Emergency:What Lies Ahead For Pakistan?

Once again Pakistan is in a state of emergency, this time imposed by the Chief of Army Staff who also wears the hat of the President. A PCO has been declared by the Army Chief and the media gagged. The conclusion of this modes operandi is simple and needs no thesis. In Pakistan, political power flows from the barrel of a gun. The politic body, already decimated, raped and largely turned into a mob of opportunist has yet again been put on the dissecting table for surgical procedure by butchers.

Pakistan Army that somehow managed to keep its corporatism and exclusivity in tact despite many a reversal on the external fronts in the past faces new challenges. This time round these challenges come internally. Ever since that call from Washington, the army has lost more soldiers in internal security than in all the past wars combined, ostensibly at the hands of its own people. Hundreds are prisoners in their own land. The landscape of internal situation is intrigued by the grey created by agencies, whilst the field army moves around in this mine field, playing blinds. As Musharraf ironically admitted though for different reasons; the morale of the army is affected. Unfortunately, an army that inherited a very rich tradition of professionalism and valour from its colonialism past is plunged into an ugly situation, by a coterie of self styled saviours. They neither understand history nor have a clear vision for future.

Politics in Pakistan has always been intriguing. In an essay on Civil Society published at the same site, I had theorised that the Pakistani nation construct was born before the geography of state. Independence was declared on 14th August while the boundaries were assigned later. This construct of a nation was formed on a fractional premise within the Muslim populace. Right from 1857, Muslims disagreed on defining the events of the uprising as a rebellion or a movement for independence. Finally the school of thought that labelled these events as a mutiny coalesced to form the Muslim League. During the Khilafat Movement, they distanced themselves from the clergy and were vice versa opposed tooth and nail by the same clergy over partition of India.

After 1947, questions arose as to the identity of Pakistan. The fault line emerged during the first constitutional crises that resulted in the Objective Resolution. To appease the religious right, token referral to religion for political means became a norm. Finally, Zia accorded permanence to this preamble by making it part of the constitution. This coincided with the Afghan War and served the ends to stir religious emotions to recruit jehadists for Afghanistan in pursuit of capitalist geo strategic objectives. Over the past six decades, these fault lines have widened and the religious right strengthened. Consequently, the idea of Pakistan as conceived by Jinnah has largely metamorphosed into the very right that he and those before him had despised. Globally, the modalities to achieve US global domination have made these resurgent ultra rightists irrelevant. Pakistan thus faces a growing threat from these elements within and pressure because of them from outside. The resolution of this identity crisis needed a national debate. However, perennial military interventions and US interests never allowed this debate to mature and excluded both political parties and civil society.

The first constituent assembly of Pakistan was hogwash to satisfy various interests. These self serving interests led to the adoption of a colonial legislative format that in essence excluded pluralism and alienated the majority. The instability and intrigues thereof invited military intervention and set precedence for future. The only redeeming instrument was the constitution of 1973, which has been repeatedly restructured by the former mind set. In essence, this document never suits the power elites and therefore has to be amended/suspended repeatedly. It is also in the interests of these elites to clip the wings of judiciary if it dares to interpret it in the spirit of constitutionalism and international precedence. Unfortunately, these include the major political parties like JUI and PPP. Hence the colonial mind set of 1935 and exigencies of elites will continue to haunt Pakistan.

Having divided itself in 1971, West Pakistan now faces its gravest challenges. Warlords and Islamic militants rule the FATA and PATA. Balochistan is beset with insurgency. Counter insurgency operations are not producing any results. Even routine movement of armed forces in settled areas is dangerous. Moderates and nationalists are isolated and excluded. Religious rightists are on the rise. Gun running continues with impunity. Supporters of some political parties are armed to the teeth. Civil society is left with no space to operate. The military is isolated. The entire landscape is grey patrolled by agencies.

So where do the latest events lead to? If past military interventions were a measure, my immediate reaction is nowhere! A PCO flowing out of the barrel of a gun cannot put the train of democracy back on the track. The ghost of 1935 has grown in power and the mindset behind it is at best self serving. In this gloomy picture, even ‘Nowhere’ implies a status quo.

Are we heading much beyond; towards a disaster?