And the Oscar Goes to ...
By Ghazala Akbar
Kuwait
On Independence Day, another of our national institutions, the annual civil awards bit the dust and were badly tarnished as the President awarded members of his own party with the highest civilian honours in the country. These awards are apolitical and usually given to worthy members of the general public, officials and foreign nationals after a long, distinguished and meritorious service. The system has been in place for fifty-five years and the choice of recipients has generally been non-controversial -- until now.
Among the luminaries are the current Interior Minister, the Secretary-General to the President, his niece-without-portfolio, the former Law Minister, the Speaker of the House, the Chairman of the Senate, our current ambassador to the US plus various other advisers and party members close to the President. Even by our own lax standards of accountability and good governance, this was a tactless display of cronyism and political partisanship unprecedented in the annals of Pakistan. The only deserving person on the list is the late Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, although it is arguable that a better reward for him and his family would be a speedy trial and sentencing of his self-confessed killer, Mumtaz Qadri. And it is further arguable that if we are recognising people for their courage in the face of extremism, Sherry Rahman and Mumtaz Bhatti also make the grade.
‘Please accept my resignation. I don’t want to belong to a club that would accept me as a member,’ wrote the American comedian Grouch Marx with a hint of irony and sarcasm. He was humorously referring to his own unsuitability at joining an exclusive club and also the lowering of standards that would occur if people like him were admitted! Heaven forbid that any thoughts of modesty or inappropriateness would’ve crossed the minds of our ruling coterie. These lucky ones now belong to a select group that will have Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitar-e-Imtiaz appended to their illustrious names. And just imagine, only after three-and-a-half years of dedicated service! Most recipients have to wait a decade before they are considered. Some even, a lifetime. But fortunately for these well-heeled individuals it was a double celebration: you can have your independence-day cake and eat it too!
What exactly is the rationale for giving a pat on the back to these particular people? What meritorious service have they performed for the country? Why has the President seen it fit to exalt them? The people have a right to ask for it’s in our name that these awards are given. Instituted in 1957 by President Iskander Mirza after Pakistan became a Republic, these awards are for the general public, officials and foreign nationals. The operative criterion is merit. These awards are not meant for sitting members of the government who are well- remunerated, have all the perks, privileges commensurate with their position and enjoy the trappings of power that accompany their exalted status.
These men and women are members of the ruling party. They follow the party line and implement policies they have been elected or appointed to do. Their effectiveness will be tested at the next election. Re-election will be their reward from the people of Pakistan. Decorating them with State honours for simply doing their job is ludicrous and makes a mockery of the whole system. It’s like the Pope handing out medals to his Cardinals for good behaviour. It’s like banks giving bonuses to directors in the middle of the Sub- prime mortgage crisis.
Perhaps it is naive to expect that the selection process of the awards would not be politically-motivated. Or to suggest that governments in the past have not used the system to reward their own ideological favourites. Certainly where the Arts are concerned, they have -- particularly in the era of General Zia. But the present setup is no tin pot dictatorship. They are a people’s government or so we are constantly reminded. Therefore we expect a higher threshold from them.
The PPP has always been recognised as progressive and ‘Arts-friendly.’ Last year a positive step was taken in this direction when the President recognised the services of the poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib at a special ceremony in the President’s House. It was an awe-inspiring moment and one that is commended and ought to be replicated. Perhaps a new category of awards can also be introduced: the Benazir Bhutto Award for services to Democracy. Various unsung heroes, politicians like the late Nawabazada Nasrullah Khan, Asghar Khan and other members of the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy whose sacrifices have long been forgotten could be revived and acknowledged.
Sadly, the information minister (as she is paid to do) stoutly defended the government’s decision and accused the media instead of nitpicking. She asked why they were focussed on a select few but not the other one hundred and seventy odd members of the public that were also honoured. That’s just the point. We are familiar with some of the names. We have no objection to people like Aslam Azhar, Mubashir Luqman, Saba Hamid, Mohammed Yusuf or even Meera being honoured.
It’s the partisan nature of the selective process and the political names on the list that trouble us. These are well-known names not shy of hogging the limelight. Their performances have an impact on our daily lives, well-being and security so we are entitled to make a few cat calls. It is no secret that they have put up a disappointing show. Apart from a few cameos, it has been a completely lack-lustre performance for the past three years. A badly written script with little or no direction. The crowds are not impressed. Bring down the curtain, withdraw the nominations. There are no stars, no performances worthy of an Oscar.
