Articles of the year 2016
Published on October 25th 2016
The message was clear, and understood by everyone in earshot, or near a TV. The Khan had appeared and overwhelmed all. The Sharifs stood exposed waiting for the executioner. Their lies unraveling before the nation, a million people suddenly made aware of the monstrous economic crimes committed on a country by one family. Driving poor Pakistanis deeper into poverty squirrelling their spoils beyond the grasp of the wretched Pakistanis still trying to eke a living from the leftovers of the fat rogues.
Imran Khan has cemented his place among the political legends of the world. Politically outmanoeuvred, isolated, then deciding to go-it-alone, he jumped in and established his party unsullied by the graft and corruption that has infected all eastern politics. Imran’s PTI has caught the imagination of the youth, and the people robbed once too often by the old guard. The Bhuttos, the religious parties, having peddled Islam for too long, selling communism, now the Sharifs selling their naked opportunism, more blatantly than ever before.
Pakistan has seen many entrants in politics. This being the fastest way to power, not always legal. Invariably the politician found a way to be corrupted making a fortune along the way. Imran has maintained his clean image successfully, mostly by remaining clean. This has been his enduring attraction. The youth sees the promise of a future unsullied by the usual political sleaze that the normal politicians thrive in. Pakistan was driven into a corruption riddled society, where scams proliferated, and the country itself could have become overwhelmed by the huge funds that were being siphoned off.
Most effected were the funds most desperately needed in the health and development sectors. These are the two areas that Imran has excelled in. His Shaukat Khanum Hospital is a Cancer Hospital established by Imran, and functioning as a state of the Art facility the Pakistan is rightfully proud of. Pakistan needs Imran to be in charge of more such projects, as it has been demonstrated that he has the ability to administer successfully, and of course honestly. In other countries and societies, honesty is built into the system, and corruption is dealt with severely. In Pakistan, corruption had entered the culture, and became part of the system. A bulk of the budget was being taken up under the head of misc expenses. The problem was started under Bhutto, who dismantled the Civil Service system that we inherited from the British. Bhutto replaced the independence of the Service, and brought it under the political yoke. This single stroke made the services dependent on the whims of the politicians, who are notorious for not allowing the rules to function, by presuming that they are above the rules!And so an administrative system which was the pride of the British administration, and at the heart of the success of the British Government. Was imposed on an unsuspecting populace. An administration copied by many countries, successfully, and one that kept corruption at a minimum. Here one man, Bhutto, thought that he could do better. Unfortunately for him, his changes led him to the scaffold. Of course the effect on the administration was devastating, leading Pakistan to a complete shambles, and merit was completely ignored. When a proper History of Pakistan is written, the role of Bhutto in destroying the Civil Service rules of Pakistan have allowed corruption to be a part of the Service itself, instead of being punished it was allowed to flourish. And so it is with the Sharifs. The corruption that they nurtured is the reason for their downfall. Pakistan is not the private preserve of the Sharifs, and instead of tinkering with a tried and tested and successful administrative system, they thought that they could improve it . Much to their regret, the mistakes made by their cohorts may yet prove their undoing.
Imran Khan has shown just a glimmer of his ability. The very fact that he has emerged as the sole politician without any of the old guard, and they (the old guard) have successfully lumped themselves together as the Corrupt awaiting trial under the countless charges that will be filed against them. Their only hope could be a blanket NRO, which cannot be allowed. After Imran’s speech on Friday, the message of hope is spreading, amongst the youth, and alarm amongst the rest. The entire political might is gathered against Imran, and it is even more of a miracle Imran’s solo was as success without any Qadri, or PPP or any other supporting cast. It was important that Imran should survive on his own without the floats. If any thing, Shaikh Rashid brought with him his years of experience, of being able to read the nuances and the dummies before they were sold, of reading into the minds of his adversaries cutting through the layers of hypocracy with uncanny resolve, assisted only by his experience, and years of dealing with human beings. Imran is doing well, even though he is a little too generous with allowing his detractors too much leeway, and should have been chastised earlier. I remember Mr Bhutto never allowed anyone liberties, and maintained a distance which was never allowed to be penetrated by outsiders. Meanwhile Imran has achieved two major points.
1 Maintaining his honesty and integrity.
2 Has identified Nawaz Sharif as the leader of the corrupt members of the PMLN.
3 Imran has accused Nawaz of abandoning his Prime Ministerial duties. Ie not holding the required number of cabinet meetings, and the cabinet decisions were not held with the requisite quorum. In this situation, the cabinet decisions were illegal, and all the actions under those decisions were illegal. This is a very serious lapse on the Prime Ministers part, and a violation of his oath of office, and violation of the constitution. Both these violations have rendered the Nawaz government infructious, and without legal authority. Giving the Imran movement the right to remove the illegal government of Nawaz. To this effect Imran has given a deadline to Nawaz to step down, and face the consequences. Even the Indian media is pointing out that Nawaz was busy shopping in London, while Pakistan was facing a serious war threat on its border. This shows a Prime Minister out of touch with reality, and incapable of his functioning as a Prime Minister, certainly not in a war situation.
Pakistan cannot afford such an infantile behaviour from the most important officer of the country. Nawaz must be removed and charged with dereliction of duty. At the very least. And the Supreme Court of Pakistan should take Suo Moto notice of dereliction of duty based on the evidence of the Indian press reports.