A busy week

The Supreme Court has concluded its hearing of the Panama leaks case and that should put an end to the media-oriented circus that coincided with the court’s proceedings. Government spokespersons and PTI leaders demonstrated their utter lack of respect for the age-old tradition of avoiding publicity for sub judice matters. The debate began within the court’s premises and then moved outside its gate. Now that the bench hearing the Panama case has reserved its judgement, a large number of overexcited protagonists are wondering how to stay in the limelight that they have become addicted to.

The chaos surrounding Panama has proved once again that the political class is addicted to theatrics geared towards either staying in power or forcing out an incumbent government. The commando’s words – which referred to our system as a “sham democracy” – instantly come to mind but quickly recede when we consider that he too had fallen for ruling the world’s sixth most populous country with the help of the B team of these very people.

Coincidentally, a discourse of a former chief justice of India went viral for suggesting that Indian politicians were a bunch of rogues and should be done away with to usher a revolution. I have a problem with former justice Katju’s diagnosis and prescription of the problem. The politicians who usually win elections are the same who can sway public opinion in their favour. The voters have an idea of which candidates are likely to meet their expectations. Honesty and forthrightness do not appear to be decisive factors in determining what their choice will be. The judge should look more profoundly into how and why corrupt politicians win elections.

The point that is worthy of consideration at this juncture is whether a court ruling can cut short the career of Pakistan’s longest-ruling civilian leader. Mian Sahib looks shaken from his travails but he is a strong believer in destiny and, though he is soft-spoken, he has proved to be a resolute fighter in this country’s tumultuous politics.

This softness was witnessed when he said that there was a strong likelihood that foreign elements were involved in the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. His nuanced remark was quite different from the loud claims by PML-N spokespersons and several others that India – in conjunction with its Afghan friends – was behind the upsurge in terrorism. These countries are, of course, using Pakistani traitors to send innocent people as human bombs to spread death and destruction in the motherland.

The prime minister claims that the recrudescence of attacks is being orchestrated by the enemies of the progress that he has bestowed on this land since 2013?

India has excelled at blaming Pakistan for the latest uprising in Kashmir – which was born of its own repressive policies against Kashmiri Muslims. It has also perfected the technique of magnifying the role of Pakistan-based militants. But these exaggerations have run their course as the declared objective of isolating Pakistan in the international community has failed to materialise, with many countries emphasising the resumption of Pakistan-India talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

We do not get to hear any more about plans to isolate Pakistan. India has instead decided to bleed Pakistan through militants from the Jamaatul Ahrar. The ever-shaky rulers of Kabul – rattled by a series of deadly terror attacks by the Taliban and the Haqqani Network in recent months – are willing partners in this game of destabilising Pakistan. Then there are the disgruntled jihadis who have chosen to align themselves with Daesh to carry out a sectarian war in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The relevant stakeholders must understand that we cannot gain much by creating media hype around acts of terror, showing exaggerated knee-jerk reactions and announcing new military operations. It also will not help if the ISPR glorifies military-led operations which appear to undermine civilian authority. An operation like Raddul Fasaad should have been announced by the government. There is only so much the military can do against a largely invisible enemy which attacks by stealth.

A new code of conduct is needed whereby the media avoids covering terror attacks in a manner that causes panic, and the authorities remain modest about their claims of killing terrorists. The authorities should carry out surveillance and intercept potential attackers rather than spreading mass hysteria. The people and the government must accept that there are no short cuts to eliminating the cancer of terrorism and curbing a deeply entrenched ‘jihadi’ mindset. Similarly, proxy wars are played by many and will not cease unless a grand bargain is reached between those controlling the commanders and foot soldiers.

Nawaz Sharif is probably aware of the shortcomings of the National Action Plan against terrorism. He may also believe that unless a broader understanding is reached between the spooks of the three countries, there is only so much NAP and other arrangements or operations can achieve.

There are also numerous suggestions of conducting meetings between the ISI and their Afghan counterparts to find a common ground on the ways to reduce terror attacks.

Let us hope that this becomes a reality sooner than later and similar initiatives are taken between India and Pakistan. Without adopting bold steps in this direction, the problem will not go away any time soon.

Email: saeed.saeedk@gmail.com