An Agenda for the New Government

The expectations of the people, for this government to solve their problems, is the reason why this government will have a difficult time succeeding.

Expections will always exceed results and the pace of the results will never equal the rising expectations of the people.

This government will be stepping into a strange cocktail of expectations and disappointments and though the people are looking to it and to the future it holds for the nation, with a sense of expectation; they are mindful of the past broken promises of the past governments.

The threshold of a failure is very low in Pakistan and the failure of this government, should it go the manner of so many other governments in the past, will be tragic for Pakistan in more ways than one.

Ciao

#1 ferozk: you are too pessimistic. Sure there are problems. But the basics are solid - with a vibrant, well-educated civil society (not half-brained islamist ideologues or the over-clever mush and the lowlife who jumped onto his bandwagon).

This national character has been developed on the school of hard knocks (military dictatorships, each worse than the last). And character is destiny. There are definitely better days ahead for Pakistan, now that the self-obsessed scoundrel has been effectively put in his place.

Do you really think that this time it is going to be different. With same robbers running the country, the time is not too far when people will start screaming to bring the Army back in power.

Stupidity is to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

re: tahmed32 # 2

The past historic experience of governance in Pakistan does not support an optimistic asssessment of the sitution in Pakistan or this government's ability to resolve the issues confronting Pakistan.

Too much optimism is a certain recipe for disappointment and it would be better to wait and see, how this government performs and what it accomplishes before singing its praises. There is a difference between being elected to power and ruling a nation and so far, this government has not ruled Pakistan or proven itself in that regard. Therefore, only time will tell how well or miserably this goverment performs.

As to the civil society, it would be the first one to cheer the military back into power.

Do not forget the images of the civil society distributing sweets after the coup of 1999 in the streets of Pakistan.

Sirji, nothing has changed at all. Let there be elections in 2013 and let this government accomplish tangible results and let it visibly improve the lot of the average person in Pakistan and then, and only then, we can say there will be "...better days ahead of Pakistan...".

Ciao

Re: # 4

ferozk,

"As to the civil society, it would be the first one to cheer the military back into power" ....... and this time they will be led by tahmed instead of romair ......

..... let's see how this government conducts itself in the first 100 days - if the alliance lasts that will be a good sign ..... if not, i am afraid we will be back to the same old bickering .... personally, i don't have any faith in this or any government solving the electricity crisis in the near future and will therefore put off my visit till october - had enough of sleeping in the car last summer ......

#3 afsand: I suggest we agree to disagree which one between the two of us is heing stupid. :-)

#4 ferozk: no doubt there are serious economic and environmental issues facing pakistan. and no doubt it will take a few generations before all pakistanis meet the Hamidm standard of being "non-unwashed".

However, to face such problems you need political capacity. The Pakistani nation has demonstrated in 2007 a political capacity and maturity of the highest order - judges refusing to kow-tow to a dictator, a vibrant press, a sound foundation of political parties that, far from being destroyed despite almost a decade of vile efforts by Musharraf have in fact demonstrated by their maturity that "that which does not destroy me makes me stronger". Politicians have learned the hard way the importance of treating the Constitution as a sacred document; the sacrifices made by the Chief Justice to protect the basic rights of Pakistanis have educated millions of Pakistanis on the significance of issues related to basic rights; the Pakistani press has emerged as a vibrant and mature "watchdog of democracy".

Above all, Pakistanis have gained the confidence that they are not mere pawns in some grand scheme involving "conspiracies". Rather, they can in fact take control of their destiny by the wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong and the courage to take a stand.

So, it is this demonstration of political capacity to face our undoubtedly serious problem that I am applauding.

Re: # 2

tahmed32

One should applaud your exuberance and optimism, at the same time you need to understand, appreciate, practice and respect the basics of democracy to promote democracy.

{But the basics are solid - with a vibrant, well-educated civil society (not half-brained islamist ideologues or the over-clever mush and the lowlife who jumped onto his bandwagon).}

These half brained Islamist ideologues, over clever Mush ie establishment and the "low-life" are ALL citizens of Pakistan. Its about time people of Pakistan understood the basic principle of democracy, equal vote, freedom of expression, tolerance and diversity of opinions.

When people condemn the "other" as low life and what else they too are following the same path of authoritarian structure which they hate, despise and oppose.

Indeed a utopian wish list of an amatuer that not only found a place in News but also chowk. The author has no idea what turns and meanders lie in the corridors of power.

CABINET AND TRAIN TRAVEL
Every coalition party has to be accomadated. He expects ministers and their civil servants travelling on the lethargic train system in an age when it is not even possible to switch off the vcell phones even in toilets.

BE WARY OF BUREACRATS AND STREGNTEN THE JUDICIARY
The biggest danger of CHUSSING as we called it in old days is that the one being flattered never knows when he fell victim to the deadly virus. Qaseeda Gos do it with a flair.

Forget Kalabagh and concentrate on smaller dams.
Un fortunately, none of the small dams can irrigate the indus plains/desert.

INFLATION and POVERTY
It has as much to do with the consumerism of plastic money and desire to devalue the ruppee to raise exports. It is also created due to hedging policies of State Bank in cooperation with currency dealers.

Restart the tax survey that was abandoned seven years back.
A survey that killed the irregular and informal sector based on production to importers of cheap containers. Do you know how much was lost?

I would only say:
Set immediate, mid and long term goals in the energy and production sectors particularly in terms of shortages and tarrifs.

Reduce cost inputs on exports through subsidies, to make exports more competetive.

Relax taxation on machinary used for value addition of textile goods. Discourage export of raws.

Widen the tax base through correct application of VAT or what we call Sales Tax.

