If making his Bahria Enterprise a success he has spilt the blood of a single innocent then he is not worth what you are suggesting…….and you know it very well if he has or not
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“In doing so, the ordinary people have only gotten better.” Really? Or do you just mean the DHA Islamabad who has been bankrolled by him to keep it afloat. Please tell the same to all the people who are being forcibly vacated by his thugs, all the land on which construction has started even though the courts have handed the land back to the rightful owners, the provincial workers housing scheme that Malik Riaz first took over, and then handed over to DHA Islamabad ,with the original investors loosing all their money.
So corruption is find if you find it productive? What a shame.
He is a productive rascal? Please stop putting a person who claims to hold $2 billion in wealth yet pays no taxes on a pedestal. This why people like him succeed, because people in power, influence and wealth romanticize his success, because its success you enjoy. Its success which keeps the poor at arms length and makes your lives comfortable. What a shame, but what do you expect, the entire military high command, politicians, bureaucrats etc, all enjoy his largesses. Obviously, no one wants to see their pensions and inheritances loose their value, eh? After all if Malik Riaz faces a ton of bricks, where will that leave DHA which has handed him Rs. 60 billion plus and left the development of DHA to him?
Please see: http://dawn.com/2012/06/20/judgment-reserved-in-bahria-town-merger-case/
and: http://dawn.com/2012/06/19/bahria-town-golf-city-victims-seek-quick-justice/ Recommend
Interesting view; candid and unique. I agree that state can make better use of his capabilities as part of his punishment (if proven guilty). It is similar to how top-notch computer hackers are hired. First, the state hunts for them. After that, it tries to get them on its side to channel their expertise and energies constructively. But this can also set a bad precedent for subsequent transgressors; so a lot of care needs to be taken in assessing ramifications of such a move.
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in other words, “God please save Malik Riaz”
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Malik Riaz’s alliances with each branch of the armed forces need to be investigated. He could not have had such a meteoric rise in the heart of ‘Military City’ without protection from prosecution provided by khakis – them being above the law. And why would they provide such protection? Because he offered the right price for their services. In a civilized country Malik Riaz and the generals, admirals and air marshals who were his partners-in-crime would be behind bars by now. Look at Stanford of Texas. He was even more flamboyant and richer than our magnate. But all that could not save him in a nation ruled by law. Pakistan is instead ruled by uniform. MR keeps the uniformed well fed. Hence the prosecutor has no case against him.
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@Nadir,
Clearly you can only focus on one aspect of the article; who wrote it rather than what is written. Clearly you have not read the last bit. Clearly you do not ever change your glasses. What a shame! Messenger rather than the message? Eh?
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@Chaudhary Sahib
Delightful reading. Interestingly, you left out Jinnah! I wonder why?
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Good point – “intelligent rascals” are indeed very useful when an “ignition spark” is required to move things and achieve any success in an exvironment of mediocracy and staid bureaucreacy. Another great example – Lalit Modi of IPL fame – an out-and-out rascal, but infinitely intelligent who singlehandedly turned the Cricket World upside down and made many criketers millionaires!!! Everybody across the world just wants to follow his template now.
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Shahzad;
A couple of years back, you started as an adversary, as you belonged to Establishment. But after retirement, what you are writing is inspiring. You have risen above narrow nationalism, parochialism, tribalism and all that, what afflicts our subcontinent. Henceforth, I will read you more seriously.
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@Arindom : India is full of such “Intelligent Rascals”. One can write a book on them. We had Harshad Mehta who was poster boy once. What followed next, we all know. Success of many Industrial houses will fall in this category. Ambanis too rose to this position from almost nothing. No country can match us when it comes to scams. We have Fodder scam, telecom scam, Commonwealth Game scam and what not. Every “Intelligent Rascal” has a scam associated with him. Interestingly most of our “Intelligent Rascals” remain in India and most of their money finds its way back into Indian economy via some tax heaven. No country has the monopoly on “Intelligent Rascals”. They are everywhere and have been all through history. Those who are not so intelligent are caught and others carry on. In power politics also you will find “Intelligent Rascals” who make it to the top without ever winning a single election. Its an illusion for fools that God created us all equal.
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@traveller: No not at all, its not his views or the fact that he said it that I have issue with, I have issue that these same views are perpetuated by the upper/middle classes, who care less of land grabs, rights of workers, displaced farmers and peasants, as long as a shiny housing scheme, with nice boulevards are made, and we call this progress. Why is his corruption and illegal actions acceptable as long as it serves the interests of the rich, the political and military elite?
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@Shock Horror:
Jinnah must be turning in his grave to realize his folly after watching what is going on in his creation, more specifically in the vicinity of his own grave in Karachi.
