Daily Times

Pakistan has been plagued by a new epidemic: sick politicians. The trigger for this appears to any mention of accountability. And so quickly does this ‘illness’ strike that there is no time to be wasted on things like due process. But, of course, they do somehow manage to muster sufficient energy to make it out of the country to seek treatment abroad.

Today, the Sharif family, including Ishaq Dar, has set up camp in London for this very purpose; that city long being the place where political decisions are made regarding the future of this country.

Yet the Sharifs are not exactly alone in this. Nearly everyone has been there and done that. This includes the PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari and Sharjeel Memon, both of whom had to be spirited abroad for remedy just they were due to face corruption charges. As for Dr Asim Hussain, another of the party’s heavyweights, he braved being taken into custody and even went before the courts only to subsequently cave in and seek bail on medical grounds.

As for the former president, Zardari can rest easy since there are no cases pending against him. Sharjeel, however, is back and before the courts, for now. And the former presidential military strongman General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf, also wanted by the courts, has been easily flitting between London and Dubai; ever since his sudden need for medical recourse took hold just as his trial was nicely getting underway. Coincidence? You decide.

Sickness has become an inherent part of our political culture. If only the Sharif family would present themselves before the courts — they could easily take partial credit for actively administering the best antidotes of all: accountability and justice

But it’s not their fault. The truth of the matter is that Pakistan’s politicians have much in common with the superheroes of our childhood. Consider how the latter, in his un-caped daily life, would be all listless, as if perennially under the weather; and we would more often than not find him in a hospital bed or being defeated by the baddies. But here is where the similarities end. One is a hero of the people.

The other is anything but a national hero. For the people cannot be fooled all of the time. Meaning that they know what they can expect from their politicians. Had they been real heroes — they would they would have not rested until they sincerely and effectively tackled the vicious cycles of poverty and terrorism and much else besides.

Sickness has become an inherent part of our political culture. And, unfortunately, there is still much resistance to the only known antidote to this malaise: abiding by the terms and conditions of all warrants issued by Pakistani courts.

The Sharif family, for example, is duty bound to appear regularly before the latter as their trial is still ongoing. If they would only do so — they could easily take partial credit for actively administering the best antidotes of all: accountability and justice; taking everyone along for the ride.

Until that happens, our erstwhile premier should quite possibly forsake his beloved slogan, mujhe kyun nikala. The time is to now focus on proving his innocence or else face the unceremonious music.

Given that the political leadership appears to have fallen for CPEC hook-line-and-sinker, would it really be too much to ask that it a take a leaf out of the Chinese book, which stresses the indispensability of transparent governance? Indeed, even Saudi Arabia is now taking stern action against those princes involved in any sort of corruption. Over the weekend, Riyadh rounded up dozens of ex-ministers, some 11 princes, including Prince Al-Waleedbin Talal.

Pakistan’s civvies would do well to remember that they are public representatives, who are bequeathed power by the people to whom they forever remain accountable. As such, they should steel themselves to confront the consequences of their actions, good or bad. Not least of which is the fact that having between them ruled the country for decades — none of them has bothered to build a hospital here in Pakistan equipped to treat them.

But let us wish the best for our powerful ruling elite and hope they recover enough to come back home and face due process. This will be in their best interests given that the country is changing to the point where the citizenry are now demanding that the state fulfil its part of the social contract. Indeed, even schoolchildren today are in the loop regarding how Pakistan’s leadership has yet again shamed this country.

The writer is a professional writer and considers writing is the sole purpose of his life. He has done masters in Commerce and History and holds PG Diploma in International Affairs. He can be contacted at junaidalimalik3@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, November 8^th 2017.