My readers want me to write on the domestic situation. Let me admit, I have been trying to be in denial, rebuffing complaints from my wife about soaring inflation and the ever-increasing cost of living; avoiding reading the (mostly bad) news about dollar exchange rates, the high drama of Attock jail, the no end, and alternatives in sight; and the extremely humid summer with erratic electricity supply...especially in the rural hinterland. I am trying to keep the eternal optimist in me alive...but let me admit, it is becoming increasingly difficult.
Let’s start with some positivity. In a special report published in the August 2017 issue of Newsonline, titled ‘Battered, but Still Afloat’, Professor Anatol Lieven (famous for his 2012 book, Pakistan: A Hard Country) makes some interesting observations about Pakistan. Noting the contrast between the generally violent character of Pakistan’s public life, and the resilience and stability of Pakistani society, he attributes resilient stability for keeping Pakistan afloat in “crises that would have sunk other states”. He shows confidence that if Pakistan could survive the US pressure combined with Islamist insurgency in the recent past, it will continue to ‘trudge’ along.
Professor Anatol labels Pakistan’s polity “Janus-faced”, with its good and bad aspects being “two sides of the same coin”. Resilience on one side and stagnation, oppression on the other side. He credits the resilient stability to the extended family that has often been cold-shouldered by economists, progressive sociologists and journalists as “a source of social conservatism and oppression, especially of women”. He hopes the modern West might study “the extended family” again to regain social equilibrium and moral bearings. He hopes for an interface, someday, that combines family loyalty with respect for law.
Most social scientists miss the effects of Pakistan’s poor economics that have traditionally remained dependent on the US/Western largesse, given Pakistan’s relevance in a timeframe or in geospatial environment. Today with the US/West having residual and not very vital interests in Pakistan/region, that economic lifeline is almost dry. IMF conditionalities for a paltry couple billion dollars “in loan” are a case in point. Social consequences be damned, as long as the Military is strong enough to protect the nukes and collaborate on anti-terrorism.
On domestic political scene, no political party worth its name and dynastic credentials has any capability and ability to lead Pakistan through these uncertain times of immense economic peril. None has a finance minister, worth the office. It was, thanks to the Army, that the PTI government was served by a PPP stalwart, Mr Shaukat Tareen...in the larger national interest. No party has any economic recovery plan. The repeat experiment of PDM was an economic disaster of epic proportions, causes notwithstanding. A repeat of PTI’s ineptitude and inexperience in future sends shudders down the spine. And a repeat of extreme politics of the past 16 months, since PTI lost in a constitutional vote of no confidence, are forebodings for the future.
Perhaps for the first time in our history, there are no options or no good options for Pakistan and its stakeholders to stick to, and meander through the present and foreseeable troubles with multiplying challenges. Economic recovery is on top, being existential. Detoxifying the state and society from excessive politics and polarisation is next, alongside stability...that hopefully will kick in through our innate societal resilience, as the good professor surmises. Democracy, Pakistani style has not delivered, to admit with a heavy heart. In our patronage-addicted system, it is a short cut for dynasts and others to climb to the high pedestal of power, privilege, protocol and prestige...nothing more nothing less.
This sham democracy is not responsive to popular woes, citizenry’s tribulations and the unstoppable deluge of inflation and vanishing hope. Once elected and bestowed with millions in bribe-like developmental funding, the elected representatives hardly visit their areas or assuage the plight of common people. It has become an unholy business at best. The gullible have-nots each time believe with starry eyes in the larger-than-life promises of these political goons (mostly). And this sham democracy — during and after — divides us as a people, as a nation and as a government. And if and when ousted from power, these goons criticise and attack the very basis of our nationhood in a no-holds-barred manner. The ensuing debate is petty, poisoned, polarised and prejudiced, misguiding the people and the political cadre alike. The recent PTI-engendered extreme polarisation is a case in point. We could do well and survive on a fraction of the current level of politics. And we should.
Excessive political rhetoric to camouflage non-deliverance and poor governance — except in some very rare cases — has repeatedly led Pakistan to and through a mock democracy, leaving an agonised citizenry as its inevitable victim. This has almost always paved the way for military interference — good in intention but short on redressal of grievances. So, we need a political breather to find our national bearings, to steady our economic ship, and to pull back from the cliff of national hara-kiri. We need stability.
Pouring through available alternatives is for the stakeholders to decide. Electioneering, elections, polarisation, obscenity-laced political diatribes and exchanges, resource manipulation, self-enrichment and misappropriation of state resources must stop and end, under some watchful eyes...in a no non-sense manner. Sham democracy does not stand out as a feasible option, at least for now. Those clamouring for it want to renew their licence for more corruption, disguised behind the smokescreen of constitutionalism and love for democracy...their style. Although politically incorrect, it must be said and said loudly. We need a break.
Meanwhile, the politicians on sabbatical can read Anatol Lieven’s Pakistan: A Hard Country to understand the “amoral familism” of our army, itself a giant biradari. And know Military’s centrality to “Pakistan’s existence and future” as he sees it through fighting counterinsurgency, maintaining ethnic peace, protecting CPEC that rely heavily on Army-provided security and logistics, in addition to “perform[ing] every civilian task from disaster relief to building roads and running basic public services”.
PTI politicians, especially the quintessential Shah Mahmood Qureshi would do well to read some literature on revolution. List can be provided.
And caretakers! Take care through the minefield of governing this hard country. It is economy, stability, people and less politics. Reorder as you may!
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2023.
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