Self-created binds

Towards the end of last month, an editorial of a leading English daily talked about the “farce and confusion surrounding” the aborted somewhere-in-Russia-inspired talks between none more than the national security advisers of Pakistan and its traditional enemy, big neighbour India — there being no such thing as a civil political foreign minister on our side of the border. After dwelling upon the string of blunders (“serious errors by the PML-N government”) on both sides leading up to the “farce and confusion”, the ultimate sentence was an answerable question: “How can a three-term prime minister find himself in a self-created bind?”

The answer lies within the question — three-term prime minister, within three decades during which, off and on, Nawaz Sharif has been calling a fair number of our national shots, far too many of which have misfired. In his first coming, two and a half decades ago, he mildly exhibited his penchant for motorway grandiose projects, and as the godson of his great mentor, Ziaul Haq, convinced himself that he could easily deal with arch-bureaucrat Ghulam Ishaq Khan, appeared on television to announce he would not take ‘dictation’ from anyone. He was immediately dismissed and dissolved (one major charge being corruption), restored by a Supreme Court which felt it needed to make amends for its past, then behaved with such reckless abandon that within months he was again dismissed (taking the president with him) by an unambitious army chief who was fed up to the gills. How many remember that era?

During his second coming, motor related project laden, his recklessness and go-it-alone habit was in full flow and it ended, as many do remember, with him handing over the country, on a silver platter, to an ambitious army general. As if all was not enough, back he bounces in 2013, thanks to his close buddy Asif Ali Zardari and his sole intent to complete his government’s term in office at no matter what cost to the nation, whilst ensuring that he and his team-mates reaped a full harvest.

Now here we are, with farce and confusion surrounding more than just a futile round of talks (nothing can be achieved without the settling of the K matter, but then the K matter has always been the establishment’s raison d’etre). Mian Sahib of Raiwind this time round has realised that taking ‘dictation’ is part of the survival game. He now finds it prudent to heed an army chief who has gripped, in the face of the PML-N’s lack of capability or intent to actually govern, the government and nation by the neck and in large part is doing what must be done to enforce some sort of law and order. The figure, 70 per cent, is the magic number of the moment. Terrorism, countrywide, says the establishment, has been reduced by 70 per cent, as has violence in Karachi by the same count. The latter is not so evident, targeted killings are very much with us, as is mass confusion in Sindh.

As for corruption, another target of the establishment, it has been asked when and if the military intends to tackle the mighty ruling province, as opposed to its present focus on Sindh. There is much there to be sought and found. The Zardari and Sharif lot are of the same mettle, brothers under the skin — though their love affair has of late unravelled. It is merely their mode of operating that differs, and since 2008 they have facilitated each other. Many within the PPP are blatant, dipping fingers and snouts into the national exchequer with impunity. The others are far more subtle, they rob and plunder with stealth, hiding behind unlawful laws. We all know, and the generals know. So, yes, when does their turn come?

The Mian, long ago, was to exclaim to his accusers: you say I am krupt. But where is the pruf? Therein lies the rub. It must be there — somewhere. Go for it, boys, dig it out!

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th,  2015.

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