An enviable situation indeed!
In some days the new prime minister will be sworn in; Khoso and his team of caretakers will have gone having successfully delivered their mission. Congratulations to them. For Pakistan this will be a major paradigm change. Since October 1999 the shots have been called by the presidency, albeit totally contrary to the role envisaged in the Constitution.
First, Musharraf, initially by virtue of the military coup and subsequently through a referendum of sorts or an election if you will have, dominated elected prime ministers at will. Subsequently Zardari followed suit, using his supremacy within the party to impose his will and writ on the prime ministers of the day.
This will all change now. Nawaz Sharif will be the constitutional chief executive and in a position to exercise prime ministerial powers without let or hindrance. He will also be able to run government without the need to share power with coalition partners. The buck will stop with him. An enviable situation indeed! At the same time this very scenario had led to autocratic rule and the despotic fifteenth amendment, in Sharif’s last government, eventually leading to his losing his famed ‘mandate’ to military intervention.
The prime minister, in the language of democracy, Latin, is Primus Inter Pares, or first among equals or peers. The operative word being ‘equals or peers’. In Pakistan party leadership is cult driven through an iconic hero worship. This tends to lead astray the heads of political parties and the party becomes synonymous with or subjugated to its leader. Experience tells us that this quickly clouds the mind, blinding and deafening the incumbent, leading to monumental errors of judgement. The need therefore of wisdom and good judgement cannot be ignored at any time.
In saying this, I want to quickly point out that I do not anticipate military intervention, but I do know that Pakistan has drastically changed and evolved during these fourteen years. There is no mistaking the lamb-like nature is no more and the people are in the throes of political evolution. Events leading to Musharraf’s ouster were an eye-opener for all spheres. The entire country, the hitherto inert intelligentsia included, joined in the ‘revolt’ against arbitrary actions directed at the CJ of the Supreme Court. The press emboldened by uncontrolled freedom has woken the sleeping giant and earned its new role in both playing a monitoring role on governance as well as being a form of gratis entertainment for the masses on electronic media.
Changes in Nawaz Sharif’s own life have been massive. Fourteen long years have passed since he last held office, during which time he has suffered many ordeals and trials. Perhaps the most major being the loss of his mentor Mian Mohamed Sharif, his father, who, as an inherent part of the administration, provided sagacious and shrewd advice, will be a big departure from the old. It appears that past lessons have been well learned based on current statements and actions of the future prime minister. Perhaps we can then prepare ourselves to witness improved statesmanship and sensitivity in leading this rather tumultuous and highly emotional nation.
The challenges the prime minister designate faces are massive as we experience some and read of others every day. Financial resources are limited in most sectors and recoveries are likely to follow a normal gestation period. The people have to be taught to manage their expectations. This, I believe, will be the most important challenge of the new government. For the last five years we have witnessed a relentless election campaign. With rhetoric being the focus of our psyche, politicians, anchors, opinion makers and analysts have played with the emotions of the people. The lack of delivery, hence the current state of affairs, is not a hand-me-down from one government or political party because every political party, including the PML-N has been in office the past five years. The exception being Imran Khan, and he too has played with emotions in the recent past, with success it would seem.
There is no doubt in my mind that achieving this goal requires greater participation of the rank and file. Peoples’ expectations don’t just go away, they have to be cajoled into subscribing to reality subject to the clean and honest intentions of government. I would assume a first step would be visible curtailment of government and focus on delivery. I also believe now that the elections are done, rhetoric must end. At least until the next election campaign begins in 2017. By this I do not mean give up monitoring progress but let the government function; no dharnas, hartals, closures that distress the situation. The electronic media too should play its role in ensuring the government gets a chance to begin to lay the foundations for recovery and progress.
For too long we have been building on weak foundations only to see something built wither and die due to neglect and then being obliterated by legalized illegal interventions. For certain parties to say they do not accept the result is ridiculous. It amounts to rejecting the will of the people. Sure, you can contest a seat as a token of democratic right, but once that election is over all parties need to put their head together and collectively work on an agenda. Praise the good being done and come down hard on what is not being done. But then arm yourself with justification and cause before presenting the case to the people.
Multiple issues are on the radar screen of the new government. Significant is the relationship with the United States and our stand on the war on terror. Mr. Sharif’s advocacy against the drone attacks has been strong. This is well noted here in Washington and most people I have had the opportunity to discuss it with share Pakistan’s concern. President Obama outlined his strategy a couple of days ago during which he mentioned a diminishing role of the drones in the region. And of course the end of the war or at least disengagement is to be completed by 2014. Where this will leave Pakistan-US relations is a matter of serious discussion and debate.
No one doubts that the US will stay focused on Pakistan given the rise of extremism. And the fact that Pakistan is in possession of a “stockpile of over 100 nuclear warheads”. But the extent it is willing to go to in the form of financial aid and military and other support depends on the relations and levels of cooperation that are built up in the months prior to the complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. It also depends a great deal on how Pakistan’s foreign policy is handled by the new government. The military has had a great influence, perhaps has dominated, Pakistan’s foreign policy for decades. Nawaz Sharif appears, on the face of it, to be preparing to pursue an independent way forward. We shall have to wait and see.
Perhaps, in setting the record straight for Pakistan and the world, it is important that the new government communicates the static support to religious parties since the inception of democracy in 1971, which has never exceeded five per cent. Current results state 4.7 per cent. A declaration from the new prime minister stating that religious extremism is a heinous crime, accompanied by strong measures to curb this menace would be very welcome.
Political parties are an essence of democracy, consensus being of utmost importance at this critical juncture. You may well say, all Pakistan’s junctures are critical. I would agree immediately. Let us then put this to our political leadership. Nawaz Sharif has already asked for consensus. Let us join hands and strive collectively for at least four years of peaceful progress before we start campaigning again.
The writer can be contacted at: [email protected]
