Everyone in Pakistan seems to be seeking change these days. From Imran Khan to the recent Tahirul Qadri, everyone seems convinced that only radical change can save Pakistan. Let me posit that Pakistan does not need the radical changes these gentlemen are proposing and that attempt at such changes is one of the root causes of instability in Pakistan.
From its inception, Pakistan has been mired by what is really a ‘change’ conspiracy. Everyone wants to change the system to something ‘better’ (which always remains ambiguous and ephemeral) and in the way destroys what the country already had. Even with its faults, the system Pakistan inherited — a strong bureaucracy, limited democracy and strong military — used to deliver on several fronts. Since most of the country was rural, the powerful bureaucrat (who needed to be of a good moral fibre) could be fair and just at a very local level. Democracy was slowly being expanded, just as in Britain during its formative phase, as people understood not only the rights but also the responsibilities of the system. Finally, the military guarded the volatile boundaries of the country. Much was, of course, at fault here and needed to be corrected, but not through a wholesale change of the system.
Right from the start, both Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan hinted that they wanted a change in the system. While Jinnah could only articulate some broad principles in his short period as governor general, Liaquat was firmly of the opinion that a ‘third way’ between capitalism and communism needed to be found. Speaking in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, Liaquat spoke of Pakistan as a laboratory where Islamic principles and Western models shall be experimented. Trying to achieve a synthesis of a system based on the will of God and another based on the will of the people for the first time in history was not a simple task and led to Pakistan creating a rather hodgepodge system of governance in the 1956 Constitution. Liaquat’s Objectives Resolution of 1949 clearly manifests this ‘change’ theory together with a perfect recipe for disaster with its mingling of many different principles and ideas.
Following Liaquat, Iskandar Mirza and Ayub Khan thought Pakistan unfit for democratic government and tried to thwart Pakistan becoming a democratic nation. Mirza, as the first president, postponed the long-awaited general elections, dismissed the assembly, abrogated the Constitution and imposed martial law, while Ayub Khan simply brought in a new system of basic democracies — a system of indirect election ultimately dominated by the bureaucrats. After Ayub, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s attempt at making a new federal constitution in 1973 meant that Pakistan was even less federal than under the 1935 Act (Pakistan’s first working constitution), while Ziaul Haq perpetually confused the legal and legislative systems of the country through his Islamic provisions. All rulers also always ‘restructured’ the bureaucracy which meant that it progressively became inefficient, corrupt and incoherent. All this was done in the name of radical ‘change.’
Now, again, we have the harbingers of change at centre stage. Right-wing or left-wing, all these change-mongers believe in one thing — that somehow, a miraculous system will emerge which will solve everything. Apologies for pointing out the obvious but such miracles do not happen in the real world and such expectations are mere wishful musings. For example, Tahirul Qadri argues that having a lavish lifestyle is not really Islamic. True — yet, except for the Taliban, not even the most conservative of Muslim governments follow this quite simply because in the modern world, there are certain expectations of governmental grandeur, ceremony and stature which need to be maintained. Without it, international relations will not work properly.
Pakistan can only move ahead and succeed if its strange fascination with radical ‘change’ is abandoned. Work with what you have and try to make it better. Laboratories are for science experiments, not for continual experimentation with the lives of people.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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Qadri has made it amply clear that he is after the PM post in the interim setup, and this is no doubt the only way he would ever get to this level of power and influence through a non-democratic selection process. It would be a devastating failure of the entire system if he ever does. He is planted by establishment to sabotage democratic process. If he is sincere to this country he must abolish his dual nationality and reside in Pakistan but never he would never be willing to abandon his dual nationality because he is enjoying lots of perks and privileges there. Religiously he has been exposed at number of occasions and soon he is going to be unmasked on political fronts as well.
Author, I wonder how you don't need a radical change when this country, siting on vaolcano of hatred, intollerance,built and protected by the same change mongers.It's not a now question whether there is a need for radical change or not.The thing is this deadly volcano doesn't need an outside help to burst out,This is definetly going to happen tomorrow or day after tomorrow.Question should be whether and how we can survive from the ashes of errupted volcano.
Change is the only thing which is universal and it will happen(either positive or negative) . This is unstoppable. If we look at the things carefully we can observe that the process of change is being done continuously and its effects are visible at a later date,
@Mirza:
Looks like you have a diesel powered generator and a Natural gas compressor installed in your home--otherwise, you will not have uttered such nonsense and would be out asking for change.
What is with this English medium class? Why are they so afraid of change? It is only because it undermines their papa's power base on which these lazy sloths survive.
Bring on the change. Vote PTI and fumigate the halls of power!
What a pragmatic and balanced Op Ed, thanks ET for that. It shows the potential of the scholar who has written it. Give me your money and jewels, I would double them. Don't ask me how, I would just do it. This has been going on in Pakistan for generations. In an educated society and the oldest democracy in the world when Mitt Romney talked about change and how he would balance the budget, people could see through the hollow rhetoric. The voters wanted the numbers and details, how would he balance and what expenditures would he cut but he had no real plan and answer. The result is history. It is the first time a sitting US President (Obama) has won with unemployment about 8%. But the other guy did not have any real plan except trust me I would bring out the change. We are looking for a messiah to descent upon us from overseas with a magic wand or lamp. Let us grow up and be realistic these are the same old leaders with new marketing plans.
@Mirza: I couldn't have agreed more with you.
This argument is not as convincing as it seems. The corrupt system of Pakistan is a feadual system. You cant have democracy in a system where a few families own majority of the land. as there is no democracy we need a major change that will radically change the system and that change is inevitable. History has proven time and again. People will rise up all thats needed is a spark and the nation will be up in flames. Political scientists are not very good at predictimg when these changes will take place but it will happen eventually. It will happen because people will make it so. You shouldnt be blind to such cosmic shifts which take place every now and again.
Sir. Dr Qadri did not say having a lavish lifestyle is unislamic. What he says is having a lavish lifestyle by stealing the people's money is unislamic. The protocols at national and iinternational level should be adhered to, but if you believe the lavish style of some of these politicians and gangsters is required then you clearly do not live in the same country as I do. They have raped the country of its resources and use them for their own personal gains.
It's naive and dishonest if you to suggest otherwise and allude to wild imaginative links between Taliban and Dr Qadri! The level of journalism should be above mere conjecture and imagination.
If more than 60% of the population living under poverty line and the country edging towards balkanization is not what requires change, I don't know what will. I am beginning to wonder if our intellectuals are another group of reactionaries, who have to oppose and criticize things just for the sake of it without having a vision of their own.
Very well said Mr. Bangash. It is so refreshing to know that such a clear-headed fellow is heading the History Department at FC College.