Foul or fair

A man once hailed as a hero, Greg Mortenson, whose Central Asian Institute (CAI) set-up schools for girls in northern Pakistan and in Fata, as well as engaging in other philanthropic works, was recently embroiled in controversy once again. Previously, American journalists had questioned the accounts he had given of his deeds in his best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea, and also the integrity of the CAI as a whole.

As a climber, Mortenson said he became enamoured by Pakistan after being rescued by local people from a mountain. Up until now, he had remained undeterred by all the controversy and continued his work, notably in Gilgit-Baltistan. However, trouble refuses to stop stalking him. Recent reports reveal that Mortenson is now locked in a dispute with a local manager in Skardu, who is refusing to hand over the property of three schools worth billions to the CAI. Mortenson’s former manager has been reported as saying that the schools were built with the community’s money, and in fact, belong to his own branch of the CAI. A local spokesman for the Institute has said that the dispute is nowhere near being settled and talks have failed. Meanwhile, new allegations and rumours continue to emerge. There has been doubt expressed about the manner in which schools apparently funded by the CAI have been run and local people seem to confirm that Mortenson took credit for projects he did not complete himself. There are, however, many who still admire a man who took extreme measures to assist the people of the region, where even governmental development efforts are non-existent.

So, is Mortenson a hero or a villain? We still do not know. The fact that he is American and conjecture about possible links with the CIA add to complications. The fact, however, is that today, Mortenson stands badly discredited. Whether he will be able to build back a lost reputation remains to be seen, but the popular consensus is appreciative of Mortenson's work for a people and country he owes little, or nothing at all, to.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2012.