A real estate billionaire first meets secretly with prominent members of the media to persuade them that he is being blackmailed by the son of the chief justice of Pakistan, then goes public with documentary proof once the chief justice himself takes suo motu notice of the whispers. After the CJP recognises the impropriety of hearing a case relating to his own son, the remaining members of the bench hurriedly dispose of the matter, claiming that the allegations of corruption stand rebutted by Malik Riaz’s own statement that he never got any relief. Sure. Whatever you say, your Lordships.
Meanwhile, back in media-land, the affair of the errant son touches off a separate firestorm as television anchors accuse each other of being on the take. The mud-slinging then reaches epic heights once a much-hyped interview of Malik Riaz by two prominent anchors is revealed through leaked footage not only to have been carefully ‘planted’ but the subject of instructions from personalities such as the prime minister’s son. The jhut-put of the anchors then escalates into a war of TV channels as Dunya (employer of the two disgraced anchors) attacks Geo (the self-appointed standard bearer for media ethics), while Geo’s cartoon avatar recites mangled poetry in praise of the chief justice.
At this stage, much of the country has reached the point where all it wants to see are heads on a pike. It doesn’t matter whose heads; just some heads, so that ordinary citizens can assume that this nonsense is over and we can go back to worrying about stuff which really counts, like people being blown up in Peshawar, target killings in Karachi, the Taliban’s ban on polio vaccinations and … hey, look — it’s Meher Bokhari in librarian guise, defending herself against being a sell-out.
Sorry, where was I? Ah yes, the irreducible complexity of our politics and our desire to impose simplistic narratives on what is basically a giant mess. In light of which, here are some of the various storylines currently on offer.
The PPP version — Our people have sacrificed so much for democracy. Their sacrifices must not be allowed to be in vain. The PPP is the only true national party in Pakistan. Attacking PPP leaders is the same as attacking democracy. The sovereignty of parliament must be respected.
The Geo/PML-N version — Our people have sacrificed so much for an independent judiciary. Their sacrifices must not be allowed to be in vain. The judiciary is the only functioning institution left in Pakistan. Attacking judges or their children is the same as attacking the judiciary. The independence of the judiciary must be respected.
The GHQ version — Our people have sacrificed so much for an independent Pakistan. Their sacrifices must not be allowed to be in vain. The army is the only functioning institution left in Pakistan. Attacking the army is the same as attacking Pakistan. The integrity of Pakistan must be defended.
The Zaid Hamid version — Our people have sacrificed so much for an Islamic state. Their sacrifices must not be allowed to be in vain. Can somebody please find me a white horse? And in the meantime, please donate heavily to my think-tank.
The one common theme behind all of these narratives is that a simplistic analysis begets a simplistic solution. In other words, all of our problems first get reduced to the level of “two legs bad” after which a solution at the level of “four legs good” is provided.
The answer, self-evidently, is for people to realise that our problems cannot be reduced to a single solitary factor. Only then will the door be opened for a more nuanced understanding of problems and a more nuanced appreciation of their solutions.
All well and good, you may respond. But if wishes were horses, Zaid Hamid would be leading a cavalry charge into Srinagar at this moment. How do we get people to look past the rubbish being shoved into their faces?
Broadly speaking, there are two competing answers.
The first answer is that nothing needs to be done. Instead, Pakistanis will figure it out for themselves because they are no dumber than the people of any other country. All we lack is experience in dealing with the kind of shysters the Almighty has seen fit to inflict upon us. Like people in other countries, we too, will eventually learn to elect better rulers.
The second answer is that “we” — as in the educated, literate, newspaper-reading population of this country — cannot trust the uneducated, illiterate population. And so, we need to forget about democracy, go back to some form of technocratic rule with token participation for the masses and gradually transition to full democracy once the fundamentals of a civilised politics have been established.
This debate is as old as Pakistan. The only difference now is that many people, myself included, thought the events of 2007 and the return of democracy had finally decided this debate. Now, I am not so sure.
As I write this column on a searingly hot Sunday afternoon, my part of Lahore is into its fourth hour of load-shedding. My UPS died half an hour ago and what residual optimism I have left is slowly evaporating in the heat.
