The argument for not condemning the murderous attacks is that these parties were in power for the past five years, and had they not been corrupt and incompetent, such a situation would not have arisen in the first place. The obvious point is, regardless of their shortcomings, would the preferred parties not display spine and condemn terrorist attacks of murder for the simple reason that murder in the name of religion is inherently condemnable. How do the ANP, the PPP and the MQM weaknesses, whatever they might be, provide an excuse for cowardice of the PML-N and the PTI, etc? Never mind, let us hypothetically accept the reasons given in the argument for the silence. To put it at its harshest, it says that the ANP has been corrupt and incompetent, although no specific evidence is available to suggest that they are more corrupt and incompetent than the other political parties, on the hit list or not. On the flip side, only someone being disingenuous would question the bravery and courage of the ANP and its leadership. The TTP has certainly not made its list based on tax returns and corruption records.
The comparison to be made then is; is it more desirable to have unimpeachable financial integrity or courage? No marks for answering; both. In an ideal world, we would have both. However, if the PML -N and the PTI are to be believed, then that is not possible, and they propose to us surrender and appeasement, however, with flawless accounting; and they do it without a trace of irony or embarrassment. The ANP offers us not only courage but a clear-eyed stance in the face of the assault that we face. The ANP has volunteered itself to the frontline and are putting up a damn impressive fight.
An evaluation, if any needs to be done, should be between terrorism and corruption as the major challenges that we face. It is not much of a parallel. The threat to our state posed by theocratic fanatics cannot be equated to the generic structural problems of corruption, nepotism, inefficiency, etc. And anybody who undertakes this equation is either ignorant or dishonest. If taken to its logical end, would a Taliban regime which is not financially corrupt be preferable to a democratically-elected government, which is bound to be imperfect regardless of which party is in power? There is only one answer to this question that has any place in a civilised society. All of this does not mean that the governance record and financial transparency, etc. be ignored. Yet, the efficiency and good governance that comes with fascism is something that we can do without. We should prefer those with minor blemishes in professional records who are willing to fight for the rights of our children to go to school over dead honest suicide bombers destroying girl’s schools. It seems a bit fatuous to point out that the punishment for murder and theft not meant to be the same.
Anyone who dares to suggest that BB, Mian Iftikhar Husain’s only son and Bashir Bilour were martyred because of the desire for money, deserves to have the door shut on their face by every decent individual. No resort to religious interpretations or intricate calculation is required. The blood of the martyr, whatever its exact worth may be, is certainly more valuable than empty, cheap, craven rhetoric.
Listening to Mr Asfandyar Wali Khan on television recently gave both hope and hopelessness. He does not avert his gaze from the challenge we face. Yet, he was also a man who has been abandoned by the state, political parties and perhaps even by the people of this country. “Free and Fair election” is a farce when candidates are killed and people told to stay away from rallies or else they will be killed. Still, the ANP fights, like our gallant soldiers in Tirah who fight for our lives by laying down their own, there is honour that, and the sort of honour that cannot be replicated by fancy, invigorating campaign songs. There is honour in fighting even while being ignored by a media and society preoccupied with tomfoolery of the lowest order. It is a shame that the ANP has to even explain what the conflict is about at this stage. The upright response is to say thank you and stand by their side.
No election anywhere is ever single issue. Yet, we now have an election which is as close to being single issue as it gets. That issue is not perceived corruption. It is survival and self-respect. The parties which lead the pack in the campaign are not even promising this, not even weakly or unconvincingly. The parties which offer this unfortunately are not allowed to campaign, at least not without the very real risk of getting killed. The TTP has made this election into a two-party contest. Unless the PML-N and the PTI come out with strong, unequivocal condemnations and express their desire to stand with the ANP, the PPP and the MQM, they are squarely in the TTP party, and are there by conscious choice. This seems too simple a binary and so it is. The ANP is absolutely on the right side of this divide, and deserves our support and vote for this general principle.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (28)
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"We should prefer those with minor blemishes in professional records who are willing to fight for the rights of our children to go to school over dead honest suicide bombers destroying girl’s schools." Two thumbs up!!
Looking at the beneficiaries, It seems the 'Election Mangers' indicted by the SC in the Asghar Khan case, have found a new and far more deadly tool for election management.
It is a shame that the ANP has to even explain what the conflict is about at this stage. The upright response is to say thank you and stand by their side.
