Pakistan’s quest for functional harmony

It is common wisdom that it saps the energy of a nation when country’s political leadership operates at cross-purposes

It is common wisdom that it saps the energy of a nation when the country’s political leadership operates at cross-purposes. The current political scenario is not only a reflection of a drift towards increasing confrontational politics but also a constant reminder of how emaciated our democracy is. The paradox is that either our leaders in their assumed self-righteousness are not conscious of this reality or their institutional and political interests trump these higher goals.

The most glaring manifestation is that instead of taking corrective measures to improve democratic governance, we continue tempering with its fundamentals. The PTI feels that it can ignore the opposition and parliament as long as it enjoys the confidence of the establishment.

There is no ambiguity that the Prime Minister and his party leaders have every right to be critical of the opposition parties regarding its past failures or current conduct. But if the discourse is filled with contempt and acrimony and the government leadership is unwilling to engage with the opposition and give them their rightful political space, it puts brakes on multiple fronts. It frustrates the opposition, as its backlash was recently visible when JUI-F took to the streets and went the other extreme.

PM Khan’s crusade against corruption is laudable but here too, moderation and balance has to be exercised. Constant verbal assault and painting a picture that the entire opposition leadership is corrupt and incorrigible has vitiated the atmosphere, giving greater space to state institutions. There is no denying that there are corrupt elements but they are also there in government departments, business houses, etcetera. It is a national malice that has to be tackled by further strengthening the legal framework and associating the opposition, media and civil society. Singling out political foes gives rise to misgivings.

There is also a perception that the PM’s offensive posture toward the opposition is strengthened by his belief that as long as the military is on his side, his political standing and future is secure. This is an onerous concept because the country’s future depends upon political stability and the economic wellbeing of its people. Furthermore, by constantly maligning the opposition leadership of being corrupt he degrades our already fragile democracy and in fact, his own position. For then he has to be beholden to state institutions and non-political forces for leveraging his power.

The recent departure of PML-N leaders to the UK has given rise to doubts about the commitment of its leadership to the rule of law and adherence to the principles of democratic accountability. Are they compromising for personal and party favours and is politics regressing and going back on the model of the 1980s and 90s? Bilawal Bhutto has raised concerns about the silence of the PML-N leadership and questioned them if it was part of any deal.

A fact that has never taken root is the realisation that if Pakistan has to genuinely have a market-oriented economy, it should strengthen its political system and its parliament in particular. Otherwise the current trend of commercialisation of power wherein only those are your rulers who have immense wealth or are supported by them.

There is a need on the part of the government to be more circumspect in making claims that raise expectations but are unlikely to be fulfilled in the near or mid-term. The most glaring example was the construction of houses for the deprived.

Moreover, federal and provincial governments would be well advised to give high priority to education — a subject that fortunately is very dear to the Prime Minister. Education has been neglected by successive governments and has cost the nation immeasurably. With the change in portfolio of the previous dedicated and able education minister, Shafqat Mahmood, there could again be a slack in pursuing this agenda. We hardly need to be reminded that economic growth and good governance have a direct bearing on the level of education of its people. Efforts to spread education in remote areas and neglected segments of society should be the priority of provincial governments as this comes under their jurisdiction. The education standards and lack of facilities in rural Sindh, Balochistan and parts of K-P need to be addressed seriously.

A country that was created through the foresight and determination of the Quaid-e-Azam needs faithful adherence to democratic norms to integrate its diverse ethnic, linguistic and sectarian entities. Years of military rule followed by anaemic governance during quasi-democratic governments have alienated the people of Balochistan. Even after seven decades, they feel disempowered and estranged from the establishment and the federation. A low-level insurgency has become the hallmark of Balochistan. The longer it lasts the more it will sap the capacity for democratic institutions to be strengthened and its true potential be harnessed. As various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are in the process of completion, the importance of Balochistan and the Gwadar port has further enhanced.

As the internal strength of the country weakens, its reliance on regional and world powers for economic and political support increases. This obviously compromises its independence in decision-making and steering its destiny. Our distressed economy has led to a situation wherein we are bound by the dictates of the IMF and international aid agencies.

It was music to our ears when Imran Khan recently remarked that Pakistan would not participate in any future wars of others. But have we ever analysed what was the underlying motivation for being part of certain alliances — CENTO, SEATO and the Afghan Jihad. Apart from strengthening our defence against India, it was also meant to prop our distressed economy.

We have to shed our past legacies and aim at focusing on strengthening our institutions. This can only be achieved when economic and political institutions are functional and the government remains firmly committed to the rule of law.

It is not too ambitious to aspire that people get along with their lives in a peaceful way rather than focusing on non-issues and branding each other as corrupt.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2020.

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