Politics of “reconciliation” amongst looters

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

In the wake of February 2008 elections, the people of Pakistan thought that the rulers would respect their mandate by moving towards an egalitarian society—the essence of people’s rule. The ruling elite—unholy alliance of bureaucracy, politicians and businessmen—always resist any such change. When matter comes to surrendering their ill-gotten wealth—the main source of their power—for the benefit of masses, the privileged classes, despite their political/ideological differences, start showing “gestures of reconciliation”.  As soon as media start exposing their financial corruption, tax evasion, plundering of national wealth, they “unite” (sic)—immediately meeting at sumptuous dinners and talking about working together for “national interest” (sic) by bridging their “differences” (sic). They start feeling threatened with open public debates about their tax declarations and figures of loan write-offs.   

Tragically, the apex court has yet not decided the issue of loan-write-offs though suo moto action was taken twice—in 1996 and 2008.  In 2008, according to Press reports, the Supreme Court took serious notice of the fact as to how banks wrote off a staggering amount of Rs. 125 billion as “bad debts” during 2000-2006, against Rs. 30 billion written off during 1985-1999. According to reports, larger numbers of loans were written off under Circular No 29/2002, issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). It was admitted by SBP during the hearings that the major beneficiaries were leading politicians and industrialists.

During the self-acclaimed “transparent era” of Musharraf-Shaukat, loan write-offs in just seven years (2000-2006) crossed the figure of Rs.125 billion, whereas in the much-publicized “corrupt eras” of elected governments (1985-1999) it was merely Rs. 30 billion.  The country’s banks and other financial institutions wrote off an amount of over Rs 30 billion during the governments of Muhammad Khan Junejo, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. During the two tenures of Nawaz Sharif (1990-93 and 1997-99) Rs. 22.35 billion loans were written off—during his first tenure, a total of Rs. 2.39 billion were written off and in his second, the amount went up to Rs. 19.96 billion. The written off loans during the two tenures of Nawaz Sharif constituted approximately 74.5 percent of the total of Rs. 30.18 billion, written off between 1986 and 1999. During the two tenures of late Benazir Bhutto, a total of Rs. 7.23 billion loans were written off, constituting 24.2 percent of the total written off loans—Rs. 494.97 million in her first tenure and Rs. 6.74 billion in the second term.

During the Musharraf-Shaukat era, an unholy alliance of bankers, businessmen-cum-politicians and bureaucrats managed to plunder public money through an amnesty scheme from SBP, though banks had liquid securities to recover the loans. The SBP submitted before the apex court that amongst the beneficiaries of Ccircular No 29/2002 were two sitting chief ministers of PML(Q) regime.

The ruling elite skilfully engineered the amnesty scheme to get the benefit of write-offs and a consequential concession in tax law for no-taxation of benefits derived, whereas their personal wealth kept on increasing. All these beneficiaries of loan write-offs still possess assets worth billions of rupees. The criminal culpability of successive governments in this matter has tarnished the image of Pakistan—worldwide known as a haven for the corrupt, plunderers and tax evaders.

Table A depicts the cumulative position of the non-performing loans and advances of banks and non-banking financial institutions from 1982 to 2008, which has been compiled from their published Annual Accounts. This shows not only the quantum of non-performing loans, but lack of political will to recover billions of rupees of deposit holders when the creditors are in possession of securities and through introduction of a simple foreclosure law, assets of debtors can easily be liquidated to recover the amounts due.

TABLE A

                                                 

1982                                                    Rs. 8 billion

1988                                                    Rs. 39 billion

1993                                                    Rs. 62 billion

1998                                                    Rs. 118 billion

1998                                                    Rs. 140 billion

1999                                                    Rs. 164 billion

2000                                                    Rs. 171 billion

2001                                                    Rs. 185 billion

2002                                                    Rs. 218 billion

2003                                                    Rs. 229 billion

2004                                                    Rs. 241 billion

2005                                                    Rs. 255 billion

2006                                                    Rs. 265 billion

2007                                                    Rs. 269 billion

2008                                                    Rs. 274 billion

The Supreme Court of Pakistan, way back in 1996 (Reference: Dawn dated 16^th October, 1996), taking suo moto cognizance under Article 189 of the Constitution of Pakistan, took up this issue of loan write-offs and expressed intention of studying all the governing laws in this regard. The apex court vowed to make authoritative pronouncement that “would eliminate the chances of misusing the laws for siphoning of public money”. There is, however, no track as to what happened to that public interest litigation case, it appears the same is still pending even after a lapse of 13 years.

The said public interest litigation originated from a reference filed by then President, Late Ghulam Ishaq Khan against a PPP, MNA, Rao Rasheed Ahmad, who as a member of loan write off committee, blatantly ordered to write off a loan of his wife. There have been many such examples where the rich and mighty managed to plunder the savings of the have-not (small depositors) in a shameless manner. An unholy alliance of bankers, businessmen-cum-politicians and bureaucrats has destroyed the entire banking/financial system.  

The politics of writing-off loans in this country requires proper investigation and study as it will unveil many “big names”, who are responsible for failure of democratic process in Pakistan. The country lost billions of rupees as revenue as well because bad debts written off by the banks on specific directions of SBP were also exempted from income tax. The Government of Pakistan, SBP and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) never considered the report of Auditor General of Pakistan in this regard issued far back in 1992, showing loss to public exchequer of Rs. 120 billion. It is a matter of record that the Board of Revenue despite this audit report from the Auditor General of Pakistan, issued another instructions on February 4, 1993 vide its letter No. 13(26)/IT-1/79 giving further concessions to the banks. The cases relating to plundering of public money to the tune of billions and blatant abuse of powers by rulers and their henchmen pose a serious threat to our democratic culture.

The unscrupulous businessmen (most of them are now politicians and elected members of parliament), state functionaries and corrupt bankers have joined hands to deprive this nation of billions of rupees of public funds and colossal loss to public revenues. The big bosses of the State Bank and FBR should be summoned by the apex court—Public Accounts Committee will not do so to protect fellow members—to explain who had forced them to issue “administrative instructions” in gross violation of law for loan write- offs and allowing unprecedented tax exemption to the beneficiaries. The inquiry into loan write-offs will not only reveal the modus operandi through which public money is siphoned off but can unveil the real beneficiaries. If we want to establish true democracy in Pakistan, public money looted by these criminals should be recovered, they should be disqualified permanently from holding public offices and all those who facilitated them should be given exemplary punishment.

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The writers, tax lawyers and authors of many books, are visiting professors at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Afghan election: cocktail of arms, poppy and politics

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr Ikramul Haq

American-sponsored elections in Afghanistan today—amidst inveterate attacks by the Taliban—are going to have serious impact for the entire region in the coming days. The war-ridden country—occupied by NATO-US troops—no matter who wins—though Hamid Karzai is said to win again—is certainly to be run by a puppet regime. With sham democracy in Afghanistan, the United States wants to justify its occupation—the main object of which is to keep the spectre of al-Qaeda and Taliban alive. If this policy continues for another few years, Afghanistan—and adjacent tribal areas of Pakistan—will become central stage for military conflicts. And this is what the US wants.

