Crisis of confidence in our leaders?

Ali Ashraf Khan
30-08-07

The verdict of the Supreme Court that the ''Sharif Brothers are Pakistani citizens and nobody can stop them from returning to Pakistan,'' is a landmark decision and rightly celebrated by the supporters of PML(N). All the media channels, the political parties and the civil society are also celebrating it as the recognition of "Rule of Law'' and ''Supremacy of Constitution'' in Pakistan.
An overly confident Nawaz Sharif is vowing to be ready for across-the-board political reconciliation if only his arch-enemy President Musharraf stepped down or announced that he will not stand for re-election.
Without loss of any time General Musharraf also termed political reconciliation as the need of the hour. While talking to a select gathering in a weekly PTV programme "Aiwan-e-Sadr-Se," President Musharraf elaborated this in the following words: "It is the need of time that there is political stability, political reconciliation and national consensus on issues confronting Pakistan."
This statement of General Musharraf is not the full truth. His eight-year rule has made the life of common man worse than before, and nothing has been done to create national harmony, nor has he implemented his solemn promise in his 7-point agenda for economic reforms and eradication of corruption, while his pro-US policy has created difference of opinion on the manner of governance with a rubber stamp Parliament. The phrase "With us or against us" - a threat from President Bush and subsequent Islamabad policies provide evidence that General Musharraf remained under pressure all through. Nevertheless, the list of decisions leading to his willing surrenders is so long that General Musharraf can hardly pretend that he is not acting under pressure from the West. Tony Blair's Advisor Dave Anderson who has published his dairy, which goes to prove that a leader with no roots in his own masses cannot safeguard his national interest. So the fact is that he is a victim of his delusions, obsession with staying in power and a compulsive attitude of putting everything at stake to achieve his objectives.
Now again, President Musharraf appears to be under immense pressure from the American Establishment to end differences with Benazir Bhutto and strike a working formula as soon as possible. But the Supreme Court verdict has not only upset President Musharraf, but Mian Nawaz Sharif is also double-minded, whether to immediately fly to Pakistan and find himself among his jubilant supporters and turn the political table of intrigues for the good of the nation and the country or wait and see for meaningless 'invisible signals'.
The mood of our nation is not in favour of Americans and the West, because of a battery of hard-hitting statements from American Senators, Congressmen and officials, indicating their intention to go to the extent of attacking Pakistani territory in case of receiving information about Al-Qaeda operators in total violation of our sovereignty and against all international norms, which has been compromised due to opting for a new role as key ally in War against Terrorism.
A confident, down to earth and popular Chief Justice of Pakistan who so far has successfully been avoiding all overtures of the government for some understanding. But the Chief Justice has given a new hope to the nation that establishing a truly democratic society, based on the principles of Social Justice is not an uphill task. The Supreme Court decisions in long-pending cases demonstrate not only solidarity and unity, but fully reflect independence of Judiciary from the pressure of the Establishment, which otherwise rules supreme.
Pakistan's Bar Association leadership deserves special mention here for their prompt and timely action in our hour of need, not only in forging unity in the legal fraternity but also showing solid resolve in achieving this noble goal. While the public in general and the political parties in particular will also be calling for national reconciliation and power-sharing formulas, there are certain questions which come into one's mind that why do we have to live on the dictations of others? Why we cannot work our own plans? Why there is dearth of leadership in Pakistan, because our rulers have never allowed level grounds for alternate leadership to grow through normal process of time. On top of it Pakistani leadership in government and the Opposition is still not reading the writing on the wall. They have not learnt any thing from history. Ayub Khan violated his own hand-made Constitution by not handing over power to the Speaker-National Assembly. General Yahya's rule ended with debacle of East Pakistan. There is no difference of opinion that people get the kind of leadership they deserve. At the same time, people with good intentions get equally punished through the effects of unthinking compliance when they refuse to act or fail to make a difference. I, in my humble way tried to hammer on the need of a national unity conference in 1998-99 to evolve consensus on vital national issues.
Now the time has come that we hold such a conference to evolve national reconciliation on vital nation issues, like holding of free and fair elections and quantum of provincial autonomy as provided in 1973 Constitution needs to be taken care of. If one remembers the background in which Ayub Khan had called the Round Table Conference in Rawalpindi, which was attended by leaders of national political parties from East and West Pakistan except Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This conference failed due to machination of some hidden hand when Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman disassociated from the draft agreement which was to be signed the same evening by demanding inclusion of parity and one man one vote, while the rest of all parties had consensus on holding fair and free elections as President Ayub Khan had announced that he was stepping down from politics.
My advice to General Musharraf at this point in time is that he should take a lesson from history and follow his predecessor Ayub Khan, who announced at the inauguration of Round Table Conference that he will not be a candidate in the coming elections, so the responsibility lies on his shoulders to draft a Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for next General Elections unanimously. Now, it is for General Musharraf to translate this need of the hour into a reality and convene an All Part's Conference, announce there that he will not be the candidate, and work out transfer of power to an interim setup, to hold free and fair elections on agreed code of ethics under the supervision of an independent Election Commissioner.
Time and tide waits for none. The international scenario is changing fast, new leadership is going to come on the world scene and this situation demands more serious re-thinking to keep our options with US and its allies open in preparation for the impending U-turn on Pakistan, which is visible over India-Israel nexus. Any major incident or event can explode into a '9/11 in South Asia' and become a turning point of this War against Terrorism. More awareness and exposure of the agenda behind President Musharraf's "Enlightened Moderation" increases the possibility of a 'South Asian 9/11', the day after which life will not be the same. Rather than prevalent stability, an increased support for the collaborating "extremism" will bring more turmoil as a result of the increased polarisation in the society. Faced with some unexpected challenges at home and abroad, the rulers in Islamabad will initially try to go for the option of repression. With the failure of repressive measures, the regime might then attempt to lurch toward some politically motivated democratic manoeuvres. But in the turbulence added from external events and interference, time will not be on the side of military ruler and hence would not stand much of any chance of maintaining the status quo.
Therefore, it is time that the present crisis is not left on the wishful requirements of our foreign friends, howsoever affluent and powerful they may be, one thing is to be understood clearly that " Nobody is your friend at the alter of his own national or personal interest."
So we must think in terms of Pakistan and Pakistan alone. It is matter of our life and death. Pakistan's only choice is to cement its ties with Iran and China, and strike for a grand national reconciliation at home. Once our rulers have support of 160 million people then you will find a sea-change in the attitudes of foreign powers. So let us empower the people of Pakistan, and bury the game of musical chairs. Hence the present grave crises need to be resolved, keeping in view our supreme national interest and requirements.