The Way Forward For Pakistan?
// January 6th, 2009 // Pakistan
Despite my proclivity towards Gen. (R) Musharraf and his government, my extreme abhorrence for President Zardari and equally strong feelings of hatred fpr Nawaz Sharif, I would not like to see yet another military coup in the country now. My regular readers may label this a change in my thinking, but it is not. The reasons will be explicated as I present a background for this particular post.
Pakistan is currently surrounded by external threats. The problem of security is compunded with the internal threats. Electricity was always a problem in Karachi, now the whole country faces it. Petrol is mysteriously missing from various large cities. Stock Exchange is being restored to the position of October 99. Higher education sector has taken a bad blow. Political rivalries of the 90’s are back with full throttle. One man is running the show in Pakistan, despite it being a democracy. The list is just endless.
There are calls from certain quarters demanding the topple of the present setup. It is, indeed, extremely unlikely to continue the full tenure (which I guess the ruling elite realises and hence doing all personal favours in haste). Now let us suppose for a moment that the current chaotic conditions continue, pressure grows and Pakistan Army steps again to take control and vow to bring back the country on track. It will be welcomed by the people (again) and they will regret it later, as usual. An army interference at this stage is not a solution because then the politicians will have yet another chance of saying rightly that they weren’t given a chance. For example, if Raja Pervez Ashraf claims to end load-shedding by next year (my understanding being an end to electricity will mean no load-shedding), and the government is being toppled then he can say that he wasn’t allowed to finish his mission. So, the army should exercise patience and let the politicians stay in power for five years.
But we also know that we do a need a change, isn’t it? The current setup cannot continue, for sure. That doesn’t mean the democratic process be derailed. What is stopping the politicians (opposition) going for a no-confidence move against the PM? Although we know the PM being a dummy, but can surely show an intent, and it is THE democratic way forward. What is stopping the politicians (and I may point my fingers at Nawaz Sharif) to take a stand against President Zardari the same way he took against President Mushrraf? Why not call for an impeachment? Why not present a bill in the Parliament? Even though, they may not have the two-thirds majority, why not give it a shot? Show an intent!
I’m afraid that with the current system where the different political parties are trying to resolve their issues on the streets, an interference sooner or later may become unavoidable. Yet, that will mean that these goons will be back and the cycle will continue as if in an infinite while loop of a programming language.
15 Responses to “The Way Forward For Pakistan?”
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its a viscious cycle…i dont see the country coming out of it anytime soon although I have always remained very optimistic.
As for the change, yes we need a change but how will the change come about? The politicians are not going to change and we all know that. They are the eites of the country and they want the rest of the country to remain uneducated and powerless so they can continue with what they have been doing for the past 6 decades. It is up to people like us to bring about the change. We just cannot simply sit at home and do nothing about it.
Within a year these bastards have almost crippled the country, imagine what they would do in four more. If the army exercises patience, there may not be a country left (god forbid) to take over after five years. And the opposition is as crooked as the government, if not more. You can’t expect vultures to feed on grains, can you?
For one thing – I hate the words way forward
And to be very honest, I’m sick of politics and all. For years, years you keep on watching the same thing, keep on reading about the same thing.. over and over and over again. How long can you resist going numb yar? Despite the importance and criticality of the situation, I just can’t get myself to think about these things except to feel sorry for it.
@ SAWJ
i would have to disagree with you on this one man, simply because even when not in power the army still has the country all to itself. there are DHAs in every city, army controlled corporations comprise half of pakistan’s top commercial corporations, and army affiliates are provided the budgets to undertake every major construction and roadworks venture in the country.
i was in my teens when mushie came in, and i was really glad because all my life i had seen how democracy had been terrible. while my personal life improved under mushie, pakistan as a whole did not end the era any better, i don’t think.
anas has a point – we have to be patient. true there may not be much of a country left, but even if the remains belong to us and no one else, that would be an achievement in itself.
all i see on the tv nowadays is the news or the talk shows… with anchors grinding their hosts… all it does is infuriate or depress the viewers…no one comes up with any practical solution and then implements it.
with anchors grinding their guests*
@karachiwali
True, but as you said its a cycle where we go round and come back to same or even worse position. Why can’t this cycle end once and for all?
@SAWJ
I totally agree with you, and that is why I’m saying that in order to get rid of these guys FOREVER, an army intervention cannot be a solution. They will come back again, same cycle!
@Absar
Don’t stop thinking man, you shouldn’t lose hope.
@karachikhatmal
Everyone’s life improved under Musharraf, but you see it all started to fall apart with the induction of NS and BB back in to the system.
Owning lands is a different thing. Army doesn’t run the ministries
@mustafa
The amusing part about TV shows is how the government ministers speak with the anchors. This government is so intolerable with the media, yet media is hesitant to speak out against them! Which is better, army dictatorship or civilian dictatorship?
@All: Yeh cycle khatam ni hoga!! A circle has no termination… sab khao peo aur bhago is mulk sey… seriously.. “hope” is the only thing I have left for this country.. nothing else… just “hope”…
Bring in the army, kill all the sonsofbitches!
to end it, we, the so-called educated, need to bring about the change!! are we willing to put our careers, our families and our lives at stake to save the country?
@SAWJ
@karachiwali
what exactly do you mean by putting ourselves at stake?
are u willing to come back to pakistan and be a part of the dirty politics? We cannot change the system unless and until we come into power and do something about it!
Hell, I’m going to join Mortein and make a pesticide for politicians!
koi nai yar, job miljayegi dont worry
however voluntary services for this will be widely appreciated 
i wish there was a pesticide for politicians!