Articles of the year 2013

With the coming elections a new hope is blossoming throughout Pakistan. The new entrants queuing up for tickets are increasingly aggressive in their behaviour towards the incumbents, in some cases blows have been exchanged, and been broadcast by the ever present TV hounds. It does make for good entertainment certainly better than the Indian soaps currently on offer.

The most interesting part is the action being taken by the ECP (election commission of Pakistan) in sentencing an ex MNA to three years for submitting a fake degree. This single step has been welcomed by all, for it shows that the ECP is taking itself seriously. It is now to be seen whether the ECP can continue in this vein, or will the bar be lowered to allow the heavier weights to slip through. I have always maintained that the only problem in Pakistan is the non-observance of the law. In fact everyone considers themselves to be above the law. This results in a completely lawless society, as at every step the law is ignored. Whether Banking, or Taxation, all laws are to be ignored, or avoided, creating a tax free prosecution free haven.

When Mahathir the then Prime Minister of Malaysia was asked by a Pakistani Minister the secret of Malaysia's success, he stated " Law- the obedience of the Law “Just that.
We in Pakistan have removed all respect for the law, and obeying the law is out of the question. This is the reason that Imran is so vital to Pakistan for he will not flout the law, and will enforce all others to obey the law. This quality alone will save Pakistan, and is something without which no country can ever flourish. It is left to be seen if the interim Government is strong enough to prevent any lawbreakers under their watch, and can they prosecute the lawmakers for producing fake degrees, or non-payment of Electricity dues? This is the opportunity to put Pakistan back on the rails.

This country has tremendous potential; our wheat production is 25 million tons this year, which means we are self sufficient in food with a surplus that could be exported. The psychological bonus for a country such as ours to be surplus in food puts Pakistan in a different light. It is our leadership that is flawed, and the corruption is encouraged by the leadership to maintain its control on the taps of corruption, so that the state can be milked at will. The leadership must be made aware that the public knows that it is the politicians that are the root cause of the corruption, and the beneficiaries thereof.

The taxation laws are much easier to enforce. The entire Nation would be supportive of the Income Tax department against any person that is punished for taxation violations. It is human nature, to envy those more blessed. The people would certainly welcome any such actions.
Qayum Jatoi, a Minister of the PPP government, famously said live on TV, "Corruption is my right, and then repeated it in Urdu." To ensure that his message carried, and was not a slip of the tongue. This remark alone should debar him from any political position ever.
With the awareness brought about by TV, the people are excited that their vote does matter, and they are determined to exercise it judiciously. They will also not tolerate any attempt at bogus voting. I am worried that the exhortation to their voters may lead, to a huge disappointment to the losers and their followers, if the result is not be acceptable to the people. With the high stakes in play, the losers may not accept the result. This will result in anarchy, with no winner.

With a weak Army leader, and Imran already refusing to take oath from Zardari, the danger zone has been entered. Gen Kayani has already shown his leanings in the past five Years, and is tagged as a Zardari loyalist. The public does not accept the explanation that Kayani could not remove a legally elected President. After all Gen Kakar removed an elected Prime Minister(with a two thirds majority) and a President without taking over. This validity was endorsed by the US and UK governments, leaving us at the mercy of the most corrupt Government in the world. Was Kayani asleep? Did he not realize that the damage to Pakistan from the Zardari governance could be ten times greater than an all out war with India?

The Army is responsible to protect us from the enemy whether outside Pakistan or inside, or even in the Presidency itself. Surely the alarm bells must have been ringing in the GHQ by the free fall in the economy? I cannot believe that GHQ is completely insulated from Pakistan, for the economy effects everyone whether inside the GHQ bubble or in Pakistan.