It may be that the return of electricity to my quarters will help dissipate the pall of gloom. But what about the many for whom the heat will remain uninterrupted?
In many ways, the debate over authoritarian intervention in government resembles the debate over intervention in economies. Free-market fundamentalists argue that the only cure for a dysfunctional economy is to leave it alone because, in the long-run, the market corrects itself. The classic answer to that was given by Keynes who acidly noted, “In the long-run, we are all dead.”
Similarly, fans of popular governance argue that the only cure for bad democracy is more democracy while supporters of technocratic regimes note that history’s progress may be too slow for our liking.
At least for now, I am still hanging in the pro-democracy camp. But I wonder how long the rest of my countrymen are prepared to be patient.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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so lets buy a car - doesnt have wheels? so what? doesnt have doors? an engine? so what, its a car right? lets just sit and look at it. how nice? dont say anything bad about my car, ok? its better than a bicycle.
@Tch tch: http://tribune.com.pk/story/378752/in-the-court-of-the-mad-king/
Read comments .. he himself comments as answer to some readers.. and Also see the corrigenda at the end by ET.
@Huda: "Zaid hamid has always emphasised that a system on the model of khilafat-e-rashida should be established in pakistan."
SO let me ask you some practical questions: 1) How will the khalifa be selected? Will it be Zaid Hamid who will select a khalifa? Or will people of Pakistan vote? 2) If khalifa would be selected by people - how is it different from a democracy? As it is, there is a law that nothing in the constitution can be against Quran. And if the governance system needs to be changed then the elected khalifa with people's mandate can always change the constitution so that it models the governance system during khilafat?
Think about it. It is easy to just talk about khilafat and project that all problems will magically go away. But if you think about the mechanics of how you will implement it, you will realize that the issue is not with democracy. The issue is with the people who are being elected not being sincere to Pakistan. If the 'khalifa' i snot sincere to Pakistan then what will you do?
I really find the "zaid hamid version" in ur article both offensive and prejudiced. Zaid hamid has always emphasised that a system on the model of khilafat-e-rashida should be established in pakistan. Mankind had never seen a system whose perfection equals that. If u deny it, in an attempt to appear "liberal", i will say u r making a grave mistake!
Democracy is only a means to the end.And the end is well being of the people.
Having achieved democracy does not land you into Utopia on it's own,lot of hard work still needs to be done.when democratic governments instead of critically appraising their own performance,start blaming other institutions,for their dismal failures,this is tantamount to undermining democracy.
Brilliant article, Mr. Naqvi. Bravo.
This is a classic piece - extremely well said. My take on the two choices offered is as follows: without checks and balances and without accoountability of all citizens at all levels, both democracy and technocracy will go nowhere. If we are to have dictatorship, it should be as in Singapore or China or South Korea or like some of the Gulf states. Meaning that the only thing that cannot be challenged in a court is the dictator's legitimacy. Almost every other issue is open to judicial challenge, to check and balamce. And almost everyone besides the dictator is accountable. China does not have democracy but it has accountability. Even in Saudi Arabia if the power company stops supplying, the royal family will take swift steps to replace the prince in charge with another person who can do the job. In Pakistan we just do not know the meaning of accountability, hence every system will fail. Democracy's odds are a little better because elections are a built-in form of accountability.
Democracy's Revenge is on! Thank you fake democracy for these searingly hot days without electricity. No, seriously. Month of Ramazan is coming and we - the people - will remember you in all our prayers through the uniterrupted heat.
So who are these technocrats that can take over and right all the wrongs in Pakistan? Genuinely curious, Mr. Naqvi.
Until the mindset of the people who ask Allah to fulfill their needs without making any effort, the country will remain the same even after hundred years.
No dictatorship! Although our politicians are not perfect but better than generals.
Vote for PTI
Can Gen. Kayani please step in already and clear the mess!
