Guest Blog by Amjad Malik
People of Pakistan are elated by coming nearer to the fall of General Pervez Musharraf and considering it a beginning of a new era where rule of law, constitutionalism and justice prevails. They consider this as an end of the status quo, dictatorship, and rule of establishment, however they are hardly aware of the fact that General Musharraf was just a pawn, a little piece of a big jig saw puzzle and the matrix of might is laughing aloud standing on the side disassociating themselves cleverly from the dying man and the dead regime. We are just proud of politically killing a sales man only by 18 Feb polls. People felt the same at the fall of founder of this matrix Gen. Ayub Khan, or Gen. Zia and now they are falling into a trap with the fall of Gen. Musharraf. Nation needs to defeat the mind set of a class which assumes a role to govern this 160 million people by might without any lawful civilian and constitutional authority and it secures dubious authenticity sometimes on the name of referendum and sometimes by the likes of Justice Munir, Irshad Hassan Khan and justice A H Dogar. Our short history is full of these names.
The matrix is laughing out loud as people of Pakistan consider Musharraf and Matrix two different entities now. They will clap and distribute sweets if the Matrix enforce the writ of might again and restore the Chief Justice which politicians could not, or people will clap if a few corrupt are hanged on the crossings for corruptions. People and redundant politicians will welcome the very force if it comes to chuck out their own pawn and Pakistanis will consider it their victory. People will accept the verdict as public demand if the parliament is dismissed on the premises that it failed to respect the popular mandate of ousting the President and restoring 2nd November judges thus making themselves defunct by default and the Court of Dogar with ready made judges of PCO will happily ratify their assault as they are expert in legalising military coup de tats. This 50 years rule of establishment negating ‘one man one vote rule,’ curbing independent judiciary and expansion of financial net work enslaving the nation to international institutions breed lawlessness, violence, hypocrisy and dictatorship of mind and heart thus keeping the nation at large poorer, uneducated, and in apathy. In these circumstances democracy is a dream which may never come true though, the country was built on this promise. And Alas, we have learnt nothing from the fall of Dhaka where one of the reason given was that when a soldier tries to be a politician he looses command of both.
Our rulers are not behind in creating this volatile situation too as they are barren of conscience, principles and politics is merciless and in this ideal environment the matrix find new faces every 10 years who are ready to bear personal oaths of allegiance than to the state. This defecto scenario which is gaining perpetuity can only be defeated by promoting good governance, normalised relations with neighbours, economic revival, educational revolution and quick justice with a system of governance where devolution takes services to the door step of poverty ridden people of Pakistan. Where landlords elite classes are replaced by middle class by design with individuals of immaculate character, professionalism, hard work and passion. It can only be achieved by sheer political will and sacrifice where interest of an individual or party is sacrificed for the interest of state.
We have limited options, still on top would be the joint collaboration for a longer period at least 10 years of the current coalition to work together as they represent Federating units and have roots in all four provinces. By luck they have Nawaz Sharif with an experienced had, and ruling PPP must understand too that they have an enormous responsibility on their shoulder and breaking the status quo requires sheer understanding of the geo political situation and will require joint work with political forces. Second option of course could be the third force of lawyers. People have voted for constitutionalism and if the force at streets gets united due to failure of the stalwart politicians then this grouping can turn into a massive movement. In that case, though status quo may be broken but situation will remain volatile as judges are not trained to take political decisions. This new lawyers era may grab a lot of sympathy and power but their target is just to restore independence of judiciary and 60 judges and running a state would be a hell of a job and risking it with a brand new force may not be wisdom if not backed by institutions. Third option is the realisation of the Matrix itself to enforce constitutionalism amongst their ranks. Quaid e Azam in his address of Staff College Quetta on 14 June 1948 said, “never forget that you are the servants of the state. You do not make policy. It is we, the people’s representatives, who decide how the country is to be run. Your job is only to obey the decisions of your civilian masters.” This is an eye opener for the establishment to re-group, and rethink their required loyalty to state as required by Article 5 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 and pave way for true people’s rule in the country.
