Pakistan Wears A Promising Look: The Institutions For Creation Of The Civil Society
06 June 2013
By Saeed Qureshi
Finally the fairy of democracy has descended on the
blessed soil of Pakistan "fluttering its luminous
wings", exuberant charm and splendor. It is indeed an
unforgettable moment in the checkered history of
Pakistan that remained bedeviled by one crisis after
another. This marvelous country has been under
military sway for more than half of its total life of
66 years.
This great country in the modern era is back on
tracks. For the first time perhaps national and
provincial assemblies have been chosen in a veritable
democratic manner. The return of Mian Nawaz Sharif
back to Prime Minister House after a grueling
interregnum of 14 years has seasoned this leader
beyond any shadow of doubt. He talks with lot of
sense, acumen and sobriety that he marginally lacked
in his previous tenures and that were cut short by the
respective presidents.
His unceremonious departure from the power in October
1999 was yet another blow to the fledgling democracy
at that time. That unfortunate episode happened
because of the aggressive posture of Mian Nawaz Sharif
and his propensity to browbeat the non-challant and
strong headed chiefs of Pakistan army.
That was perhaps the final sordid chapter written by
the hands of destiny throwing an elected prime
minister out and ushering a military chief of army
staff (COAS) in power. The COAS Pervez Musharraf might
have never imagined that he would be ruling Pakistan
as one of the most powerful despot for almost 9 years.
That situation has now reversed and one is
flabbergasted to see that powerful military potentate
is now in extreme misery and his rival Mian Nawaz
Sharif is basking in the glory of a well deserved
electoral victory based upon democratic tradition.
By the time this column reaches my readers, Mian Nawaz
Sharif would have taken oath as the prime minister of
Pakistan. With that momentous ceremony, Pakistan would
begin marching on the most coveted tracks of
democracy. Hopefully there would not be any
possibility in future for any military chauvinist to
ambush the historic mandate of the people of Pakistan
or subvert the democratic process.
Mian Nawaz Sharif and his associates are very well
aware of the sufferings and miseries of the people of
Pakistan. It is hoped that the new regime would stand
by its promises and pledges to rebuild Pakistan as a
modern state. Pakistan is caught in the cobwebs of
diverse and intractable problems ranging from
provision of clean water to cubing the unrelenting
culture of violence and complete breakdown of law and
order.
In between there is a sea of grave problems that the
new federal and provincial governments will have to
address and address effectively .The curse of
corruption that makes the elite and rich classes
further rich and the people further impoverished and
demeaning has to be uprooted once and for all.
The tradition of inviting the minority party in
Baluchistan to form the government is a monumental and
giant step that would lead to a modicum of harmony and
amity between the provinces especially earning the
goodwill of the Baloch people for Punjab. There is a
stream of laudatory statements emerging from
Baluchistan for this demonstration of statesmanship by
Mian Nawaz Sharif. The bolstering the patriotic
political forces in that troubled province would
marginalize the separatist movements.
But what one would expect and suggest is that the army
and para military forces should be withdrawn from
Baluchistan and let the elected leadership work
towards the uplift, unity, peace and solidarity of
that crucial province. If more devolution of powers to
Baluchistan and other provinces is needed for national
unity and appeasement, let it be done without delay.
The leadership both in power and out of power should
put their heads together and in spirit of camaraderie
take stock of the problems that have kept Pakistan
poor, backward and unstable. The charter of reforms to
be unfurled by the PMLN government must be implemented
like an article of faith. The religious animosity and
fanaticism, the menace of sectarianism has to be dealt
with iron hands and there should be no reprieve and
sympathy with any group.
The economic revolution and for flowering of civil
liberties with delegation of independence to the
institutions for creation of the civil society is
indispensable for a Pakistan that possesses the
enormous potential to become the envy of the world.
The virtues of democracy must not be sacrificed or
compromised for short term gains and for the sake of
staying in power. Any temptation in this regard must
be resisted by the elected representatives and the
newly installed governments at the federal and
provincial levels.
It is time to take all the political and social forces
together whether in power or in opposition to redesign
and remodel a Pakistan that we all wish and pray for.
The good and hilarious news is that the Karachi stock
market has soared to 22274 points for the first time
in the history of Pakistan. Doesn't that augurs well
for a glorious Pakistan and this has come about
although the government has yet to be sworn in.
©
EsinIslam.Com
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