Chairman of Pakistan, China Institute Mushahid Hussain Syed on Sunday said proactive accountability system was imperative for a vibrant society and independent judiciary, free media and civil activism could help eradicate corrupt practices from all levels of governance.
Delivering a lecture here at National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Mushahid Hussain said Pakistan's civil society is now more broad-based and independent judiciary, free media and assertive and active civil society were multiple power centres as symbols of a transformed nation.
Mushahid said the people of Pakistan showed empathy to the challenges they were pitched up and whether it was 2005 earthquake or the menace of terrorism, they held their ground and overcame those challenges Mushahid added.
"Pakistan has vibrant and dynamic people, which are its strength. This is true that we lacked leadership after Quaid-e-Azam but we have leaders in all spheres of life who have proved all qualms about the fate of Pakistan. There were debates in the US study centres only some months back whether or not Pakistan would survive against Taliban.
But our nation jelled together against the militants only after our media aired footage of flogging of a girl in Swat. The armed forces launched the onslaught against militants and the nation backed this move, which resulted into triumph in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan," he added.
Mushahid said education played crucial role in emergence of a freedom movement back in 1930s as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan worked hard to educate the Muslims of India. Ali Garh College did breed a learned middle class which fought the freedom movement and leaders like Allama Iqbal and Mohammed Ali Jinnah carved out a state which had no historic path, he added. "Quaid-e-Azam had no army, no support from any super power and he had no nuclear bomb. However, he successfully led a freedom movement with the strength of his character, integrity and charisma.
He also had developed a cadre of credible and honest followers who were selected on merit. Today, we have to spend again on education. Had we spent in education sector, there would have been no militancy as when we closed school doors on our children, they went to madressahs which finally brought about militant mindsets," he remarked. Commenting on the geo-political situation, Mushahid said the situation was turning to Pakistan's advantage and next three-to-four years were very crucial in this regard.
"I think the USA wants to find an honourable exit from Afghanistan and for the purpose it direly needs Pakistan's co-operation while the role of India has been marginalised. Now it is up to our leadership how it takes advantage of the situation. In my view, Pakistani leaders have been worse when it comes to bargaining with the US and the former rulers have been confined to looking after their own interests rather than preferring the national interests. Their strategy to deal with US has been faulty as either they were carrying some inferiority complex or they were too much selfish. Let us see how the incumbent leadership handles the situation," he added.
Mushahid said with the nuclear capability, Pakistan had no fears from any Indian assault. "Look, India is part of an arms race in the region but this is not only Pakistan-specific.