The world according to the Zar-Naw brothers!

Those who are interested in nation-building and in understanding what has happened in our motherland, Pakistan, in the last eight years of democratic rule can probably recognise that the word Zar-Naw in the title of this column is an abbreviation of two names.

The first is Asif Ali Zardari, former president of Pakistan, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto and a senior member of her cabinet, the present co-chairman of the Pakistan’s Peoples Party, and the father of Bilawal Bhutto, the imprudently and above all, undemocratically imposed chairman of the PPP. Let us be reminded that Zardari is the same man known for his public speech threatening an important national institution and to shut down Pakistan, saying “aent se aent baja dang gey. ” He’s the holder of unknown, unspecified bank accounts in Switzerland and other countries. He’s allegedly the owner of several sugar mills in Sindh, thousands upon thousands of acres of land in Pakistan and holds unspecified properties in France, the US, the Gulf states and some other counties worldwide.

The other name is Nawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister, the re-elected party leader of the PML-N after being disqualified as Prime Minister recently by the Supreme Court on charges under constitutional articles (62 and 63) and being indicted in a NAB court for massive corruption and amassing wealth beyond known and legitimate sources of income. Above all, he is the relentless proponent of the Sharif dynasty as the future political masters of this nation and proud promoter of his daughter, Maryam Nawaz Safdar, as the future leader of his party and of this country. Indeed, this introduction to Mian Nawaz Sharif would not be complete without mentioning his son-in-law, Capt (retired) Safdar, a spectacle to watch and a disturbing phenomenon to hear as he makes nauseating parliamentary speeches and public remarks full of venom unbelievably hurtful to our diverse minority citizens and harmful to the nation’s unity. It must also be mentioned that Mian Nawaz Sharif’s two sons, Hassan and Hussain, while sitting in London have publicly disowned Pakistan, asserting that they are British citizens subject to no Pakistani laws.

Allow me one more addition to this introduction of Nawaz Sharif. The ex-Prime Minister resides in Jati Umra in Lahore, a property acquired during his Chief Ministership of Punjab, developed with public money (roads, canal, etc.) with a wall surrounding it now estimated at Rs40 crores built at government expense.

This is a precise and realistic picture of the unprincipled, culturally-alien, oligarchic, ultra-status-quo reactionary political leadership of the so-called democratic dispensation of this country during the last eight years of the Zar-Naw brothers’ leadership. The world according to the Zar-Naw brothers can be summed up literally in seven simple Punjabi words: “luto, puto, tey hor luto tey puto” (Plunder, extort, and embezzle, and then vanish depart, disappear with loot… and plead for another NRO).

So, the question that begs attention now is: does this nation of 200 million-plus citizens want more of the Zar-Naw brothers’ leadership? Should the incumbent supporters of the Zar-Naw brothers’ political dispensation be allowed to continue in the political landscape of this country?

This, in essence, is the concept and operational meaning of democracy for the Zar-Naw brothers: the secret (and their sacred) covenant of personalised political power used for massive economic gains, camouflaged by rhetoric, symbolism and an emotionally-laden political strategy for mass consumption.

Let me quote here Nuruddin Farah, a Somali novelist: “Secrets define us, they mark us, they set us apart from all the others. The secrets which we preserve provide a key to who we are, deep down.” Deep down, the Zar-Naw brothers are not democrats. They are neither intellectually, ethically, or even humanely capable of comprehending what democracy is all about.

The trouble is that “democracy” in itself is essentially a thought process, an ideology, and a practice that is solely and fundamentally based on the development and exercise of fairness and ethical-moral principles. Its implementation requires intellectual growth and simultaneous expansion and evolution of the political mind. Practising ethical-moral democracy is an enormous intellectual responsibility. Centuries ago, Aristotle warned that traders cannot be rulers — imagine the reasons by reflecting on our existential experience of the Zar-Naw brothers’ so-called democratic leadership! Aristotle maintained that only a philosopher king can realise this delicate spiritual code. In Pakistan, only a selfless qalandari leadership can fulfill this kind of spiritual role.

Coming back to the Zar-Naw brothers’ political behaviour and political legacy, a story comes to my mind that is appropriate to share with my readers: a most suitable analogy for those self-indulgent, self-absorbed political leaders and their political actions.

This story is credited once again here to Nuruddin Farah: “There is a tale in which a fly catches sight of a beehive in an orchard. The fly offers half of his property for the right to dip his wings in the sweetness. They strike a deal which gives half of the fly’s property to the queen bee, which allows the fly to stay as long as he pleases in the honey. Eventually, the fly tires of being in the honey, and wants out. A baby bee nearby asks what the fly will give if helped. The fly lists many benefits. The baby bee is unimpressed. Finally, the fly offers to escort her to a valley where honeyguides die by the millions. ‘Now you are talking,’ the bee beams with delight. She helps him to get unstuck. The fly takes off, leaving behind him nothing but the ugly buzzing noise of an unfulfilled pledge in the baby bee’s ears.”

The Zar-Naw brothers must be held accountable for their political behaviour that has irrevocably damaged this nation’s political, economic and social fibre. And the loot must be recovered!

Do not let them get away this time around!

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2017.

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