Awake, the Wretched of My Land

Pakistan must learn from its turbulent past to save its future. It must confront its demons and restore democracy as a just and fair a system of government that is self-sustaining and guarantees civil society with protections from various forms of oppression—, political, military, institutional, religious, economic, educational, and intellectual. But in fighting for such a system, Pakistanis must refrain from brutality and other tools of oppression that are self-defeating. Oppression and its various forms of expression are used by tyrants who are also people—human-beings, like us. “[T]heir oppressive acts are not so much willed by them, but are more like an infection or hereditary disease passed on to them from the old society and old thought”. Like many contemporary societies, Pakistan must forge a revolution that guarantees freedom from hunger and dignity of life for all, especially the oppressed poor, the under-privileged, and the minorities.

In October 1999, in a repeat performance, Pakistani army conquered the very land that it had pledged to protect. In a seditious move, General Musharraf grabbed reins from an infinitely corrupt but elected Prime Minister, namely Nawaz Sharif who took over government from another equally corrupt Prime Minister, Bhutto. The two were engaged in a perilous game, their governments disbanded twice on charges of corruption. Rather than staying her ground and facing charges of corruption, Bhutto absconded with her billions. During Bhutto’s reign, her husband earned the dubious honor of Pakistan’s Mr. Ten Percent. Pakistan he second most corrupt country, after Nigeria. Bhutto’s arch nemesis, Prime Minister Sharif who was pillaging Pakistan like there was no tomorrow. In a foolish act, he refused landing to General Musharraf plane upon return from a foreign trip. Musharraf took over the government and placed Sharif behind bars. During the many tours of his office, Sharif and his cronies amassed legendary wealth. He is known to have sent a squad of goons to attack the sitting judges of the Lahore High Court. In prison, Sharif inked a shameless agreement with Saudi Arabians that earned him release. He was pardoned by Musharraf and exiled with the condition that he will renounce politics, and stay put in Saudi Arabia for ten years. His billions were flown to Saudi Arabia to cushion the exile.

In a series of tragic mistakes General Musharraf has shown signs of nervousness in promulgating his concoction of military democracy in Pakistan, triggering fresh hopes in his rivals to vie for power. In a highly publicized return from exile on September 10, Sharif flew in “to save Pakistan,” just to be deported again to Saudi Arabia. His backers were rounded up by the Musharraf government to weed out trouble.

Sharif’s rival, Benazir Bhutto struck a secret deal with Musharraf that allows both of them to share power. The deal saves Musharraf the embarrassment of a mass resignation of PPP lawmakers before an Electoral College vote on October 6 in which he is expected to win a second term as a uniformed president. For Bhutto, the opportunistic deal, pushed by the “a few Western governments, including the United States” solidifies the U. S. interests. Musharrf will drop corruption and other charges against Bhutto (According to Wall Street Journal, Bhutto is reported to have siphoned off up to $1.2 billion in foreign exchange from Pakistan.) Musharraf will overturn a law that prohibits former prime ministers from serving more than two terms. Were the Pakistan People’s Party to come to power, it will hand over Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear program to International Atomic Energy Agency for interrogation into Pakistan’s presumed cooperation with Iran, Libya, and North Korea. Such are the serendipitous gods in Pakistan! She is also reported to have stated that once in power, Bhutto will furnish the needed tactical leverage to USA to kill Osama Bin Laden.

When translated in Pakistan, democracy is a mere appendage of feudal landlords, corrupt industrialists and, often, the army generals. In our national life, army dictators have ruled for 30 years. The occasional gaps were filled by corrupt civilians who proved worse than our colonial masters. The natives who replaced the colonial rulers exceeded them in pillaging national resources and converting them into private fiefdoms.

Public responsibility in Pakistan is nothing more than the rulers’ lust for power. The instruments of control that ensure responsible government through fairness, honesty, accountability, competence, responsiveness, and judicial oversight have eroded. Public’s trust and faith in government has been shattered. Yet Pakistan boasts of an army of ministers, retired generals appointed to civilian positions, senators, police chiefs, district administrators, bureaucrats with fancy titles, the army, and the police who cannot protect life and liberties of ordinary citizens.

Civil society in Pakistan bears many scars. Rape is an instrument of tribal justice in some parts of Pakistan. It is an epidemic that occasionally rises is ugly head in civilian life. After the case of Mukhtar Mai, National Geographic (September, 2007), reported the ordeal of Najma, a 16-year old adolescent who was raped by police in Nizampur, Punjab. The young girl’s father had been ordered to vacate ownership of a small track of agricultural land which he refused. Najma was raped in the family home. The father pressed charges. Forensic evidence in Najma’s case disappeared mysteriously from police custody and the officer investigating the crime accused the 16-year girl of being a “habitual fornicator”. Needless to say, charges were dismissed by the police.

Prospects of a peaceful revolution that will establish the foundation of civil society in Pakistan are dim. When Musharraf-Bhutto deal materializes, power will be retained by those have turned the country into a failed state. How many uniforms the general will change and how many international arrest warrants he will rescind for Bhutto?
Freedom from oppression is a national imperative. Its urgency cannot be overstated. Just as the nation freed itself from the shackles of British colonialism in 1947, it is equally important to oust the hoards of native brand. Restoring democracy must proceed independently of the shady designs of Pakistani rulers. It must be propelled peacefully by the workers, farmers, students, teachers, policemen, rickshaw drivers, professors, lawyers, human rights workers, and ordinary citizens who should take charge through peaceful means. They must discredit any attempts that seek to silence them.