Pakistan, begging for revolutionary change

The current form of democracy and government in Pakistan will not deliver anything to the country except further disaster. Political comedians have made the country a joke. If anything can save Pakistan and free the nation from looters it is a benevolent army dictatorship. These were the views of well-known Pakistani political analyst and a writer, Mr Hassan Nisar, and a senior technocrat, Dr Mubashir Hassan, made on the famous GEO TV show Meray Mutabiq presented by Dr Shahid Masood. I agree with their views.

Democracy is a beautiful word: it delivers equal opportunities, freedom of speech, rule of law, justice and maintains a civilised society. Yet implementation of democracy is a process and it requires some prerequisites. Democracy cannot be implemented in a society where the power of the state is confined to corrupt and incapable, so-called, political leaders.

Unfortunately, since the departure of General Pervez Musharraf, in the name of civil rule, Pakistan has been controlled by those who have looted the country’s wealth time and again; who hold dual nationalities; and who maintain millions of dollars in their foreign bank accounts.

These corrupt political pundits are now securing their power by bringing their followers, partners and relatives into the government bureacracy. People who possess fake degrees are given ministries. The corruption has spread through almost every department of government.

A few hundred people, some in the government and some in the opposition awaiting their turn, have managed to push the country to the verge of collapse. In addition, this ruling-elite has strong networks in the Western capitals. For the Western powers, particularly in the UK and USA, these political actors fit in well which is why they are enjoying their support.

Meanwhile back in Pakistan people are on the streets crying for food, jobs, water, power, gas, peace and security. In the last two years or so, the leaders of the ruling and largest opposition parties have delivered nothing to the nation except some constitutional amendments; an inquiry into Benazir Bhutto’s murder; and the creation of new provinces. These things cannot provide three meals a day, clean water to drink, or a consistent electricity supply. Nor do they provide security for the Pakistani nation.

These politicians appear on Pakistani TV in various political debates and manage to break their own records for false promises and deceitful claims.

The so-called political pundits-cum-feudal lords stridently criticise dictatorships but fact is that they themselves are the biggest despots. They have a monarchical-style system within their political parties. If they cannot implement a fair democratic system within their own parties how can they deliver fair democracy to the country?

The people of Pakistan have to decide if they still need this particular kind of democracy, which has been imposed on the country to serve the agenda of Western powers and which is now dragging the country into the 1971 situation (when Pakistan lost its half part of East Pakistan and became Bangladesh). What Pakistan really needs is a powerful leader who can put all these corrupt people behind the bars and work for the betterment of the Pakistani nation and for the sovereignty of the country.

Pakistan and its nation need security, economic prosperity and opportunities for common people. It should not matter if this is achieved with a dictator: the most important thing for the people of Pakistan is the stability and integrity of their country and not necessarily the disabled, so-called, “democratic” system.

The reality of the last two years has illustrated that the economy, prices of goods, security, law and order, foreign debts, currency value, and so on, were far better previously.

It was an army dictator, Pervez Musharraf, who opened the way for the political leaders, including Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, to return to Pakistan.

It was Pervez Musharraf and his team who introduced the revolution in electronic media and delivered freedom to all satellite TV channels. Today’s politicians appear on TV, enjoying Musharraf’ gift of free media, while condemning him. But they should also be thankful to Musharraf for welcoming them back to Pakistan, for allowing them to contest elections and for happily handing over power to them.

However, the fact is that by threatening the state’s sovereignty the super powers compelled Musharraf to give way to these new political actors, so to achieve their goals at the cost of the disintegration of Pakistan. Pervez Musharraf must be realising now the mistake he has made.

Former President Musharraf, in a recent TV interview, said that he wanted to come back to Pakistan. He said that he has plans to get the Pakistani economy back on track, to get rid of IMF debts and to deal with terrorism and the Taliban appropriately.

Today one cannot see any other politician who can lead the country as a national leader rather than a party leader. Pervez Musharraf, in his time, proved that he had the guts to lead the country and nation with dignity and pride. He was acknowledged by many around the world for his sense of judgment, vision and his courage in dealing with the most crucial matter of terrorism in the region. Musharraf did not let the Taliban succeed in entering Pakistani cities: the internal economic and social situation in Pakistan was much better than today.

Therefore Pervez Musharraf must return to Pakistan, make a new team of neutral, qualified intellectuals, technocrats from the honest and loyal figures in Pakistan and give relieve the nation of its political criminals.