A Time for
Change
By Sofia B. Elahi,
MD
Ontario Canada
Amidst the ongoing chaos of
the suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan, there
was a most significant development which received
only passing media attention. The official opening
of the Gwadar Port in the presence of Chinese
dignitaries represents a real milestone in the
nation's history. Only time will tell how deep
an impact Gwadar with its deepwater port facilities
and trade potential will have for Pakistan's economic
and political future.
Unfortunately what should have been a moment of
national pride degenerated into a rather crass
display of self-promotion. At the inaugural ceremony
and in the presence of a number of foreign representatives,
President Musharraf chose to use personal adjectives
in describing what is the culmination of a national
dream. Planning and work on the Gwadar Port started
long before the tenure of the current President
and wording such as "my project" undermines
this truth. Frankly, I am tired of hearing the
vocabulary of "I", "me" and
"mine" in any official statement from
our President and uniformed Army Chief of Staff.
Perhaps living in the West I have become accustomed
to hearing government officials and leaders using
the collective "we" and "the nation"
when referring to national projects and dreams.
After all, our leaders represent the nation and
as such are an extension of the public. Such niceties
and nuances seem to escape our leaders who have
long forgotten that in a civil society, leaders
and government officials serve at the pleasure
of the public and citizens. Admittedly supporters
of President Musharraf could counter that he is
not so proficient in the English language but
I find that the same style is used in his Urdu
whenever he speaks of government actions, plans
and projects. His wording begs the question: Are
all actions in the country unilaterally taken
by the President or do we have a semblance of
a functioning government?
In the context of the past week's imbroglio over
the suspension of the sitting Chief Justice of
Pakistan, President Musharraf tried to change
an assault on the judiciary into what he terms
"a conspiracy against himself". Public
concern over the disregard shown to a constitutionally
sanctioned arm of civil government is twisted
into being a personal assault. Does the President
not see that institutions and nation building
go hand in hand? Ridiculous charges of corruption
against Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar have only
heightened suspicions about the real reasons behind
his removal. Had the Chief Justice found incriminating
evidence behind the missing people picked up by
security agencies for bounty or perhaps the independent
minded Chief Justice would have prevented President
Musharraf from holding both mantles of power;
namely the Presidency and office of Chief of Army
Staff?
The people of Pakistan are not as naive as our
leaders imagine and can appreciate what is going
on within and beyond the borders of Pakistan.
As chief executive of Pakistan, President Musharraf
is ultimately accountable for everything that
is currently taking place. No doubt innocent police
inspectors and low-level bureaucrats will shoulder
the blame for the blunders of the last week including
attempts to muzzle the media.
To the detractors of democracy, I would say whatever
stability is afforded by having military rule
is negated by damage to the vital task of institution
building. The uproar and unrest over the suspension
of the Chief Justice is yet another example of
proof. An independent judiciary, police force
and government bureaucracy can only flourish in
a functioning democracy. Otherwise we will continue
to see the spectacle of grand national projects
being sidelined by political intrigue and unrest.
The opening of Gwadar Port means so much to Pakistan
but government actions relegated this auspicious
occasion to relative oblivion. I can only pray
that the President realizes that it is time for
change. I would ask that he put the nation ahead
of his personal ambitions and do what is best
for Pakistan.
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