Do you think a people who preferred to garland a killer and politicians who believe in keeping quiet for fear of harm to their 'supporters' will suddenly grow a backbone and do this?
You have to be the most optimistic person going around.
Brilliant! Some of the comments above suggested that PTI has condemned attacks on ANP. I think what really matters is that PTI should condemn TTP squarely as TTP accepts the responsibility in very clear terms. Bu then I know, not every one has the courage to do so.
The thing you have very clearly ignored in your article is that all these "effected" political parties are those that were presently in the government. In 2008 they were freely able to contest in the elections and campaign as they wished. This rise in strength and influence of the taliban has happened in their time in government and by their poor governance.
The fact that PTI is not targeted by the taliban is exactly the reason they should be in power because they are the ones that are best positioned to bring peace back into Pakistan.
SI, Thanks for brilliant piece. What you can expect from a person who is Amirul momneen and Taliban Khan? Education curriculum imparted by fundos in last 30 years has produced biased minds. They still follow same " cardinal theme of Zia what is the use of election if you don't get positive results" whether you bribe politician , disqualify them in the name of religion, kill them, or what ever. Same party is playing same them with with different trick. How can you justify win in a race when you tie legs of participant and then win race? This is legacy of Zia and supporters of PMLN and Taliban khan believe in that.
PTI & PML(N) are both crowd pleasers instead of true & bold leaders who can take a stand. I salute ANP, MQM & even PPP.
@Green Tiger:
Thank you for acknowledging the writer's stance and of so many anti-PTI folks. PTI thinks corruption is unforgivable but murder is ok! Kind of speaks volumes about the mentality of the party cadres and its followers and something exactly the writer points out.
I see it totally differently.PTI or PMLN are not pro-TTP nor are they not-against terrorists.They just have a differrent strategy of dealing with the situation.This sudden barrage of THEY VERSUS US on the media seems to be orchestrating favour for ANP,MQM and PPP and nothing more.I see PTI and PMLN leaders condemning terror attacks on dialy basis. But yes media trying to portray differrently and repeatedly is working just like Goebles lies worked on Germans in world war -II.
Yes there is an argument and political fight betwenn right and left but dont make it a fight between terror and peace which it is not.
You want proof of my stand. Answer me this and you will get your answer.; Why media is not going after ultra right parties(JI, JUF etc.) and focusing on parties anticipated to win (PMLN and PTI) only.Actually focus keeps shifting against the party which is increasing looking like a winner.Take your guess Somebody is taking a leaf from FOX TV and tactics used by republicans against democrats in US..
Remember our most moderately enlightened leader Musharraf who in theory talked against religious fundmentalism but in pratice went after PMLN and PPP only and went to bed with MMA.
Let's ban PTI, PMLN, JI, JUIF and let only PPPP, ANP, and MQM to contest the election. Even if there are attacks, the three "mazloom" parties will win and we will have triumph of democracy. PPPP, ANP and MQM have done nothing in the past five years and now, once but again, want to contest the elections on the basis of dead bodies and muzloomiat.
The report of SC commission on lal masjid has legitamised storage of weapons,presence of trained warriors in lal majid and implementation of Islam/ Sharia by use of force and any one say Musharraf regieme ordering armed operation against them like that of lal masjid is a murderer and had to pay cost to them,beside reconstructing Jamia Hafsa.Some other(unknown) means should have been used to tackle the situation.Talibanisation and fortification of mosques all over the country will now happen soon.TTP is not the only one to turn elections into two party contest.It is the SC and judiciary also.
@Green Tiger: What the ...........? What you saying??
Hi moderator saib, kindly post my comment I sent u 5 hours ago.
An excellent piece; thumbs up to the writer & ET for sharing this view about ANP, which so far has been a victim of strong bias in most of the media (both print and electronic). The corruption charges against ANP has been a fasion with the media and politicians from the day they took over in 2008. However, nothing has been proved yet; if at all there is corruption at lower level, that is not more than anywhere else in the country. People keep on referring to that few yr old transparency report, but that too was biased as survey was conducted in Hazara when sentiment was against ANP after naming of KP. Despite the odds of terrorism and floods, ANP has done far more development projects than its predecessors. Particularly in education, health, infrastructure and power (5 dams launched but they would take few years to produce electricity). Among the 4 provinces, only in KP unemployment has been reduced. The no. of colleges and universities has been more than doubled in 5 yers as ANP believes the only solution to extremist mindset is education. Unfortunately TTP knows this and have destroyed more than 500 schools in kp. They may not have done as well as Shabaz sharif, but then security situation in the two provinces makes the comparison irrational. Above all, as the writer has pointed out, it is the ideology and struggle against an extremist mindset, that matters much, and that makes ANP unique from others.
