Change is nigh

The trial of Musharraf and his cabinet

On November 23, 2013, Imran Khan while addressing the historic ‘dharna’ mentioned the approach of prolonging the war in Afghanistan by a member of Musharraf’s cabinet. The purpose being the inflow of US dollars. Khan sahib is the leader of change in Pakistan and his words carry weight. Success or failure of a government depends on the performance of its cabinet members. As the country is moving in the direction of change, Musharraf’s cabinet members must be thoroughly scrutinised to break the shackles of status-quo. Following is the list of the dictator’s team.

Zubaida Jalal Khan, Nilofer Bakhtiar, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Hina Rabbani Khar, Aamir Liaqat, Raza Haraj, Omar Ayub Khan, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Rao Sikander, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Aftaab Ahmad Sherpao, Jehangir Khan Tareen, Awais Leghari, Ijaz-ul-Haq, Javed Ashraf Kazi, Nauraiz Shakoor, Sikander Bosan, Liaqaut Jatoi, Zahid Hamid, Ameer Muqqam.

The last meeting of this cabinet was held in November 2007 presided by the then PM Shaukat Aziz followed by a photo session. The entire team was sure of coming back into power; but it was the assassination of Benazir Bhutto that turned the table. The country had to suffer another cabinet with record loot and plunder. Another list and another disaster. The indictment of Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 is in fact a trial of his entire cabinet. Once the Pandora’s box opens, everyone will run for cover.

When an army faces defeat its generals are stripped off their uniforms, never to fight again and face humiliation. The December 1971 surrender of General Niazi at the Paltan Madan in Decca was the end of his career and a new term was introduced in annals of military called ‘shaheed, ya ghazi, ya Niazi’. Unfortunately, this approach is not applied to failed governments and its cabinet members. The ‘Achkans’ and ‘Lota Waist Coats’ are dry cleaned and pressed for another oath, leading to another failed administration and the show goes on for the preservation of status-quo.

As laid down in the 1973 constitution, ‘the Cabinet shall aid and advise the Prime Minister in the exercise of his functions’. In the oath it says: “That I will not allow my personal interests to influence my official conduct or my official decision or advice so tendered. That, in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to Law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” How many cabinet members to date have followed their oath of office? All elected representatives and ministers were asked to file their assets before 1985. The year is important as the first non-party based elections opened the flood gates of corruption, nepotism, institution bashing, conflict of interest and open recruitment in vital public service departments like education, irrigation, police, health etc.

Keeping the USA model in mind, the founding fathers of the 1973 constitution desired fresh recruitment of technocrats in higher grades of bureaucracy (Grade 21, 22) through lateral entry. In the ZAB regime several renowned technocrats were appointed federal secretaries by the prime minister (Masood Hasan, Dr Muhammad Ajmal, Nasim Ahmed to name a few). Till date, the constitution allows the PM to promote and appoint officers in these grades. In the USA, every incoming administration brings a new team not only in the cabinet but on all senior positions. Except for the furniture everything else changes. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the babus and their bosses (cabinet members) remain unchanged. Revolving doors, musical chairs, ‘lotacracy’, whatever the term, it is the same faces in all cabinets and parties. Zia’s slogan was Islam, Nawaz stood for economic revival, Benazir desired ‘musawat’ (equality), Musharraf stood for enlightenment and Imran is committed to ‘insaf’ (justice) and change. The slogans keep changing, but the team to implement that remains intact with the same ‘babus and their bosses’. So much for the change.

My late father was a worker of the Pakistan Movement. He joined Muslim League in 1935 and kept his allegiance to the party till his death. The only praise I ever heard from him about the Red Shirts (Ghaffar Khan and Wali Khan) was that they were honest to their cause. He would often say ‘betrayal calls for death’. Honesty, integrity and self-esteem were the hallmark of the founding fathers. There is a ‘Punjabi term ‘ulaama’ (finger pointing or blame) that had to be avoided at all costs.

Pakistan today is being ruled by the PML-N which openly admits that they cannot deliver on their manifesto as the ground realities are much grimmer than their assumptions. It is indeed a betrayal of their cause. Though politically I am opposed to Mian sahib, I still pray for his long life. The arena is lethal, there is no room for child’s play. Today Muslim League is nothing but an ‘ulaama’.

The country is ready for change; comrades cannot wait any longer. Imran Khan and his PTI is in the forefront and the nation is solidly behind them. There can be no betrayal, he is known to hold his ground. Unfortunately, the failed cabinets of 1985 to 2013 cannot deliver change. Like defeated generals their wars are over. Pakistan needs ‘ghazis’ not ‘Tiger Niazis’. This indeed is a historic moment that calls for caution and planning but no betrayals.

A new Pakistan is on the horizon. The year 2014 will usher in an era of change. Those who will betray will be wiped out. Victory is in sight, finally a generation of Pakistan is in a position to hand over ‘Quaid’s country’ to the next generation. It is our duty and solemn pledge. We are not like the cabinet members who betray their oath of office and change uniforms to serve their benefactors. Both in and out of uniform, our allegiance is to the motherland.

Dr Farid A Malik is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: [email protected].