The Countdown Begins

Re: M. Hussein

To quote you:

``one problem retarding good governance in Pakistan is the unnecessary proliferation of showpiece bodies with high-sounding nomenclature that end up doing nothing``.

You too belonged one such show piece body - called the Nawaz Sharif government and did nothing, which explains the lack of effective goverance during the imperium of Nawaz Sharif. Your nomenclature was democracy and a heavy mandate, which you and your criminal cabal used to justify your reign on Pakistan.

Why are you concerned about Pakistan now that you are out of power? It would have been nice if you had the same concern, while you were in power.

Ciao


Ciao

Re: Feroz, #1

Way to go, Feroz!!!

A very informative and well-written article with a lot of good ideas for Pakistan`s Government. I really liked it.

feroz:

....someone once chastised the interactors in one of the previous mushahid articles here for being too harsh on him...that got me thinking...has this guy ever come clean?...

...to be fair and honest...those who know him personally and are better informed have told me that this fellow is ‘honest’ at the least...did not have his hand in the till...which is fine and an honourable trait...BUT...he was associated with the sharif government...all its fiascos and the misdeeds...and an ‘honourable’ man should have quit...we know mushahid did not...that is why it is important for me to find out if he has ever come clean...otherwise I will continue to attach little importance to his columns...

rgds,

t

Another great article by Mushahid Hussain.
Keep them coming here on CHOWK.

As far as his critics are concerned, just two
things:

1) Learn how to be flexible enough to know the
difference between the pond and the fish.

2) Get to know more about the reality of politics
in Pakistan.

Ras

Ras #5:

...pls. consider #4 addressed to you as well...will appreciate a direct answer...

rgds,

t

Ras #5:

...pls. consider #4 addressed to you as well...will appreciate a direct answer...what bothers me is the questio of `credibility`...for me it should not be overlooked...

rgds,

t

Dear Mushahid:

Good to hear from you so soon.

``The third reconstitution of the NSC, done last week, makes it a virtually all-khaki body (save for Governors of Balochistan and Sind), removes the ministers, and includes offices which are currently not separate from the President, namely, Chief Executive, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff, thereby ensuring it too will remain a paper organisation``

In the ``ideal`` NSC of Mr. Musharraf, the ``democratic`` PM would have FOUR votes as the CE, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff committee, Chief of Army Staff and the President -- bravo!!

Now this is the kind of ``checks and balances`` Pakistan really needs if it wants to have ``real`` democracy La Musharraf kind.

You are so right, before Mr. Musharraf goes to Delhi he should definitely lift the ban on political activities in Pakistan. He must talk with NS and BB if he really wants to strengthen his negotiating hand with Mr. Vajpayee.

Without the expressed consent of the only TWO parties that matter -- Mr. Musharraf MANDATE to negotiate with Vajpayee is still INCOMPLETE..

And ladies/gentlemen shall we quit attacking Mushahid Hussain personally for his past stint in

a government. Let us treat him critically as a journalist – WRITING FOR Chowk..

Mr. Hussain has given Chowk a subcontinental and international visibility -- that could only benefit the IndoPak relations.

Great column.

I havent read the article yet but based on Godot`s recommendations will do so. In the meantime, I thought you may find this piece from today`s Dawn interesting:

``Agricultural Development Bank mission in Pakistan to hold talks:

KARACHI, July 11: A three-member ADB appraisal mission is currently in Islamabad holding talks with the authorities to recommend a 350-million-dollar loan``

Maintaining high journalistic standards, the Dawn writer obviously took an educated guess that the A in ADB stood for Agriculture! Of course, he could have asked someone, but heck, why bother with small things like facts. Someone please tell me I am wrong, and that I am only imagining that the only ADB that goes around promising hundreds of millions of dollars is the Asian Development Bank.

Ferozk #1 ``Why are you concerned about Pakistan now that you are out of power? ``

Actually, Mushahid writes these articles as a form of penance for his sins. Every time he publishes an article, he gets a sound berating from the chowkwallahs. He quietly takes it, never trying to defend himself or explain himself. This is his way of punishing himself for associating with the man-who-would-be-king.

temporal #4: From what I have heard, Mushahid Hussain did not make money like the other Nawaz Sharif cronies. However, like you have stated, ``not making money`` is not enough of a criteria for being a minister. Although in Pakistan, this itself is a blessing.

He was however a member of NS`s kitchen cabinet. He was the big spinmaster. Not only did he try to portray the NS govt as competent (which is fine, and is the job of any informaiton minister), he went, ``beyond the call of duty`` and defended and justified every corrupt an immoral act of the Nawaz Sharif govt., also.