@Green Tiger: Killings, beheadings and terrorism against the minorities and target killings of secular leaders and stealing elections by forcing the opponents not to campaign is the highest form of corruption. Stealing or making money or getting a position of authority by unfair means is corruption. Yet gaining power by killing opposition and benefiting from the terrorist actions of Taliban is not corruption? When there is a major theft the main question is asked who is benefitting from this theft? BTW, thanks for honestly telling PTI's position. Regards, M
An excellent piece; thumbs up to the writer & ET for sharing this view about ANP, which so far has been a victim of strong bias in most of the media (both print and electronic). The corruption charges against ANPhas been a fasion with the media and politicians from the day they took over in 2008. However, nothing has been proved yet; if at all there is corruption at lower level, thaat is not more than anywhere else in the country. People keep on referring to that few yr old transparency report, but that too was biased as survey was conducted in Hazara when sentiment was against ANP after naming of KP. Despite the odds of terrorism and floods, ANP has done far more develoment projects than its predecessors. Particularly in education, health, infrastructure and power (5 dams launched but they would take few years to produce electriccity). Among the 4 provinces, only in KP enemployment has been reduced. The no. of colleges and universities has been more than dubled in 5 yers as ANP believes the only solution to extremist mindset is education. Unfortunately TTP knows this and have destroyed more than 500 schools in kp. They may not have done as well as Shabaz sharif, but then security situation in the two provinces makes the comparison irrational. Above all, as the writer has pointed out, it is the ideology and struggle against an extremist mindset, that matters much, and that makes ANP unique from others.
If the protection to voters will be available ANP will get the sympathy vote. But there is every possibility to create panic to scare away the voters on the day of polling mainly in KP.
Watch Imran Khan's latest interviews--he has clearly stated that this senseless killing is wrong. Now go and ask the darbari league why they are mum about it.
Every political party fights for a cause. PTI main cause is corruption & IK made it clear right from the beginning. Being a right wing party, PTI has no issues with Taliban & has made it clear because it believes the war on terror is not our war. It was brought upon us & we don't have to fight with Muslims.
"There remains deadly silence from the parties not on the hit list." Strange - start reading papers outside of your own columns and you will see condemnation from everyone. Seriously. Just another attempt to make the PPP look good and liberal and full of rainbows and puppy dogs.
We live in a country where people prefer absolutes. In saddening to see people comment that "even though they dont support killing, by targetting the MQM, PPP and ANP, TTP is doing a great service to Pakistan." People need to realist that it is possible to disagree with political ideology or individuals, and also condemn people who threaten them.
''The ANP is absolutely on the right side of this divide, and deserves our support and vote for this general principle''
Yes vote for ANP and have a 'terrorism-free' and 'courageous' Pakistan just like last 5 years. The author has proven has inability to look beyond his immediate pet issue of a supposed battle of right and left. Perhaps, sitting in cozy bedrooms with all the worldly luxuries and fat paychecks one can afford to be such singularly minded.
I totally agree with the author.Is the TTP a new name for Establishment because the way I see it is an already rigged election in favour of the right wing parties.And why should the PMLN and PTI speak when they already have succumbed to the TTP and likes infact Nawaz sharif has been a financial beneficiary from these terrorist organizations and Imran Khan can only see drone attacks and is too blind to see or naive to care for the suicide bombers.
You have made a case without even mentioning the army and the role it plays and is supposed to play as per its own definition.................. and such an omission especially by you is puzzling.
Strong words: "Unless the PML-N and the PTI come out with strong, unequivocal condemnations and express their desire to stand with the ANP, the PPP and the MQM, they are squarely in the TTP party, and are there by conscious choice" But I think you have hit the right hammer. Either you for a free society or you are not. Corruption cannot be stopped unirely in the country, but fundamentalism can.
The rightwing strategic assets are stealing the elections for the silent rightwing parties of change. In 2013 the agencies do not need to steal the elections by bribing rightwing politicians like they did in 1990 as SC has determined. Now their modus oprendi has changed.