The strategy of US and its allies is simple; to induce Russia, India and China in military conflicts. This will destroy their growing economies—posing serious challenges to capitalist monopolies created by US and its Western allies. The containment of China—real agenda behind Obama’s Af-Pak policy—is not possible without using extremist elements—they are covertly funded and supported by US. These militants will be used ultimately for creating troubles in Muslim areas of China as part of US long-term foreign policy.  

The State Department continuously campaigns against its “hidden allies”—but overt adversaries, Al-Qaeda and Taliban— that drug money is their main source of funding. According to so-called experts (planted) the total annual income from narco-trade by the Taliban is about $300 million—independent experts put the figure at $100 million. We challenged it and unveiled (see Ugly face of narco-terrorism, The Post, October 18, 2008) who are the real beneficiaries of $4-6 billion narco industry of Afghanistan. Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, in a Press conference in Islamabad, confirmed our report admitting that “drugs accounted for less of a share of Taliban coffers than was previously thought”. Holbrooke told reporters that “he would add a member of the Treasury Department to his staff to pursue the question of Taliban funding”.

One wonders if Holbrooke will ever look into his own backyard for this. There is credible evidence (see references below from articles, Life, Death & Taliban by Jean MacKenzie and Funding the Pakistani Taliban by Shahan Mufti in Global Post, August 07, 2009) to confirm that the Taliban are receiving huge money from the following sources:

1. “Major contractors, funded by US and Western countries for rehabilitation projects, pay the Taliban their “due share” and it is in the knowledge of Afghan government.
2. The manager of an Afghan firm with lucrative construction contracts with the U.S. government builds in a minimum of 20 percent for the Taliban in his cost estimates. The manager, according to Press reports, has told friends privately that he makes in the neighborhood of $1 million per month. Out of this, $200,000 is siphoned off for the insurgents. “If negotiations fall through, the project will come to harm — road workers may be attacked or killed, bridges may be blown up, engineers may be assassinated”.
3. One Afghan contractor, speaking privately, told friends of one project he was overseeing in the volatile south. “I was building a bridge,” he said, “one evening over drinks, the local Taliban commander called and said don’t build a bridge there, we’ll have to blow it up”. I asked him to let me finish the bridge, collect the money — then they could blow it up whenever they wanted. We agreed, and I completed my project.”
4. In the south, no contract can be implemented without the Taliban taking a cut. One contractor in the southern province of Helmand was negotiating with a local supplier for a large shipment of pipes. The pipes had to be brought in from Pakistan, so the supplier tacked on about 30 percent extra for the Taliban, to ensure that the pipes reached Lashkar Gah safely. Once the pipes were given over to the contractor, he had to negotiate with the Taliban again to get the pipes out to the project site. This was added to the transportation costs. “We assume that our people are paying off the Taliban,” said the foreign contractor in charge of the project.
5. In Farah province, local officials report that the Taliban are taking up to 40 percent of the money coming in for the National Solidarity Program, one of the country’s most successful community reconstruction projects, which has dispensed hundreds of millions of dollars throughout the country over the past six years.
6. Many Afghans see little wrong in the militants getting their fair share of foreign assistance. “This is international money,” said one young Kabul resident. “They are not taking it from the people, they are taking it from their enemy.” But in areas under Taliban control, the insurgents are extorting funds from the people as well.
7. In war-ravaged Helmand, where much of the province has been under Taliban control for the past two years, residents grumble about the tariffs. “It’s a disaster,” said a 50-year-old resident of Marja district. “We have to give them two kilos of poppy paste per jerib during the harvest; then we have to give them Ushr (an Islamic tax, amounting to one-tenth of the harvest) from our wheat. Then they insisted on Zakat (an Islamic tithe). Now they have come up with something else: 12,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately $150) per household. And they won’t take even one rupee less.”
8. A report by the Center for Public Integrity in Washington published in June 2009 claims that millions of dollars are also ending up in Pakistani Taliban coffers from its control of the trade in counterfeit cigarettes. The report estimates that profits from the illicit cigarette trade may account for as much as 20 percent of total funding for these terrorist groups. “After poppy, tobacco is probably the biggest revenue generator,” for the Taliban, said Ikram Sehgal, who runs one of the largest private security firms in the country.
9. The environmental protection agencies in Pakistan are blaming the “timber mafia” — illegal loggers — for funding the militancy. Last year the Taliban took over a dormant marble mine near the Afghan border, which then reportedly generated tens of thousands of dollars for it every month. It all adds up, of course. But all things are relative: if the Taliban are able to raise and spend say $1 billion per year — the outside limit of what anyone has been able to predict — that accounts for what the United States is now spending on 10 days of the war to defeat them”.

Holbrooke, during his four-day visit to Pakistan (August 15-18, 2009) monitored Afghan elections and used Pakistani “clout” to refrain the Taliban from disrupting the electioneering process substantially—Mr. Nawaz was specifically helpful in this endeavour for his intimate links with Jihadis. Holbrooke now acts like de facto ruler of Pakistan—suggesting all kinds of prescription for all our problems. The political leaders (sic) of this country feel proud to “meet him and follow his instruction”—this is a state of shamelessness.

Holbrooke knows who is funding the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is well aware of the involvement in drug trade of Ahmed Wali Karzai, the younger brother of Hamid Karzai—the puppet President—as his name appeared in the official International Narcotics Strategy Report 2008 issued by State Department. Who knows better than him that the policies of US and its coalition partners bring warlords into an alliance with terrorists—many criminal warlords like Rashid Dostum are back to support Karzai! It was not possible without the consent of US policymakers. The US has never been interested in rebuilding Afghanistan. Its plan of colonizing Afghanistan had three motives: to attain strategic supremacy over China by holding key points in South Asia; use of Afghan Card against Central Asian States if they refuse to toe US policy interests; and to control drug-for-arms trade.

Today’s election in Afghanistan will provide yet another opportunity to warlords to hijack ‘American-sponsored democracy’. In coming days, the entire region may witness a new wave of terrorism that becomes insurmountable—posing security challenges to Pakistan, India, China and Central Asian States. This is the core aim of Af-Pak policy. The rulers and masses of this region must understand this conspiracy. If they want to get rid of religious obscurantist, ruthless militants and warlords, they need to kick out foreign interventionists and the Taliban simultaneously—they are allies though pose to be adversaries.

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The writers, visiting professors at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), have written numerous articles on narco-terrorism and reality of ‘war against terrorism’.

2008: Year of wars and troubles

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

2008 has ended leaving behind many troubles and challenges—economic slowdowns, financial crises, rising unemployment, social distresses, regional armed conflicts and above all rapidly rising tide of cross-border terrorism.  At the fag end of the year, the world’s most worrisome melting pot remained Indo-Pakistan area as was the case in 2001—military buildups across the boarders and horrifying threats of war including nuclear strikes. From the Kargil misadventure of 1999 to Mumbai Carnage of 2008, both India and Pakistan witnessed many moments of “reconciliation” but each time certain hidden hands, using the ugly weapon of “cross-border terrorism”, damaged the peace efforts. These hidden hands—working simultaneously in both the countries—take dictations from their foreign masters, who arm, support and fund them. It is painful that leadership of both the states has miserably failed to counter these forces which always manage to dismantle normalization process between the two neighbouring but belligerent countries.

