comment: Aur mayray mutabiq —Munir Attaullah

[fatman17]

comment: Aur mayray mutabiq —Munir Attaullah

To heed the xenophobic cry of ‘economic slavery’ is to inflict upon ourselves wanton grievous harm. I am happy to see the president ignoring all such calls and resolutely and indefatigably travelling the world with single minded purpose

Last week, President Zardari completed a year in office. As was to be expected, the occasion prompted much political stock taking in the media. Certain rituals associated with anniversaries are hard to resist.

Naturally enough, government circles and ruling party activists were full of praise for the president, just as opposition stalwarts were dismissive and critical. No surprises there. That’s the minutiae of politics. Nor was I particularly surprised by the largely negative mutterings of the majority of anchors and panellists on our electronic media. Why?

Because, for most of us, the bitter pill of reality must first dissolve in the sweet solvent of our desires if it is to be successfully swallowed. Otherwise it is thrown up in an involuntary spasm. A psyche that finds great comfort in flaunting high Islamic idealism, and dreams of a ‘pure’ political culture that is ‘principled’, altruistic and awami khidmat-oriented but has utter disdain for our economic realities and external political constraints will always find it hard to swallow the president’s resolute and businesslike pragmatism.

How seriously should I take the verdict of such virtuous, upright and principled political soothsayers, who seek further justification for their views in the prevailing sentiments of our awaam? Sure, government politicians should worry about their future political prospects (though not really, till closer to the next election) but should an analyst, who is expected to see a little deeper into the fog?

Searching for an answer I remember something. Are these honourable men not largely the same lot who not so long ago were telling us it was unthinkable that a Muslim could be involved in sectarian killings and suicide bombing, that the right solution to the Lal Masjid affair and the Taliban threat was ‘muzakirat’, that the war our army is currently fighting is America’s war not ours, and that RAW was behind the Lahore terror attacks?

And did most of them not also totally reject an approach to the IMF in our time of economic emergency last year? Did they not say that our great friend China (with a trillion dollars plus in reserves), and the Gulf Arab states will surely bail us out with the measly few billions we need and they can well afford?

I conclude rapidly that such a marvellously impressive track record of incisive analysis is sufficient for me to think matters through for myself rather than be swayed by expert and popular opinion.

But before I do so I should come clean on certain issues, lest I be accused of simply being an apologist for the president. Firstly, no one should doubt where my political sympathies lie: they are firmly with those who espouse the liberal, secular, and internationalist outlook that is so characteristic of a modern society, rather than with the forces of rigid conservatism that encourage and promote insular thinking. So, partisan I certainly am, and this perspective obviously carries over into my perceptions of what is important for us as a nation at this juncture and what is secondary.

But to be partisan is not the same as to be biased. I hope to support my position with reasoned argument that can stand the test of debate, and not simply rely on wishful thinking or assertions of one sort or another. How substantive and persuasive the arguments are is for the reader to judge and accept or reject. As the saying goes, differences of opinion are what make for politics and horse racing.

So let me then straightaway state the perspective from which I propose to view the past year. I am not so much concerned with matters such as load shedding, the flour and sugar crises, and the stumbles on the judges issue that have cost the government dearly in terms of popularity. While not denying their importance, these are essentially passing matters. My main concern is to focus on four interlinked issues — a politically stable democracy that requires inter-provincial harmony and good civil-military relations; sustained and vigorous economic growth; defeating the militants that threaten our internal security; and re-integrating with the international community — that I identified in a column some years ago as vital to our future. For, real progress on these issues will ensure we develop the capacity to solve those secondary problems, while substantive failure on any of these fundamental issues, as our history testifies, means we will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis.

From this perspective, it is true that a year is far too short a period to make definitive judgements. Think of the Obama administration, now nine months in office, and fast-forward just another three months. Is it not doubtful if he will by then successfully overcome inherited major crises? All we can hope to do for the moment is to check if the policies are sensible and we are headed in the right direction. And here, my interim conclusion is that President Zardari’s overall performance so far, given the difficult circumstances he inherited, is more than commendable.

Consider first some steps he has taken that auger well for our prospects for a stable democracy. A military dictator as a president has been cleverly eased out with the minimum of fuss and without institutional upheaval. And that emotionally tempting but potentially deeply disruptive and divisive demand for a treason trial has been firmly but pragmatically resisted. Political maturity requires that the civil-military imbalances that bedevil our democracy be best rectified gradually and obliquely, not immediately and through direct confrontation.

As for political stability (a continuing migraine, given our fractious nature), the cobbling together of a viable coalition at the centre, while strengthening the federation measurably, also gives hope that the government will complete its term. And a start has also been made to address Baloch grievances, while the decision to reformulate the NFC awards is a further step in the right direction.

As to determinedly and successfully confronting the challenge posed by the extremists, there is a tendency to give all the credit to our Army. Certainly it deserves our grateful thanks. But let us not forget the operation would not have been possible without the requisite political will. Was the President not the person who first courageously showed the way while all others were being carefully ambivalent?

Finally, and most important, there is the economy and the closely related issue of re-integrating with the international community. I am no economist but given our puny domestic savings rate, an abysmal low tax-to-GDP ratio, and the barrier of a yawning balance of payment deficit every time we expand the economy, we have little option for the foreseeable future but to rely on large foreign inflows to fund the investment needed for sustained growth.

To heed the xenophobic cry of ‘economic slavery’ is to inflict upon ourselves wanton grievous harm. I am happy to see the president ignoring all such calls and resolutely and indefatigably travelling the world with single minded purpose: to bring us and the world closer, to bring aid and investment and to seek outlets for our exports.

Well done, Mr President. Focus on the big picture and keep at it.

The writer is a businessman. A selection of his columns is now available in book form. Visit munirattaullah.com

rare plaudits for our president!