Pakistan as Seen by an American Correspondent
By Dr Syed Amir
Bethesda , MD
Pamela Constable, in her new book Playing with Fire (Random House), quotes Moulana Abdul Sattar Edhi as saying, “I am not a religious man, my religion is humanity.” He was responding metaphorically to a question from the author as to whether he considered himself a religious person. His remarks should be considered a repudiation of all those extremists who cause bloodshed and mayhem in the name of religion
Constable is a much respected foreign correspondent of the Washington Post, who has covered Pakistan and Afghanistan for the paper for over a decade and has contributed numerous articles. This is her second book on South Asia and is of topical interest, addressing various socioeconomic and political problems plaguing Pakistan today. In her introductory chapter, she explains that the book is principally directed at Western audiences who may not be familiar with the galaxy of Pakistan’s contemporary political problems, the poverty, deprivations and long-standing grievances of its citizens.
The author has researched the subject of her study well, having interviewed a large number of people belonging to a spectrum of social classes and walks of life, including, directors of religious seminaries, wealthy businessmen, sophisticated women leaders and poor peasants. In the current security situation in Pakistan, she deserves to be applauded for her courage and unrelenting devotion to her mission, traits for which journalists have paid with their lives.
She characterizes the devotion and attachment of ordinary Pakistanis to their religious beliefs as intense, to a degree that to an outsider it may appear scary. She attributes the current popularity in some segments of the population of the Taliban’s brand of Islam and the harsh and inhumane punishments they dispense, largely to a pervading sense that justice is not readily accessible to the common man. Pakistan of today, of course, is very different than it was at the time of independence. Its progression as a modern state, in which religion and politics were not to be co-mingled, as envisaged by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was never fully realized. The pretence of separation of religion and state was finally abandoned during the Islamization process, cleverly designed to perpetuate the rule of the military dictator Zia ul Huq in the eighties.
The book stresses the widening economic and financial disparity among the masses that has generated an acute sense of deprivation. The feeling is not universal, however. A rich and successful businessman acknowledged that “ Pakistan is the best place on earth to be successful. Here, you can get away with anything, have all the luxuries of life, pay no taxes and have many servants”. Constable faults politicians with exploitation of the country’s wealth through privatization of banks and other financial and industrial institutions that were bought and sold at token prices. In the year 1995, the national treasury lost 108 billion rupees in bad loans that were never repaid.
To illustrate the plight of women, even those who are rich and educated, Constable cites the case of Tahmina Durrani. An educated and urbane woman, Durrani authored a book some years ago, recounting many egregious abuses she suffered at the hand of her former husband, a wealthy and powerful politician in the Punjab. Her disclosures came as a shock even to many Pakistanis. Durrari was able to publicize her domestic abuses, but for many women, especially in the poor and unprivileged classes, marital abuse is a common experience and a fact of daily life. The case of Mukhtaran Mai which received international publicity is especially relevant. She was brutally gang raped by several men from her village in 2002 for some form of honor revenge. However, most of the alleged perpetrators were ultimately freed by the Supreme Court.
In the chapter on Talibanization, Constable expresses surprise on the refusal by many Pakistanis to accept that terrorist acts are perpetrated by religious extremists. In the eight-year period, from 2002 to 2010, nearly 9,000 civilian and security forces were assassinated by terrorists while many thousands more were injured. Complex conspiracy theories are spun out in contorted attempts to account for these tragedies. Paradoxically, Taliban leaders often proudly and publicly claim responsibility for bombing mosques, religious congregation, Sufi shrines and other public places. Yet, they are not believed. Instead, Indian, Israeli or US agents are blamed, covered under the nebulous term “some foreign hand.” Delusion and denial have become part of the national disposition.
Yet, there is a limit to what people are willing to tolerate. The Pakistani society, intrinsically compassionate and moderate in its way of life, was revolted by viewing a three-minute video showing a teenage girl being held down by two bearded men, whilst the third mercilessly whipped her for some unspecified crime. The portrayal of justice being meted out in Taliban-ruled Swat gave a foretaste of what life would be like in Pakistan if it came under Taliban rule.
The only comforting and inspiring segment in the book relates to Moulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, a celebrated figure now in his eighties, and his wife, Bilquis. They have established a highly proficient and honest charitable network which is universally trusted and admired. Constable visited Edhi’s shabby office littered with files and in disarray, but full of volunteers and brimming with youthful exuberance. The Edhi Foundation is involved in numerous relief operations, providing homes for orphan children, its ambulances ferrying patients to hospitals, volunteers making burial arrangements for the poor and providing food and shelter to flood victims.
Constable’s book while well researched uncovers no secrets or sensational news. In this respect, it is unlike any of the books we read in the US written by former members of the administration or celebrities such as Bob Woodward, which are authored with an eye on their salability.
Constable did not interview the current prime minister, president or any members of Pakistan’s ruling cabinet, nor has she quoted them in any context. As a foreign journalist, she would be unlikely to gain access to the inner sanctums of Pakistan’s powerful political or military elite. She writes mostly from the vantage of an American journalist, often displaying empathy with the plight of the country where she claims she has many friends.
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