BTW, the climate and soil of the land of pure is not conducive enough to produce a single statesman in Pakistan in the last 65 years. Unlike Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Jinnah lacked vision.
India has had many and more are work-in-progress.
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“By Indian standards, he was reckless; almost agreed to putting to rest the mockery that rules India and Pakistan. But then, he hit the proverbial ‘wall’ of the Indian Establishment with some help from Musharraf, “
I do not think “Indian establishment” got to him. In India, the army reports to defense minister who is part of cabinet. They do not have an independent voice in policy making except through the defense minister who is always a civilian. It is not ” a little” help from Musharraf that alienated Vajpayee. It was 100% Musharraf. First via Kargill in 1999 when Nawaz Sharif was Prime Minister. Vajpayeeji graciously overlooked that and invited Musharraf to Agra to restart talks and after having agreed to a common approach with Indian team, Musharraf went ahead and gave a TV interview that was materially different from the agreement that the teams had come to behind the scene. That time Musharraf had to leave India without having any joint communique. When someone backstabs you not once but two times, it is difficult to overcome trust deficit.
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“In India, as in Pakistan, mostly systems have governed, not men and that shows in a lack of any ‘spark’ or enterprise in their societies and especially within their establishment structures. “
Really? Systems were never allowed to take root in Pakistan. IT was always individuals who ruled due to their charisma. The only time there was some settling down of system in Pakistan was during Gilani’s time. OF course he provided such poor governance that he alienated people.
“I find Malik Riaz fascinating. He is what he says he is; make of it what you want. Show me the one who may have earned his riches by staying on the straight and narrow. But is there another who has brought and put in place twenty-first century living within the reach of ordinary Pakistanis. “
Such flattery? So you are an ex-general not officially on Malik Riaz payroll who is seeking to get on it – is it?
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@traveller: The problem and hypocrisy is that people get outraged when a policeman asks for a 100 rupees or the Sui Gas technician wants a bit over the top to install a gas connection. That is all corruption and bad. But the same people have no qualms no excusing someone like Malik Riaz, just because he is useful?
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No character certificates from Ex-Servicemen plss…
Carries no value… anyway..
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“Quote, “but I find Malik Riaz fascinating”
It is really ironical that educated & armed forces people (e.g writer) are fascinated by characters like Malik Riaz.
Basically its people in power who are responsible for the collapse of pakistani state conditions. Either its Election commission, Judiciary or Journalists like Mr shahzad.
They never questioned the morales of the society.
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whats the point of this article? criticise pakistanis and highlight the goods of enemies
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We can fuss about morality as much as we like but the rule of the game is
that ‘nothing succeeds like success’.
And even morality is relative to time,place and culture.
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“There are essentially two kinds in my grammar of things: those that go with the flow, few who will tend to venture out every now and then, create a spark that could either ignite the spirit to new vistas or simply burn down whatever was already there”
How true this statement is!
I think that is the difference between common people and people who become great leaders and individuals.Common people against their morals or values always decide go with the “flow” because that’s the only way to live peacefully, earn living and raise a family.
In the USA (Southern States like Alabama) thousands of black people accepted segregation as a way of life and complied with law that did not allow them to occupy fronts seats in a city bus and required them to give up their seat if white person cannot find a seat in the front. Ms. Rosa Parker once decided not to go with the “Flow” and inspired another great leader Dr. King to start a Civil Right Movement. Similarly thousands of Indians accepted their status as a second rate citizens as “coolies” in South Africa but one young recent immigrant did not go with the flow and decided to fight after getting thrown out of a first class rail compartment on a cold night and needless to say he was later in his life was called a ‘Mahatma”
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Beautiful writing, what a great piece of prose written alomst like poetry, I like it. It takes guts to publically say this, “…… the great land of Americas …….” and Clintons being “most favourite”. Man! Wow, at least there’s one person here with enough balls and decency to say what he likes, otherwise most of us fail and opt to be big hypocrites.
Liked your recommended punishment for Malik Riaz, it’s wonderfully innovative thinking and useful and novel way to punish someone. Yes, indeed that’s the best that can be done to him and us. This guy is, much, too precious to be de-commissioned, it’d be a national loss to send him behind bars or to force retirement or leaving Pakistan and take his genius with him. No, encourage him to do the wonderful things that he can for his country and pay in this way for his alleged ‘crimes’. I second you whole heartedly.
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@KDP
You cannot compare Gandhi and Martin Luther King to this crook Malik Riaz. As a matter of fact mentioning the revered names of the former in the same breath with Malik Riaz is an insult to their good names.
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@Zalmai:
I did not intend to compare Malik Riaz with anybody . I just commented on the statement I quoted from the article on the merit of its own verbiage without any context to the main subject of the article
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karachi
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