Daily Times

The prime minister of Pakistan had a reason to be away for his medical treatment in London. But at this point when the country faced multifaceted crises, the decision of President Mamnoon Hussain, Senate Chairman, and acting president Raza Rabbani to leave for umra is not understandable. The Speaker of the assembly was supposed to act as president in the absence of the president and Senate chairman, but after delaying his departure for a couple of days he also went to Germany to “strengthen” bilateral relations. This is one glaring example of lackadaisicalness of our leaders and state functionaries, who did not bother that it could have given rise to a constitutional crisis. That point besides, addressing a ceremony at the District Bar Larkana on May 28, 2016, Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali, made it clear that issues would not be resolved until we get dynamic leadership.

A political party is defined as an organised group of people with similar political aims and objectives stipulated in their manifestoes. Since the leaderships of major political parties revolve around the founder or his/her family members, Pakistan could not get second and third tiers of leadership. As a matter of fact, ruling classes comprising feudal lords, members of civil and military bureaucracy and comprador industrialists ruled the country under different denominations since the inception of Pakistan. According to Hegel, a leader has to be conversant with, rather in harmony with, the spirit of the age. A real leader is a master strategist and a great tactician, who blends pragmatism with idealism to achieve the desired objective of a better life for its people including their safety. Leadership is described as poetry; and its composition depends more on natural instincts and knowledge of an individual and less on his training.

To understand as to how a leader can use the immutable laws of society and lead the masses to vitality and stability, one must look at the methodology of a botanist with his plants, or an agricultural expert with an orchard. An agricultural scientist observes all factors affecting the growth of trees in an orchard, including the effect of laws of nature, climatic and environmental conditions, culture and type of trees, and then using his knowledge, experience and expertise maneuvers these laws for the benefit of trees to grow fast and bear the best quality fruit. So does a genuine and conscientious leader with world vision and conscious of social, cultural and economic conditions of the people. He approaches the innermost feelings of the people, mobilises them against the decadent system, and put the society on the road to development.

It is an irrefutable fact that the destiny of a nation depends on the determination of its people; but there has to be a leader with vision, courage and wisdom to inspire them to unite in their struggle for safeguarding the sovereignty and independence of their country, and to put it on the path of progress and prosperity. In Pakistan, myriad political and religious parties, intellectuals, pseudo-intellectuals, or government and the opposition parties have variegated stances and perceptions about various issues and challenges facing the country. But there appears to be a consensus that Pakistan is facing a multifaceted crisis, which is the result of the ruling elite’s lust for power and flawed decisions over half a century. Yet, none of the first seven prime ministers, military dictator Ayub Khan and prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto were ever accused of corruption and plundering of national resources.

It would be absurd to say that all rulers of the past were dishonest or they did nothing worthwhile. Some of them had taken good decisions, and of course, including some controversial decisions as well. Ayub Khan’s contribution to industrialise the country was appreciable; he gave incentives and free hand to the entrepreneurs, but did not take measures to ensure welfare of the working classes. It was due to the lopsided policies of various governments that only a few regions were developed to the neglect of others. The gap between the rich and the poor widened; and contradictions became irreconcilable that led to the breakup of the motherland. Bhutto government’s nationalisation policy was criticised, but its initiative to develop nuclear technology was a tremendous contribution. During the “lost decade” of 1990s, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz twice formed governments, but both parties had been accusing each other’s leaders of corruption.

In the wake of the Panama Papers leaks, a crisis has emerged, and the ruling and opposition parties are at loggerheads. They must agree on the terms of reference for the judicial commission. They should not worry about forensic investigation by international experts, if their hands are clean. If the government prevaricates on terms of reference, the opposition is likely to start a movement. The political hierarchies ruling at the centre and provinces must have a deep and honest look at their actions. Once there was a debate over constitutional reforms, and the 18th amendment was passed with great fanfare. It was good to the extent of granting provincial autonomy and devolution of power; but the parties’ top leaderships got unprecedented powers that stifled the dissent in the parties. Since 2013 elections, they have been bickering and debating over the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and fingerprint verification.

In May 2016, the National Assembly passed the 22nd Amendment in the Constitution envisaging so-called reforms in the ECP, which involves a procedure to be adopted for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of the ECP. After the amendment, retired bureaucrats qualify to be members of the ECP. It appeared that the objective of this amendment was to make the ECP free from judicial pre-eminence.

For the street, these are dead issues, as none is talking about people’s problems — ever-rising prices of food items, increase in utilities’ tariff and joblessness. The legislative halls, the media studios, the political chambers, the civil society offices and cafes may be rocking the controversies over sharing of powers between the ruling elite, but the street is silent. Political hierarchies should get alarmed, and must take note of this thunderous silence; otherwise they stand to suffer.

The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at mjamil1938@hotmail.com