Perspective on Benazir’s birthday

Comes the longest day of the year and it reminds people of Pakistan of their colossal loss in the assassination of martyred Benazir Bhutto (born on June 21, 1953). And challenging developments pushing Pakistan from one crisis to another make the nation miss her more.
It was a combination of an insatiable lust for power of a megalomaniac dictator and religious militants in cahoots with him-to eliminate Pakistan’s most outstanding leader-Benazir Bhutto (Dec 27, 2007).
There is a general consensus that had she been around Pakistan would not be in such a mess today. One fears that Pakistan’s democratic dream is being pushed back to square one and clash of old and new vested interest looks imminent in the cards.
With the spirit so dead, I found it extremely difficult to pen a painful note in her memory. Have we as a nation risen to honour sacrifice in blood by her and those who walked to gallows, faced long and torturous incarcerations at the hands of dictators usurping democratic rights of the people.
With the return of democracy in 2008 I thought it was our finest hour - a great tribute to the memory of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, ZAB and Benazir Bhutto. Successful completion of its tenure by PPP government and exemplary transfer of power to the next mandated party- PML-N -was yet another landmark achievement.
However, we could not gloat at that as the policies of the previous dictator had rendered Pakistan into an epicenter of terrorism by failing to take timely action against the Taliban and their indigenous supporters. Successive civilian governments and the army were left in the cold to deal with the multifaceted menaces.
The complexities of problems that civilian rulers inherited have become more complex and confounded. Despite far-reaching decisions such as 18th amendment to the Constitution, our march onward remains on a roller-coaster ride with a growing threat of disruption from new players in the power game. Previous government persistently feared a Chief Justice dagger drawn after it.
Media -having acquired unbridled freedom and gigantic presence -has become a powerful game changer. Since 2008 it has not given peace of mind to any civilian government. It keeps dishing out perceptions that are more lethal than reality. As of now, it is insisting that the change is around the corner, whole system would be packed up and a so-called iron fisted contraption four times tried before, would be in place again.
In this obtaining situation-the only disciplined institution-Pakistan army-much maligned under the previous dictator -is being once again dragged into controversies. Retired generals like Hameed Gul and Pervez Musharraf have spoken strongly for doing away of democracy. Without undermining the endemic nature of corruption that has got hold of the entire country sparing no institution, strictly speaking mandates and parameters of the institutions such as Rangers given extraordinary powers to eliminate terrorism- were crossed especially at a time when Army Chief General Raheel Sharif-backed by the Parliament and the people— has dared to take on the Taliban and other extremists unlike two previous chiefs who played ducks and drakes with the terrorists romping in the country putting to shred writ of the state.
I am reminded of General Jehangir Karamat, Army Chief in 1998. He made known to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif his institutional exceptions to the way affairs of the government were being conducted. Nawaz Sharif was not happy at that. An upright man that JK is, he tendered his resignation on the spot. Pervez Musharraf was appointed Army Chief.
The indictments of two provincial governments – Sindh and Balochistan — is not likely to help General Raheel Sharif in his mission to make Pakistan a terror-free county by eliminating terrorists. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should have taken note of the professional misdemeanour that has caused deep concern in the smaller provinces that they are being singled out when the proportion of corruption is much higher and more glaring elsewhere.
Politically, one of the largest parties PPP and second largest in Sindh-MQM-want to know the difference between Taliban and the government as both PPP and MQM along with ANP-were identified to be eliminated by the Taliban in last elections.
This does not mean that one should ignore the rising incidence of corruption. It is gnawing the very roots of the society. It calls for a solution through accountability across the board-no favourites, no double standards. It has to be an exemplary exercise-no sparing of corrupt politicians, generals or judges. However, it will not have to be just trial by the media, convicting people without due process of law.
Sustaining democracy-whatever the cost- would be the best tribute to Benazir Bhutto who lived and died for the empowerment of the less privileged, men, women, children and minorities. Democracy for her was a means to a larger end-the greatest good of the largest number. Her vision was of pluralistic and democratic Pakistan where all its citizens were to be equal, free to practice their religions and the state was to be secular in governance.
That was Jinnah’s irrevocable ideological commitment too. It is time our civil, judicial and military leaders come out of their bigoted closets and declare their adherence to Quid’s vision of Pakistan and not what the clerics force upon them. Surrendering to forces of bigotry would mean Talibanisation of Pakistan.
To seek Benazir’s ideals-nay Jinnah Sahib’s—we shall have to be united to burry deep down the “twisted values of a great and noble religion that became a victim of Al-Qaeda and Taliban.” Her observations in “Reconciliation” are true manifestation of the real spirit of Islam as reflected in the concept of Ijtehad. As a befitting tribute to her we need to reiterate the Quran’s message of peace and tolerance and not let it drown in a sea of extremism and bigotry.
The writer is the former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK