This is in reference to your editorial “Blundering in Balochistan” (September 10).
KARACHI: This is in reference to your editorial “Blundering in Balochistan” (September 10). Why can't the public question the credentials of important appointment holders in Pakistan? I have nothing personal against the interior minister but generally speaking, a personality not produced by the system to hold an important portfolio will never be able to do justice to the responsibility he or she is given.
Look at other countries in the world. Former prime minister Ben Gurion of Israel was said to be worth three army divisions. Late Yitzhak Rabin was commander-in-chief of the victorious Israeli army in the 1967 Arab-Israel war. Nelson Mandela remained in jail from 1962 to 1990 (for a just cause). Charles de Gaulle resigned as president of France in 1946 (disillusioned by the French government system which provided for a strong parliament and a weak president). He returned to power in 1958 with a commitment, gave France a new constitution and the stability that it enjoys till today.
All these leaders gave extreme sacrifices for the cause and betterment of their countries. We cannot hope to achieve any form of stability, not just in reference to Balochistan but even in Pakistan if we do not have suitable leadership. Thinking of the majority of present leadership of my country I am reminded of the famous saying of Richard Nixon, "What separates the men from boys in politics is that the boys seek office to be somebody and the men seek office to do something".
Lt-Col (r) Mohammed Ali Ehsan
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2010.