The root-cause of trouble in this region is “cross-border terrorism”, which has to be broadly defined to include state terrorism by India in Kashmir and use of force by occupant forces in Afghanistan. The issue of cross-border terrorism in this part of the world cannot be understood in isolation of the Great Game unleashed by imperialist and neo-imperialist forces in the historic perspective. The militant liberation movement in Kashmir and armed struggles by various groups in other states of India cannot be equated or compared with onslaughts of Jihadists in the wake of Talibanization of Afghanistan at the behest of forces that were keen to defeat the erstwhile communist USSR. Both India and Pakistan are victims of shortsightedness of policies they pursued in the aftermath of 9/11 by becoming allies of USA in the ‘war against terrorism’ (sic). They did not protest when the US started killing innocent civilians in Afghanistan in December 2001 by indiscriminate bombings under the pretext of annihilating Al-Qaeda operatives. In Bonn peace talks, the Taliban were kept outside, which was a grave mistake. Leadership of both the countries failed to take any lead in political settlement in the neighbouring Afghanistan. They did not ask UN mediators to marginalize Al-Qaeda by persuading moderate Taliban leaders to take part in the peace process and participate in future political setup. The ouster of Taliban from peace talks and brutal killing of innocent civilians in several villages in Tora Bora and near Gardez in December 2001 by US, sowed permanent seeds of hatred and revenge—this was the beginning of an unabated cross-border terrorism wave which has now turned into an insurmountable tsunami threatening the peace and tranquility of the entire region. 

Two nuclear states are now in a fix—captives in the hand of military hawks. The war-mongers on both sides are pushing things to an extent that paranoia of hate has begun to haunt the masses. Media is making things worse by over-publicizing, publishing and broadcasting irresponsible statements by imprudent politicians. The electronic media is vividly projecting war games and possible scenarios of mass destruction in the event of nuclear attacks. This shows deep penetration of war psychosis in both the countries—a lamentable attitude and nuclear mindset. There are some voices of sanity and peace-lovers across the borders, but they are weak and ineffective before the hawkish elements—agents of military establishments having control over state apparatus and popular media. Forces of terror and obscurantism are creation of those who exploited them for resisting Soviet occupation. They received generous American support, but in 1989, when Russian troops packed their bags and went home, American interest in Afghanistan waned. Once the Central Asian countries had become independent from the former Soviet Union in 1991, America concentrated its attention in the region on Soviet nuclear leftovers, the decommissioning of which it hailed as a great success. When the Taliban took over in 1996, the Americans did not seem overly concerned that the bearded rulers and their Al-Qaeda friends were supporting radical Islamic groups in Central Asia. Was CIA totally oblivious of Taliban-Al Qaeda nexus and their nefarious activities until 9/11? Why did the US government fail to counter their activities when they openly extended their actions into Africa and elsewhere? What lessons did the US learn when its embassies were bombed in Africa by Al Qaeda? What measures were taken to stop them when an Indian plane was hijacked in December 1999 from Katmandu and taken to Kandahar? How did the hijackers, agents of Osama Bin Laden manage to get freed, militants like Maulana Azhar and Ahmed Omar Sheikh from Indian jails? Why did US allow Musharraf for eight years to cheat everybody and keep on supporting the militants?   

The above questions and their answers will unveil the tragic happening of 9/11. George Bush and Dick Cheney had already planned, much before 9/11, invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. They supported Musharraf et al for implementation of their agenda. Now Barak Obama, even before occupying the Oval Office, is also talking of controlling Afghanistan through increased military presence.  What is the significance of Afghanistan in the new Great Game?  The answer is simple. The hidden agenda of US and its allies in Afghanistan and elsewhere is to promote drug trade, religious fundamentalism and mass acceptance of their policies of fascism for self-interests and economic benefits. India and Pakistan fail to realise that they are being sucked into a death trap by these forces. Certain forces in both the countries are waging continuous proxy war, funding and arming extremists within each other’s territory. This dangerous game is engineered and controlled by CIA that forced Hamid Karzai to give free hand to Indian agents on Pakistan’s western borders. It is an open secret that CIA operatives with the help of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have been funding the insurgency in Baluchistan. At the same time, these CIA agents are promoting a number of militant groups in Pakistan to help Maoists and other dissidents in India. The linkage behind troubles in both the countries is the same—US Central Intelligence Agency. Both the Indian and Pakistani governments are conveniently playing in the hands of their common enemy and ironically they are relying on US support.  For this occasion, Mir Taqi Mir, the great poet, very aptly said, Mir kai sada hain bemar huai jis kay sabab, usi attar kai londay se dawa latain hain (What a simple soul is Mir that he seeks prescription from the person who is cause of his illness). 

One wonders how easily our rulers are ignoring the obvious tentacles of the dirty game plan of the neo-colonial forces in this region. The main aim behind the bizarre scheme, prepared by neo-colonialists, is to push the armed forces of Pakistan to the wall using India as conduit, get the control of nuclear arsenals and use bogey of “Islamic terrorism” for the containment of China. George W. Bush Jr., now lame-duck President, before leaving the Oval, wants to ensure that the new man taking his place should have no option but to remain engaged in wars in various parts of the world. Ruthless bombing on the innocent civilians of Gaza on December 27, 2008 is evident of these nefarious intentions. One does hope that Indian and Pakistani leadership will understand this great conspiracy. It is high time Chinese, Indian and Pakistani leaders unite against the forces of neo-colonialism and foil their ‘Great Game’ plan. They must understand that “cross-border terrorism” is a ploy in the hands of US and its allies. It is the 21st century equivalent of the 19th century British gobbledygook.

American Late Neo-colonialism, as explained by Dr. Sachithanandam Sathananthan in his Great Game Continues, is using cross-border terrorism as political cover for intervening and, where necessary, invading resource-rich and strategic countries to overthrow nationalist leaders, install puppet regimes and savage the countries’ wealth. And of course the US is by far the most powerful terrorist force. This is the reality of “cross-border terrorism” and “war on terrorism”. The forces of obscurantism and imperialism appear to be real enemies, but in fact they are ‘friends-in-arms’ and their hidden agenda is to snatch away from the world, its peace and tranquility. The great challenge before the forces of peace is to get united for stemming the rising tide of terrorism, communalism, religious bigotry and obscurantism, which is designed, funded and controlled by neo-colonialist forces.

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The writers, historians, researchers and authors of numerous books, are visiting professors at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).     

