Three Outstanding achievements of Nawaz Sharif Government
By Saeed Qureshi
TX
If we have enough large-heartedness to admit good work of someone then we must acknowledge that PMNL government has three momentous achievements earned during its over a year’s stay in power. Before we start we should concede that elections in Pakistan have seldom been free and fair.
In the heat of opposing the beleaguered PMNL government and siding with his opponents, let us not lose sight of the fact the in political arenas the contenders have never been angels. Even in model democratic countries every trick covert or overt is pulled to win the elections.
The 2013 elections were conducted by a caretaker government headed by interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. The PMLN was a participant like all other parties. For about a year there has been relative calm and political parties both in power and out did not challenge the validity of the elections. Now Imran Khan and Allama Qadri have suddenly launched a relentless blitz against the sitting governments for all the crimes and wrong doings happening in Pakistan.
Ever since Allama Qadri and Imran Khan mobilized their followers most of their criticism is clearly focused on Mian Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif. From counting of votes in four disputed constituencies, the demand has come to the stage of demanding the resignation of both these brothers and their summary prosecution with the demand of immediate sentences.
One can recall in the hindsight of the PNA movement in 1976 against the then prime minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. ZAB conceded to every demand of PNA stalwarts but they reneged on every step and finally Martial Law was imposed by the then chief of the army staff General Ziaul haq. The rest is history.
Can we argue that a similar scenario and a replay paradigm is being built by these fire-spitting and stubborn leaders with a small number of followers in Pakistan to scuttle a democratic system presumably because of some vendetta, compulsion or agenda nurtured by them and their cohorts about the Sharif brothers.
Should we convince and pacify ourselves that Qadri and Imran are acting out of sheer conviction for a genuine revolution or there is more to it than meets the eye? Should we take it for granted that these leaders possess the caliber to herald a revolution to make Pakistan a model country sooner than later?
Do they have the a roadmap to bring about a complete transformation of Pakistan from a problem-ridden country to one like a West European democratic, welfare modern state? To make tall claims is one thing and to fulfill those is another and there are no miracles to pull a magic wand to turn the desert lush green.
In my opinion both have preconceived agendas that are less motivated by the interests of Pakistan than subverting a government leaning towards China for historic economic cooperation for the uplift of Pakistan. If foreign inimical powers can oppose the Pak-Iran gas pipeline and mining of huge Thar coal deposits in Pakistan that are the 6 th largest reserves in the world then how would they tolerate the Gawadar Port to be administered by China and constructing the highway connecting China and Pakistan?
The Thar coal deposits are around 175 million tons and are sufficient to meet the country’s fuel and energy requirements for centuries. The Chinese have pledged to help Pakistan in every manner in utilizing and quarrying that hidden treasure.
Let us consider the three outstanding achievements of PMLN in barely two years. One is the phenomenal achievement to debilitate, crush and liquidate the criminal mafias of all hues, the sectarian target killers, the extortionist gangs, the drug warlords, the car lifters, and the state enemies in the garb of Taliban ruffians and so on.
Though belatedly the federal government finally gave a green signal and free hand to the Rangers and the police to go whole hog in the largest city Karachi against agents of subversion and chaos.
Despite deficiencies one can see that Karachi is getting better and rampant lawlessness has drastically declined. One can hope that with time, Karachi would be completely liberated from the thugs, goons, killers and kidnappers for ransom and its pristine peace would be revived.
The second brilliant achievement is to flush out the Taliban from North Waziristan by a massive military operation. That gigantic blitz is still continuing. Most of Waziristan has been freed from the Taliban’s brutal clutches. North Waziristan was the hub of terrorism.
The third monumental achievement is the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China in July 2013 and ink eight agreements. One of these agreements is the US $18 billion project to build a 2000-mile- highway and rail track between Kashgar and Karachi including a string of tunnels in the mountainous track passing over a height of 4,693 meters. It has been described as part of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor.
On both sides of this highway, industrial and economic zones would be created that in return would create countless jobs besides entry of Pakistan into the fold of prosperous nations. The Prime Minister then said that his vision was to extend motorways and communication links not only to Kabul but also to Central Asia and the South Asian region. Now these projects would be primarily built by Chinese engineers and Pakistan would be assisting in that gigantic venture.
I conclude my article with the reproduction of an email sent to me:
“These guys remained silent for almost two years and now all of a sudden it has dawned on them that the 2013 elections were rigged. Their conscience has started pricking them only now when a cleric and a cricketer turned politician have staged their dharnas for the last two weeks. Or maybe they have been made to speak the voice of their conscience when they have been 'tipped' by the powers to be, to speak out their own 'truth-, the voice of their 'conscience'. " (Nayyar Hashmey)
(The writer is a senior journalist, former editor of Diplomatic Times and a former diplomat)
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