Orwellian doublespeak

And lack of transparency

Pakistan, ostensibly a democratic polity, unfortunately lacks openness and transparency about dealings of its institutions, including that of the ubiquitous security apparatus. Whether it is the economy, our relations with foreign governments especially our neighbours, mega deals or day-to-day governance, everything is shrouded in a web of deceit and secrecy.

The state, adept at engaging in Orwellian doublespeak, hides the vital details while revealing inconsequential facts in the name of openness — just like a bikini that leaves the vitals to the imagination but divulges the mundane.

Take the case of Indian intelligence agency RAW’s growing involvement with terrorism in the country. In an unprecedented statement emanating from a recent corps commanders meeting presided over by COAS General Raheel Sharif, the top brass pointedly accused RAW of supporting terrorism in Pakistan.

Three weeks back the army chief had pointed to the involvement of foreign intelligence agencies in Balochistan. Now expanding the list we are informed that the ubiquitous foreign hand is involved in fomenting trouble in Karachi as well as FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas).

However, despite such serious allegations emanating from the highest military forum of the country, the foreign office has feigned ignorance about any fresh proof against RAW. What does this mean? Either the military is grandstanding or is unwilling to share details with the civilian institution that handles foreign affairs.

The military routinely engages in propaganda warfare in times of war. But in order to win the war against terrorism being fought within Pakistan’s borders, the khakis and the muftis should be on the same page.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the Pakistani military is accusing the Indians of being involved in fomenting terrorism in Pakistan, our civilian government, though warning India not to meddle in our internal affairs, is keen to resume the stalled dialogue with New Delhi.

The government has also consistently faltered on the National Action Plan (NAP) to deal with terrorism. Involvement of RAW with terrorism provides it with a convenient excuse to hide behind for its incompetence and lack of political will.

Three weeks back the army chief had pointed to the involvement of foreign intelligence agencies in Balochistan. Now expanding the list we are informed that the ubiquitous foreign hand is involved in fomenting trouble in Karachi as well as FATA

Take the issue of missing persons in Balochistan. Sabeen Mahmud, who ran an NGO in Karachi, was gunned down after inviting some Baloch dissidents to speak on the subject.

Last year a well-known TV anchor was attacked in Karachi ostensibly for the same crime. More recently, the LUMS (Lahore University of Management and Sciences) administration was forced to cancel a programme on the subject of missing persons by our intelligence sleuths.

The question that begs an answer: why has talking about missing persons in Balochistan become a bête noir of our security agencies? Those who tried to assassinate the TV anchor last year and the killers of Sabeen Mahmud remain untraced. Ironically, no one is interested in unearthing the culprits.

Pakistan is either a democratic country or merely a national security state. Cannot be both, it seems. It is the duty of the government as well as the ubiquitous establishment to unmask the assassins. Otherwise the public will remain sceptical that the intelligence agencies have something to hide in the matter.

These days, despite protestations to the contrary, a lot of scepticism is being expressed about the proposed route of the much-touted Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC). The government claims the route remains unchanged while the smaller provinces insist that it has been altered to suit the exigencies of the ruling party.

Despite the fact that last Wednesday Quetta was shut down to protest against the alleged change in the route of PCEC and the Chief Minister KP, Pervez Khattak, has announced a shutdown on Tuesday to agitate the change, the government remains mum. Its ministers keep insisting that the route remains unchanged without divulging any details.

The prime minister has called a meeting of parliamentary leaders on Wednesday to assure them that there is no change in the proposed route. Nonetheless the project remains shrouded in needless secrecy. The government’s unwillingness to share the small print with the stakeholders has strengthened the perception that there is a fly in the ointment.

Another glaring example of lack of transparency in government dealings is the much celebrated $21 billion long-term contract with Qatar to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) signed in February this year. The project was executed in such unholy haste that the first LNG ship has already unloaded its cargo and the gas is in the system.

Such alacrity notwithstanding, it is not yet clear at what price the gas has been imported and under what terms. All we know is that the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, despite engaging in some arm twisting, could not succeed in persuading the boards of public sector gas companies to pick the heavy tab.

Abbasi wrote a lengthy article widely published in the local media. But he failed to divulge crucial details about the project.

The latest scandal hitting the media is the controversial sale of KASB Bank to Bank Islami for Rs1,000. Of course the catch is that the Bank Islami has picked up the liabilities of the sunken bank to the tune of Rs5 billion. Reportedly to cover its capital inadequacy, it has been provided a virtual interest free facility.

There is nothing Islami about the deal shrouded in mystery except the name. All we are told in a cryptic statement by the central bank is that it has approved the amalgamation of the KASB Bank with Bank Islami Pakistan. What about the rights of minority shareholders and why other bidders were excluded? And who were the bidders? Not a word about it.

Despite the fact that last Wednesday Quetta was shut down to protest against the alleged change in the route of PCEC and the Chief Minister KP, Pervez Khattak, has announced a shutdown on Tuesday to agitate the change, the government remains mum

The much regaled privatisation process also leaves much to be desired in the field of transparency and openness. In its anxiety to shore up its coffers corners are being cut to sell the family silver in unholy haste.

The good news we are told is the turnaround in the economy. Credit rating agencies like Moody’s and Standard and Poor have upgraded the country’s ability to pay its debts.

Nevertheless the government in this self-congratulatory mode is either unaware of the downside or simply unwilling to share the bad news with the public. Admittedly, the stock exchange is booming, foreign currency reserves have shored up, budgetary deficit is well within control and inflation is down.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar notwithstanding a bit of good luck can also take due credit for steering the economy from its 2013 abyss. According to IPR (Institute of Policy Reforms), headed by eminent economist Dr Hafiz Pasha, and bankrolled and chaired by former Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan: ‘there is weak (economic) performance all around.’

According to IPR, reduction in development expenditure, increase in indirect taxes, high cost of external debt and increasing circular debt have depressed growth and added to the woes of the people.

The IPR’s view might be a bit jaundiced. But its estimation that GDP growth for the current financial year will fall well short of the 5.1 percent target is borne out by the estimates given by the IFIs (international financial institutions). Even though exports are sluggish, foreign direct investment (FDI) and manufacturing sector has badly underperformed, chest thumping continues unabated.

Despite the ground realities not being so rosy the rulers are determined to celebrate their two years in power with much fanfare. The real fear, however, is that in this narcissistic mode the government might be hoisted by its own petard — by starting to believe in its own doublespeak.