Daily Times

Pakistan is facing grim circumstances, where the challenges are numerous. Although opportunities are being created by a beleaguered government, the progress is slow, leading the pessimists among us to spell doom and gloom. In an Op-ed titled ‘Hope versus Reason”, the author tends to take us on a path of self-loathing and misery. While the common man is facing a plethora of tribulations, chief amongst them being the rising cost of living, inflation and lack of sustenance, yet there is light at the end of the tunnel since measures adopted now will bear fruit in times to come and provide relief to the common man.

There is no better elixir for the soul than hope. It may be a difficult proposition, but hope is the underlying driver for any human endeavour. From the budding athlete, to the striving student or struggling entrepreneur, people invest their time, energy, and money pursuing aims they hope for.

Not only does hope drive temporal human behaviour, it also drives our spiritual reality. In the words of Alexander Pope:

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man, never Is, but always to be blest.

The soul, uneasy, and confined from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.”

With this prelude, it is essential that rather than preach despair and despondency, opinion builders must encourage the masses to adopt positive thinking instead of drowning themselves in the quagmire of hopelessness.

The erudite scholar, in his opinion piece ‘Hope versus Reason’, declares that both western and eastern borders are insecure – a civil war is threatening to spill over one border while an invigorated predator is sizing up its prey on the other. He opines that both India and US will turn the screws on Pakistan, the US Treasury’s manipulation of the IMF and FATF and the latter by priming its “offensive-defence” proxy war doctrine.

Truth is to the contrary, Pakistan is learning the art of warding off challenges. The United States may not see eye to with China and its Belt and Road Initiative and is engaged in a trade and tariffs war with the emerging second biggest economy, but both need the other to uphold their economic interests and Pakistan will not end up being crushed between two giants. It has to prudently adopt policies which ensure its survival and peace in the region rather than conflict. The US soliciting Pakistan to help mediate with the Taliban is a positive sign.

The sad truth is that the two houses that have ruled Pakistan for decades, are not willing to tolerate a third political entity, especially one bent upon enforcing accountability

The above-mentioned editorial looks negatively at the recent confrontation in FATA between the law enforcing agencies and the locals sardonically calling the army “patriotic” and the Pashtuns “treasonous”; predicting that the situation will deteriorate. The opinion builder believes that both sides have crossed red lines. If a new insurgency is born, it will doubtless be aided and abetted on a bigger scale by hostile neighbours. It is true that both our eastern and western neighbours may try to fish in troubled waters, exploiting the skirmish to their own advantage but saner elements on both sides are trying to diffuse the situation rather than stoke the fires.

The filing of a reference against a Supreme Court judge is also being blown out of proportion. This is not the first time that references have been filed against a senior member of the judiciary. If the honourable judge is not culpable of the charges levelled against him, he must have confidence in the system to absolve him of the accusations. To label the issue as a strife between the intelligence agencies and the judiciary is in rank bad taste.

The author has presumed that the scandalous and libellous videos against the NAB Chairman were a crude attempt by the government to make him toe the line is outrageous. Certainly, the government has more judicious methods of urging the NAB to expedite the process of accountability rather than blackmail him.

Similarly implying that the Election Commission is being hassled to ensure that Mariam Safdar of PML (N) is barred from occupying positions of authority in the Party, is malicious. The law is very clear in the matter of convicted felons and the Election Commission does not require arm twisting to debar Mariam Safdar or any other offender.

It is also alleged that the current political dispensation in the corridors of power is engaged, along with Saudi Arabia, UAE and others in trying to force regime change in Iran as a prelude to redrawing the map of the Middle-East. Contrarily, Pakistan is trying to mediate between the warring members of the Ummah and not sully the waters.

The author professes that a national all-parties government headed by a stolid prime minister who can disarm domestic critics, build trust with prickly neighbours, manage the economy dispassionately and herald certainty and stability would do Pakistan much good. The sad truth is that the two houses that have ruled Pakistan for decades, are not willing to tolerate a third political entity, especially one bent upon enforcing accountability. We should give the present incumbent an opportunity to rebuild Pakistan, rather than spread dejection.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host