Reference Arif Nizami’s excellent analysis and a year of uneventful rule by Nawaz Sharif.
A year has elapsed, which in all fairness is not enough time for PML-N government to be assessed, but judging from choice of individuals appointed to head important public offices, not much can be expected from the mediocrity that dominates those who have been tasked to deliver. With Narendara Modi ruling New Delhi, India’s constitutional commitment to secularism preached by Gandhi might have received a jolt, but it is time that civil-cum-khaki ruling elite grasped reality of dangers that confront Pakistan from within and outside. What Pakistan and its establishment cannot afford is to be seen patronising the likes of Hafiz Saeed or Zaid Hamid, nor our sensationalism bitten electronic media giving them undue coverage.
Pakistan needs to restore rule of law within its geographical boundaries, with no space for private armed militias challenging the writ of state and collecting more funds through extortion than FBR from traders and retailers in big cities such as Karachi. This country needs to collect taxes from all sources of income to fund its constitutional commitment of providing education, health and security of life and property for all citizens, while all state funded institutions are confined to adopt strictly their legally defined roles. Power must only flow from constitution and laws, never from the barrel of a gun. Otherwise, Taliban, sectarian and ethnic outfits will hold this country to ransom, as has been the case for over four decades.
The masses, the poor and deprived must be the sole beneficiaries of state largess and dole outs, instead of paid civil or khaki bureaucracy, or nexus of land mafia and corrupt elite that have misruled this country for years. Capping rupee vs dollar to under Rs100 alone does not provide any relief to the poor, unless massive corruption is curtailed, inflation is brought down by imposing direct taxes instead of burdening consumers with indirect taxes, and flight of capital is eliminated.
For this to happen the PM must appoint men of integrity on merit with undivided loyalty to Pakistan at the helm of state corporations, monetary agencies, law enforcement and accountability organisations. Otherwise, projects like New Islamabad Airport would escalate to Rs100 billion, triple the projected cost, because of contractors’ connivance and successive governments.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore