Home truths

Army generals are always in the news — they make news. The current chief of army staff has always been the man most heeded in this nation — a fact that tells us much and indicates the follies and faults of both political and other classes.

What is most unfortunate, indeed, even unseemly, is the present witch-hunt being conducted against a former army chief. General (retd) Pervez Musharraf made mistakes, even grievous errors, but that does not justify vengeance. One of his most deplorable acts has been bypassed in the hullabaloo that now surrounds him. As the architect — together with external and internal allies — of the truly unconstitutional NRO, he must shoulder much of the blame for the fiasco of the past five years. However and nevertheless, at some point, we must hope that justice coupled with common sense will prevail and that an even keel will be found.

Our current army chief, of late, has usually told things as they are, in addresses laden with home truths. In his GHQ address on April 30, near the beginning of his speech, he gently reminded us, “we have either not discovered the correct path or have not remained steadfast in our journey.” He would seem to be very correct on the former.

Early mention of the Siachen landslide casualties reminded us of the complete and utter futility of the totally destructive, murderous, senseless Siachen situation. One day, surely, both Pakistan and India will realise the downright stupidity of the stand-off on the roof of the world — “two bald men fighting over a comb,” as Stephen Cohen once put it.

And yes, perhaps, now with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s adamancy over the holding of elections, it will put paid to the continuous doubts expressed as to whether or not they will happen: “… general elections would be held in the country on 11^th of May. We must not harbour any suspicions or misgivings about it.” We have been told that “if we succeed in rising above all ethnic, linguistic and sectarian biases to vote solely on the basis of honesty, sincerity, merit and competence, there would be no reason to fear dictatorship”. The only problem here is what we have on the ground to be elected and what the outcome is likely to be. As General Kayani stressed, “The conduct of general elections is not an end per se but is surely an important means towards delivering us from our sufferings”.

He, more or less, reiterated what he told the nation at last year’s Independence Day parade at Kakul: “Today, extremism and terrorism present a grave challenge. We can claim that this menace is not of our making. This approach, however, will not solve the problem. It is important for us to clearly understand, what is extremism and terrorism. Misconceptions about these two terminologies can prove catastrophically divisive for the nation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2013.