But most of all, his reign as information minister involved the biggest cases of suppression and physical beatings of Pakistani journalists, ever under any democratic govt. Sethi was kidnapped from his bedroom and jailed. Haqqani was beaten up. Maleeha Lodhi was threatened, etc.

It is hard to attach any importance to articles written by people who themselves are the cause of the problem, and could not be trusted earlier. It is alright to let them speak their mind. But, Mushahid seems to have been designated the resident expert by the Chowk staff, on solutions to Pakistan`s problems. There are many other much credible Pakistani journalists who can carry this torch far better than Mushahid Hussain, if you ask me. Perhaps in between his many articles, Chowk should print one of their articles, as well.

IMHO:

1. Pakistan needs to institutionalize the armed forces in every person`s life. That is, every person should serve 2-3 years like Israel does.

This ensures that no one takes a high ground.

If the armed forces are privy to this and this, the common man/woman could also be privy to this and that because they would have served their stint.

As it is, the armed forces control the institutions by default(atleast they appear saying so; actually, the religious fundamentalists control the agenda of the country)

I compare the Pakistan`s armed forces to that of Argentina`s. When the Argentine`s generals lost out in Falklands, they did not have anything to stand on. The generals are supposed to know how to fight a war. But they lost. What right they have to rule the country then?

Similarly, the Pakistani generals have caused the country to be split, exhasted the treasury money.

In essence, they do not know how to wage a war nor are they good technocrats to rule the country.

Perhaps, Pakistan needs professional administrators or ``real CEOs`` like GE`s Welch type to rule the country. If Mushy wants a real CEO then let him a real one like Welch or search TiE conference for a Pakistani born real CEO.

2. Secondly, what Pakistan needs is a huge chunk of middle-class. Having a feudal society is bad for any country. Think of it this way.

Let us say, Sharif was a feudal and had huge land holdings beyond imagination. How many cars can he possibly drive at a given time? Similarly, even he/she had a Rolls/Jag, how many cars can he possibly drive at a given time?

Versus, if there are sufficient middle class, then there is opportunity for everyone to make a fast buck and own a car, a good living and make the economy stronger. You need good demand in a consumer economy and that comes only with a strong educated middle class.

Also, focus has to be on education. For instance, where I studied in Madras (chennai) and my native place, Kerala the govt even provides meal for the kids hoping that will drive the families to send the children to school. In Kerala, every village has a library and not one spot of trash. One would think they were living in Singapore or something. You see children walking to schools in uniform even in villages.

3. Keep religion out of politics. Follow the Singapore model if Indian model is not good.

In Singapore, there are chinese, indians, malays, etc. For them country comes first, religion takes a back seat.

Ask yourself: If a multinational wants to set up shop in Pakistan, besides the normal lunch hour and breaks, if the workers want 5 additional breaks to do namaz, it takes away from production and some of the equipment you cannot stop.

Add ``elimination of riba``-Which sane individual would want to invest if there is no return or dividend. Even Pakistanis who have good intent will shy away. Which means, all you have left is

mullahs and fedual lords to control Pakistan`s destiny.

My take on the summit:

1. This whole darn thing is already choreographed.

2. Most probably, Mushy will walk away empty handed which means the mullahs will take over.

3. Already, the deobandi type mullahs are talking of ``taliban type`` govt for Pakistan. If Pakistan were to get that, there would be chaos. Which means no western govt or nation would recognize and no one would want to give away kashmir to a taliban type govt.

4. The best strategic thing that Pakistan can do is say adios to Taliban. Trust me! Their types will ruin your country.

Best wishes.

Phrases and their true meaning:

“Supreme Court deadline of October 12” Number of days left when I might get in power again.

“political forces which is vital for building a stable democratic system”: Give me the power

“Pakistan should reach its democratic destination”: Give me the power

“Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy” Give us the power

“The cleavage in the PML has politically benefited the PPP, as is evident from the local elections” If we do not get the power this time then we will get it next time after BB gets thrown out again with corruption charges by military.

“Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan readily meets General Musharraf on `political issues` but rejects his invitation to discuss Kashmir” We do not care about Kashmir just give us the power.

“PPP as a component of ARD remains committed to its one-point agenda of struggling for restoration of democracy through an alliance with PML” We can not do it alone but like to get in power anyway.

“……..the military regime is apparently still confused on the concept of the National Security Council (NSC), its composition, functions and role. 21 months after taking over…….” They are confused over the mission of NSC, so give us the power.