 

Benazir Bhutto: Legacy of struggle

December 27, 2008 marked the first death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the great visionary leader, who resisted with great courage the agenda of neo-colonial forces—pushing Pakistan to a theocratic State incapable of progressing towards an egalitarian and democratic polity. In recognition of her great services, she was awarded posthumously the prestigious UN Human Rights Award on December 10, 2008. The UN Human Rights Award is given every five years. This year’s award is special as it coincides with 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

Professor Amin Mughal, a doyen of progressive humanistic thinking and great scholar, in his remarkable paper, After Benazir Bhutto: Some reflections, read at a meet organised by Campaign against Martial Law, Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, London on 15 January 2008, commented, “I confess, in the least uncharitable terms, that I was never fond of Benazir Bhutto. In fact, I was inimical to her politics. In death, however, she has redeemed herself. In the imagination of the masses she has acquired a mystical significance that is destined to be a never-ending source of inspiration in their struggles ahead. Most authentic martyrs in history were reluctant to die. All of them were, however, prepared to accept death. Benazir went further. Her detractors have accused her of being foolhardy. That is not true. She only embraced what she had in the last days of her life come to perceive to be her destiny. Hers was an act of courage steeled in deliberation and schooled in the imagination. It matters who killed her, but what matters more is that she knew she would be gunned down. Had she escaped death that day, the suicide bombers would have done her in sooner than later. Yet, she decided to take the risk. Again, it matters whether she died of the gun wound or was later levered down into death. But what matters more is that she was there, facing a possible killer. She did not flinch”.  This is perhaps the best tribute to martyr Benazir Bhutto we have read so far.

The act of great courage demonstrated by Shaheed (martyr) Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto praised by Amin Mughal and many others has changed the entire political scene of Pakistan for the worst. For resisting the agenda of forces of obscurantism—working on the dictates of neo-colonial masters—she lost her life. Her removal from the political scene paved the way for the United States to get rid of General Musharraf—a toady no more useful—and installation of elected elements more keen and willing to both toe and implement their agenda. A very few analysts and scholars have tried to view her assassination from this perspective. In her last book, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy & the West, she “tried to trace the roots, causes, and potential solutions to the crisis within the Muslim world and the crisis between the Muslim World and the West”. Benazir, in this remarkable work has unveiled the agenda of neo-colonialists and the obscurantist. She has quoted extensively from Al Qur’an to prove that Islam is a religion of peace, but it has been brutally abused by a handful of extremists through out the Muslim history to create chaos and disorder. She traced the factors behind the militant Islam and exposed the colonial and neo-colonial forces behind it. These views must have hit hard and annoyed the forces that want to keep the Muslim World in dark ages for their nefarious designs.  They used their proxy—Islamic militants—to get rid of her.   

In the wake of her brutal and ruthless assassination—still shrouded in mystery—there was great euphoria among Pakistani liberals over the presumed ‘return to democracy’. Dr. Sachithanandam Sathananthan, a Visiting Research Scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University School of International Studies, in his paper, The Great Game Continues, noted with concern that “they are yet to discover ‘Late Neo-colonialism’.  He argues that removal of Benazir and thereafter, easily maneuvered victory for Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election “brought to a high point the tortuous process of regime change in Pakistan. Anyone who has followed the ‘colour revolutions’ that installed pro-American rulers in Georgia (Rose Revolution, 2003), Ukraine (Orange Revolution, 2004) and Kyrgyzstan (Tulip Revolution, 2005) could surely not have missed the tell tale signs”.

The theory propounded by Dr. Sachithanandam gets credence in the wake of events taking place after the assassination of Benazir and culminating in the Mumbai carnage.   It is rightly highlighted by Dr. Sachithanandam that “the earliest foreboding surfaced in the backroom manoeuvres by United States (US) and British intelligence services to engineer panic about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets. It was a repeat of the duplicitous hysteria they generated over non-existent weapons of mass destruction that Iraq allegedly possessed. A carefully worded article, co-authored by former State Department officials Richard L. Armitage and Kara L. Bue, signalled the shift in US policy. After formally acknowledging then President Pervez Musharraf’s many achievements, the authors continued: ‘much remains to be accomplished, particularly in terms of democratization. Pakistan must…eliminate the home-grown jihadists…And…it must prove itself a reliable partner on technology transfer and nuclear non-proliferation.’ And the denouement: ‘We believe General Musharraf…deserves our attention and support, no matter how frustrated we become at the pace of political change and the failure to eliminate Taliban fighters on the Afghan border.’ Translation: Musharraf has to go”.

It was ‘Washington’s renewed interest’ in Zardari and Rehman Malik and not Benazir that forced Musharraf—once a close friend of Bush—to offer firm opposition to US Late Neo-colonialism to ravage Pakistan. According to Dr. Sachithanandam, “politically challenged Pakistani liberals — a motley crowd that includes members of human rights and civil liberties organisations, journalists, analysts, lawyers and assorted professionals — are utterly incapable of comprehending the geo-strategic context in which Musharraf maneuvered to defend Pakistan’s interest”. So they slandered him an ‘American puppet’, alleging he caved in to US pressure and withdrew support to the Afghan Taliban regime in the wake of 9/11 although in fact “he removed one excuse for the Bush Administration to ‘bomb Pakistan into stone age’, as a senior State Department official had threatened”.

In view of above, it is understandable why Benazir decided to join hands with Musharraf to resist US Late Neo-colonialism. American discomfort with Musharraf’s government was palpable by late 2003, after he dodged committing Pakistani troops to prop up the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq. When he offered to cooperate under the auspices of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), naïve Pakistani media and analysts lunged for his jugular, condemning him once again for succumbing to US demands. But in fact he nimbly sidestepped American demands: he calculated that diverse ideological stances of the 57 Muslim member-counties would not allow the OIC to jointly initiate such controversial action and therefore Pakistan’s participation could not arise, which proved correct.

Benazir was fully aware of the fact that Bush Administration had been becoming increasingly hostile to Musharraf’s determination to prioritise Pakistan’s interests when steering the ship of the state through the choppy waters of the unfolding New Great Game, in which the West — led by the US — has been manoeuvring to contain growing Russian and Chinese influences in Central and West Asia. She decided to work with Musharraf, precisely for resisting this agenda of Pakistan-hostile forces. She became the prime target of these forces and was hence eliminated. Since then events show and prove that under the “chosen” leadership, Pakistan would side with enemies of US and Britain in the New Great Game. Benazir became victim of this Great Game in which her own party stalwarts betrayed her.  Hers has been a legacy of continuous struggle. We need to continue her legacy of resisting the ongoing Great Game of US Late Neo-colonialism —controlling of South Asian region through the bogey of Islamic militants and Hindu extremism with ultimate aim of containing China and getting hold of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals.

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The writers, researchers, historians and authors of numerous books, are visiting professors at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Email: ikram@huzaimaikram.com

Ramifications of Mumbai carnage

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul haq

 

Three-day carnage in Mumbai—blatant acts of terrorism at various places from November 27-29, 2008—targeting common people and leading hotels jolted the entire India and world at large. This raised some important questions about the future of democracy, ‘war on terrorism’ (sic) and survival of modern day societies. Human societies secured freedom from political, economic and socio-religion shackles that have bound men for many centuries after a strenuous and protracted struggle during the last century. The US policy of aggression in the wake of 9/11 has created serious apprehensions of losing freedom by these societies by every passing day. Terrorism like fascism is a self-destructive ideology. It spreads like fire of jungle.  If humanity wants to fight terrorism, it will have to understand the factors behind this ghastly phenomenon. Use of brutal and ill-directed force will be self-defeating exercise in futility. Violence breeds violence as hatred breeds hatred. What happened in Mumbai exposes the shallowness of the approach of ‘big democracy’ becoming part of so-called ‘war on terrorism’—a tool in the hands of neo-colonialists to earn billions by selling arms, make sure the developing countries do not join hands against them and keep growing economies under their control. 

