Govt not in a hurry to hire lobbyist in US

ISLAMABAD: The government is not in a hurry to hire a lobbyist in Washington and what has been reported in the media is not more than loud thinking, background interviews reveal.

“There is no progress beyond an understanding that Pakistan should have a lobbyist,” an informed official told The News. Pakistan’s mission in Washington has never been without a lobbyist firm since 1973 whose services are needed for access to the right quarters in the executive and legislature branches of the federal government of the US.

Jalil Abbas Jillani, the country’s Ambassador in Washington, has been asked to look for a lobbyist, a well-placed source said. While no practical step has been taken in this regard by the government, it is being hoped that lobbyists would contact the government after the publication of a story in an international wire agency about Pakistan’s hunt for a lobbyist, said an official. At times, lobbying firms contact potential clients and give a presentation of their work to win a contract.

Pakistan doesn’t have a lobbyist since the PML-N formed government in June 2013. Failure in getting F-16s on the conditions proposed by Islamabad, US support to India for Nuclear Supplier Group’s membership, drone attack for killing Mulla Mansour in Balochistan and other such factors are behind the government’s realisation to engage a lobbyist. 

Previous government also used to have a lobbyist Mark Seigel whose contract ceased at the end of PPP’s tenure. Seigel was more a friend of Benazir Bhutto than a lobbyist of Pakistan. The party would be his client while in the opposition and the government of Pakistan whenever PPP formed government right from 1988 onward. 

Seigel was paid $4.73 million in the five years of PPP government which mean around $78000 per month. His charges were in contrast with what Pakistan embassy used to pay to famous Charlie Wilson, a Congressman starred in Charlie Wilson’s War. He made a lobbying firm after retiring from politics. Pakistan embassy used to pay him $40,000 in early years of 2000s.

While Seigel has been a permanent lobbyist of the PPP from 1989 onward (in addition to the engagement of other lobbyists), Denis Neil was hired first during Ziaul Haq era and later when Mian Nawaz Sharif became the prime minister for the first term.

Having a lobbyist is not a legal requirement, however, it has become a norm in Washington where lobbying has evolved into a full-fledged profession. Most of the people into this business are former congressmen or have worked at other important positions in the capital thus has access to the right quarters. Hiring their services mean pleading one’s case in the right quarters. 

In cases, the diplomats are able enough to do the needful. Pakistan, for instance, lobbied for F-16s in early 2000s without the active assistance of a lobbyist.

In June 2003 meeting at Camp David, US President George Bush offered President General Pervez Musharraf an aid package of $3 billion but refused F-16 fighter jets, Pakistan’s long standing demand that had been denied since 1989.

Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s acting ambassador in Washington by that time, thought to find out a solution. He approached the vendors of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, the manufacturers of fighter jets. They had production plants in more than 26 states of US. They were told that refusal of F-16s to Pakistan would mean decline in their business and subsequent layoffs. 

The vendors took up the matters with their lawmakers who would raise it in Congress. Eventually, Congressional committee voted in support of F-16s provision to Pakistan that culminated at the formal announcement of President Bush in March 2005.

What Musharraf couldn’t persuade to Bush was done by Sadiq who mobilised the interest groups for influencing Congress into pressuring on White House. This is called lobbying which has evolved into a profession particularly in Washington DC. 

Although Sadiq did a commendable job that should be among his biggest achievements of career, very few diplomats can take such initiatives. Also the fact remains that they have to deal at multiple fronts demanding different sets of expertise. 

Pakistan is an aid-dependent country therefore we have to fight for influence in the executive and legislative branches of the US federal government. Review of previous lobbying contracts testifies this. 

Federal budget and appropriations is one of the biggest issue Pakistan deals through hiring lobbyists as our major concern is how much aid we can manage to get allocated in addition to the reimbursement of expenses incurred fighting against terrorists. 

Equally important is having links in the committees relating defence and foreign relations. Senate, House of Representatives and State Departments are among the agencies Pakistan approach through lobbyists.