The contents of Pakistan Today’s editorial “Premature campaign” dated 20 October, 2011, did not surprise me. Based on the same old faulty logic “let this government complete its tenure, despite all its faults”, the editorial however had something new this time. The position (some would describe it as ‘pro-PPP’) that this newspaper has adopted for quite some time now, emanates from the contents of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), claims the piece. So what is the status of CoD today, on whose contents leaders of both signing political parties have reneged on at will? Is it the document of the people? Is it part of our constitution? Most importantly, does it supercede our constitution? The answer to all these questions is, NO. When our constitution gives us the right to remove those whom we chose ourselves, presumably out of our own free will, before the end of their constitutionally stipulated time, what is the worth of CoD?
I have written before in another letter on this page that this faulty logic on part of the newspaper’s editorial staff does not stand the test of history, much less logic. Would Pakistan Today have advised the American people and their elected representatives not to draft the articles of impeachment against President Nixon? He too after all was re-elected for a four-year term. The Americans moved against him since he had willfully violated the trust imposed in him by them. The articles of impeachment were drafted since the American constitution allows it. Can we Pakistanis not take a leaf out of American history at this point and time?
If the above pleadings are not enough, here’s what our most eminent political scientist teaching at arguably one of the best institutions of higher learning in this country has to say about the ‘captain’ of this government; this is what Prof Dr Rasul Baksh Rais said: “Gilani is the most corrupt, incompetent and inept politician of the country’s history. He is frightened by the opposition and not the armed forces. The tirade against opposition for destabilising the democratic process is a traditional ploy of shallow politicians to present themselves as a victim to distort and twist the facts.” (Pakistan Today, 20 October, 2011).
My question is why should we live under a government spearheaded by “most corrupt, incompetent, and inept politician” for the next year and a half? What is so righteous in having these “shallow politicians” around?
TAIMOOR ASHRAF
Lahore
(Editor’s reply: We, at Pakistan Today, try our best to uphold the values of impartiality and journalistic integrity. We try to keep our analysis dispassionate and objective. However, you, as the reader, are perfectly entitled to your opinion.)