I feel that time has come to offer that very ‘oath of loyalty to state’ as referred by the founder Mr. Jinnah to all Secretaries, Inspector Generals of Police, all heads of institutions so that rule of law, supremacy of constitution and justice prevails in the country. Little late, then the likes of 12th May groups will be seen all around the country where these warlords carry their guns in Jeeps enslaving the majority akin to situation in Somalia as when there will be economic downfall people will fight to snatch and stay alive. Pakistan is a dream come true, and it requires understanding of the sacrifices of those 4 million who laid their lives for a cause. Enough is enough, the damage to its physical boundaries is done, now people’s representatives have a job to do and they must realise the tenacity of the requisite task as public anger is showing towards indeciveness towards mandatory decisions. Matrix of might must foster the civilian rule in the country too before its too late even to ever have a democracy in the country. As it stands, Matrix is looking right into the eyes and saying when do you want us to come to run the state, is it not pity that Musharraf though gone, but will remain in power through his real masters and defeating the mind set remains an unfulfilled task. So much so for western attempts to bring true democracy in Pakistan.
Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a political analyst based in UK
Comments
3 responses to “Defeating the mind set”
“The Matrix” versus the “The People”! Interesting post.
What exactly is “The Matrix” ? Do we see “The Matrix” in western style, secular democracies. Who truly calls the shots in the US, the UK and India? The arguments this poster makes can be made about any country in the world with slight twists and different contexts in the key issues facing them. The Iraq war in the US (where “The Trillion Dollar War has robbed the people of basic needs such as health care) , the UK where Blair joined Bush in Iraq in spite of strong public opposition or the unwashed masses in India (where farmers are committing suicides in large numbers everyday) who are badly served by their democratic institutions, etc. etc. Is there a perfect or near-perfect example?
The tipical mind set can not be changed untill there is a proper Rule Of Law. If the Judiciary is not properly reinstated we will never ever get the required positive results. May Allah bless Pakistan Amin.
True independence of institutions or just a ‘job’ a short story of struggle for institutional rights in Pakistan By: Amjad Malik
On 5th of May 2007 Lahore High Court Bar gathered a storm where deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan was facing trial on charges of misconduct, came to the city with a procession of lawyers and won the day. He won the hearts and minds of lay Pakistanis for just saying ‘No’ to the outgoing General. Ahsan Bhoon then President of Lahore High Court Bar was at forefront in the host committee organising that event. Since then he became a priority in the eyes of establishment and like Americans say ‘there is a price for everyone in Pakistan’ Mr. Bhoon proved that right by putting the price of his leadership of popular lawyer movement for the sake of becoming Mr. Justice Bhoon proving Sir Allama Iqbal right that Muslims bowed down when the time came to standstill in the battlefield. No offence to the judge, he did what all are doing around, he grabbed what he could.
Another example of a fiery anchor Dr Shahid Masood who gained prominence from his popular ‘views on news’ programme at local TV channel later was prompted or rather demoted to ‘Merey Mutabiq.’ He successfully caused stir in the ranks of the blue eyed clan by touching the corny subjects. One TV channel nearly went bankrupt as these lots were adamant that these newly liberated channels can truly bring true independence of media in a society where military regimes have deep rooted stakes visible at every corner of the major cities and ingrained in every chapters of the national history of Pakistan. He hit the nail aright and after partly causing 3 of November emergency, caved in when newly installed Government found him to be their loyal subject ready to do a job under them other than the job of nailing them for their wrong doings. At last his fire, mighty claims of principles, and future aspirations seeing media on top, all went to ashes and he gave in and accepted the hiring & firing role of chairmanship of national television PTV, a job truly well suited for a managerial type man. In UK, Jeremy Paxman would never accept a job of management of a TV station when his mastery is an anchorship of BBC ‘Newsnight’ a popular daily current affair programme. However, the sacred struggle for a genuinely free media was sacrificed at the altar of pragmatism and after shaking all the conscience of the nation to be brave and steadfast against the General, he left all on the likes of Hamid Mir, Ansaar Abbassi and Rauf Klasra or at best for the younger generations to fight for the so called freedom in some other times. He must have thought that he has done enough and let’s give other a chance, can’t blame him, he did befittingly to the environment as who knows he may not have this opportunity again. Alas, the destination is far away but struggle is lost for a job.
