Houston, we have a problem
This country needs unity, a leader who, despite countless personal shortcomings, can unite them against common enemies
The writer is an Islamabad-based TV journalist and tweets @FarrukhKPitafi
Houston, we have a problem. At a time when democratisation seemed an irreversible phenomenon, all forces that have a problem with the current dispensation are uniting to plot a siege of Islamabad. Tahirul Qadri is arriving in less than a fortnight. While announcing his return, the man asked the Army to take control of Islamabad airport on the day he arrives so that he doesn’t get killed. Before announcing his return Mr Qadri met the Chaudhrys of Gujrat to forge an alliance against the sitting government. The MQM head is also keen on issuing statements that are sympathetic to the man’s plans.
In a separate but simultaneous initiative, Imran Khan and his allies are going from city to city with a charter of demands and threatening to agitate against the government if their demands are not met before August 14. His closest ally, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, often talks about a grand butchery before the Eidul Azha, a day when Muslims around the world sacrifice animals.
Somehow many of our leaders in opposition or in exile have convinced themselves that only an Arab Spring can solve all our problems. Good in theory but it has two flaws. One, we are not Arabs. Two, no country that endured such protests has emerged stronger since then. Street power, agitations, interventions can all change governments, put in place faces that look more appropriate but cannot change a nation’s soul. Only strong institutions and a stronger democratic tradition can build the foundation of a state capable of treating its citizens equitably.
Meanwhile, terrorists are having a laugh. A few days back they tried to paralyse the country by attacking its biggest airport. Mercifully, given the unprecedented nature of the incident, the army, the provincial government and the federal one, too, moved in time to ward off the attack. It is said that on that day great heroism was on display. One feels compelled to salute the heroes who died defending this country against terrorists. But here lies the real problem. Pakistan, like any other nation of the world, doesn’t have an endless supply of heroes. We need some to stay alive for the future of this country.
As if all these problems were not enough to damage the structural integrity, the government that we hope will finally save the day is getting camera shy. The previous government was deeply flawed and yet it got one thing right: It is through engaging media that you can hope to stay in power and complete your term in office. There were interactions upon interactions. There were big gatherings of media men and very small ones too. Every journalist returning home from such meetings thought that he had taught the then prime minister or president a thing or two, even if in reality such advice would have fallen on deaf ears. But that created a bond that convinced every citizen through the media that the future of the country depended on the survival of democracy, no matter how flawed. Even that superficial charm is no longer on display on the Constitution Avenue.
It is not arrogance. Nor lethargy. The leadership of the ruling party is still recovering from 14 years of exile from power and 10 from the country. And while it takes its sweet time to recover, bureaucracy incrementally gains power. Although everyone has the right to reflect for a moment or two on the horrors of the past and sulk, this is not the time. The country badly needs a leader who is focused and reassured. Just look around for a moment. This government doesn’t need any spin doctor to project an image sweeter than reality. All it needs is empathy and warmth to connect with the media and the masses to explain its accomplishments. But the babu raj convinces every leader that he is not adequate and needs the crutches of media managers to survive.
This country needs unity and a leader who, despite countless personal shortcomings, can unite them against common enemies like terrorism, poverty, isolation, disease and discontent. A prudent war prime minister who can rise to the occasion and say apologists be damned, let’s go and take out terrorists and be done with it. If we have a prime minister who can do this, then no Qadri, Sheikh or terrorist can pose any threat to democracy. But do we? It remains to be seen.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2014.
In a separate but simultaneous initiative, Imran Khan and his allies are going from city to city with a charter of demands and threatening to agitate against the government if their demands are not met before August 14. His closest ally, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, often talks about a grand butchery before the Eidul Azha, a day when Muslims around the world sacrifice animals.
Somehow many of our leaders in opposition or in exile have convinced themselves that only an Arab Spring can solve all our problems. Good in theory but it has two flaws. One, we are not Arabs. Two, no country that endured such protests has emerged stronger since then. Street power, agitations, interventions can all change governments, put in place faces that look more appropriate but cannot change a nation’s soul. Only strong institutions and a stronger democratic tradition can build the foundation of a state capable of treating its citizens equitably.
Meanwhile, terrorists are having a laugh. A few days back they tried to paralyse the country by attacking its biggest airport. Mercifully, given the unprecedented nature of the incident, the army, the provincial government and the federal one, too, moved in time to ward off the attack. It is said that on that day great heroism was on display. One feels compelled to salute the heroes who died defending this country against terrorists. But here lies the real problem. Pakistan, like any other nation of the world, doesn’t have an endless supply of heroes. We need some to stay alive for the future of this country.
As if all these problems were not enough to damage the structural integrity, the government that we hope will finally save the day is getting camera shy. The previous government was deeply flawed and yet it got one thing right: It is through engaging media that you can hope to stay in power and complete your term in office. There were interactions upon interactions. There were big gatherings of media men and very small ones too. Every journalist returning home from such meetings thought that he had taught the then prime minister or president a thing or two, even if in reality such advice would have fallen on deaf ears. But that created a bond that convinced every citizen through the media that the future of the country depended on the survival of democracy, no matter how flawed. Even that superficial charm is no longer on display on the Constitution Avenue.
It is not arrogance. Nor lethargy. The leadership of the ruling party is still recovering from 14 years of exile from power and 10 from the country. And while it takes its sweet time to recover, bureaucracy incrementally gains power. Although everyone has the right to reflect for a moment or two on the horrors of the past and sulk, this is not the time. The country badly needs a leader who is focused and reassured. Just look around for a moment. This government doesn’t need any spin doctor to project an image sweeter than reality. All it needs is empathy and warmth to connect with the media and the masses to explain its accomplishments. But the babu raj convinces every leader that he is not adequate and needs the crutches of media managers to survive.
This country needs unity and a leader who, despite countless personal shortcomings, can unite them against common enemies like terrorism, poverty, isolation, disease and discontent. A prudent war prime minister who can rise to the occasion and say apologists be damned, let’s go and take out terrorists and be done with it. If we have a prime minister who can do this, then no Qadri, Sheikh or terrorist can pose any threat to democracy. But do we? It remains to be seen.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2014.