'12 October & our real goal' By: Amjad Malik
On the 8th anniversary of military coup de tat in Pakistan, one wonders at its results as it is a quick reminder to the nation that we are far away from our real destination. Nation is already in a shock to read the latest so called ‘National Reconciliation Ordinance’ of General Musharraf which seemingly legalising corruption of our 80’s and 90’s and exposing him on his claims of good governance and corruption free politics as well as our political clan’s unprincipled politics where the common man is yet to gauge who is in government and which are classed as main opposition.
In last 8 years, the regime did not leave any stone unturned to serve its masters and learnt nothing from its predecessor who declared out loud that their masters can never be their friends so did Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttoo in his famous speech in Parliament before he too was ousted that conspiracies are being hatched against him pointing toward hidden forces. However, still our flag carriers are at war against its own people, our soldiers are kidnapped and are dying for a lost cause, people are migrating from the tribal areas who were once considered our back bone and our founder’s remarks carry no weight to current rulers who make an ordinance in haste on one day and realising its shameful effects express their regrets the next day calling it a political tactic and one is tearful at this shameless indecent assault on legislative making process. In the history of great nations, reconciliation is a good thing to start in order to continue a derailed political process, however finding similarity with that of a ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ of South Africa is injustice as wiping out corruption allegations at will with a twitch of a hand without judicial oversight is a sign of conscious blunder for which there should be no forgiveness. Great nations struggle on principles here the case is quite to the opposite and it is noteworthy especially in a poor country like Pakistan where free education, health, housing and employment is still a dream, and politics is run on slogans than performance.
I think enough has been said about the 7 points agenda of General Musharraf which proved an illusion as was the slogan of General Zia to hold elections in 90 days, however if the dictator is truly interested in National reconciliation, he would have welcomed Mian Nawz Sharif ‘s arrival after Supreme Court’s order on 10th September rather than sending him in exile whilst he is welcoming an other premier. Court orders are not obeyed with announcements, they are obeyed without hesitation and the way his regime has made fun of those orders, it has made the country a laughing stock internationally. Even now, military leader must act for an open and frank public discussion in the supreme national interest with all political parties ensuring equality to discuss how an exit of military from politics can be practically made possible and how a fair, an un manipulative and transparent elections can be held in Pakistan. and regime must give a right to the nation to choose their representatives through a ballot which is free, fair and transparent under 1973 constitution under a transparent care taker set up where powerful election commissioner holds credible elections with confidence of the opposition as well as the nation and independent monitors could verify the authenticity of those elections.
For doing this, General Musharraf does not need an ordinance, he must come up with an offer of an unconditional talks once he doff his uniform off declaring that he will be up for the vote of political parties after the general elections are held and he allows the civilians to take charge to run the affairs of the state and allows free media and courts to make them accountable to the nation and let the Parliament be sovereign as is the case in any democracy rather than any fictitious set up which will be a fallacy. Little late, then there will be no time for repentance as we are surrounded by the fire he has ignited all around in Waziristan, Baluchistan and Karachi on 12 th May and survival will be very difficult without credible political process.
Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a Chair of Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK).
10 October 2007
- Posted by valiantpk on 11/10/2007.
- valiantpk's site
Please sign in or join etribes to add comments.
