Three Outstanding Achievements of Nawaz Sharif Government
02 October 2014
By Saeed Qureshi
If we have enough large-heartedness to
admit good work of someone then we must acknowledge
that PMNL government has three momentous achievements
earned during it's over a year's stay in power. Before
we start we should concede that elections in Pakistan
have seldom been free and fair.
In the heat of opposing the beleaguered
PMNL government and siding with his opponents, let us
not lose sight of the fact the in political arenas the
contenders have never been angels. Even in model
democratic countries every trick covert or overt is
pulled to win the elections.
The 2013 elections were conducted by a
caretaker government headed by interim Prime Minister
Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. The PMLN was a participant like
all other parties. For about a year there has been
relative calm and political parties both in power and
out did not challenge the validity of the elections.
Now Imran Khan and Allama Qadri have suddenly launched
a relentless blitz against the sitting governments for
all the crimes and wrong doings happening in Pakistan.
Visibly as we have watched ever since
Allama Qadri and Imran Khan have mobilized their
followers and most of their criticism is clearly
focused personally on Mian Nawaz Sharif and his
brother Shahbaz Sharif. From counting of votes in four
disputed four constituencies, the demand has come to
the stage of resignation of both these brothers and
their summary prosecution with demands of immediate
sentences.
One can recall in the hindsight of the
PNA movement in 1976 against the then prime minister
of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. ZAB conceded to every
demand of PNA stalwarts but they reneged on every step
and finally the Martial Law of imposed by the then
chief of the army staff General Ziaul haq. The rest is
history.
Can we argue that a similar scenario
and a replay paradigm is being built by these fire
spitting and stubborn leaders with a small number of
followers in Pakistan to scuttle a democratic system
presumably because of some vendetta, compulsion or
agenda nurtured by them and their cohorts about Sharif
brothers.
Should we convince and pacify ourselves that Qadri and
Imran are acting out of sheer conviction for genuine
revolution or there is more to it than meets the eye?
Should we take it for granted that these leaders
possess the caliber to herald revolution to make
Pakistan a model country sooner than later?
Do they have the a road map to bring
about a complete transformation of Pakistan from a
problem ridden country to one like a West Europe truly
democratic, welfare modern state? To make tall claims
is one thing and to fulfill those is another and there
no miracles to pull a magic wand and the desert would
turn lush green.
In my opinion both have preconceived
agendas that are less motivated by the interests of
Pakistan than subverting a government leaning towards
China for an historic economic cooperation for the
monumental uplift of Pakistan. If the foreign inimical
powers can oppose the Pak-Iran gas pipeline and mining
of huge Thar coal deposits in Pakistan that are 6th
largest coal reserves in the world then how would they
tolerate Gawadar Port to be administered by China and
constructing the highway connecting China and
Pakistan.
The Thar coal deposits are around 175
million tons and are sufficient to meet the country's
fuel and energy requirements for centuries. Chinese
have pledged to help Pakistan in every manner in
utilizing and quarrying that hidden treasure.
Let us consider the three outstanding
achievements of PMLN in barely two years. One is the
phenomenal achievement to debilitate, crush and
liquidate the criminal mafias of all hues, the
sectarian target killers, the extortionist gangs, the
drug warlords, the car lifters, and the state enemies
in the grab of Taliban ruffians and so on.
Though belatedly yet the federal government finally
gave a green signal and free hand to the Rangers and
the police to go whole hog in the largest city Karachi
against all enemies of public peace and agents of
subversion and chaos.
Despite deficiencies one can see that
Karachi is getting better and the rampant and
unremitting lawlessness has drastically declined and
the back of the villains and criminals mafias has been
considerably broken. One can hope that with the time
passage, Karachi would be completely liberated from
the thugs, goons, killers and kidnappers for ransom
and its pristine peace would be revived.
The second brilliant achievement is to
flush out the dogged Taliban from North Waziristan by
a massive military operation. That gigantic blitz is
still continuing. Most of the Waziristan has been
vacated from the Taliban 'brutal clutches who had
committed countless atrocities, acts of violence,
terrorism, suicide bombing and mass killings on the
territory of Pakistan. North Waziristan was the center
and hub of Taliban's terrorism and bombing including
the Pakistan's vital defense institutions and
airports.
The third monumental achievement is the
visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China in July
2013 and ink watershed eight agreements. One of these
agreements is the US $18 billion project to build a
2000 miles highway and rail track between the Kashgar
city of China and Karachi including string of tunnels
in the mountainous track passing over a height 4,693
meters. It has been described as part of the
Pakistan-China Economic corridor. It would open a
glorious gateway and gigantic spectrum of economic
boom for both the countries.
On both sides of this highway, the
industrial and economic zones would be created that in
return would create countless jobs besides entry of
Pakistan into the fold of prosperous nations. The
Prime Minister then said that his vision was to extend
motorways and communication links not only to Kabul
but also to Central Asia and South Asian region. Now
these projects would be primarily built by Chinese
engineers and Pakistan would be assisting in that huge
venture.
I would not be swayed by the argument
that these are mean and insignificant achievements. As
far IDPs (internally displaced persons) from North
Waziristan, a similar situation exploded in Swat in
2007 when as a result of Taliban takeover of that
beautiful valley, hundreds of thousands of residents
were rendered IDPs.
For clearing Swat valley of Taliban and
religious militants if the credit was rightly
conferred upon the then political government of PPP
and the army then in the present case the incumbent
government and the Pakistan army deserves a befitting
tribute and due credit.
I conclude my article on reproducing an
email in that it has been very convincingly pointed
out that, "These guys remained silent for almost two
years and now all of a sudden it has dawned on them
that 2013 elections were rigged. Their conscience has
started pricking them only now when a cleric and a
cricketer turned politician has staged their dharnas
for the last two weeks. Or maybe they have been made
to speak the voice of their conscience when they have
been "tipped" by the powers to be, to speak out their
own "truth", the voice of their "conscience". (Nayyar
Hashmey)
The writer is a senior journalist,
former editor of Diplomatic Times and a former
diplomat.This and other articles by the writer can
also be read at his blog www.uprightopinion.com