“For the third time, the military regime has had to issue notifications regarding the reconstitution of the NSC” They are still confused about the mission of NSC so give us the power.

“The new notification on the NSC also negates the concept of institution-building” They are still confused so give me the power.

“One problem retarding good governance in Pakistan is the unnecessary proliferation of showpiece bodies with high-sounding nomenclature that end up doing nothing” I did the same things but if do it than it is bad and I should be given the power to rule.

“Now that the countdown to the general elections has begun” I can smell the power in air

Asfand Siddiqui

Sacramento CA

Ras #5: One of my favorite quotes. Applies quite well here. In my opinion, any journalist, regardless of his eloquence, accuracy and intelligence, can only be as good as the credibility he enjoys. Would be interested to know whether you agree or disagree:

``Cronyism is the curse of journalism. After many years I have reached the firm conclusion that it is impossible for any objective newspaperman to be a friend of a President. -- Garry Wills, ``Lead Time: A Journalist`s Education,`` Doubleday & Co., 1983``

Since Chowk is bent upon forcing Mushahid Hussain down everyone`s throat, I think it would be a good idea to point out what some journalists (who do have some credibility, and some of them are actually quite good) think of him:

``Weavers of lies

By Ardeshir Cowasjee

.....Our roll of honour of notable weavers includes, but is not limited to, Altaf Gauhar (Ayub), Maulana Kausar Niazi and Nasim Ahmed (Bhutto) Lieutenant-General Mujibur Rahman (Zia), Husain Haqqani (Nawaz I and Benazir II), and now Mushahid Hussain....

Brittle and paranoiac as it is, this government for some mad reason considers Haqqani to be a threat, possibly because it thinks he has armed himself with copies of compromising documents picked up during his days of officialdom. He is now tied to the rack. The government has not denied that its dirty-tricks brigade kidnapped him in the middle of the night, had him beaten up, kept in solitary confinement, initially incommunicado, but now under judicial custody in a safe house near the Rawal Lake. His cuts and bruises have been brought on record, his bail applications have been rejected. Ostensibly he has been charged with corruption, embezzlement, and the squandering of government wealth. Could he even remotely have squandered one-hundreth of what has been squandered by Benazir or Nawaz?.....

Mushahid Hussain claims to be a profoundly educated man, but his association with Nawaz Sharif seems to have washed away all his qualifications. He is responsible for Haqqani`s predicament and for all the troubles faced by Najam Sethi. The government has also not denied that Sethi was abducted in the middle of the night by its dirty-tricks men, beaten up and kept in solitary confinement. He at least has been released, without any charges having been made against him as none could be proved. Now free, he has been banned from leaving the country and is facing 28 income tax cases. The systematic income-tax-cases harassment is a hangover from the Bhutto days......

His performance may have made us lose whatever residual sympathy we had from a few quarters in the world. Mushahid further disgraced our judiciary with the lies he told about the storming of the Supreme Court. He told the world that the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah, was not sacked by his government but by his fellow judges. He omitted to say what the government`s role was in this affair. (DAWN, Pakistan, 29 June 1999)

``Shooting the messenger

By Irfan Husain

Najam Sethi has been a friend for twenty years, and I have been a regular reader of, and occasional contributor to, The Friday Times ever since it was launched a decade or so ago. Since its earliest days, the weekly has been a fearless crusader for good governance and accountability. Its fierce independence, together with its irreverent style, quickly made it required reading for anybody interested in being on the inside track of Pakistani politics.....

I am convinced that it is Sethi`s uncompromising stance on corruption that has led to his Gestapo-like kidnapping, and not his recent speech in New Delhi, whatever the government`s spin doctors may say.....

If the government thinks it has a case of sedition against Sethi, it should have followed the legal and civilized course of going to court with its complaint. Obviously, Mushahid Hussain and his minions suspected that the government would become a laughing stock if it actually filed charges on such flimsy grounds......

The immediate cause of the government`s fury is the BBC documentary being prepared to highlight corruption alleged to permeate the highest levels of this government. Hussain Haqqani had already been snatched a fortnight or so ago for committing the sin of talking to the BBC team, and now Sethi has fallen victim of a film that still hasn`t been aired. These two arrests plus Mushahid Hussain`s amazingly puerile letter to the head of the BBC indicate the extent to which this government will go in order to keep the stench of corruption bottled up. Indeed, as a Pakistani I cringed in embarrassment at reading this pathetically undignified letter from our information minister, as well as the BBC`s stinging reply. (DAWN, Pakistan, 15 May, 1999)

``WHAT IS TO BE DONE!

