The government’s disregard for institutional framework is surprising
With the media circus turning into a total vortex because of personal differences and market objectives taking over media barons, the inaction of the PML-N government is typical of the kind of politicians we have at the helm of affairs today. The capital is abuzz over the possibility of yet another military takeover if things are not handled immediately and properly.
The recent operation in North Waziristan has the capacity to turn the tide in the army’s favour. Jeremy Bentham, the well-known British philosopher, jurist and reformer, once said that tyranny and anarchy are never far apart. Pakistan can still avoid any mishap to the democratic process if the chief executive and his team rise from bewilderment and act prudently.
When Mian Nawaz Sharif took oath of the office of prime minister for a record third time, every common Pakistani thought that he would be a changed man who would leave no stone unturned to get the country out of the political mess created by his predecessors since 2006, including Musharraf the dictator; Gilani, the obtuse; and Pervez Ashraf, the raja rental.
However, shocking as it may be to many, it seems that Mr Sharif is much too cautious this time around – so guarded that his government is at a standstill and complete confusion prevails. Even top PML-N leaders, including high-ranking ruling party office bearers, lawmakers and ministers seem clueless. Most of them keep asking journalists what strategy the government would adopt to deal with the crisis situation. It is a pity that a total paralysis has taken over the government within only a span of one year.
The dilemma is that while the government looks paralysed, the army under its new chief looks confident, clearheaded and committed to tackle major challenges faced by the country. Under its new COAS General Raheel Sharif, the army has got rid of the philosophical approach which was the hallmark of former chief General Kayani. It seems the confusion that made General Kayani dormant has now travelled to the prime minister’s house.
There is no doubt that PEMRA itself is a decision-making authority and its ordinance does not allow blatant interference by government employees like federal secretaries of ministries for interior, information and law.
General Kayani, known as a “thinking soldier”, was totally clueless about how to deal with issues confronting the country while he was in charge since 2007 – from the US incursion into Abbottabad to the reign of fear unleashed by TTP miscreants. The paralysis of governance is not new for the PML-N administration though. Nawaz Sharif has a history of either inaction or appointing kiths and kin at top government positions.
However, since the media is vocal and alert, the family business is going on covertly. The fact of the matter is that the prime minister has yet to appoint heads of many public sector enterprises while many institutions have to work with incomplete boards. This is adding to the governance problems because adhoc managements never deliver in crisis situations.
Just take the case of PEMRA, which is another body functioning without a chairman. In search of cronies, Sharif has failed to appoint a new head to PEMRA. And the entire country has to face the music as a media circus is in full swing. From army to judiciary and from clergy to the people in the streets, all are blaming either PEMRA for its inability to act in time to block objectionable material, or they are cursing the prime minister for his inaction and confusion.
Had there been a PEMRA chairman to deal with the Geo matter, things would have remained under control and the infighting between TV channels would also have been curtailed. It seems that most PML-N leaders from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to information minister Pervez Rasheed and from Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah to the ordinary worker of the ruling party in the streets, still believe they are in the opposition.
Their statements against the establishment reflect that the PML-N leadership is still in a state of denial and whenever an issue of governance occurs, government ministers take refuge in cursing the military establishment for all ills without taking any action to put things in order. The recent announcement of suspension of Geo TV channel by five members of PEMRA and the government’s immediate act of disowning it reflects that the government was determined to disallow the regulator to perform its duties.
The Geo-army tiff could have been sorted out if the government had allowed PEMRA to act independently on the defence ministry’s complaint. Initially, the government had tried to influence PEMRA’s functioning by appointing half a dozen federal secretaries and others into its board in violation of the PEMRA ordinance.
There is no doubt that PEMRA itself is a decision-making authority and its ordinance does not allow blatant interference by government employees like federal secretaries of ministries for interior, information and law and justice. The quiet meeting of information minister Pervez Rasheed with DG-ISI, seeking apology for Geo TV and the subsequent refusal by the officer has proved that the army’s top brass is not ready to have a backchannel solution of Geo’s matter and rather it wants everything to be made through proper channels – PEMRA and courts.
Delaying tactics by the government to resolve the matter would not succeed. Army wants suspension of Geo channel and any apology can only be accepted once the transmission of the channel is taken off air.
Delaying tactics by the government to resolve the matter would not succeed. Army wants suspension of Geo channel and any apology can only be accepted once the transmission of the channel is taken off air. Otherwise, security clearance for Geo Super – the major money-making channel of the Geo group which still needs a valid license – is yet to be attained from the ISI. Under clause 8 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002, the chairman or, in his absence, the member elected by the members for the purpose, shall preside at a meeting of the authority.
Under sub-clause (2) of clause 8, one-third of the total members shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the authority requiring a decision by the authority. This is what was done by five members of PEMRA who held a meeting on May 20th.
On the contrary, the secret visit by information minister along with prime minister’s special assistant to Dubai to hold talks with the Geo management, and on return making a failed effort to get the matter settled by bypassing the regulator reflected how committed the PML-N leadership was towards appeasing Geo TV management.
In the meantime, the government is making an effort to establish a Media Complaints Commission (MCC), headed by a retired judge of the apex court of the country, which would act as an independent watchdog for media and in case any violation of a code of conduct is made, whether by print or electronic media. It would have powers to take action on written complaints while it would also have powers to take suo motu notice of any breach.
Setting up such a parallel watchdog would make PEMRA a toothless body without the power to act against any broadcaster. This reflects that the government wants to do away with all the good institutions made and nurtured under the reign of General Musharraf. It also shows that the government has no regard for institutional framework and rather wants parallel bodies which would lead to overlapping disputes, eventually leaving total chaos and anarchy.
