No need to go overboard
While responsible politicians from across the political divide have called for an independent enquiry into the ‘ Memogate’ affair, elements who have in the past made their services available to the undemocratic forces have pounced upon the issue as another opportunity to upset the system. Presenting themselves as super-patriots they are calling for the extreme possible action against those they accuse of sedition without giving them a chance to explain their position. A number of later day converts to democracy seem to have had a relapse and are using a vocabulary which had gone out of political discourse after the Zia era. Some have demanded summoning of a joint session of parliament to interrogate those being named by media. Others are calling for their trial on sedition charges.
In democracies, there is a method to deal with accusations levelled against important functionaries of state. Instead of turning parliament into a Star Chamber, the accusations are probed by holding an independent and transparent enquiry. The findings can then be taken to Parliament or the court. The government is still undecided about how to proceed, presumably because it has yet to interview Ambassador Haqqani. It cannot, however, defend itself merely by taking shelter under conspiracy theories. It would be fooling itself if it thinks that with the passage of time the storm would subside. Gilani has promised that the issue would be resolved amicably while Rehman Malik has said facts would soon be presented before the nation. No government version of the matter or a probe by the interior ministry would satisfy the critics.
Mian Nawaz Sharif has suggested the formation of an independent inquiry committee constituted by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and comprising members of civil society, legislators and lawyers. The government needs to urgently take the NA into confidence over the issue. It should simultaneously evolve a consensus with the opposition regarding the composition and the scope of the enquiry committee. Meanwhile the PML(N) chief should rein in the hot-headed elements in his own party who are playing into the hands of those who want to derail democracy by issuing irresponsible statements.
Ambassador Haqqani should never have been given this assignment, given his controversial background and habit of acting like a smart kid, who thinks he will never be caught. However while this MemoGate is a serious issue, so is the statement of Pervez Musharraf that Dawood Ibrahim lives in Pakistan. Both these men need to be held accountable for their acts. Time for the state to ensure that those holding foreign residential status are bound to succumb to pressures of governments where they live with their assets and families.
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