Daily Times

I am taking a break from geography lessons to bring my readers good cheer. In the aftermath of Nawaz Sharif’s ouster, suddenly, everything seems to be sorting itself out. Indeed, within our state of extreme politico-economic instability I spy more than a glimmer of hope. But first allow me to ask the following: Was Nawaz Sharif alone responsible for placing us all in the current mess? Does his ouster mean that we, the people of Pakistan, are to be delivered from this sorry lot of politicians?

I think I will address events at random. So let me start with the military spokesman’s recent press conference. In my view, this was one of the most comprehensive briefings of his career; he addressed many issues and sought to dispel disparate concerns. Foremost being that the Army is not taking over the country. Furthermore, the military did not pursue Sharif’s ouster; its participation in the JIT was at the Supreme Court’s behest.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor also went on to clarify why the Rangers had been deployed to the Judicial Complex where the former PM was to appear. It was in response to a threat to his person. And Ghafoor is right. There may be occasions when a soldier may even have to ask the Army chief for ID; and why not? There is, after all, no shame in proving one’s identity.

He also expressed the military’s apprehensions regarding the ongoing politico-economic instability. These are entirely genuine. And even though they may not fall within its domain, our soldiers are, too, concerned citizens. Thus if they are taking it upon themselves to reassure all and sundry that they have no intention of coming out of the barracks – then the least they can do is publicly remind the government of the urgency of such matters.

I am at a loss as to why the military spokesman had to remark on the political participation of the MML. If he did so because it concerns religion, then that is most unfortunate. I believe that the latter should play no role in matters of governance. But I am clearly in the minority and, after all, we are a democracy. Nevertheless, I will still say that religion lies absolutely beyond the realm of those in uniform

Elsewhere, the Army chief’s recent visit to Kabul was a great success. He is now off to Tehran. That it is the COAS and DG ISI who are re-forging alliances with our neighbours seems to have become an unfortunate necessity. However, if the Foreign Minister was unavailable, perhaps the Foreign Secretary could accompany the military top brass on such trips; all the better to add a civilian hue to the proceedings.

Yet despite all this, I must say that I am at a loss to comprehend why the military spokesman found himself compelled to comment on the amendment to the Election Act. Nor why he had to remark upon the political participation of the Milli Muslim League. If he did so because it concerns religion, then that is most unfortunate. I believe that the latter should play no role in matters of governance. But I am clearly in the minority and, after all, we are a democracy. Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop me from saying that religion lies absolutely beyond the realm of those in uniform. A most regrettable and unfortunate development, truly.

And now we come to the federal Interior Minister who was not permitted entry to the court; his minister-ship may have undoubtedly felt insulted. I can forgive him his incense but my observation is more basic. While Sharif was under trial by the SC, not only was he PM, the petition had been filed by an individual. In this court, he was not PM and, the case under consideration was, or should have been State vs Nawaz Sharif. So, in what capacity did Ahsan Iqbal seek admission to the court; as a representative of the state or as just another PMLN lapdog rolling over to show his personal loyalty to his ousted master?

If Ahsan Iqbal has been a disappointment, Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Asif are decidedly astonishing and pleasing revelations. Our new Prime Minister had been a relatively unknown personality until his UN General Assembly debut. There, his dress, body language, and speech were impressively confident; firm yet diplomatic. Interestingly, despite his lip-service paying homage to his predecessor, he has not hesitated at all on FATA reforms, which Sharif had pended for political expediency.

At one time, Asif would come across as a brash customer, rising up in defence of his party irrespective of facts; he could also be rude, even to female parliamentarians, without any qualms of decency. Yet it is as Foreign Minister that he seems to have found his calling. Indifferent to domestic criticism, he has bravely owned the fact that we have failed to take on the Punjabi Taliban; and high time, too. I do hope that our Interior minister can pick up a few tips on the meaning of courage.

And Asif has not hesitated in taking on the US either. Including a not-so-subtle allusion to the US patronising of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Again, it’s about high time, I say. With the military reaching out to our immediate neighbours, perhaps vestiges of our foreign policy are once more emerging.

What we desperately still need, however, is a more robust economic policy and one that is not based on false promises. If Abbasi could only rid himself of the unloved alleged criminal, Dar; we could all heave a collective sigh of relief. In his desire to demonstrate his economic prowess, Dar has been propping up the rupee vs dollars; merely adding to our economic woes. This, coupled with his ability to glibly fudge the figures has brought the economy to its knees. And, as you all know, I have already expressed my concerns over CPEC. So get to it, Abbasi; get rid of him along with the rest of the excess baggage you have inherited!

Even as I sought a military intervention, I was racked by trepidation. But the final development of note, which cast light on my ray of hope, was when members of the Treasury rose in bitter criticism of Sharif’s antics and tactics in the house; and Shahbaz, the younger Sharif, in public. It seems that Nawaz has buried both his own and his children’s political future.

My brother and my young politician friend are welcome to an “I told you so”.

The writer is a retired brigadier. He is also former vice president and founder of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)

Published in Daily Times, October 8^th 2017.