As for the Army Chief, He pulled the rug from under Mussharaf's feet by changing appointments the day the PM was elected. Remember, he was one of his closest aids for seven long years. If this be his maverickism, lets wait and see.
Cheerios

Kamal,

The exuberence of the mushy coup is so quickly forgotten, jut the read the posts on chowk, immediately after the coup.

Many have long forgotten the exuberence of the earlier benazir rule.

The present coalition is holding only because of the common hatred for mushy, he put both the leaders in prison. Once mushy is gone everything will fall apart. tell me one reason why it should not.

Whether you like it or not, mushy was the uniting force, and he will continue to be.

The people of pakistan heaped in the TNT dopctrine will not be able to change at all till those photos are removed from teh govt offices and the TNT publically discredited.

I watched the oath taking ceremony, and it reaffirmed the islamic rules, pakistan shall be governed by the koran and hence the jihadis are bound to have a field day. The new prime minister has to declare as part of teh oath that he is a muslim.

Take it from me Kamal, nothing will change in pakistan, because the pak society has not looked into the causal factors. The paki mind set can only think in terms of individuals, cannot see the social system as the undelying cause.

Here is a pakistani traitor, recommending an indian parsi for the prime ministers post in pakistan.

from dawn of today


In search of Nehru


I DON’T know what was preventing the PPP from announcing the name of their prime minister. It is almost a month now. Neither the eligibility criterion was made public nor the process being followed to identify the prime minister was shared.

After one month the party has made its choice known to us, can we ask if they were in search of a kind of Jawaharlal Nehru?

MAZHAR LAGHARI
Islamabad

I think tahmed is right in that the new government should be given some space to get established.

I have my reservations but VERY MUCH HOPE I am wrong; this is one occasion where I'd love to be wrong!

One thing I would say, however, is that by creating this atmosphere of vendetta against Musharraf is not going to help in the long run; this would perpetuate the same preexisting cycle that we are trying to move away from. Besides, under the circumstances at the time, who knows what the right decisions were anyway!

i wonder what I would have done, with the external pressures of gwot, US of A, terrorism, Lal masjid issue (I supported that decision and my only regret is is wasn't taken soon enough) and FATA; its one thing being a 'proud and independent race', its another being above the law. If we all started brandishing our 'independent natures(garam khoon etc)', God only knows what would happen in the world we live in.

May be that is exactly what some of these elements crave for anyway!!



Cheers

re: tahmed32 # 7

Sirji, pardon my cynicism but the political capacity, which you tout so highly is a chimera. The reason, why I am so doubtful of this political capacity of Pakistan's to save the day is that all the criteria you have identified are still in the process of developing and still, despite your best wishes, are vunerable to a change of events.

If you listen to the conventional wisdom on the street, it clearly speaks of a concern that the next year, upto spring 2009, is a very fragile year for Pakistan. Pakistan is still not out of the proverbial woods yet. The reason being that Musharaff still retains the senate and the elections for the next senate are not due till 2009. Therefore, Musharraf is not overly concerned about a two-thirds majority or a parliamentary majority turning against him and impeaching him as long as he has senate, which can block any bills from the National Assembly he does not favor too much.

This might all change in 2009 if Musharraf loses the senate and that raises the probable question if this assembly will be even allowed to finish its term if Musharraf believes that he will lose the 2009 senate vote.

Sirji, the race has just began and it does not make sense to already declare a winner yet when there are still 12 months of uncertainity ahead of the nation. As mentioned in my earlier post, the Pakistani peoples' expectations of this government solving their problems are very high and even if this government does the best it can; it still has to manage the best it can within the limitations of the reality under which it must work.

Will a democratically elected government coming into power suddenly fill Pakistan's parched rivers full and thus, provide the water to generate electrical power and lessen the daily amount of loadshedding in the nation?

Will the army sit back and do nothing, as this government implements a reduced Pakistani role in GWOT?

Will the Americans support a dialogue with the militants, and still continue to support this government as it prepares to talk with the militants? Why do think the American delegation was in Pakistan? They were here to make sure that the United States' interests in GWOT are protected and not undermined by the actions of this government.

Will everyone in Pakistan now have a job, a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs and a chicken in every pot because there is a democratically elected government in power?

Will the streets be safe and a virgin carrying a pot of gold can walk unmolested in the middle of the night?

This is what I meant by expectations and though this government may well achieve some of these objectives, it will take time and unfortunately, the people of Pakistan have no more patience left.

Hamidm is right - the first 100 days will tell the tale.

Sirji, with all due respect, much water needs to flow under the bridge and we must all live through another 365 odd days of angst before we can pat ourselves on the back and say congragulations to each other.

Ciao

Here is a top agenda item from the people of karachi to the democratically elected govt, from the people of the crime ridden electricity starved largest city of pakistan.


KARACHI: Gilani urged to snap ties with Denmark



By Our Staff Reporter


KARACHI, March 25: The Jamaat-i-Islami has urged Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to take serious notice of the publication of blasphemous sketches in Danish newspapers and sever trade and diplomatic ties with Denmark.

This demand was made by the JI deputy chief, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, while speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Tuesday.

He announced that a ‘Shaan-i-Mustafa’ march would be held on April 6 from the Quaid’s mausoleum to the Merewether Tower.

Allama Abbas Nazir Naqvi of the Islami Tehrik and Maulana Siddique Rathore of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan were also present.

The talk about the paki PM and and how he will change pakistan is the only trivia that has got more media coverage than the Loraina - Bobbit cutting off case more than a decade ago

Good to be positive-

It helps increase the Jazba-e-Jehad and keep the hope of supremacy of Islam over idolators intact.

Allh hu!!