America’s Corrupt Clients In Islamabad Push Pakistan To Failure

President Musharraf told his political allies before Pakistan’s elections he has decided to give Benazir’s party maximum seats on American wish

The leaderships ruling Pakistan Iraq and Afghanistan are US-backed. In our case, it is a Washington-washed, Condy-cleansed and Boucher-brought leadership. The scores of secret meetings that took place with Ms. Condoleezza Rice and Mr. Boucher at Dubai and elsewhere, the undertakings and commitments made by our present rulers to further American interests in the region, ought to put us to shame.  If Pakistan’s indicators are failing, it is this delegitimized government which is responsible for our downslide. It is these angelic elites and the factionalized few, with wealth both legitimate and illegitimate amassed abroad, that have contributed to our indexation amongst failed states. It is this external intervention that has brought the present leaders to power.

By Ijaz-ul-Haq

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The News International

WWW.AHMEDQURAISHI.COM

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The Washington-based Fund for Peace, an independent research organization, has conducted a worldwide survey to index failing states, in which Pakistan has been placed at 10th. Our country has been categorized as insecure, unstable and a breeding ground for terrorism and spreading extremism.

The group has based its results on 12 indicators relating to rulers and the ruled. In 2007 Pakistan was placed in the 12th position from where it fell to 9th position in 2008—i.e., this decline was seen after democracy had been restored and the present leadership effectively placed.

For academic interest, at least, let us examine the phenomenon in some detail and have a closer look at the indicators. Demographic constants apart, we take into consideration the indicators leading us to the indexed position. We seem to conclude and find that it is not the failure of the state but, in actual effect, it is the failure of the leadership and its policies. And it proves the fact that it is the failure of the American policies imposed and followed in these countries that have landed them to such a dismal and unenviable condition. Leaving aside the tiny African states, countries like Somalia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan are listed among failed states.

The leaderships ruling Pakistan Iraq and Afghanistan are US-backed. In our case, it is a Washington-washed, Condy-cleansed and Boucher-brought leadership. What sanctification indeed! The scores of secret meetings that took place with Ms. Condoleezza Rice and Mr. Boucher at Dubai and elsewhere, the undertakings and commitments made by our present rulers to further American interests in the region, ought to put us to shame.

Before the general elections 2007, President Musharraf had no problem in telling Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that it has been pre-arranged that PML (Q) will now be given and should be content with only 40-50 odd National Assembly seats.  The majority will be given to the PPP as ordained by the United States.

The former president, in his lust for his continued rule, felt no remorse to become a partner in the despised game plan and despicable deal through the notorious NRO.

Which law of the land sanctions such a compromise and connivance at the national level, on the basic norms of morality, attributes of intellectual honesty and fair play – the very foundation of an edifice – of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?

Statutory offences and offences against the state are neither compoundable nor condonable. For us the primitive age is still not over. The point to prove and regret is that the United States of America – the sole superpower and symbol of democracy, independence, and human rights, stoops so low as to sponsor and support such a move to ensure the return to the throne of discredited, dishonest rulers.

The governance deficit of these baptized Puritans is so low that in every Pakistani's estimation they hold the poorest of credentials and credibility. Their popularity rating can be gauged from the inland SMS traffic. It would be an amusing survey. More laughable is the law enactment in this regard. It would be naïve to expect such a piece withstand the adjudication and judicial review.

On the Indicators, it is this delegitimized government which is responsible for our downslide. It is these angelic elites and the factionalized few, with wealth both legitimate and illegitimate amassed abroad, that have contributed to our indexation amongst failed states. It is this external intervention that has brought the present leaders to the fore.

The economic decline is due largely to poor economic and fiscal policies of the government. The billions looted and billions written off as a result of the NRO. The big loans unaccounted-for and waived off by various regimes of the recent past over the years and similar fat amounts wasted on the endless war on terror is a sufficient factor for our economic decline.

In 2006, I attended two seminars held at Lahore organized by Council of Pakistan Affairs and Pakistan Institute of World Peace. The participants comprised economists, businessmen, the intelligentsia, professors from the Far East and eminent personalities from the respective fields. The speakers were almost unanimous in predicting the fall of the USA in at least economic terms – thereby leading to the decline of its role and curtailment of its capacity to act as the sole superpower – the war on terror being the cause of the drain and possible destabilization of its economy. The billions of dollars spent on the war on terror would cause enormous strain on the United States' economic and other potentials, would weaken its capabilities and eventually it would fall apart from within into zones – as one may call it – at least on the linguistic basis, if not other identities. It looked like a prophecy and a paradox – far from reality and unlikely to happen.

Today we are witnessing such tendencies and demands like Spanish to be made primary language in its South. The Mexican majority areas have their own group grievances. Through massive subsidies and support funds, major business concerns and banks have been put on life support while others have collapsed. Unemployment and retrenchment are on the rise. The Pakistani think tanks have proven right in their prediction and pronouncements.

More than 40 percent of our population is living and languishing below the poverty line, with no access to the basic amenities of life. Not to mention amenities, the very basic, barest needs of education, employment, health and even clean drinking water. Common commodities of daily life are beyond their reach. The hapless masses are crying for justice, equity and employment. Their life has been made miserable for lack of good governance. For the relief they have no recourse. Rampant corruption, erosion of government control and authority is so glaring that targeted and mass killings in Karachi fail to attract the mischief of law. Dozens of dead bodies are consigned to nowhere without naming the killers and the killed. The opposition which is unique in its nature being in coalition in Punjab and friendly in the Center has not played its due role of check and balance. The voice of the masses, the burden of the price hike, law and order, etc., is not being aired at any forum. They rush towards the chief justice to come to their rescue for their collective and individual unfathomable grievances of daily life like POL prices and the electricity tariff.

The opposition has not been given its due role to play in the national affairs as evidenced during the recent budget session. The cut motions relating to law and order by the opposition were shelved/withdrawn. To promote personalized party rule constitutional provisions are being contemplated to further curtail the role of a viable opposition.

As federal minister for religious affairs my portfolio required comparatively more frequent meetings with President Musharraf.

I, in my own humble way, resisted foreign-imposed pressures and restrictions about the Islamic seminaries and their syllabi. Though known little to friends outside, I even raised concerns regarding the handling of the Lal Masjid episode. In a meeting in 2006 President Musharraf told me not to favor MMA members of Parliament, as in the new scheme of things they will not be allowed to re-emerge or regain prominence in the political arena. Only the secular and moderates will be allowed a role. General Musharraf stressed that the government is required to move away from religious elements and so should I. On Lal Masjid and other such issues General Musharraf clearly indicated that I should abdicate my conviction and my real forte. At one time I thought to resign. But I was persuaded to stay, and to seek some sanity to prevail. It did not happen and I failed to forestall the finales that followed. My heart goes out to the innocent lives lost in the Lal Masjid tragedy. I did not resign but sincerely feel the opposite would have been much more desirable and far more prudent.

From the above, one can deduce and derive that Pakistan is not a failed state. It is the failure of the rulers and their [foreign] masters.

Mr. Ijaz ul Haq is a former federal minister. He can be reached at ulhaq.ijaz@gmail.com

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