 

Fighting the agenda of neo-colonialist is the need of the hour. Uniting against neo-colonialism is the only way to counter terrorism. Use of force and denial of peoples’ legitimate rights on the contrary is bound to provoke more terrorist acts around the world. The violent incidents in India, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Spain, London, Ireland, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere are self-evident. The doctrine of right of pre-emptive strikes, which India is thinking on the dictates of neo-colonial forces, is only a short-term solution. In the long-term, the governments of the world will have to sit down and chalk out a comprehensive strategy to ensure that miscreants, funded by neo-colonialists, are dealt with a strong hand without disturbing the peace and tranquility of individual societies and the world as a whole. The most important question faced by humanity is whether we are afraid of freedom or want to preserve it for our future generations. All the terrorist attacks constitute a strike against freedom but at the same time are reflective of callous attitude of those who claim to be self-appointed guardians of free world, human rights, faith and freedom. In a unipolar world, after the debacle of communist oligarchy, the responsibility of western democracies has increased manifold to assure the common people of the world that absolute power in their hands does not mean high-handedness towards others.

 

There are certain forces having vested interest to push the mankind back towards the dark ages when inalienable fundamental rights were denied by the authoritarian rulers. There are debates inside the USA and elsewhere pinpointing the erosion of civil liberties on a massive scale in the name of defending the Frontiers of Freedom. Terrorism surfaced as a reaction towards growing “fascism” on the part of certain States—handling of Palestinians and Kashmiris are cases in point—. Thus it has to be understood in proper perspective. The analysis of character structure of a man is at the core of understanding the rising phenomena of fascism, fanaticism, fundamentalism and terrorism [which includes state terrorism]. Lack of rationalism on the part of the powerful to be fair towards the powerless has converted our world into a place full of misery, destruction and unhappiness. The frustration of the powerless gets its vent in ghastly acts of terrorism and destruction. If we want to change this situation drastically, a balance has to be struck between the powerful and the powerless. If a large segment of the world lives in a state of powerlessness, the powerful will always remain the target of hatred and attack. The powerful want to transform the world as a machine where all others act as a cog while he has the master control. The cogs have their own way to develop malfunctioning to deprive the master from its absolute control.

 

This authoritarian thinking on the part of the powerful “democracy” and mechanism adopted e.g. imposing economic blockades was certainly the most irrational action to counter mass movement for independence in the Kashmir valley. The oppressed and powerless have their peculiar ways of reacting, which by no means can be expected to be according to the norms of internationally agreed principles. Their destructive tendencies (suicide bombings and terrorist attacks) are symptomatic of a sick world order. Our world is fast emerging as an authoritarian global State reminiscent of fascist systems of the last century practices in Germany and Italy where the dominant role of authority in social and political structure rests with the dictators. The revival of dictatorial State orders in the name of security needs is a step towards fascist systems.

 

The likely threat of military attack by India on Pakistan as post-Mumbai reaction using the pretext of State-patronage of extremists (sic) will create fear and uncertainty in the region and panic amongst masses. The main aim behind the bizarre scheme, prepared by neo-colonialists, is to push the armed forces of Pakistan to the wall using India as conduit, get the control of nuclear arsenals and use bogey of “Islamic terrorism” for the containment of China. George W. Bush Jr., now lame-duck President, before leaving the Oval, wants to ensure that the new man taking his place should have no option but to remain engaged in wars in various parts of the world. One hopes that Indian and Pakistani leadership will understand this great conspiracy. It is the time Chinese, Indian and Pakistani leaders unite against the forces of neo-colonialism and foil their ‘Great Game’ plan.

 

Dr. Sachithanandam Sathananthan in his ‘Great Game continues’ has remarkably summed up that “The ‘war on terror’ and ‘promoting democracy’ are the 21st century equivalents of the 19th century British gobbledygook. American Late Neo-colonialism purveys them as moral justification and uses as political cover for intervening and, where necessary, invading resource-rich and strategic countries to overthrow nationalist leaders, install puppet regimes and savage the countries’ wealth. And of course the US is by far the most powerful terrorist force”.   This is the reality of ‘war on terrorism’. The forces of obscurantism and imperialism appear to be enemies, but in fact they are ‘friends-in-arms’ and their hidden agenda is to snatch away from the world, its peace and tranquility. Thus Bush camp is no different from that of Bin Laden or Taliban or RSS-BJP-VHP- Bajrang Dal.

Today the humanity at large is facing the most difficult time at this critical juncture of history. The brinkmanship on the part of USA and its allies can lead the world to yet another horrible World War. The sane people in India and Pakistan should resist all the extremist forces that are involved in destabilizing the entire region at the command of their foreign masters. Both the governments should expose these elements and pray tributes to Karkare and other brave ATS men who had shown the courage to arrest Praggya Singh, Raj Kumar Purohit, the ugly faces behind terrorism and communal killings.

 

Let us hope that the forces of peace and sanity get united to stem the rising tide of terrorism, communalism and obscurantism, which is designed, funded and controlled by neo-colonialist forces pointed out by Dr. Sachithanandam Sathananthan, a Visiting Research Scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University School of International Studies. These forces are the worst enemy of humanity. They are bent upon to create fasad [Quranic term for chaos, disorder and turmoil] on this beautiful planet. The holy Quran clearly warns humanity about these so-called “reformers” who in the name of God and reformism create the worst kind of disorder [fasad] on the earth [Al-Quran 2-11]. The meaning of this ayat is:

 

“When they are asked not to spread fasad [disorder] in society, they retort audaciously:

 

“We do not spread fasad, rather we are the Musleheen [reformers]”.

 

Beware! They are the Mufsideen [Destructionists, those who spread disorder and chaos]”.

 

It is high time that masses all over the globe understand and reject the agenda of war-mongers and their hired defenders of faith (sic). They are the worst enemy of humanity. The hidden agenda of neo-colonialists can only be frustrated if people of the world unite against the Mufsideen, who in the name of religion, want to create disorder but their real aim is subjugate and control the world for economic exploitation.

 

The writers, tax advisers, are visiting professors at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Reconceptualizing Jihad

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

 

 

Dr. Ayesha Jalal, eminent historian, in Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia has brilliantly traced the root and dimensions of jihad as anticolonial ideology that helped the subjugated masses under British raj to wage a valiant struggle for independence. The need stressed by great Muslims thinkers, Shah Waliullah, Obaidullah Sindhi and Muhammad Iqbal, to wage continuous war (jihad) against imperialism as everybody’s human duty, notwithstanding religious affiliations, is valid for all times and nations. These great thinkers unequivocally emphasized and repeatedly underscored that jihad (literally means continuous struggle) has multi-faceted dimensions with the main underlying objective of establishing a human society free of every kind of exploitation and oppression, based on the principles of justice and equality, and ensuring peace and tranquility for all.  Such a society cannot be established by ignoring the ethical dimensions of jihad that requires an individual to strive (inner struggle) for achieving the status of an authentic being—a process turning a man into human.

