Daily Times

Keeping conspiracy theories aside, what would you think of the United States if it hired Baitullah Mehsud, the former chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, to fight the insurgency in Afghanistan. Or negotiated with Ayman al-Zawahiri to root out al-Qaeda? Again, before you give me a knee-jerk response, I urge you not to think of the ‘parallel universe’ for a minute, as it will not help to get to the bottomline.

Put it another way: what would you think of Chicago if its police instead of arresting and putting him behind the bars secured a deal with Al Capone to fight the organised crime in the mid-20th century? And today, how would you regard Mexico if its president wants to wage a war against drug trafficking through the leader of Sinaloa Cartel, Jaquin Guzman, the El Chapo?

Yet another way: share your thoughts with me if Pakistani army allied itself with Mullah Fazlullah to help establish peace in Swat, or referred to Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat to bring sectarian harmony back in the country. If still not clear, what would you think of Saudi Arabia if its rulers announced to strengthen the rule of the House of Saud through democracy, and establish an ideal Islamic caliphate through freedom of speech and assembly?

You would doubt the sincerity, and maybe the sanity, of every government in all these cases. Not sure about their agenda, and wondering about the values they stand for you would worry whether America stands against Islamic terrorism or support it; whether Saudi Arabia wants to introduce democracy in the kingdom or continue the monarchy; and whether Pakistan army is fighting the anarchists or helping them rock the already shaky rule of law. The point is: how can anyone stand both in favour of a proposal and against it at the same time. Not logically possible. However, when it comes to politics in Pakistan, illogical and contradicting proposals become the defining moral values, virtues to wreak havoc with, principles to tear down democratic institutions with, and rules with which to sabotage what we as a nation have gained in the last 10 years after a judicial crisis. How? Let me explain.

All top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ullema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) need to be thoroughly investigated for financial embezzlement, their properties both in and out of the country be documented, their sources of incomes verified, and their way of life be compared with their earnings. No one should be spared. People have the right to demand accountability and transparency from their rulers. But what would you think if the demand to establish peace in Swat, for example, came from Mullah Fazlullah? The demand to investigate money laundering from Altaf Hussain? The call for principled politics from Sheikh Rasheed? The desire for financial transparency from Jahangir Khan Tareen? Moving a step forward, how would you describe the politics of Shah Mehmood Qureshi, which is based on the systematic exploitation of the religious sentiments of his disciples?

I mean seriously, is that how we are going to set the foundation of a corruption-free Pakistan? People with allegedly no sense of political or financial accountability have got together to attack the common will of the people, to deride its institutions and to mock its way of life and government.

If by saying that you think I blame PTI leaders for the situation that the country faces today while denying any charges against the leadership of the PML-N, you are wrong. I do not defend any party. If the PML-N is found guilty of financial misconduct, send them to jail. But remember that while doing that we do not want to give the keys of the correction centre to a group of organised and well-recognised culprits. For justice to prevail, the criminals of the PTI have to be dealt the same way as the criminals of the PML-N, an unacceptable proposal for PTI activists who believe that they should be kept immune from any investigation. Why? Because they have joined the ‘righteous party’?

What would be the response after reading these comments? Blame people like me for supporting the PML-N, corruption mafia, the status quo and so on. The truth, however, must be told: much more than a political party or its leaders, the political system needs to be safeguarded 24/7 like a precious jewel. As imperfect as it is, if allowed to run without interruption, the data suggests that it still can usher the country out of all its current crises, with or without a messiah. So if you threaten the democratic system by creating chaos, no matter how clean you look and no matter how sincere you act, you are threatening the only chance that Pakistan has to pull itself out of its problems.

The writer is a US-based freelance columnist. He tweets at @KaamranHashmi and can be reached at skamranhashmi@gmail.com