The game’s the same

We need to self-censor the present daily use of the term ‘game-changer’ when referring to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) because it is so far proving to be highly contradictive. And another terminology which, in the case of this Islamic Republic, is and has been forever used and applied to what it definitely is not — ‘the national interest’. And when these two are combined, applying to each other, it is risible in the extreme.

The CPEC — always remembering that the ‘C’ precedes the ‘P’ — has been a bone of contention over the many months since it has been in play. Rather than changing anything, it has shown most consummately how the famed federating units are as disunited and at odds with each other over practically whatever issues or policies are aired by the federal government. Nothing new in this, and certainly no change. The most telling thing about how it currently has proven to be the opposite of a ‘game-changer’ is that the ‘C’ has had to step in and urge the squabbling ‘P’ lot to sort out their disagreements. As it stands, it seems unlikely that this can happen when surveying the calibre of those involved. So, maybe one fine day, the ‘C’ will get fed up, and then what?

What has been remarked upon (by Ayaz Amir for one) and is indeed strange, is that our mighty military, which has the knack of fixing contentious issues in the civilian camp, has not uttered in the case of the CPEC. Why, one must wonder? Does it have its own agenda, or is it just playing a waiting game until it pounces — in the national interest, of course. At the moment, the corridor has little to do with the national interest, but mostly to do with objections to the well ingrained grabby habits of the Nawabs of Raiwind. The entire CPEC deal is surrounded by murk, as is usual with all deals involving our governments. It is not conceivable that the military and its chief have been unable to penetrate the murk, so one can only assume they have their guarded reasons for their hands-off stance.

As for the other present national obsession, the kingdom and its fraught-with-danger attitude towards the successors of the great Persian Empire, we have yet another very murky area. There has to be some economy with the truth of what the nation is told of commitments made or not made. And the very idea that the government of Pakistan sees itself as a potential mediator is somewhat ridiculous as it is unable to even come close to mediating differences within its own federation.

Apart from all this, the national interest and any democratic aspirations that may exist are not being well served by the fact that this country is fast becoming a one-party state. The PPP is for all purposes extinguished other than in its hereditary province in which the people have been given no alternative. Its chances of revival are dim, there is no Bhutto leadership, there are only Zardaris. Imran Khan and his lot have stupidly and unnecessarily committed political hara-kiri, and the MQM cannot get out of Karachi. So, we are left with the Nawabs of Raiwind and their handful of relatives and yes-men and women.

So, as the political pundits are already predicting, barring any unforeseen upheaval, the 2018 elections are neatly sewn up. Raiwind’s rule, its utter disdain for cabinet and parliament, for the rights and needs of the people, and importantly, for even the essence of democracy — always remembering that, emphatically, elections do not a democracy make — are quite likely to be with the Islamic Republic for an unforeseeable future. Can Nawaz Sharif set another record — prime minister for life?

A dismal prospect, but then, in a country — even a world — in which it is impossible to predict even tomorrow, some saving grace may pop up out of the deep blue. As said Alexander Pope: “Hope springs eternal...”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2016.

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