 

Humanisation of world societies based on broader ethical connotations of jihad can guarantee international peace and prosperity. On the contrary, Western imperialism (capitalism at its roots) is the biggest hindrance in the way of this process. The recent debacle of financial institutions of USA and Europe, considered as pillars of capitalism, and rescue plans (sic) underway has once again exposed the emptiness of models based on exploitation, greed and self-interest. In the present-day scenario, jihad, as a tool to fight all kinds of oppressions, inequalities, injustices at individual and collective level, holds key to forging human unity an international level. Knowing the consequence of such a unity, the forces exploiting world resources at the cost of poor nations, are purposefully portraying jihad as hostile ideology (synonymous with terrorism). This projection of jihad in Western media is part of a great conspiracy. In this game plan, the despotic Muslim rulers and clergy are their friends-in-arm. Jihad as aggression is a misnomer, for which the blame is to be shared equally by the fanatic, self-acclaimed warriors of faith and ardently-biased-anti-Islam intellectuals (sic).

 

The self-proclaimed defenders of faith have never bothered to study and understand Quranic concept of jihad. Unfortunately, malpractices committed by abusing this concept for temporal gains by Muslim Kings and clergy were accepted as scared by many. Their opponents took full advantage of this ignorance and started calling jihad as ideology of aggression and hate. Various wars waged in the name of religions, the recent example is Bush’s claim of ‘divine guidance’ for aggression in Iraq, were nothing but efforts to secure hegemony and seek temporal gains. These objectives are alien to Quranic concept of jihad. The difference between jihad (all-pervasive struggle at all levels to establish a just human society as ordained by Allah) and qital (a war for self-defence against oppression) is so unambiguous in Quran that it needs no elaboration at all. There is nothing in Quran that allows killing of any human being in the name of Allah, as misunderstood by many Muslims and non-Muslims alike. In Quran, the sanctity of human life is stressed to the extent that killing of one human being is considered as murder of entire humanity and saving one individual life is tantamount to serving the humanity at large. In the presence of this injunction, how can any Muslim resort to taking life of another human being? How can suicidal bombing be justified? Even when war is declared by an oppressor, the right to self-defence cannot be tainted with any vendetta and is made conditional that no harm is caused to women, children or any non-combatant. Waging of jihad, using the term in its true sense, is not only against external aggression, but also to counter internal forces of exploitation, oppression and tyranny in any society. In the case of former, armed struggle is inevitable (for which deterrence and defence is ordained) but for the latter there is no sanction to use any coercive measures, not to talk of violence and arms, as there is no jabar (forceful submission) in din (Islam).

 

During the colonial era in the subcontinent, armed struggle waged by freedom fighters (without any religious divisions) earned them praise and kudos from the great thinkers of their times. These thinkers through their writings also waged jihad bi qalam (struggle through pen), considered as the great jihad (see Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s treatise, jihad-al-akbar). This great literature of resistance is now common heritage of people of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In the post-independent period, this literature remained a source of resilience and self-esteem to resist neo-colonialism. Under the banner of Non-Aligned Movement, the legacy of resistance continued with the aim not to succumb to the onslaught of neocolonial imperialism. Unfortunately, in the post 9/11 era, the imperialist forces cleverly managed to counter genuine resistance movements against their occupation and hegemonic designs under the pretext of “war on terrorism”. This is, no doubt, the ugliest strategy of neo-colonialists, in which religious fanatics are their main soldiers, who are responsible for giving jihad (a purely humanistic and ethical concept) a contemptuous name.

 

The armed struggles against occupant forces in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir and elsewhere, are in their substance movements against subjugation. But these are successfully labelled as militancy or terrorism by the influential media that shape the international opinion at the behest of US and its blind allies.  Under these circumstances, one needs to reconceptualise jihad as “struggle against subjugation” and re-devise methods to counter it through peaceful means rather than arm conflicts. Entering into armed conflicts is fulfillment of the agenda of the neo-colonialists, who want to engage the nations in brutal and bloody wars for their own nefarious designs.

 

In Pakistani context, we are faced with multi-faceted subjugation. Our subjugation is largely, a self-inflicted phenomenon. The leadership—military and civilian alike—has surrendered completely to foreign masters. Though moral sinking of the leadership is becoming deeper and deeper every day, yet people of Pakistan have not yet surrendered and are showing resilience even in the extreme hardship times when basic necessities like wheat flour has been rendered a rare commodity for them. The economic subjugation, dictates of IMF and other donors, wrongdoings of the people at the helm of affairs, unprecedented luxuries enjoyed by the rulers at taxpayers’ expense—all cumulatively—have culminated in a situation where a nuclear-State has become totally toothless.

 

Political and economic subjugation is now complete with control over federal government by Pakistan People’s Party, led by President Asif Ali Zardari. His recent appeals to UK and USA not to violate territorial boundaries of Pakistan are nothing but utter submission before those who are the main cause of present-day crisis in our tribal areas and Swat. The forces of obscurantism, so-called Jihadis creating fitna (social disorder and sedition), are being used by these imperialist forces to make us subservient for ever, keeping us in dark ages. The need of the hour is to mobilize people against imperialists and their cronies—the militants who are exploiting religion for self-interest.   

 

In these circumstances, how can the concept of jihad be recoceptualised? Obviously, for resisting subjugation, we need to wage jihad against attacks of foreign forces in our tribal areas, rising wave of militancy, horrifying debt burden, worsening balance of payment position, rising inflationary expectations, undesirable increase in wasteful expenditure of over Rs.500 billion, which include heavy cost of perquisites of rulers, growing unemployment, social unrest, widening trade and fiscal deficits, rising cost of doing business, burden of taxes, increases in utility bills and economic stagnation—just to mention a few.

 

The economy is fast plummeting and worse is still to come if curative measures are not taken on war footing. People’s purchasing power is fast diminishing, banks have less liquidity, lending rates are soaring and activities at stock markets are nose-diving. The investors are shy and afraid, mainly due to perpetuation of political instability and economic uncertainty. Life for the common man on the streets is becoming a misery leading to social restlessness. Although we claim to be an agricultural economy yet a vast majority of the people do not have enough to eat. It is tragic that we even import agricultural products and have miserably failed to develop any worthwhile agro-based industry in the last 61 years. What a decline from the times when this region (i.e. United Punjab before partition) had the undisputed position of being the granary of the entire Subcontinent.

 

Look at the mess our successive governments, military and civilian alike, created on the debt front. The figure of foreign debt is a monstrous $48 billion after devaluation of our rupee in the last few months and that of domestic debt is over Rs.3.5 trillion now.  Both external and internal debts are increasing at a frightening rate. The way we are managing our resources (not exploiting them or wasting mercilessly those already available) is criminal and is leading us to self-annihilation. Fiscal deficit of Rs. 777.2 billion during fiscal year 2007-08 testifies to bankruptcy of our political leadership, who keeps on relying on incompetent and corrupt bureaucracy. The policy of appeasement towards tax evaders, money launderers and plunderers of national wealth, many of them beneficiaries of National Reconciliation Ordinance (sic), is showing its impact in all spheres: political culture of changing loyalties, as seen in the presidential election, is absolutely loathsome, nation is in high despair and all sectors of economy are showing horrible indicators. In this bleak scenario, our rulers have no definitive plans; begging all around, they are still living on ad-hocism.  

