VCheng
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@Slav Defence @WAJsal Sirs, here is my submission:
EIGHT GOOD PEOPLE.
A suggested way forward for Pakistan, with three short term and three long term goals clearly identified, has been previously presented : Where to go from here? . Since that short article was written, the Army has taken clear and effective steps to go after all terrorists without discrimination, and their supporting mechanisms, whether they be political or financial. Importantly, it has also begun paying attention to creating a credible narrative to counter the terrorist's propaganda, thereby fulfilling the three short term steps suggested. There is also some evidence to suggest that three longer term suggested goals of going after armed militias maintained by political parties, and countering and reducing the suffocating and overbearing imposition of radical interpretations of religion over public life and in the military are being worked upon, slowly, but surely.
Given these very encouraging trends, it is perhaps a good time to look forward to identify broader goals for the entire nation and how they can be implemented stepwise. Obviously, many details will be left out in the interests of brevity, but the overall framework should be sound enough to be discussed for implementation.
Over the past decades, Pakistan has continued to struggle against quite adverse odds to take its rightful place in the region and internationally due to its internal turmoil in defining mechanisms of governance and power sharing between critical institutions of the state, including the military. Rather than reiterate the causes and problems of how Pakistan go to be where it is, it is far more important to decide where to go next, now that we are indeed where we are: a broken government, a non-functioning justice system, a hopelessly inept political class and an over-stretched military, all overlaid on rising social misery and widespread corruption that permeates all levels. Indeed, this list of failures is enough to give ample cause for many to say that solutions do not exist, but there is no other choice. These problems must be resolved, if Pakistan is to begin to rise to its potential, finally, three-quarters of a century after independence.
The never-ending tussle over power between the civil and military centers of power must be stopped. Given the realities on the ground, Constitutional idealism, desireable as it is, must give way to a working power sharing agreement, with the military's role in formulating foreign and defence policies formalized by assigning the relevant portfolios to two senior Generals. The civilian side must be limited to only these ministries: Finance, Interior, Commerce, and Social Services. That is it, a total of seven portfolios, plus the Prime Minister (there is no miscount, one more will be described later). Doing this is important for a number of reasons, the most important being creating the correct impression that no one is operating illegally or regard themselves as being above the law. Such a change at the top will take time to establish at the lower levels of both government and society, but has untold benefits in the long run by establishing the rule of law. Also, the concept of legalizing what has been shown to work rather than pining after unattainable idealism is important to realize for everyone. In the same vein, the issues with the judicial system can wait until the time for the present arrangement of military courts is drawing to a close in about a year and a half, given that the most pressing need for convicting and sentencing of terrorists can be dealt with effectively until then.
Given the multitude of other problems, made worse by a ever rising population with rapid urbanization, there is one key element that underwrites the solutions to all of them: Energy. Every other problem can be mitigated effectively if and only if there is an ample supply of reliable and plentiful energy supplies of all kinds. Given how far Pakistan is lagging behind in this crucial area, and all the adverse effects thereof, this must be assigned on a war footing to the military. It is the only working institution that remains capable of dealing with the many issues plaguing this vital sector, from corrupt power deals, to unreliable distribution and rampant theft.
Radical? Yes. Workable? Absolutely. All Pakistan needs is eight good people (four civilian, three military), one each responsible for the Finance, Interior, Commerce, Social Services, Foreign, Defense and Energy ministries, led by a Prime Minister. Call it whatever you like, democratic, technocratic, unity, hybrid, bizarre, travesty, but think about it as the only viable way left to Pakistan if it is to flourish, not merely survive, in the 21st century in an evermore competitive global village.
Eight good people. In a nation of over 200 million, is that too much to ask and hope for?
EIGHT GOOD PEOPLE.
A suggested way forward for Pakistan, with three short term and three long term goals clearly identified, has been previously presented : Where to go from here? . Since that short article was written, the Army has taken clear and effective steps to go after all terrorists without discrimination, and their supporting mechanisms, whether they be political or financial. Importantly, it has also begun paying attention to creating a credible narrative to counter the terrorist's propaganda, thereby fulfilling the three short term steps suggested. There is also some evidence to suggest that three longer term suggested goals of going after armed militias maintained by political parties, and countering and reducing the suffocating and overbearing imposition of radical interpretations of religion over public life and in the military are being worked upon, slowly, but surely.
Given these very encouraging trends, it is perhaps a good time to look forward to identify broader goals for the entire nation and how they can be implemented stepwise. Obviously, many details will be left out in the interests of brevity, but the overall framework should be sound enough to be discussed for implementation.
Over the past decades, Pakistan has continued to struggle against quite adverse odds to take its rightful place in the region and internationally due to its internal turmoil in defining mechanisms of governance and power sharing between critical institutions of the state, including the military. Rather than reiterate the causes and problems of how Pakistan go to be where it is, it is far more important to decide where to go next, now that we are indeed where we are: a broken government, a non-functioning justice system, a hopelessly inept political class and an over-stretched military, all overlaid on rising social misery and widespread corruption that permeates all levels. Indeed, this list of failures is enough to give ample cause for many to say that solutions do not exist, but there is no other choice. These problems must be resolved, if Pakistan is to begin to rise to its potential, finally, three-quarters of a century after independence.
The never-ending tussle over power between the civil and military centers of power must be stopped. Given the realities on the ground, Constitutional idealism, desireable as it is, must give way to a working power sharing agreement, with the military's role in formulating foreign and defence policies formalized by assigning the relevant portfolios to two senior Generals. The civilian side must be limited to only these ministries: Finance, Interior, Commerce, and Social Services. That is it, a total of seven portfolios, plus the Prime Minister (there is no miscount, one more will be described later). Doing this is important for a number of reasons, the most important being creating the correct impression that no one is operating illegally or regard themselves as being above the law. Such a change at the top will take time to establish at the lower levels of both government and society, but has untold benefits in the long run by establishing the rule of law. Also, the concept of legalizing what has been shown to work rather than pining after unattainable idealism is important to realize for everyone. In the same vein, the issues with the judicial system can wait until the time for the present arrangement of military courts is drawing to a close in about a year and a half, given that the most pressing need for convicting and sentencing of terrorists can be dealt with effectively until then.
Given the multitude of other problems, made worse by a ever rising population with rapid urbanization, there is one key element that underwrites the solutions to all of them: Energy. Every other problem can be mitigated effectively if and only if there is an ample supply of reliable and plentiful energy supplies of all kinds. Given how far Pakistan is lagging behind in this crucial area, and all the adverse effects thereof, this must be assigned on a war footing to the military. It is the only working institution that remains capable of dealing with the many issues plaguing this vital sector, from corrupt power deals, to unreliable distribution and rampant theft.
Radical? Yes. Workable? Absolutely. All Pakistan needs is eight good people (four civilian, three military), one each responsible for the Finance, Interior, Commerce, Social Services, Foreign, Defense and Energy ministries, led by a Prime Minister. Call it whatever you like, democratic, technocratic, unity, hybrid, bizarre, travesty, but think about it as the only viable way left to Pakistan if it is to flourish, not merely survive, in the 21st century in an evermore competitive global village.
Eight good people. In a nation of over 200 million, is that too much to ask and hope for?
