Daily Times

According to the author, “Technically this book is my memoir. In essence, it is a record of my perceptions of those consequential events that shaped the history of Pakistan.”

He admits that since individual perceptions can vastly vary, he does not expect complete agreement with his thoughts and arguments. “No conclusion is wholly devoid of truth, as no interpretation mirrors the whole truth. The book is open to divergent views”.

This approach according to initial reviews makes the “story very impelling and intriguing. It also tells non-Pakistani readers the human side of Pakistan. All readers may not agree with his arguments, but his case is built on solid reasoning”.

The style reflects military training. There is no doublespeak. No grey areas are contemplated in clear black and white parametres. Sometime the judgment can be harsh. It is equally so for everyone, soldiers and civilians alike. The theme remains compulsorily ‘Pakistan and its unfortunate poor people’. To quote, “The civilian and the military dictators have left the nation of Pakistan badly raped, traumatised and humiliated. Now only a Messiah can resuscitate her. Unfortunately, among the thousands in the arena there is not one political doctor who seems equal to the task.”

His passion about Muhammad Ali Jinnah is obvious, bordering on emotionalism. He traces the political history of Pakistan and the suspect growth of its institutions like the judiciary, bureaucracy and police. He thinks quality of justice defines the status of nations, the first world and the third world.

In religion he can be called a fundamentalist liberal. He thinks the Islam of the Prophet (PBUH) and his four righteous successors answers all the questions as it is based on equality and justice – Islam that allows equal rights to everyone living in an Islamic country without distinction of cast, creed or colour.

The writer traces the political history of Pakistan and the suspect growth of its institutions like the judiciary, bureaucracy and police

General Askari says, “A greater part of this history I have seen, lived with and felt as a reasonably literate and sensitive individual. Sensitivity intensifies compassion as well as pain. I have had more than a fair share of both.”

I was a college student, he continues, when Ayub Khan declared his Martial Law. “I was a captain when he left. I had taken part in 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. I was a Major and part of the degraded Army in erstwhile East Pakistan. I was a Prisoner of War for the two longest years of my life in India. As I grew in age and rank, I became more and more aware and involved in national affairs. I was one of the first ones outside Pervez Musharraf’s inner circle to know about the reality of Kargil. I saw him take over the country. I retired with the hope that he would deliver and put Pakistan back on a historic course to real democracy. It was not because I had great faith in his abilities. But I thought as I do even today that a genuine man on top is worth many a hypocritical genius.”

Whatever its merit, the book is bound to create discussion. The author thinks, “We can agree to disagree”. The book seems to be attracting a large readership.

The writer is a freelance columnist based in Kamra, Attock.

Published in Daily Times, August 16^th 2017.