Pakistan’s grim reality

IT REMAINS to be seen who exactly was behind the two blasts that turned a singing and dancing Karachi welcoming Benazir Bhutto’s return into a theatre of needless panic, death and destruction. But two things are clear. One, the obvious — that as held by players from across the spectrum, the despicable act of murder deserves to be condemned in strongest terms. Two, the inevitable that should no longer be dilly-dallied — Pakistan’s ills require sincere efforts at national reconciliation, not engineered show-case democracy on the back of win-win deals. Spearheaded by the returning former premier, those that bore the brunt of the attacks blamed suspects from all around, including remnants of a bygone Pakistani establishment. But, significantly, to scatter the blame around without credible proof would virtually amount to toning down the grave security threat that Pakistan as a federation faces at this point in time. Grim as the suggestion seems, the country is likely to discover, much to its cost, that more of the same as elections approach will not owe to elements within the political construct but an ever-expanding ideological force bent upon defeating then hijacking the centres of power in Islamabad.
Admittedly, the ironic reality of militancy related efforts is dawning upon Pakistan and the West alike. That the ‘from above’ approach sans popular consensus in dealing with the hardline faction in the backdrop of the war on terrorism has ended up doing much more harm than good. History is witness that periods of military-led authoritarianism by necessity leave behind partially perverted legacies, but ones that are long lasting. In Pakistan’s case, the late General Zia is accused of ushering in Kalashnikov and drug culture coming to the country, besides sowing the seeds of extremism. General Musharraf has effectively presided over the era of ‘chickens coming home to roost’. His is a tale of hardline fanaticism that genuinely threatens to rip apart the country, being so difficult to handle or confront. These factors lend further credence to just why it is the people that should hold responsibility for the future, in keeping with the true spirit of democracy. In fairness, Benazir Bhutto should now take the first step in making arrangements for her long-time rival Nawaz Sharif being allowed back home, for the good of the country. Then free and fair elections should be called, and all potential leadership candidates be presented in the court of the people. There can be no other first few steps in a very urgent cause — pulling Pakistan back from the brink.

 

Gorbachev returns

IT BODES well for Russia that Mikhail Gorbachev, the man whose reforms brought about arguably the most decisive political change since the birth of the Soviet empire, is back on the mainstream Russian political scene. Considering his credentials, his decision to spearhead Russia’s newest political entity, the Union of Social Democrats, is as pragmatic as the party’s manifesto. According to news reports coming from Russia, the party’s manifesto comprises supporting President Putin’s modernisation efforts while campaigning against “negative tendencies” and corruption. To give Putin his due, Russia hasn’t looked better since Gorbachev’s initiatives spelt doom for the decaying iron curtain and Yelstin’s brand of transition to free-market capitalism brought about colossal economic and social disparities in its wake. In fact, playing on lines advocated by old-school Soviet big-shots like Andropov, Putin has successfully leveraged Russia’s huge energy reserves for a more assertive standing in international geo-politics. In the process, he has displayed remarkable political savvy as well, timing his thrusts just right to draw the maximum possible from political compulsions of contemporaries and rivals alike.
But, again being fair, in his drive to strengthen Russia, Putin has not only overlooked a very important feature of leadership, but rather made visible efforts to avoid it. He has made sure that Russian power politics is inextricably tied with his person so long as he remains on the scene. And while for the moment he has ruled out fiddling with the constitution, but implying running for prime minister till he can come back to the presidency shows he has no intention of ‘fading into oblivion’ and passing the torch to new leadership. That is precisely where Gorbachev and his band of merry men can make a considerable difference. One strong reason why Russians largely stay mute over Putin’s political adventurism is because they can hardly find a credible alternative, or hopes of one being nurtured anytime soon. Gorbachev has already been the man of change in Russia, besides being around long enough to see the best and the worst. His entry into mainstream politics is without doubt a noteworthy event. For him it will mean his legacy will not remain confined to glasnost, perestroika and uskoreniye, and for the people it will expand the right to choose, which is important in the long run.

—Khaleej Times