The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
Not to be outdone, our local media also called for the president’s head. One of the country’s leading English-language columnists, Ayaz Amir, wrote “even when governments can’t cope, they can at least show empathy. That was missing.” Amir berated the fact that the first person on the scene of the floods was the army chief. “This has really cost Zardari heavily,” he concluded in his widely-read comments.
This time round, there is silence. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif makes a private visit to Saudi Arabia as floods rage through the country and the death toll rises with each passing day. The worst, say experts, is yet to come. This silence possibly makes us conclude that democracy has strengthened in Pakistan and that an elected official travelling abroad at a time of national crises does not put the country in danger as institutions are in place. Or that our media holds different persons to different standards.
But the real issue is something else. We have had to pay heavily for this Umrah, which we are told is a private visit but in which state machinery and officials are being used. We have had to pay in other ways too - the fact that our presidential elections were possibly fast-forwarded so that enough days were made available for the PM and his entourage to perform Umrah. One can appreciate how seriously our PM takes his religious obligations.
In the process, we have seen one of the most respected persons in the country throw in the towel. Justice (retd) Fakhruddin Ebrahim, who was appointed as chief election commissioner after a consensus and was supposed to stay in place till 2017, resigned. This is because he wanted to write a note to protest what he described as an attack on the ECP’s independence, but his own Commission’s members did not support him in this. It is not surprising that Justice Ebrahim was not backed by his own officials. What is surprising was that he lasted in his position this long. We owe him a debt of gratitude for conducting elections that were seen as reasonably free and fair at a time when the whole process was under question from militants and extremists.
The priorities of our government are different. On June 5, Mian sahab was sworn in as Pakistan’s 18th prime minister. His first visit to Karachi, the country’s commercial capital, took place on August 1, almost two months later. And that too, only for a day. In contrast, the visit to Saudi, where he met beaming members of the Saudi Royalty, streches over many days.
The Saudis would be pleased. After all, they hosted our PM in style for several years when he was in exile. Their views on President Zardari are well known, if one recalls the Wikileaks documents that recorded their candid observations. It is now pay-back time for our PM. One can only speculate what he has promised the Saudis this time round.
In direct contrast, our president visited Iran this week to attend the inauguration of Hassan Rouhani. President Rouhani has stated that he plans to work towards ending his country’s international isolation. This is good news but hopefully Pakistan’s role in this will be limited given our near-submissive relationship with the US. Even the decision to attend the inauguration came after some positive signals from the US during the visit of Secretary John Kerry.
We need to stay clear of the regional conflict between the Saudis and Iran. In the past we have paid heavily for it and we continue to do so in the form of sectarian terrorism perpetrated by outfits that have support from one quarter or another. The games being played in Syria, and those played earlier in Bahrain and other Arab countries, show that the regional rivalries continue to blossom. We should focus on our problems instead.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2013.
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NS should have kept in mind that his obligations as elected PM were foremost to the people of. pakistan and constitution that he had sworn to protect and uphold. A ruler of a Muslim majority state should understand that service to people form part of HuqooqUl Abad, which are more important than performing Nawafil prayers at Mecca or Medina on 27ramadan.
A fair and balanced Op Ed in general and clearly shows the double standards of our country and its politics. While the president of the country is only ceremonial position the PM holds all the executive powers. If president goes to an inauguration or a funeral he is not missing much in the country. On the other hand if the PM leaves the country on a long trip during the crisis the country suffers badly. The results of NS’s visit to S. Arabia are becoming clear as NS seems to give up the Iran gas pipeline. He did not even try to hide the fact that he is announcing that from S. Arabia after meeting his masters. It is an open secret that royal family never liked a progressive and secular govt in Pakistan and never provided much support to the last govt. On the other hand most of the extremist groups get their funds from the kingdom. There may be a cold war between S. Arabia and Iran but the fact remains that both Pakistan and Iran have rejected the kings and dictators for good and are moving on the democratic path. Pakistan should not play favorites to the king and his family. We need energy and whoever helps us out is our friend. In addition if we continue to play one against the other nobody would respect and believe us after we sign the pacts.
Quite right. 'There is silence. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif makes a private visit to Saudi Arabia as floods rage through the country and the death toll rises with each passing day. The worst, say experts, is yet to come'
Well written - Ah! but who notices the games people play!
Travel Plans for New PMs ++++++++++++++++++++ 1. Beijing ( the real Mecca) 2. Saudi Arabia 3. Ajmer (India) 4. USA 5. Karachi
"We should focus on our problems instead." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ i.e Kashmir & India:).
Excellent article. PM would prefer his foreign visits on the national crises. Even the election dates were changed for this visit. But the media channels like GEO NEWS will keep on airing the victories of PML N, as if citizens are still blind.
Too late to say we should stay clear of Iran or Saudia Arabia, Pakistan has been a proxy battlefield for decades. And whats worse, people want more of it, not less.