Saving Quaid's Pakistan

In recent weeks, President Musharraf has made a number of statements. At least two of them can be singled out as very significant from the viewpoint of saving the Federation of Pakistan and ensuring its future political viability.
One statement implies that the Talibans are more dangerous than the forces of al Qaeda which is a vague ideological movement. They have regrouped and are emerging as a very potent force not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan.
They have substantially strengthened their position in both countries. In Afghanistan they are fighting the foreign occupational forces and local army. In Pakistan they want to destabilise the country and capture the power base, by hook or crook. The passing of Hasba Bill in NWFP is the first step in this direction.
President Musharraf's second statement is, therefore, a direct appeal to the people of Pakistan to vote for the moderate, progressive and liberal forces in the forthcoming election against extremists, fundamentalists, and theocrats.
These statements imply that if extremists prevail upon the moderates and liberals, Quaid's Pakistan will become a "failed state." Although he has not defined the nature of "failure" people shiver with fear whether "disintegration" of the country will be an element of that "failure."
Whether we like it or not there is a strong perception in the country that we are already a failing state. Let us look at the present domestic scenario only. The incidence of terrorism has considerably increased and become widespread. The writ of government does not exist in many areas and is increasingly challenged in other places.
The law enforcement agencies have lost their usefulness and effectiveness. Many policemen have been killed in encounters with extremists. Even the armed forces are being challenged and soldiers are being killed. Recent events in North and South Waziristan and Dargai are ample proofs.
Federalism in Pakistan has failed because all decision-making powers are centralised. The friction of disharmony among the provinces has considerably increased. The province of Sindh calls Punjab as "water thief" Balochistan accuses Sindh as "water thief." Separatist forces are becoming increasingly active.
There is no good governance. According to Transparency International, we are one of the most corrupt countries of the world. The rule of law is ineffective. According to the Chief Justice of Pakistan we have double standards in the dispensation of justice.
The weak and poor are punished, the rich get away scot-free. Rich and politically influential criminals, even after conviction by a court of law are released on parole. NAB has emerged as a handmaid of politics than a problem solving and corruption uprooting mechanism.
How judiciary has been neglected, even undermined, can be seen from the budgetary resources allocated to it in comparison with the law enforcement agencies. The ratio of allocation is regrettably adverse against judiciary. The number of magistrates and judges has not increased sufficiently to cope with the alarming increase in crimes compared to policemen.
During the last five years the privatisation scam, the stock exchange scam, the cement lobby, the sugar lobby, the increasing depletion of our water resources, the decline in agricultural productivity, the decline in industrial productivity, the increasing imports in comparison to exports, and conspicuous consumption of a few, the sluggish foreign exchange reserve sufficient for only twenty weeks of imports, all point to only one factor, the country has no vision, no direction, and is treading towards chaos and catastrophe.
Before General Zia-ul-Haque, the mullahs did not have political clout. They were mostly in the mosques and madressahs and were politically marginalised. They had a very minor role on the body-politics of the country. General Zia-ul-Haque brought them from the mosques and madressahs to Majlis-e-Shoora and consequently to the National Assembly and the Senate.
He gave them a position of prominence in the body politics through the so-called Islamisation process. They got so entrenched ever since that even the PPP government could not weaken their position. The PML (N) government was not indifferent to them.
Since 2002 they continue to have a very good time. The present domestic scenario provides a perfect setting for the Talibanisation of the country. People are scared that the Taliban with their orthodox and dogmatic Islam may unleash a reign of terror indulging the country in worst civil strifes and Gestapo type of operations by mullahs policemen.
Can we prevent this impending disaster? Yes, we can. For this, President Musharraf has to take the lead. We are sure he knows that will and not force is the basis of government. The present practice of centralised federalism should be immediately discarded. The concurrent list must be abolished and all the subjects must revert back to the provinces.
History tells us that only the democratic forces can vanquish the forces of institutional rigidities, and fundamentalism. His appeal to the people of Pakistan is very timely. There is no doubt that the people of Pakistan will respond very enthusiastically to his appeal but there are a few "ifs and buts." Let us examine what they are:
First, a free and fair election. For this a caretaker government, led by outstanding persons with proven integrity and neutrality be appointed. All the major parties of the country must confirm their faith in such a caretaker government.
Second, a free neutral and effective Election Commission must be constituted. All major political parties must have faith in such an Election Commission. Third, the effectiveness of rule of law must be fully restored and judiciary must be given adequate human and financial resources for this purpose to be the true guardian of the rights of the people.
Fourth, political parties whose ideological moorings emanates from liberalism, secularism, and moderation must be given fill freedom and support by all government agencies to play their vital role to fight through democratic means the forces of terrorism, dogmatism and extremism.
In this context it may be worthwhile to analyse the political anatomy of important political parties which can help President Musharraf. The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) is undoubtedly the largest political party of the country. This party is secular, liberal and forward-looking. It stands for toleration ethnic and communal harmony, and peaceful coexistence with us neighbours.
This is the only party which enjoys the membership of the largest chunk of our minorities, Hindus and Christians and Sikhs. The Awami National Party (ANP), although a regional one, is another such party which believes in toleration, liberalism, and secularism. Likewise the MQM is another regional party which is secular and liberal.
The PML(Q) is not a political party in the strict sense of the term, but a conglomeration of assorted politicians brought together under a "marriage of convenience" through a "stick and carrot" policy. But it does have some elements which are liberal and secular. Similarly PML (N) has also similar elements.
If President Musharraf is really serious about saving Quaid's Pakistan from becoming a failed state, the initiative lies with him. He should, only provide a conducive environment to these parties to play their role in the interest of preserving the Federation as well as preventing the Talibanisation of the country. He should, with an open mind, welcome the return of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairperson of the PPPP and Nawaz Sharif, the Chairman of PML(N).
It is time President Musharraf should play a "Mandela." It is only through reconciliation, even with worst political adversaries, that we can bring stable peace to the country and prevent it from falling into the hands of extremist mullahs.
What happened in the election of 2002 is well known. Even the name of the real People's Party established by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hijacked. Concerted efforts were made in the pre and post election period to weaken the People's Party.
By not encouraging liberal political parties and even partly rigging the election, the religious extremists gained substantial political ground. As a matter of fact they became frontline political contenders. They now pose a real threat to the stability of the country. The experience of 2002 must not be repeated, otherwise the country will be doomed to failure and chaos.
(The author is former Director, Asian Development Bank.)