Now, to humanise Pakistan

This wide-ranging operation against terrorism, extremism, high crime and corruption is seemingly entering its final phase – something akin to the chase sequence in movies. Hence, there is a need to start thinking about its aftermath. In fact, the military and the civilian leadership should be concerned about how, in a sense, the entire structure of governance is to be redesigned.
It may not be very evident at this time but the success of the ongoing operation will inescapably severely damage the system that had spawned these maladies in the first place. Our social and political arrangements are visibly under stress. Karachi is very much the centre of action and the two political parties that have governed the city and the province are deeply wounded.
I said it many, many years ago – and this has been the general impression that corruption holds this inefficient system together. It serves as a kind of cement. Remove it and everything will come tumbling down. So, what level of corruption in our public life will be acceptable in a, hopefully, rejuvenated Pakistan?
Many difficult questions arise in this respect. We expect that in the process of how Operation Zarb-e-Azb was conceived and how it acquired its intensity and purpose after December 16, 2014, the military had reflected on the genesis of what it has to struggle against. It would be a demanding and delicate exercise, considering that jihadi passions had intentionally been injected into our collective consciousness in another war that was fought in the 1980s.
We have had some hints about modifications in the military doctrine and there was this talk about the enemy within being more threatening to our survival than the enemy across the frontier. But there is still some confusion about the nature of ideological and strategic transformations taking place in the military mind. One should, however, concede that such transformations are not easy to accomplish in the presence of antagonistic differences of opinion.
Ah, but it is the same army that was led by Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq et al. They were individuals who literally seemed to belong to starkly different climes and with a range of intellectual capacities. By the way, the hype that was created about the September ’65 war did provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at the Ayub Khan leadership. His animus against the ‘mullah’ was supplemented with his love for reading books, a habit that is rare even among our political leaders.
Now we have Gen Raheel Sharif at the helm. The manner in which his image is being plugged is a bit disagreeable. But he is universally admired for his resolve and the ability he has demonstrated in leading the campaign against terrorism, extremism, criminal mafia and, instructively, corruption. His formulation is that there is a nexus between these separate activities.
As an aside, I admit that my thoughts about the post-operation state of affairs, with specific reference to the moral, social and intellectual renovation of society, appear to be out of place in the present circumstances. Friday’s tragedy in Makkah has shaken us. And this is a further certification of the 11th of September being an ominous date.
Nine-eleven primarily evokes the memories of the apocalyptic demolition of New York’s iconic Twin Towers. But we also observed on this date the third anniversary of the horrific fire in the Baldia garment factory in Karachi in which as many as 260 lives were lost. And now we have this massive construction crane crashing into the Grand Mosque, the most sacred site for Muslims around the world. More than one hundred pilgrims are reportedly dead and so many more have been injured. It is a colossal tragedy by all means. Hundreds of thousands of intending Hajjis have already arrived in Makkah. Hajj this year will be performed in a sombre atmosphere.
When I learnt about the accident in Makkah, I had half a mind to devote this column to the sorrows of September. There are so many anniversaries to recall. I wanted to underline how the media was distracted from the Baldia fire tragedy to report about country-wide protests against an anti-Islam video posted on YouTube. As many as 15 persons had died in a violent protest and the government played to the gallery by announcing a national holiday to mark ‘Love for the Prophet (pbuh) Day’.
YouTube was promptly banned and it is this September anniversary that I think has a relevance to what I am attempting to underline. How can they ban YouTube and still profess to be combating extremism and intolerance in this country? I wonder if this issue could have been raised at the apex committee meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Thursday. We are told that it continued for five hours and had two sessions.
But a discussion about the impact of the operation on society in general would perfectly be in order. It is not every day that the military and civilian leadership is brought to the same table to exclusively ponder on the National Action Plan. It is fairly extensive and could prompt a deliberation on the need for parallel activities to revitalise the social network in support of the basic objectives of the plan.
Irrespective of the deep confusion that Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan portrays in his observations on non-governmental organisations, the civil society’s role will remain vital in any venture to establish peace and, finally, social justice in Pakistan. A country that is brutalised by terrorism and religious extremism can only be healed with the induction of humane values that have a bearing on the rights and the aspirations of the people.
Establishment of military courts and a disregard for the fundamental human rights may be condoned for a brief period. The only rationale for these extraordinary measures is the ultimate enforcement of democratic values and liberties. At a higher level, we need to foster the creativity of the people and this will call for their participation in socially and spiritually invigorating activities.
In his speech on the Defence Day, Gen Raheel Sharif had said: “We shall not relent until all terrorists, their financiers, abettors, facilitators and sympathisers are brought to justice”. But this cannot be done through military measures alone. The civilians have a large role to play and this, reportedly, was emphasised by the army chief himself in Thursday’s meeting. But the civilian structures appear to be drifting into a state of paralysis.
All the more reason to immediately attend to the renovation of a wounded society.
The writer is a staff member.
Email: ghazi_salahuddin@hotmail. com