Shafqat Mahmood

The writer is a former Senator and a former federal and provincial minister

smahmood@lhr.comsats.net.pk

We have been through this before. An Army Chief takes over the country in less than favourable circumstances. He is roundly condemned and chastised all over the world. Then, something happens to change the equation. The West suddenly discovers that the person they were reviling as a military dictator is very badly needed. Its tone and tenor begins to change. Aid and assistance is offered. Words of praise begin to flow. Almost on cue, the 'independent' western press starts to find virtue where none was visible before. They put him on the cover of magazines and conduct detailed interviews on television channels. Adjectives begin to run short. He is bold, courageous, dynamic, and visionary. He is the best thing to have happened to Pakistan. He is the future, and needs to be protected, strengthened and supported. Or, so they say.

While this sea change in western opinion is taking place, we the people of this country run through a gamut of mixed emotions. There are many things about General Musharraf we like. He is a modern, liberal man that fate and circumstance placed at the head of the Army. Fate and circumstance because we could have had someone entirely different; another Zia for example. The army command is like the roll of a dice for the people. You get a religious zealot one day and a modernist the next. You neither choose one nor the other.

This would not ordinarily matter in a country where the ideological disposition of an army chief is of no concern to the people. It becomes our concern because Army takes over at regular intervals and its Chief is placed in a position to determine our future and our destiny. So we can only thank God for choosing a modern, enlightened man. I would not have so lightly invoked God but General Musharraf did it the other day and I am only following his lead. He may be tempted to go a step further and claim divine sanction for many other things that are happening but it would be prudent to desist. If he starts sounding like Zia, his modernist credentials would be seriously at risk.

There are other things about General Musharraf that we need to appreciate. He is a clean man personally and there are no serious corruption scandals associated with his government. We keep hearing odd bits here and there but in a country where high-level corruption has been the norm, this is perhaps the cleanest government in decades. Some may argue that this is just the beginning. Wait till it's over. They may be right but why hold back. We have become a cynical lot over the years and are wary of giving praise, especially to people in power. I say let us commend what is right and condemn what is wrong. Let us not hold back either praises or blame.

While his qualities of honesty and modernity make some us comfortable about the man, other things have been happening that are less than commendable. The accountability exercise turned into a farce long time ago. Perceived political opponents of the government are being hounded and the like minded given extra ordinary concessions. Things have reached such a pass, that like minded politicians of dubious credentials have become the clearing house for decisions of prosecution or relief. It is common knowledge in political circles that if you want your problems sorted out, you approach certain people. They make the right phone calls, or intercede in the right quarters, and get you off the hook.

Other biases are also visible. If you are ex-military, you are either not prosecuted at all or let off with a slap on the wrist. General Beg has practically been convicted by his own admission. He distributed Rs 14 crores through the ISI to rig an election. Where did this money come from and how did he acquire it? If he could take this much for one purpose, how much did he take and keep for himself. We will never know because no one is interested in going after him. He is just one example. There are others equally sordid, but it seems that if you have been in the military you can get away with a great deal.

The way Mr Mansur ul Haq was molly coddled is a scandal. He was kept in a comfortable rest house and the fine imposed on him was just a pittance of what he stole. The military may think a great deal about the fact that he was stripped of rank but it cuts no ice with the people. They have seen no less than two former prime ministers chained and shackled and former chief ministers, ministers, Speakers and other politicians not only treated badly but robbed of simple human dignity. Asif Zardari has already served the longest term for corruption by anybody in the history of this country. God knows, I have no love for Mr Zardari but there has to be a balance in the treatment of civilians and ex-military.

The only person pardoned by the President has been the former Air Marshall Waqar Azim. No such concession has been made for any other convicted civilians. Political leaders are in the clink but the tender heart does not melt at their predicament. It should not because corruption is a serious offence and robbing a poor, barely functioning state, a dastardly crime. But, our wrath should not only be reserved for the civilians. A criminal is a criminal whatever his background. It appears that this is not the case in Pakistan or at least under the present dispensation. A basically good man like General Musharraf finds himself in this awkward position because he or his advisers chose to play politics rather than conduct open, fair and transparent accountability.

Other games are also being played that are beginning to call into question the entire electoral exercise that we are promised will unfold in all its majesty in October. The like minded are clearly now the king's party. The government has been trying very hard to put all the Muslim Leagues together. It has not worked so far but something will. If at the end of the day, they are the favoured party, how fair and transparent will the electoral process be? If the local body elections were any indication, there would be widespread intervention and pre-election gerrymandering. We would end up with what looks like a parliament but would not be one in reality. We would end up with a democracy that will be a sham. A worse sham than what General Musharraf thinks the previous decade was.

Let us get one thing straight. General Musharraf has declared that he is going to be President for the next five years. Neither you nor I can do anything about it. So let us take it as given. But, what happens after that is critical to the future of this country. If we try and construct another sham democracy and bring in a sham parliament, it would never put us on the right road. Whatever dream or vision we have for the future of this country can only be sustained, if it is eventually accepted by the people. This can only happen through a transparent and fair electoral exercise. If we rig the process, any reform, any change would be undone the moment the regime changes. It does not require the wisdom of a rocket scientist to understand this.

The true test of patriotism is not what lies invisible in the heart. Lofty statements are no substitute for action. The west and particularly the Americans may have given General Musharraf a carte blanche to do what he likes. The real test is whether he decides to do the right thing. No eyebrows will be raised, no questions asked if he chooses to control the electoral process to get 'positive' results. He may win, in the short run, but the country will surely loose. This is something that General Musharraf and his advisers need to ponder.