Changing Strategic Direction Is Always Painful
By Misbah U. Azam
Gilbert , AZ
Probably, for the first time in the history of Pakistan the corruption issue has been thoroughly debated in public forums and the government pressured by civil society and media to deliver on it. The initial target of the sustained campaign was the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which condoned the misdoings of over eight thousand bureaucrats, government department heads, politicians and others who illegally made fortunes. There are strong voices in the media that the NRO beneficiaries should not be the only ones to be dealt with an iron hand; those who were rewarded by General Musharraf for their support to him after he proclaimed himself the Chief Executive, and later, the President of Pakistan, should also be severely dealt with.
The list of civilians and generals who created their empires during the period of the dictatorial regime is a long one. According to one report, the military-linked business undertakings generate about 4% of the GDP and commercial military assets and value of real estate exceeds $20 billion. The report revealed that there are around 100 commercial projects run by the Army, Navy and Air Force conglomerates out of which only nine are listed on the stock exchange while the others are not reported to any public authority. So far, all requests to appear before the parliamentary committees have been conveniently ignored.
The elected governments are usually in the best position to take necessary action but the problem is that a large number of high-level present Pakistan government and its coalition functionaries are the beneficiaries of NRO and it will be a real test for the government to deliver on it. To divert the focus of the media from the issue the ruling alliance is playing the intra-coalition differences and the Baluchistan card -- which may be the only positive outcome of this policy as long as there is significant action on the ground in the coming days. There is a growing disappointment in the public on the performance of the government in this regard. However, when the will of a small group of the ruling party, without parliamentary support, triumphs this kind of uncertain situation can emerge. As a senior analysts puts it Pakistan had to face the uncertain situation after the transition from dictatorship to democracy, but the situation is going to be stabilized with time.
General Jahangir Karamat very correctly wrote in a US-based political forum, “Changing strategic direction is always painful — we have taken the plunge and we have to continue regardless of the pain. The most important part is altering the mindset so that instead of denying the new realities we accept them. Once this is done then the timelines and actions can be worked out”.
