How allies see us

When outsiders teach us what democracy is

First it was the Pakistani media followed by the courts that had raised the issue. Now one of Pakistan’s key allies, donors and trade partners has taken up the matter. Setting aside diplomatic niceties, the British High Commissioner has told journalists frankly that Pakistan needed radical change. Sharing concerns expressed last week by IMF mission chief to Pakistan Jeffrey R Franks, he reiterated that Pakistan’s economy was not growing fast enough. As if this was not sufficient, he added, “Pakistan’s governments – federal and provincial – are not delivering enough to the people.” He listed the ailing economy, power crisis and raging violent extremism as outcome of the failures of the federal and provincial governments. In normal circumstances this would have been considered an uncalled for interference in the country’s internal affairs. Things have, however, gone to such an extreme that the envoy of a country known for understatements has been forced to break the taboo. He also pointed out that democracy was not just about elections. “It is about living up to the standards you set. It is about politicians as role models. It is about earning the trust of the people and delivering for the people.” There is something seriously wrong when outsiders are forced to remind our leaders that they are neglecting their responsibilities to their own citizens.

The ruling elite needs to ask themselves why Tahirul Qadri’s slogan for change in the system could charge tens of thousands of people who followed him all the way from Lahore to Islamabad for a change. Those who accompanied him in the march included a large number of women, some taking their children along. It was easily forgotten by the people that Qadri had chosen to acquire the citizenship of Canada turning his back on the country of his birth over six years back. People are fed up with the unending bloodshed in Karachi, forced disappearances in Balochistan, power shortages, lawlessness and rampant corruption all over the country. Even in Punjab, presented by the PML-N as an island of tranquillity and good governance, things are hardly any better. Dengue fever visited the province twice, killing 247 people in 2011 alone. Government’s negligence led to the deaths of over 100 heart patients in Lahore caused by a contaminated heart medicine in 2011-12. In 2012, over 40 people died after taking a cough syrup which was injurious to health. In between, thousands of patients had to face the consequences of a number of strikes by doctors. Meanwhile, Lahore Metro Bus Service inauguration continues to be postponed prolonging the misery of the commuters and raising questions about the quality of governance in the province.

What is needed is to urgently announce an election schedule and appoint a consensus caretaker setup. Hopefully, the next government would learn from the mistakes of its predecessors.