Hoping against
Hope
By Dr. Syed Ehtisham
Bath, New York
I have just read a book on
India "In spite of Gods" by Edward Luce.
Currently, I am reading "China Inc"
by Ted Fishman.
India was burdened by as many divisive forces
and tendencies as Pakistan. It did not have the
imbalance between two wings but suffered from
a disconcerting religious minority problem. It
did pass through a three-year judicial suppression
when Indra Gandhi suspended civil rights but the
country recovered from this setback with the defeat
of the executive.
China developed an authoritarian regime with strict
discipline and was able to use state control to
let the economy loose gradually and escape the
depredations of multinational corporations (MNCs)
that India is currently grappling with.
Pakistan has lurched from crisis to crisis. The
inherent contradictions of the country are overwhelming.
It did not inherit a bourgeoisie class. The feudal
system effectively kept it from developing by
using the bureaucracy, the army and the mullahs
in the country and aligning itself with the neo-colonists
abroad.
On occasions people have risen above narrow linguistic,
sectarian and regional groupings but disaster
has followed in the wake. They united in 1958
and got Ayub's martial law. They again got together
in 1968. Yahya and the secession of East Pakistan
was the reward of the show of unity. They placed
their trust in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who tried to
convert the country into a personal fiefdom. His
adversaries used the clerics and the bureaucracy
to topple and hang him. Finally, the nation had
to contend with Zia.
They have once again united on a platform to support
the CJ who has dared to defy the dictator, possibly
out of conviction, and more likely, as he had
sensed the weaknesses of the regime.
Political parties have pounced upon the opportunity
just as a drowning man does on a straw, but BB
is tugging on the flimsy focus and may yet end
up undermining the effort. They are reacting as
has been past practice and have no plans beyond
that of getting rid of Musharraf. They may not
even accomplish that.
The fight is actually within the family with cousins
claiming a greater share of inheritance. The Army
as the occupant of the "jagir" does
not want to part with anything substantial.
The MNC grip is getting tighter on nearly all
countries. Nations with a strong tradition of
trade unionism and working class movements are
floundering. Pakistan never had a credible progressive
force.
The best scenario would be that another period
of musical chairs will follow. The feudal system
would continue to control the band. BB and NS
or such persons will sit in the chairs when the
music stops. The last chair will go to the army.
We hope against hope.
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