A federation of dunces

[Solomon2]

A federation of dunces

By Farrukh Khan Pitafi
Published: March 20, 2012

The writer hosts a show called “Capital Circuit” for News One

From Rohrabacher to the (great?) firewall of Pakistan, we have endured a lot of palaver, a lot of kerfuffle about Pakistan’s hopeless future. A country full of challenges and yet, our deep state and society remain fixated with control freaks like Maya Khan and those sitting in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Pemra. Something is eerily wrong with our mindset and we know it.

It was thanks, first to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s capitulation to the religious right, and then Ziaul Haq and his successors’ sustained campaigns of religious chicanery that have landed us in this thick soup. Jonathan Swift once said that when a true genius appears in this world, dunces form a confederacy against him. Unfortunately, the dunces in this country have formed a federation, not against any genius, but against common sense.

Common sense dictates that you do not light a match in an ammunition depot. We did just that by supporting an insurgency in Afghanistan in the name of jihad, while being fully cognisant of the fact that our country is packed with the seeds of radicalism. Today, despite repeated suicide attacks carried out in the name of faith, our political class is united in further indulging the monster that has become our religious right. Even though lasting peace still eludes us, the PML-N, the PTI, why even the PPP, all remain in favour of engaging in dialogue with the terrorists.

While we are too happy to talk to the terrorists, we develop speech impediment when it comes to talking to the Baloch dissidents. It seems that Pakistan has a roadmap for Afghanistan. I wish it had one for Balochistan too. We are experts on other countries and yet cannot master our own domain.

Our politicians seldom compute the consequences of their actions and choices. Today, the opposition is so united in the aim of ridding us of those abominable rulers that they will fraternise with any devil to achieve this goal.

While this tug of war continues, the terrorists plan to pulverise the very moorings of our nation state and transform it into a global jihadist movement. Our brothers in Balochistan inch away from the federation.

It is commonplace to blame the government for all the economic and social chaos. But have you thought that it could just as well be the state’s meltdown, as is evident from the malfunctioning of jet engines and railway locomotives to a police clueless about Osama’s presence in the country? A faulty industry and an illiterate human resource have to be someone’s concern. Where are the shadow cabinets, where are the party programmes to put an end to all this misery?

Perhaps, Brahamdagh Bugti is right. Perhaps, we are slaves of others and our own baser instincts. Balochistan is not the only occupied territory, the whole of Pakistan is occupied. Occupied by an inept, ethically corrupt political elite. This country could be freed of such oppression but unfortunately the liberals and the moderates who represent the masses are too busy saving their own small share of the spoils.

Why talk about an independent Balochistan or Sindh when we can have an independent Pakistan one day? Divided, this country, will at best, become another Afghanistan. United, we can build a great nation. But will anyone listen? Maybe not, because in the federation of dunces, madness is the only method that usually prevails.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2012.

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sidjeen
9 hours ago
Reply
yesterday i was watching a song of Rahat Fateh Ali on youtube in the evening when i heard a loud explosion nearby (later found out that a police mobile was targeted in which a constable lost his life and a few people got injured) i immediately contacted my family members on cell phone and after finding out that they were safe i got back to listening to the song. later i was shocked to think about my behavior but sadly that’s how life in pakistan is these days.

 

[Developereo]

Imran Khan addresses all these issues. As for "talking to terrorists", even the US is talking. Pakistan's strategy should be the same as the US: reform all those you can, kill only those you must.

 

[VCheng]

Imran Khan addresses all these issues. .................

Imran Khan will be able to really "address" these issues only if he comes to power. Anything before then is only a claim:

Complete article at: Banyan: Pakistan

Some excerpts:

...............

The former captain of Pakistan’s national team is untroubled by self-doubt. Critics dub him messianic—as do devotees. He refers to his giant political rallies in Lahore and Karachi late last year as “electric”, “inspiring” and “phenomenal”. He brushes aside suggestions that crowds were bused in, or that he benefited from help from Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Instead, ordinary folk came and donated funds to his party, something unheard of in Pakistan. Karachi saw such “fervour”, even, that “we ended up making a profit.”