 

The most disturbing and painful reality is the unabated and shameless indulgence of rulers and bureaucrats in wasteful expenditures. Look at their life style (numerous iftar dinner parties were thrown by rulers from national exchequer in September alone) when the vast majority of the people is starving. We cannot come out of subjugation unless we first become an economically self-reliant nation, which is the most vital jihad of today. For this, our rulers will have to take the first step by learning to live at a modest level (following the example of Iranian President), establish just economic system, provide justice to all, and then mobilize the masses for common struggle to take a great economic leap forward as done by the Chinese in recent times.  

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The writers, researchers, historians, tax advisers and authors of many books, are visiting Professors at the Lahore University of Management Science

From intolerance to lawlessness: Politics of hate and revenge

Huzaima Bukhari and Dr. Ikramul Haq

April 9, 2008 was another day of mayhem in Karachi: violent clashes, burring of offices with persons trapped inside, loss of life and property, all testifying that Pakistan is a state in perpetual crisis. For the last many years, we are witnessing all kinds of conflicts—economic, socio-political, centre-provinces disagreements, sectarian, tribal, ethnic and religious fights, suicidal attacks, thrashing of political opponents and what not. These are the wages of “learned helplessness” and tolerating one-man’s dictatorial rule for eight long years. Although Musharraf poses himself as saviour of nation, man with vision and promoter of enlightenment and moderation, but it is undeniable fact that he created a new class of cronies and sycophants that used brutal state power to gag every dissident voice—how lawyers, politicians, political workers, members of civil society, media men and even judges of superior courts were manhandled, detained and tortured is well-documented in our history now.

 

Violence breeds violence: chain reaction of suicidal attacks after ruthless operation of self-created drama at Lal Masjid and Jamiae Huffza; assassination attempts on key political figures in retaliation to backing indiscriminate bombing of tribal areas; bashing of Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Sher Afgan Niazi (two right-hand men of Musharraf) who even after manhandling of Chief Justice of Pakistan (he was dragged and pulled by hair) showed great jubilation. These incidents, whosoever is the victim, are highly condemnable. All the sections of society, however, should not pay just lip-service to non-violence and tolerance by just indulging in repeated condemnation and heartfelt sadness over these ugly incidents. All of us will have to strive hard together to end the politics of hate and vengeance. Blame game and mudslinging must end now. We need to find reasons behind this growing spate of violence and must uproot the root cause, rather than curing the symptoms—a fruitless effort.

 

The man behind the politics of intolerance and hate, symbol of discord rather than harmony as president of State, is responsible for present state of affairs. How one can forget the man, who after brutal killing of dozens of people on his order on May 12, 2007 in Karachi, in the night in Islamabad, with all the cronies around, had guts to raise hands and announce “….have you seen our power”. He is still showing that “power” by sticking to illegally and unlawfully occupied position, busy hatching conspiracies to prove that people of Pakistan and political leadership are incapable of managing affairs of State and democracy is not suitable for Pakistan. This is what he told the West during his last visit before the 2008 elections. He dubbed his own people “immature” and “ignorant” [they proved him wrong by giving clear mandate on February 18, 2008] and now he is trying his level best to prove that their elected leaders are “incapable” of running government, maintain law and order, what to talk of establishing democracy.     

 

The tragedy of Pakistan is non-resisted, unchecked and unfettered perpetuation of unholy alliance between the establishment (both civil and military) and political elite. This anti-people alliance deprives the people of their fundamental rights and political empowerment. It dispossesses them of great wealth of natural resources and equitable and just division of economic benefits. It is now well-established that unless this unholy alliance is destroyed, there is no hope of establishment of true democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, without these ugly incidents will keep on happening. The way Musharraf and his cronies maltreated the judges (even after new prime minister took charge of office, house of one judge ransacked) shows how far a US-backed dictator can go to humiliate his own people and make mockery of everything. If Musharraf survives even after the wake of people’s verdict of February 18, 2008, with the help of US and support of certain political elements [beneficiaries of NRO?], history will never forgive the Pakistani politicians and intelligentsia for not mobilising the common people to force him to step down like the masses did in Georgia. From the events of recent weeks, it is crystal clear that Musharraf is again skillfully pitting different sections of society against each others to regain his lost empire. He and his mentors (Bush et al) are supporting him and forcing the winners of 2008 elections to accept him.

 

The mentors of Musharraf must realise that their criminal culpability of supporting a dictator in the name of so-called ‘war on terrorism’ (sic) has started showing its worst side in Pakistan—from institutional crises to breakdown of civic society, from intolerance to lawlessness. Musharraf has been and is still using self-styled, self-motivated guardians of morality (sic) and political Jialas (enthusiasts) to take law in their hands—they are infiltrated and planted by hidden hands in the ranks and files of political parties and other organisations. The incidents of Lal Masjid and Jamiae Huffza and attacks on Arbab Rahim and Sher Afgan testify to this without any doubt. In these circumstances, the most important issue is how to prepare masses to come out of “learned helplessness” and “self-destructive apathy”.

 

“Learned helplessness”, as demonstrated by empirical data in 1965 by psychologist Martin Seligman, arises from apathy. Once a person knows he is helpless, he stops making any effort to change his circumstances and develops apathy as a way of life. Now people are taking law in their own hands as judges are not allowed to work. The apex court judges themselves are seeking justice! The masses of this country have become apathetic after continuously witnessing the hopeless conduct of their political leaders, who failed to do anything for them during their rules [twice the leading parties PPP and PML(N) got a chance to serve the people but they opted to make money and/or please the mighty generals]. Such apathy arising from “learned helplessness” is the reason why the masses were not ready to come on streets against Musharraf when he was destroying every institution and making the poor man’s economic life miserable. In contrast Zulfikar Ali Bhutto managed to bring masses on street when he started a movement against the military power. Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman attracted masses while countering military atrocities in the then East Pakistan. In those days, political apathy was non-existent as people had faith in their leaders and were ready to fight for their rights and just causes. Now they know that after winning elections, their leaders are more interested in settling ministerial positions and to find ways to be close to the power that matters in the land.

 

The present scenario will not change unless our political leadership starts regaining the support of masses in real sense (voting process is a different dimension) rather than just struggling for worthless ministerial and/or parliamentary positions. They must find ways to prepare the masses to overcome the syndrome of “learned helplessness”.  The existing control of Establishment over State apparatus can only be destroyed and countered through a mass power.

 

The colonial policy of divide and rule employed by Establishment is creating rift between political parties, encouraging battles within civil society and promoting extremism, through funding certain elements, to counter the masses so that instead of uniting for removal of Musharraf, they should rather beg for support of the mighty for protection of life and property. This is their right and obligation of the State, but it is now considered a favour and privilege in Pakistan!. These tactics are not new; every ruling elite indulges in these kinds of policies and tactics to protect its vested interest (of course Zadari and Gillani, Nawaz and Shahbaz et al are not ready to surrender their assets to public) and make people fool in the name of self-defined “national interests”. At this critical juncture of history, it is the people of Pakistan who will have to decide their fate. If they once again fail to force Musharraf to step down and force their elected members to work for public welfare rather than self-aggrandizement, no one will be able to avert a long and dark period of subjugation that renders a nation neither amongst the dead nor alive—the worst possible punishment history can inflict on apathetic people.