9th March initiated an era of constitutionalism in Pakistan and 20th of July 2007 could have been a beginning of a new era if the top judge understood it, however, we lost the opportunity to psychologically defeating the mind set which promotes dictatorship in our minds and attitudes. On 3rd of November General Musharraf once again imposed emergency curbing media freedom and sacking loyalist judges. Be Nazir was hunted down to save the western monopoly and despite all odds 18th February 2008 election results vetoed all the actions of the military man. Parliament came and went without declaring unlawfully confined judges as ‘restored’ instead they were merely freed by the Chief Executive who was yet to swear his oath. General Musharraf was resuscitated by the same clan who prayed 9 years for his ouster and if he survives another 6 months, critics strongly believe that he has the capacity to stay for another 5 years and all thanks to anti Musharraf forces who are wishy washy lacking unity of thought and action. Since taking his oath, PM so far, could not get time to enact the so called ‘Bhurban Declaration.’ Despite the fact that Mr. Gilani lost good 5 years of his life in jail on trumped up charges for the sake of parliament’s sovereignty, when the time came he happily handed over to the military commander the very powers and vested in him to exhibit fireworks in Fata at his sweet will. It begs the question what is the difference of Q league and the current administration, is it not just faces. Rule of law’ justice and constitutionalism became a slogan and a ball in the hands of politicians and My God, they played it well.
Then came a call for a long march as mandate was being humiliated by rulers. Lawyers without meritoriously bringing ‘legal action committee’ into action to adjudicate the wisdom of Chief Justice’s visit to then under trial Zardari failed in bringing a close check on those responsible rather went ahead with the leadership of one man. Aitzaz with the slogan and style of Bhuttoos and with the aid of ‘habib jalab’s verses mesmerised most of the nation especially young dancing advocates. We thought for once, that he meant it. Negligent ignorance to leave Justice Wajeeh, Siddiqui and Fakhur uddin Ibrahim behind was spared too. Then came 14th of June when all was set and ready to rock and roll but Ali Ahmed Kurd was gone and here came a messiah of the nation who taught the lesson of pragmatism that leader of his party must have understood the underlying message of this million march. In his self belief he called it a day without taking any public statement in response to his million march, in fear of unrest without proper consultation leaving the nation in shock and lawyers in dejection. How will he ever gather 5 lakhs in future, only he knows?
On top, people were humiliated by saying that Supreme Court Bar is short of funds and there was a fear of unrest. Alas, who will tell them that Quaid made Pakistan and 40 lakh people died at that time but no one blamed him for that onslaught. How come a few scoundrels in peaceful gathering could have created havoc in this march or sit in if the lawyers were determined? Young advocates cried and genuinely lawyers mourned with them and apologised to the nation. I must say, in the past even Clerk’s association have performed better in their negotiation skills to muster their minimum demands whilst staging a protest. He caved in meagrely, called off his moot and went to United States where all leaders go once they are tired.
With him on that day the dream of rule of law, justice and constitutionalism for the time being was also washed away as it will take time to pick up pieces from the rubble of pragmatism. Constitutional package is yet to be tabled and I genuinely feel for those great judges who did what they could but in the end the issue became a shuttlecock. In these circumstances, how can we expect a successful drive of democracy when every one wishes to keep his feet in two boats keeping their options open? They are busy negotiating their future on one hand whilst shouting slogans of ‘Go Musharraf Go’ and ‘long live Iftikhar’ on the other. They consider receipt of judge’s salaries out of PM’s alimony fund as their partial success, funnily they cannot see the difference, as they see everything with their own eyes and read Jalab with their style without understanding him. I think they need to read Allama Iqbal more. Aitzaz is confronted with his own conscience his aspirations, party loyalty up are against the popular drive of restoration of 2nd November judiciary. He cannot escape from lawyer’s movement as that is his recognition but he cannot decide on 40 years association either so he himself is standing in between both. Jinnah left congress the day he knew it can’t go together. His lawyer’s move against his own party PPP is failing as his party knows how to lose one stalwart for the sake of party. But he is no different to other Pakistani folks who know that freedom will take time, and in his self belief he put all off till some other day when people will not be hungry and he will have money for food, and when General Musharraf is a little more aged. That’s why we have no independent judges as the very people who raise voice for them do not want them back due to fear of losing their jobs.
This is the sorry state of play of the drive of civic rights in Pakistan where all stake holders keenly keep an eye on each other so that no one could rock the boat. It’s a land where heroes are ruined like Qadeer Khan, where judges are detained like Iftikhar Choudhary and Premiers are hanged, shot and exiled like Bhuttoo’s and Sharifs. Protest leaders eyes are stuck in their bellies. Public for once is confused whether all this is carried out in genuine sincerity or everything is done for a job. It’s a fittest to survive society and I fear the day when public who always back popular movements turn into a pragmatic nation and never come out when they call, then where will all these lots go and who will give them a job.
Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a political analyst based in UK
2 July 2008