He is right to be excited. For 16 years, though well liked personally, Mr Khan attracted support chiefly from an insignificant bunch of educated youngsters. Recently he has had a string of successes: big rallies, defections from other parties by leading politicians, and encouraging polls. His party’s rise coincides with a slump for the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, which pollsters now say barely commands 10% support, and the collapse of a rival in Punjab, the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam). To Mr Khan, the reasons are obvious. Voters despise “criminal” politicians who pay no taxes and pursue detested policies. And since all other parties hold office somewhere, nationally or at provincial level, “We are the only opposition.” He believes the fervour will translate into votes that send those crooked leaders packing.

It all looks too rosy, however. Though polls put support for Mr Khan’s PTI at just below 20% nationally, double its tally a year ago, that may be hard to sustain. In any case, it is hardly enough to sweep to victory. To rule, he would need coalition partners, among them hardline Islamist conservatives who share his anti-Americanism and agree with him that the way Osama bin Laden was killed last year was Pakistan’s “greatest humiliation”. Doubts persist about other potential allies. Mr Khan’s welcome of veteran politicians, including two former foreign ministers, criticised as lotas (turncoats), has rubbed some shine from his movement. As he comes under keener scrutiny from political chat-show hosts and newspaper columnists, his own image may suffer too. He has to fend off suggestions that he is secretly backed by the army’s top brass, as well as its spies. He argues that since he wants to cut military ties with America (from which the Pakistani army has received billions of dollars), he is “unshackled” to the establishment. Yet it is striking that the men in khaki do not oppose him. Indeed, they cheer him on, relishing the headaches he gives other politicians.

.................

What if the amiable Mr Khan got into office? His priority is wiping out corruption “in 90 days”, by setting a good example and keeping his cabinet and party clean. That is a popular thing to say, but it sounds naive, given the deep-rooted venality in Pakistani politics, not to mention the civil service, courts and army.

And some of his values are less attractive. Mr Khan plays up his religiosity (he breaks off speeches to pray). On March 14th he cancelled a trip to a conference in India because Salman Rushdie, an author who has fallen foul of Muslim fundamentalists, would be there. Of Pakistan’s wretched blasphemy law, which has been used to persecute religious minorities, he says it is “abused”, but he declines to call it wrong in itself. Mr Khan denies attacking Pakistan’s increasingly beleaguered liberals, though on television recently he appeared to attack “liberal scum”. He is furious, he says, only with those who support the American policy of drone attacks carried out in Pakistan against perceived terrorists. “I call myself a liberal. How can I call myself scum?” His foreign views are not particularly encouraging. He wants India to sort out Kashmir (ie, hand over contested territory) before Pakistan should consider any trade-opening deal with its giant neighbour. This is a way of saying nothing will change. Yet with the Taliban, in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he seeks engagement and unilateral ceasefires. He says he has been vindicated in Afghanistan, as America belatedly tries talking to the Taliban, though he fears President Barack Obama will “mess things up”.

................

The daily mess of life in Pakistan may yet prove too much for even the loftiest of leaders.

 

[Developereo]

I didn't read the whole article, but this paragraph in bold caught my eye (and was enough for me not to bother with the rest)

What if the amiable Mr Khan got into office? His priority is wiping out corruption “in 90 days”, by setting a good example and keeping his cabinet and party clean. That is a popular thing to say, but it sounds naive, given the deep-rooted venality in Pakistani politics, not to mention the civil service, courts and army.

Imran Khan has claimed no such thing. He only plans to address major instances of corruption in the 90 days. Only a naive person would believe that you can rid any country of corruption in 90 months, let alone 90 days.

 

[VCheng]

..................

Imran Khan has claimed no such thing. He only plans to address major instances of corruption in the 90 days. Only a naive person would believe that you can rid any country of corruption in 90 months, let alone 90 days.

Is there a source to verify IK's statement as you describe so that the The Economist can be asked to set the record straight? Usually their stories have very well-verified content and corrections are therefore important.

 

[VCheng]

...................

Imran Khan has claimed no such thing. He only plans to address major instances of corruption in the 90 days. Only a naive person would believe that you can rid any country of corruption in 90 months, let alone 90 days.

How about halving corruption in just 9 days? That leaves 81 days for eliminating the remaining 50% corruption, right?

Excerpt from: Will halve corruption in 9 days after coming to power: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader, Imran Khan, has claimed that his party would halve the corruption in Pakistan within nine days after coming to power, Geo News reported.

It looks like The Economist may be right after all!

 

[Rafael]

How about halving corruption in just 9 days? That leaves 81 days for eliminating the remaining 50% corruption, right?