The second answer is exactly what is wrong with our country. Unfortunately the uneducated and illiterate masses are more sensible than the educated and literate because they are the ones facing the problems in the first place and so their solutions to the problems are more in line to what needs to be done and once a government of the poor illiterate people, by the poor illiterate people and for the poor illiterate people is established we might just do fine.
whatever,
Thank you Feisal for continuing to be steadfast and not advocating a return to the dark ages. Remember you are sitting in this heat not because of 4 years of a democratic (yet dysfunctional) government. You are sitting in this heat because for 8 years before that you (and we) sat around while one dictator and his cronies pillaged the country and did nothing for energy and infrastructure. Even when the dictator could do something because he was virtually unchallenged, he did nothing. Which is more criminal? An embattled democracy not delivering or a strong steady dictator not delivering? This is not a sin of democracy. The sin was of a dictator, and this is the punishment.
@Duh! Okay so there are four Fiqhs among the Sunnis - -Hanafi, Malik, Shafi and Hanbali. Truth be told it is today really a question geography ie which country you're born in. So it is no big deal!
@Duh!: oh really? when was this. My Gripe with him is making a mess of Pakistans Balighar Dam Case. If I were him I would stay clear of the public sphere. Naqvi Sahab never found the time to explain in print his role in that debacle which will effect this country for decades to come. Throwing stones from Glass Houses and all...
Its not often that an opinion piece is written in an uncomplicated way making it a fun read. I am not convinced that you could only think up two solutions. Possibly there are no solutions and we are destined to linger in this state of controlled anarchy.
We need to be optimistic despite all ills and commit to play our role.
@Khan jr: I agree with you 100%. I give these people a recent example. G. Bush was one of the worst presidents in US history. People did not like him, yet they were hopeful they can get rid of him in four years. After four years and re-election still his opponents believed he would be gone in another four. If it were a dictator there would have been no hope to get rid of that man. The voters can hire and fire the rulers whenever they want in the next elections. We have seen Gen Zia, his public flogging of opponents, incarceration of political activists, lying about 90 days elections, hanging elected PM, Islamization of the society, polarizing society on ethnic and sect basis and killing of hopes and cultural activities. We do not want to go back we want to move forward. Thanks and regards, Mirza
"The second answer is that “we” — as in the educated, literate, newspaper-reading population of this country — cannot trust the uneducated, illiterate population"
Sounds somewhat arrogant on the part of so called educated class. I can say with full conviction that most of the large scale miseries on population are brought by so called educated people and not the illiterates. The people who rule are all educated. Pakistan had so called dictators/ technocratic governments and the result is for all to see. Whole blame can not be laid at the door of this single democratic government. We have illiterate and semi-educated voters in India and most of the time they elect the right candidate and kick out the bad ones. Their voting sense is far better than the educated people. One does not have to be a rocket scientists to choose a right candidate. I will say with full conviction that the societies are failed by so called educated people and not the illiterates. Moreover, these poor illiterates are around for the incompetence of educated ones who could not provide the basics to them. Nowt allowing them to vote will be insult to their injury
hen gave egg everyday but greedy want a golden egg
All those people who dream of a benevolent dictator need to think that once a so called 'benevolent' dictator takes over, he has you by the throat and then can turn nasty and vicious to hold onto his grip on power. Members of the rich Elite have never been dragged out in the middle of the night, summarily executed and their body dumped on some deserted barren land. Perhaps sadly that is the only way these people will learn that democracy - no matter how bad - is better than any variety of dictatorship
The problem is not what type of govt but the dishonesty to the core. We have double standards in every walk of life. If my family makes illegal money it is fine but if my opponent does the same, it is a big crime and must be severely punished. One never loses elections in Pakistan fair and square; it is always the bogus voting or not full participation of voters. The elections never end they keep going against the winners as if their lives depend on the seats. Winning and making money is their birth right and anybody in their way is traitor, and not legit. My family is the cleanest of them all and I guarantee that, there is no need for investigation! I want to delegitimize every act of the govt if I did not make the cabinet and lost elections. I am against dual citizenship because I do not have, and I have no chance as I work in an Arab country, and the list goes on and on.
The worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship.... perhaps not so much!