While staying in Saudi, we occasionally meet many friends from different countries. During routine discussions on world affairs, it’s very rare that any one of them could ever remember name of his/her country’s sitting army chief. Why is it so that even a school going Pakistani child would know who is the Pakistan’s army chief, who heads ISI, even who is his city/region’s corp commander? It’s a well-known and undeniable fact that security establishment (read army and ISI) sets the direction of country’s defence, internal security and foreign affairs. No sitting so-called democratic government can ever dare to go against the set rules, otherwise it has to face the implications in the form of parliamentary chaos (such as PTI’s months long infamous sit-in which almost toppled the Sharif government last year).
This Eid many ugly realities came to lime light — everyone is asking where were our democratically elected leaders? Why were they not with us when we needed them? How would an ordinary Pakistani feel when he comes to know that Prime Minister Sharif is spending last 10 days of Ramzan and Eid in Saudi Arabia while celebrating his granddaughter’s nikah over there, Punjab’s chief minister is enjoying Eid in London, Asif Zardari is now staying in Dubai, Imran Khan is nowhere to be known? Why army chief is breaking his fast with grieving parents of Army Public School martyrs, how come Commander Southern region is spending his Eid with families of those killed in Mastung or visiting the family of guard who saved tens of Hazaras by sacrificing his own life, Karachi Corp Commander spent Eid with the relatives of families killed in Safora goth. But where were our politicians?
Have our politicians just abdicated all the powers to military? Even respect for humanity is no more in their domain? If this is the reality, why waste resources on a democratic process? Let’s welcome hard or soft, coup whatever you call it. Rest assured our politicians can continue to enjoy an indefinite stay in luxurious properties they now own in faraway lands.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
