Pakistan

A pipe dream of good governance

Written

3 years ago

Feb 25, 2021 06:16 AM

Saeed Qazi

The most oft-repeated cliché by members of the ruling elite in our political discourse is as follows, "We are passing through the most critical period of our history".

Saeed Qazi

But fact of the matter is that these ladies and gentlemen who lament this state of affairs personally never experience any such criticality, so to say, except for naturally falling ill or dying in the luxury of their ostentatiously built homes.

But as far the majority of the people whom they rule is concerned, they always remain in a critical situation, thanks to these ladies and gentlemen mentioned above. Despite all this we hardly find any serious effort on the part of the so-called analysts or economists as to why this unfortunate situation perennially exists for the majority of the people.

The most common and perhaps the most superficial and misleading argument that is put forth is that of so-called good or bad governance. This jargon and phraseology has consciously been designed to lead to oversimplifications, aimed at deducing false conclusions.

Is this just a question of good and bad governance? Can it solely explain the misery, hunger and deprivation that besets us? Well, things are not that simple. We have been toeing all the policies that were prescribed by our western masters. More than 80 percent members of Pakistan's first planning commission were Americans.

Our growth rates were healthier when president Ayub Khan embarked on his industrialization drive and afterwards handed over those units to the private sector. His uneven development triggered the longest ever movement in the history of Pakistan and apparently healthy growth rates of Ayub's regime resulted in the overthrow of his own government.

Subsequent years saw the rise of Zulfiqar Ali Bhuto on the heels of 1968-69 movement and his socialist program. Bhutto did far less than what he promised in his manifesto and sought to rebuild the system which he had promised to smash once in power. That became his tragic flaw and resulted in the counter revolution which Gen Zia initiated during his brutal regime.

The post-Zia period was also continuation of the counter-revolution garbed in the democratic dispensation during which the international financial institution gradually took over the economy.

Four decades of less government and austerity has taken its toll and what we find as a natural sequel to this exercise is a broken system ailing economy and a period of unprecedented instability at hand. This year at the World Economic Forum all those who matter, strangely enough, talked about the so-called "Grand Reset". This was, in fact, was an admission of failure of the economic paradigm which based itself on trickledown theory which, needless to say, miserably failed.

And last but not the least, the IMF has, for the first time in history, began keeping the record of protest movements and concluded in its report the world has entered into a phase of extreme volatility where falling living standard and unemployment would result in social unrest of huge proportions in the world at large.

The movement in India and Myanmar may serve as a reminder to us that we are part of the same economic reality and sooner than later such political convulsions may catch us unaware and overtake all the nonissues upon which our political discourse is currently based. Oligarchy in the name of democracy cannot continue indefinitely. The toiling masses may soon serve a notice to the ruling elite, a scenario which was predicted at the annual meet of WEF at Devos. All the claimants of power wrangling with each other may join hands in the event of any such movement. So far the one way war on the peoples of the world will soon provoke a response of epic proportions.

The elite that gathered at Devos this year have already warned governments, big corporations and those who are at helm of the affairs, and advised the Grand Reset with an enhanced role of governments. So far governments are doing so by printing currency in the first world and doling it out.

It seems an end of ‘The End of History' thesis by Francis Fukuyama and ‘Clash of Civilization’ is fast giving way to the clash of classes. And history shows we need a good system without which good governance is not possible.

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Saeed Qazi

Saeed Qazi is a senior journalist and political analyst

Pakistan

Pakistan rejects Indian PM’s belligerent remarks

Pakistan Foreign Office says Indian leaders’ rhetorical statements cannot deflect international attention from India’s heavy-handed approach to suppress the Kashmiri people’s just struggle for realization of their fundamental rights and freedoms

Published

6 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 10:24 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday rejected Indian Prime Minister’s belligerent remarks made in Drass, Ladakh.

The Foreign Office in a statement said that bravado and jingoism undermine regional peace and are totally counter-productive for resolution of long-standing disputes between Pakistan and India, especially the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

It further said the Indian leaders’ rhetorical statements cannot deflect international attention from India’s heavy-handed approach to suppress the Kashmiri people’s just struggle for realization of their fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly their inalienable right to self-determination.

Instead of maligning others for terrorism, India should reflect on its own campaign of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories.

Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression, as exemplified by its robust response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019.

The Foreign Office said while Pakistan is ready to counter India’s aggressive actions, it remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan

JI shifts strategy, announces sit-in at three locations in Islamabad

Following JI's call for protests against increased power bills, containers were placed to block routes from the Red Zone and Rawalpindi to the capital, and the metro bus service in Rawalpindi was suspended, causing significant inconvenience for passengers

Published

5 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 11:41 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Rawalpindi: In response to government road closures and arrests, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) shifted its strategy and announced sit-ins at three locations in the federal capital on Friday.

Key intersections in the Red Zone, such as D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk, have been sealed with containers.

Police have also arrested JI workers from various locations. However, JI has now revised its approach.

JI spokesperson Qaiser Sharif reported that 1,150 party workers were arrested nationwide. He announced sit-ins at Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Zero Point in Islamabad, and Chungi No 26, with Hafiz Naeemur Rehman leading the sit-in at Zero Point in Islamabad.

Section 144 in Punjab, Islamabad

The federal and Punjab governments have imposed Section 144 in Punjab and Islamabad amid PTI and JI plans for nationwide protests. According to the notification, Section 144 will be in effect from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28.

The Home Department stated that there would be a ban on rallies, sit-ins, and protests from July 26 to 28 due to terrorism threats, as public gatherings could be easy targets for militants.

JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem claimed that police conducted raids on the homes of JI leaders in various cities, targeting them to disrupt the demonstration. He reported numerous incidents of police raids, arrests, and mistreatment of women.

Govt warned

Earlier on Thursday, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government that it would be held responsible if the party is prevented from entering Islamabad for their planned protest against electricity price hikes and inflation. He stated that they believe in peaceful political resistance to secure public rights and are not afraid of arrests.

Rehman emphasized that the historic sit-in on Friday, July 26, will represent 250 million Pakistanis and will be held peacefully at D-Chowk. He noted that convoys from across the country were on their way to join the sit-in and urged the administration to provide a venue for the protest. He also welcomed any political party that wishes to participate.

Ahead of the sit-in, police in various areas of Punjab and Rawalpindi raided the homes of JI leaders and officials, arresting several. The police raided the house of JI's central secretary general, Ameerul Azim, but did not find him, instead arresting his driver, Shaukat Mahmood.

Pakistan

President approves appointment of ad hoc judges to SC

President Asif Ali Zardari gives approval under Article 182 of the Constitution

Published

6 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 10:19 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the President gave approval under Article 182 of the Constitution.

The judges include former Apex Court judges Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel. They will be appointed as ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court for a period of one year.