A preview of this strategy is on display every fortnight with great strategist from govt of Sindh shuttling to Dubai
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political leadership has a tendency of surprising even the brightest of minds. This attribute is spread across the canvas. However, these days, the incumbent government of Sindh, under Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, has surpassed all others to win the gallantry award for ‘misleading governance skills’. The clean-up operation in the province is in full swing and political forces have exchanged blows with the boys in uniform for setting them back on track. The case of the MQM is a bit different, and may not find much coverage in this write-up, but the PPP leadership in the past two months or so has set new records.
In this first phase, which was ongoing for over seven years since the formation of its government in the province, ‘political reconciliation’ won, whereas ordinary citizens against terrorists, infants against malnutrition (Thar) and merit over corruption lost with overwhelming numbers. The second phase, in line with Operation Zarb-e-Azb, saw more manoeuvres from the ruling party, initially siding with the law-enforcement agencies and later seeing red once the threads of terrorism and lawlessness were tracked to loopholes in accountability and bad governance.
A real-time episode of this phase was witnessed across the nation with ex-president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari challenging the armed forces against changing the status quo, which has brought ‘laurels’ to Sindh and its inhabitants for the past seven years.
Sensing well in advance that no time-tested card of ethnicity or provincialism was threatening the determination of the ‘cleaners’ and an all-out clash was around the corner, the leadership was seen dashing to the peaceful and progressive skies of Dubai along with top aides. With this strategic manoeuvre, a wider debate opened up on who was actually in charge of the all-important ‘clean-up’ operation progressing in Karachi.
However, we are all dead wrong in our assessments and predictions.
Ladies and gentleman, we are again honoured to have invented a new governance mechanism which is basically about being in ‘exile to attain maximum excellence’. A preview of this strategy is on display every fortnight with the great strategist from the government of Sindh shuttling to Dubai to be a part of the great huddle, an assembly of the chosen to discuss the issues at hand for timely execution and progress. Of course, the exile cannot be separated from this strategy, nor can technological revolutions, like video conferencing, be allowed to take the lead, no matter how much burden is once again imposed on ordinary taxpayers to cater for VIP travel and lodging. They say all is judged by the outcome and results. No arguments there. But, like most words of wisdom, this phrase is empty when it comes to time frames. So we, the voters, the citizens and the affected need to have patience, since the establishment is yet to unearth the fruits of this ‘classified strategic governance programme’. Until then, as always, we will sit together, hands joined in prayer and heads joined for enhanced vision to comprehend who really controls or governs Sindh.
Hamid M Abbas
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2015.
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