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The writers (ikram@huzaimaikram.com), tax advisers, legal historians and authors, are visiting Professors of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Of dictators and their cronies

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

 

In 1992, The Herald, Karachi, decided to interview the great intellectual of our time, Edward W. Said. The interviewer posed a question to him, “Why we must continue to turn to the Zias of the world….” In 2008, we are still faced with the challenge of undoing the legacy of the Zias of the world, which can now be called “Musharrafs of the world”. In fact the change in nomenclature has no relevance, as the substance remains the same even after 16 years.  Professor Said pointed out in his reply that in a world where might is right, the powerful in the global politics ensure the perpetuation of their control through handpicked cronies and lackeys in different countries.

 

This explains why it is so difficulty to undo the legacy of dictators in countries like Pakistan, even after the clear mandate of people, through elections. Those possessing power always strive to dispossess the masses of their rights through cronies. Why do the powerful create and support cronies? The answer is simple. They cannot move ahead without their support and wrongdoings. They are bound to protect their cronies in order to protect themselves. This is exactly what happened on March 9, 2007—Black Day in Pakistan’s judicial history—when the Authority who rules the land summoned the Chief Justice of Pakistan and while in military uniform asked him to resign or face a reference. The General and his cronies aspired to continue ruling unchallenged, but the very Chief Justice of Pakistan who amongst other judges of the apex court, had given the General a three-years chance, became a major hurdle in the way. This was sufficient time to consolidate rule of law and pave the way for transfer of power to civilians. However, the cronies surrounding the General soon convinced him that he should stick to both the positions, President of Pakistan as well as Chief of Army Staff.

 

The mighty in their lust for money and power want to rule the world despotically for which they have to create cronies to fulfill their agenda; the best examples being those of Iraq and Afghanistan where puppet governments are acting against their own peoples. The Bush administration wants its “partners” [in fact cronies] in ‘War against Terrorism’ [it is in fact “war for terrorism”] to do more and more by bombing indiscriminately, taking heavy toll of innocent human lives. Those who chose to become friends of the USA against its proxy war in Afghanistan after the aims and objectives achieved by the master, found themselves in the line of fire. These were the wages of unconditional submission before the despots. It is an historical determinism that power and lust for money can bring a crony in direct conflict with the master, who can tolerate everything but threat to his own authority [killing of General Zia is a classical case study]. So if one remains a crony, survival is possible, but the moment that crony aspires to pose some threat to the master, his days are numbered. There are great lessons for all cronies to learn from history, but they seldom do so for the simple reason that lust for money and power is very hard to overcome.

 

Historians are bewildered as day-by-day Pakistani society is wrangling with unnecessary political and legal shenanigans and has failed to undo the legacy of the Zia reincarnated in the more brutal form of Musharraf. As a president-elect-in-uniform, he wants to stick to power for another 5 years, even after a clear verdict against him on February 18, 2008.  The newly-elected finance minister candidly tells people that price hike of petroleum and gas products is in the best “national interest”, as his predecessor used to say. Amongst other prevailing ills in the society, religious scholars (sic) insist on misguiding the people claiming they have magic wand for curing everything, parliamentarians are keen in getting their benefits enhanced rather than serving the masses and most undesirable customs of karo kari (honour killing), vani and swara (cruel customs where women are given in marriage as a form of compensation) are continuing unabated. Therefore, quest for a true constitutional democracy and rule of law appear a far-fetched idea.

 

Since the bizarre episode of March 9, 2007, there lurks a continuous struggle between the different organs of State to display their muscles and supremacy. Control of State with the barrel of gun cannot be matched by judicial activism.  People’s power alone can counter any extra-constitutional move. Political leadership with the backing of masses can avert action like that taken on November 3, 2007. Courts are meant to interpret law, whereas enforcing the will of people and countering any despotic rule is always a political question that cannot be solved by the courts. Since our leadership has failed to establish rule of law, the entire society is now in the line of fire. All kinds of conflicts are surfacing for want of rule of law and accountability of those who transgress their limits. The main cause of our present day pathetic socio-political and economic situation is existence of inefficient, corrupt, repressive and criminal institutions, which do not give a damn for the welfare of the common people. Successive governments’ policies of self-aggrandizement have reduced Pakistan to a state-in-perpetual-conflict. The worsening economic situation with poor law and order testify to the fact that progress and tranquility cannot be achieved by merely toeing the policies of aggressors and oppressors.

 

The quote from Aristotle’s The Politics, “when laws do not rule, there is no constitution” fits most aptly to Pakistan’s political evolution and constitutional history. Our military and civilian rulers have always acted in identical manner in violating all established norms of rule of law and the result as predicted by Aristotle is before us. Every ruler has mutilated (a very mild term to describe what really happens with the supreme law of the land) the Constitution to suit his/her needs and to perpetuate dictatorial regime under one pretext or the other. The role of judiciary in endorsing these unconstitutional rules remains the most lamentable chapter of our history.

 

The issue of ousting of judges cannot be examined in isolation. It shows that even after 61 years of existence, we have miserably failed to abide by democratic norms that preclude abuse of arbitrary powers . The conduct of each government since 1948 has been to waste or plunder public money, forcing the people into debt enslavement and mercilessly flouting all rules and laws. Therefore, if we failed to have true democracy or a responsible Government, it is not surprising at all! The three Constitutions we framed were merely pieces of paper having no sanctity; even the framers of these documents were their worst offenders. The constitution of a country is a living and vibrant document that determines the future direction of the nation, provided there is respect for the document and for rule of law. In a country where a single person is authorised (by self-acclaimed decree or through an authority itself lacking competence under the law) to amend the supreme law of the land, there can neither be democracy nor constitution. Musharraf, In the Line of Fire, portrayed himself a great saviour of the nation, whereas the reality is that under his despotic rule, with the support and connivance of USA and its allies, the poor and helpless people of this country have been deprived of their fundamental rights of access to free health, educational facilities and dispensation of justice. How long will this legacy continue? As Professor Said opined, as long as cronies rule the world, but it can end if people decide to become moral agents and not servants of power.

The understanding of the concept of peoples’ rule of Musharraf is not different from that of the late Gen. Ziaul Haq, who destroyed all public institutions during his 11-year dictatorial rule in the name of his version of democracy and Islam. Every dictator desires to perpetuate his unlawful rule advocating that he is the saviour of the nation, and ultimately goes on to destroy the national cohesion itself. It is extremely unfortunate that due to perpetuation of legacy of Zia, the cronies (including some elected members) are following the agenda of USA and its allies, which is detrimental to the interests of Pakistan and ultimately for the entire Muslim World. Denying the establishment of a true democratic structure and independence of judiciary tantamount strengthening the hands of enemies of State. The so-called advocates of “changing the system” should reconsider their hidden (sic!) ties with the “power” if they want to survive as representatives of people or otherwise they will be adjudged by history in the same category as were those who joined the King’s party under the banner of PML(Q).

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The writers, legal historians, tax advisers, are Visiting Professors at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). They can be reached through their website: www.huzaimaikram.com