Excerpt from: Will halve corruption in 9 days after coming to power: Imran Khan



It looks like The Economist may be right after all!

Watch the video from 8:00 onwards to get your answers regarding IK and halving the corruption in 90 days concept.

 

[Icarus]

We need some security before we engage in dialogue with anybody. The reason we have yet to engage in dialogue with both parties are listed below:

1) TTP:

We talked to the TTP in Swat and Bajaur, they took both opportunities to regroup, rearm, reorganize and they were back on the offensive within 3 months. Stronger than ever, our efforts in vain. Remember the "Taliban 100kms from Islamabad", "Fall of Pakistani Capital imminent" scares? Engaging in dialogue with the TTP means giving them another chance to breath new life into their dying campaign. If we can hold our ground for some more time, we can force them to accept an unconditional surrender.

2) BLA:

The reason we have yet to engage in dialogue with the BLA is quite simply that the Baloch dissidents do not accept our offer to dailogue, remember Rehman Malik's offer to drop all cases against Baloch dissidents? I believe that a small military operation should fix that, we have the support. The Khan of Kalat has distanced himself from the separatists and reiterated his loyalty to Pakistan, yesterday his son came to the Pakistan Army's Republic Day celebrations in Quetta. Without the Khan of Kalat, the Baloch separatists have no legitimacy.

 

[VCheng]

Watch the video from 8:00 onwards to get your answers regarding IK and halving the corruption in 90 days concept.

Halving in NINE days, per the Geo story.

Even your video above is distinctly long on emotionalism and short on HOW to eliminate corruption.

Edit: the only relevant statement is perhaps a little after 11:00. The rest is all hooey.

 

[Rafael]

Halving in NINE days, per the Geo story.

Even your video above is distinctly long on emotionalism and short on HOW to eliminate corruption.

You didn't watch the video, now did you?

According to Hassan Nisaar, the corruption will be halved on the day when a honest/credible person like IK will take his oath as a prime minister of the country. I would suggest to watch the video first.

 

[VCheng]

You didn't watch the video, now did you?

According to Hassan Nisaar, the corruption will be halved on the day when a honest/credible person like IK will take his oath as a prime minister of the country. I would suggest to watch the video first.

I did, honestly, from 8:00 onwards till the end, it just finished and I still don't understand HOW taking the oath will achieve those goals.

 

[Rafael]

I did, honestly, from 8:00 onwards till the end, it just finished and I still don't understand HOW taking the oath will achieve those goals.

Well as they say, the fish rots from the top. The massive corruption we have seen since the last 4 years is because the Prime minister, President and the entire cabinet have been looting the country like there is no tomorrow. Huge scandals are being unearthed every day and the names mostly include the relatives of PM and cabinet ministers. So is it really hard to understand that if an honest prime minister with his credible cabinet takes oath, the corruption will come down significantly?

 

[VCheng]

Well as they say, the fish rots from the top. The massive corruption we have seen since the last 4 years is because the Prime minister, President and the entire cabinet have been looting the country like there is no tomorrow. Huge scandals are being unearthed every day and the names mostly include the relatives of PM and cabinet ministers. So is it really hard to understand that if an honest prime minister with his credible cabinet takes oath, the corruption will come down significantly?

Actually, yes!

Just having an honest Prime Minister changes very little for a whole system where graft is built-in for decades.

Please tell me this: Assume you are the most honest PM ever. Now what?

 

[Rafael]

Actually, yes!

Just having an honest Prime Minister changes very little for a whole system where graft is built-in for decades.

Please tell me this: Assume you are the most honest PM ever. Now what?

Gosh! Like seriously?

You are forgetting the context here. IK and Hassan Nisar are talking about the corruption that is being done by the rulers themselves i.e Prime minister and his cronies. The system that you are referring to was there during Musharaff's era too but we didn't hear stories of such corruption during his tenure coz he himself and his cabinet members were comparatively better then PPP.

 

[VCheng]

Gosh! Like seriously?

You are forgetting the context here. IK and Hassan Nisar are talking about the corruption that is being done by the rulers themselves i.e Prime minister and his cronies. The system that you are referring to was there during Musharaff's era too but we didn't hear stories of such corruption during his tenure coz he himself and his cabinet members were comparatively better then PPP.

Musharraf's era had just as much corruption Sir. It is just that is was better hidden, that is all.

My point made above was the IK is regarded as naive for his claims of reducing corruption so quickly, for good reasons.