Syed Adeeb (my note: I don`t really like this guy, but the article is valid) and Mohammad A. Khalid, M.D.Mr.

Sethi and The Friday Times & daily Jang Columnist Mr. Husain Haqqani were kidnapped and tortured recently by corrupt and cruel officials of the Punjab Police, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the direct orders of Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Saif-ur-Rehman Khan, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Khalid Anwer, Inspector General Police (Punjab), Home Secretary (Punjab), federal Interior Secretary and the dictator`s several other gangsters. (The Information Times, USA, May 16, 1999)

``The Death of Democracy

by Zahid Hussain

First of all, gumshoes from the Intelligence Bureau picked up Lahore journalist MAK Lodhi, who had been helping the BBC team, from his residence. He was released only after being grilled for several days. Then the car of another senior journalist, Imtiaz Alam, was picked up from his residence and set on fire.

Not content with these blatant acts of violence, the information ministry then launched a propaganda campaign through official news agencies against the BBC, accusing it of biased reporting and ``projecting a negative image of Pakistan.`` In an amusing statement, the ministry, headed by Mushahid Hussain, himself a former editor, read into the programme a conspiracy by the western media to malign and destabilise post-nuclear Pakistan.

Never before had a government in Pakistan displayed such a paranoid attitude towards the foreign press. The reason for its panic was obvious, as the administration could not refute the widespread charges of corruption in the country`s ruling family. The harassment of journalists was not an isolated event. It was apparent that the desperate action against them was taken as a part of the government`s resolve to stifle the independent press and any voice of dissent, paving the way for totalitarian rule.`` (The Daily Star, May 28, 1999)

LOVE-IN IN THE SHADOWS:

HOLLOW GRIN AND WEAK KNEES



where is the pit
in the stomach
where this unease
is supposed to be?


believers
of this god or that idol
play with lives innocent
death a provocation
a proclamation to the world
of politics
death merely a tool
as life gasps
a press release
is faxed

would lose out
if peace prevails
these believers
from ganges, indus
hence this unease
like the eve of the other visit
in innocent blood I fear
these bigots
will be the statement

-----=====-----

on this eve
of the love-in
in the shadows of the taj
tough hollow grin
meets
determined weak knees

smiles and hand shakes
and pats galore
beaming and beamed in space
from under the shadows...

agreements and statements
will leash the galloping mares
of the nuke-yard
let the poor travel
with the ease of the rich
and mighty

away with the hurdles
for the banias, chiniotis, memons
no, na, nahin
not exploitation
shhhhhh.....
it is called free trade now

there will be agreements aplenty
promoting this and that
peace and friendship
and promises will be made
to keep,to placate, to break

but will it help
where it is needed?
will they build more latrines
yes, dignity of the common man
matters with me.

Mr. Husain

YOu don`t have credibility! You need credibility! You can regain your credibility (slowly) by coming clean. Forget about being heard by anybody, especially Pakistanis; before you begin to imagine that you have valid contributions to make - and some day, you may - please consider coming clean to the Pakistani people. What were you doing in that regime? What role did you play in the suppression of Sethi, Haqqani and others and for God`s sake, Why?

You were the principal information officer of the regime and were responsible, as it was your job - but, it`s not like you did not have prospects - why did you agree to continue? and Why did you do such a terrible job? Who are you? And, why should you be trusted, again?

You and some others imagine that in a year or so, Musharraf will be gone, you`ve lost this bet before, perhaps now it is time to trust Pakistanis, come clean to them. Some will hate you for it, other praise you for the courage it will take, all will be disappointed. But at least they will begin to trust you.

Musharraf is not the problem, if the politicians continue to see Pakistan as deserving the plunder which politicians see as their right to engage in, tomorrow, there will be not the Taliban, but a truly authoritarian regime that will make the rampages of Ayatollah Khalkhali and Ayatollah Ringo and Saddam, seem like a picnic in comparison to what they will put our ``elite`` through. And the Pakistani people will support them, in this effort. We`ve had with these so called ``elite``

Asfand 13

You hit the nail on the head. The quality of ``politician`` in Pakistan is terribly disappointing. Boonie and Cylde, then the Ithefaq and sons. The seemingly eternal Haramzada, sorry Nawabzadah, the paranoid and ultimately stupid government spooks, while it`s true that all political parties need all political parties need a personality with which to project their ideas, in Pakistan all we get is just the personalities, always short on education and ideas that can work.

A new generation of national political leadership needs to be cultivated. Omar Asghar Khan, if he does not shoot himself in the foot or mouth, seems to have potential.