Pakistan deserves better

Guest Blog by Amjad Malik

On Defence day of Pakistan elected representatives of Pakistan will choose their next head of state who is originally a figurehead, a ceremonial position but General Musharraf armed it with deadly powers of sacking the parliament and bossing the army chief. Looking at a few clauses relevant to such election Article 41(2) says as following: (2) A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly. Article 62 narrates qualification and clause (d) says that he is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic Injunctions; and further more clause (f) says that he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate and honest and ameen; (g) he has not been convicted for a crime involving moral turpitude or for giving false evidence; and Article 63 details disqualifications where clause (h) says that he has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction on a charge of corrupt practice, moral turpitude or misuse of power or authority under any law for the time being in force;

Looking at this when Mr. Zardari is proposing himself for the top slot there are many reservations. First of all, his party and nation deserve a better choice at this role of a fatherly figure of a nation of 160 million people. He is young and can play a better role in Parliament representing his party. As his party is forming government and if he captures this place, it will be difficult for him to avoid conflict of interest which his party promised to avoid in a Charter signed by two top parties of the country. The head of federation is a ceremonial role requires the one to be fair, and independent without party loyalties, it will be difficult for him to continue his co- chairmanship of the party being head of the state as Pakistanis suffered at the hands of General Musharraf who sided by Q league but coalition could have produced better results.

Secondly it will be difficult for him to ensure compliance on ‘Charter of Democracy’ once he will be in a position of unbridled power of 58(2)b to dismiss assemblies and has a power to appoint Chief of Armed forces, in that event it is likely that Parliamentary sovereignty will become a dream. Thirdly, if there are criminal investigations internationally carried on, halted or disposed off for the time being still it will haunt the man and wherever he will travel as head of the State these stories will follow giving unnecessary bad name and will ridicule the office of the president as well as putting his government on the back foot. Finally the job requires a political consensus as a figure head of the state must remain a ceremonial position and must be brought by consensus though I agree that the ruling party or coalition must have a major say in it.

Looking at all above, I feel Pakistani nation would be much at ease if PPP had reviewed their nomination and jointly could have saved the coalition to come up to the challenges Pakistan is facing which include to bring about a change in common man’s life, true parliamentary military free democracy, rule of law, and justice in the country and create a trust between power brokers of the state. The way things are developing though his contracts may not be holy but the value of his words will be lost if he continues backing out of his written memorandum of understandings with his colleagues. Soon this trust deficit will overpower any dialogue he imitate in future as no one will sit with him as his words will carry a little value and how the international community reacts on his statements when he signs any agreement with them will be crucial too so he needs to keep his credibility intact if he wishes to survive politically.

Military dictatorship has long seen the power in Pakistan and its time that a man of clean record, sober approach with political consensus is brought so that coalition or two major parties along with smaller parties get on with the real job firstly to restore sacked judges, eradicate the evils by repealing 17th amendment and work together to make Parliament sovereign. This is the time for the political forces to show that they are able to muster political advantage through a genuine political process. People of Pakistan have always delivered whenever they are given an opportunity whether it is 1947, 1971 or 18th February 2008 if the politicians fail now then country will revert soon towards ever green strategy which has the backing of west which is longer spells of military dictatorships, shorter civil rule followed by accountability of politicians on the name of corruption and nexus of military and judiciary. Political consensus, and joint collaboration is the key if they wish to save the civil system, ensuring a sovereign parliament with an independent judiciary. Powerful Parliament instead of the puppet government must be the aim of like minded pro democracy politicians if they genuinely desire to embark on solving genuine problems of foreign policy, price hike, international food shortage and stability via economic revolution & political reforms. I am afraid as things are moving the current Parliament in last 6 months has not initiated any concrete debate on the issues confronted by the State and its people and an era of 90’s is on the door inviting another general to do a speech as a result of the failure of the politicians and policy of confrontation and I bet there will be sweets all around and Musharraf will start looking better and who will be responsible for all that is a million dollar question.

Amjad Malik is a Chair of Association of Pakistani lawyers (UK) a life member of Supreme Court Bar Association and a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.


Posted

in

, ,

by

Comments

6 responses to “Pakistan deserves better”

  1. Altaf Avatar
    Altaf

    Welcome back to earth – for 18 months the so called ´civil society´ has been backing these two parties & their leaders (Nawaz Sharif & Zardari) in their so called fight for democracy. Musharraf had his faults no doubt but we´ve been through the politics of these two self-serving thieves – so now best of luck dealing with them.

  2. d0ct0r Avatar
    d0ct0r

    And absconding grand terrorist telephonic Quaid Altaf was licking Musharraf’s feets for the last 8 years and when he saw that his ship is drowning then this hypocrite opportunist even refused to take Mush’s phone call on 13th August..

    Down with MQM and it bunch of terrorists

  3. Asad Hamza Avatar
    Asad Hamza

    Wow! According to the rule you have posted here almost all of the presidents were “ghair aienee”.

    Well as far as my small thinking goes it is because we have these bad things, in our life, as individuals.

    May Allah save this country and nation. Ameen.

  4. Silence Avatar
    Silence

    We have three options;

    Mushahid Hussain:

    A puppet of dictator, opportunist and dirtiest recruit of agencies.

    Saeed U Zaman Siddiqi:

    The first judge who carried a “quo” against his own Chief Justice who did not bow to Nawaz Sharif’s demand, and notorious about “Brief Cases” scandal which were sent to Quetta bench.

    We all lawyers (including todays protesters for judiciary)were being beaten by police when we protested against his betrayl to Supreme court.

    His wife getting hands on PIMS and many other proven corruption issues.

    Asif Ali Zardari:

    Alledgly corrupt but representing the largest and the only political part which represents four provences,his past is tainted but at least he represents will of people, although not elite of country but uneducated and ignorant who are equal Pakistani’s as some “Akal-i-kul” intellectuals.

    Conclusion:

    I will strongly protest on Zardai’s inaction on judges issue rather condemn him on this specific issue and support any political and democratic movement to pressurise him to respect people’s will.

    But at the same time I will like to see him in office if he can show the majority, my preference is purely based on his political backing by public and apart fromcorruption charges which most (if not all) politicians and generals are guilty of, he is better then Siddiqi who demolished his own Supreme Court to benifit Nawaz and Mushahid who is reflection of Musharaff.

    When time comes and we have someone with better standing and representing ‘will’ of people, I will be first to vote against Zardari in democratic process.

    Yet as long as we have even inefficient and corrupt (so called) leaders like Zardari or Nawaz, my chioce would be one of them rather then a honest general (who are never honest). But I hope sooner or later Zardari will loose peoples support and replaced through a democratic process.

  5. KarimG Avatar
    KarimG

    The Morons have spoken, let the clowns in and let the show begin. We got what we deserve.

    Jiye Bhutto Sada Jiye
    Jiye Zardari Sada Jiye

  6. iFaqeer Avatar

    No we don't; especially if you take seriously the old saying "Every people get the government they deserve."