Muhammad Usman
WITH dismemberment of Pakistan, 20 December 1971 was a day of gloom and despair when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over reins of government as President and Civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator of the country. Pakistan faced a total crisis in every sense of the word. A seasoned top bureaucrat, Roedad Khan wrote that on same day, he was among Federal Secretaries who were summoned to President House for the address by him at this critical hour of our history. When he came to speak, he appeared to us that man of hour has arrived. It was moment of truth and its thrust was so immense that we all wished and prayed for his success. “He must succeed” was the earnest of concern from bottom of our hearts despite certain misgivings about him and he delivered. Such were not only sentiments of civil servants but of whole nation. All opposition parties also shared similar thoughts and acted alike while relegating politics in subordination of larger good of the country. Leadership of the entire opposition was present at Lahore Airport to see him off when he left for Simla for tough talks with India.
Though our chequered history is replete of series of crises however, at two times, these were fraught with extreme dangers. At one time, this was in 1971 as mentioned above. The second time it was when Imran Khan took over the country but contrarily, was unlucky to inherit a divided house apart from a total mess, economically, politically, administratively, morally and socially. He has a combined opposition who plundered the country mercilessly as vultures do for their sustenance. On top of this, there is almost half of the population who consider these vultures as their saviours because of their acute simple-mindedness, gullibility and short-sightedness for momentary benefits. Precisely this is the reason that despite huge baggage of their misdeeds, they continue to play tricks with impunity to dodge the bullet of accountability and spare no effort to discredit or weaken the government, busy overtime in salvage act for national survival out of punishing crisis which is not of its creation but of theirs.
With skilful use of sophistry, chicanery, guile and craft, they have passed the buck and now have the temerity aplenty to hold government accountable for having failed to do the job. During their rule, over a period of three decades, opposition parties, known in common parlance, ruling elite, have cobbled together a cable of mutual vested interests which is still quite alive and responds to their calls whenever they are in need. This comprised of civil bureaucracy including other important national institutions, business tycoons and a number of media houses. With its effective support, every move of ruling elite snows ball as it would bring down the government or would damage it grievously. Notable examples are perception management, raft of speculations/rumours, economic vandalism, no confidence move against Senate Chairman and march/sit in of Maulana Fazlur Rehman at Islamabad. Although these moves failed to achieve targets as projected painstakingly however, achieved what these were actually aimed at. Basically their motive was to distract attention of government and impede its pursuit for betterment of the country particularly, revival of economy. They did it unrelentingly regardless of what it could cost to the country. The self interest is in their DNA. Their past record is its testimony and their present also signifies no change for future. The significant success of government of Imran Khan is an absolute anathema to them because it would ultimately end their game of fraud and deceit to satisfy their lasting insatiable desire of power and material possessions. Neither earlier, they have relented nor would now to destabilize government of Imran Khan albeit unsuccessfully but at least, optically for some time to pocket maliciously whatever is possible.
On their itinerary is no confidence move against PM for in-house change. With statements of Shabaz Sharif and Bilawal, its possibility has already been aired but probably would be kept on hold until fates of quest of Maryam Nawaz for travelling abroad and release of Zardari’s clan on bail are seen. Notwithstanding their skilled gimmickry, apparently, this move appears to be more calamitous for PM because of numerical strength of opposition parties in national assembly and inherent weaknesses of a coalition government however, in reality, this would also bite the dust as it did at no confidence move against Senate Chairman. The informed sections of society believe that Imran Khan is only and last hope. With possible turn around in economy, government’s renewed efforts to improve governance and its overall direction and focus, their belief is more solidified.
For sake of academic discussion, if move is successful, Imran Khan would not sit idle at home. He would take to street to expose the malice behind the move though constitutionally covered. The people are likely to rally around them for the wrong done to him. He might have not delivered according to expectations, but his performance in content, far exceeds Pakistani’s standards. Under these circumstances, no government could function with ease and no MNA on both sides of the fence, would like to lose the job so prematurely. In spite of its obvious failure, they could table it sooner or later because it would serve their underhand objective of causing confusion and uncertainty in the country.
— The writer, a retired Lt Col, is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.
