A piece of advice on democracy and terrorism for politicians
Many would welcome the categorical assurance by the COAS that the elections would be held on May 11 as scheduled. That the CJ too has issued a similar statement indicates an awareness on their part of the lingering scepticism among the public at large. This being the first time that power is going to be transferred from an elected civilian government, which has completed its full tenure, to a newly elected administration, people watch the rare event with dire premonitions based on real experience. The remarks by the general, therefore, are all the more reassuring. Thanks the shoddy performance on the part of the political parties whenever they come to power, the country has to hear a lecture from the army chief on democratic values and good governance. This time neither the PPP and its erstwhile allies nor the PML-N administration can claim that they would have done wonders if their tenure had not been cut short. Gen Kayani is spot on when he says that the success of democracy is intimately linked with the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation. He is also right that the forthcoming elections provide a golden opportunity to usher in an era of true democratic values in the country. With fresh assurances from the army that it values and wholeheartedly supports democracy, which some will take with a pinch of salt because of their past experiences, the next government would hopefully work hard to consolidate the system. It has to continue the recently established tradition of tolerance of the opposition and media criticism. It has however to focus on governance, be responsive to the common man’s problems and take a clear cut stand vis a vis the terrorists.
Ironically, here too the political parties need to pay heed to what Gen Kayani has said. To start with the general has owned the war against terrorism. He has designated those ordering terrorist attacks from their remote strongholds as a small faction which wants to foist its misconceived notions of Islam on the entire nation. As he put it, the terrorist ideology defies the constitution and the democratic process and considers all forms of bloodshed justified. As the formulation does not come from the Army Green Book, which, we have been told, may not always reflect the thinking of the army high command, but which the COAS himself said carries the stamp of institutional authority. There is need on the part of all political parties, many of whom have been reluctant so far to do so, to take a clear cut stand against the terrorists. In their election manifestoes too they have preferred to tiptoe around the issue of terrorism. The political parties must provide support to army action against those who conduct attacks in Pakistan.
It is interesting that while the PPP, ANP and MQM have opposed military deployment in Karachi, the Sindh government, set up with the consensus of the three parties, has called out the army to help it hold peaceful elections. The army’s presence would discourage the terrorists and increase the voter turnout.
