Pakistan in the line of fire

It is a quite common practice in civilized societies that even seasoned professional columnists like Fareed Zakaria and Thomas Friedman have to take several months of leave for writing a book. Perhaps worthy writers deem it impossible to handle a book-writing project concurrently with their ordinary jobs. Or perhaps their bosses refuse to issue salary checks when they are verifiably preoccupied with extra-curricular activities.

To be a head of state, no matter how ceremonial the post might be, is still a no mundane 40-hours 9-5 M-F task. Heads of states even of inconsequential banana republics are quite busy people with their extremely tight schedules put together several months in advance.

When it comes to heads of government, a normal working week of 120-150 hours is more a rule than an exception. Actually, they are almost never off. To run a country is in a sense 24-365 type of job. 24-hours a day, 365-days of the year, they are supposed to be on duty.

The same must be applicable for any chief of armed forces worth its salt.

Extrapolating a little bit, one can assert with quite certainty that what to talk about head of states or governments and army chiefs aside, even incumbent MDs of medium-sized corporate don’t have the luxury to have requisite free time to scribe a book.

Mr. Musharraf is a record breaker indeed – in many senses. No doubt, our commando saviour craves to do things differently – very differently.

No civilized head of state in modern time has written his memoirs while still in office. Sure, they make notes and write personal diaries to be used later on for leaving a documentary record from their perspective.

Probably that’s why the country is on fire while our desi Nero in his lousy uniform, a uniform he is not entitled to wear since long time back, is writing, promoting his book and making intricate deals with foreign and national publishers for cashing in royalties.

I have always thought that job Chief of Army Staff is more than a full-time job. How naïve of me! Now one of two details must be incorrect. Either he didn’t write his “auto-biography” himself as he inanely claims or he was grossly dishonest to his several concurrent jobs.

Without quibbling over petty details, a couple of questions must be however asked: does the Constitution of Pakistan allow president of the country to have a side business or have another side job? According to media reports, after negotiations Simon & Schuster managed to sign the president up to write his memoirs in early 2005. For this he has reportedly been given a hefty sum as an advance.

Likewise, do rules and regulations of Pak army allow its chief to run a parallel side job? It would also be pertinent to mention that here we are talking about the “commando general” in the line of fire who doesn’t have the courage to fulfil his constitutional obligation of addressing the joint session of the parliament.

Since the public tax- payers’ money is involved in financing the tour, should the citizens of Pakistan expect to be reimbursed from royalty earned by his memoirs.

It really is the case that this military government has touched ever newer, ever higher heights in doing all of those things that should not be done, everything and worse than those it sanctimoniously and pompously accuses its opponents of.

Saddam Hussein, Moammar Qaddafi et al too have some inconsequential books as their authorship. With this book, Mr. Musharraf has fulfilled one of the last remaining requirements to be a full member of the obnoxious club of tin pot dictators. With 99.99 % class referendums, perpetuating himself by every nasty possible mean available, total illegitimacy of his rule and pathological lies, not much efforts required to surpass them soon.

Using public office, official tour, government resources to promote a purely personal project … if it is not corruption and dishonesty then what else could be? Not only that, issues of prime national interests are handled and discussed as directed by his publisher is breach of trust by any
standard.

Musharraf’s refusal to answer reporters’ key question during a visit to the White House — because he was at the mercy of his publisher must be the first time in memory that a head of state had declined to give an answer to a national security question that could have interfered with sales of his book, analysts said. And he is the one who doesn’t get tired saying “Pakistan comes first”. Great.

Looking forward to buy memoirs of serving DG ISI, DG Military Operations, corps commanders et al. Plots at posh urban localities and prime agricultural land worth hundreds of millions Pak Rupees don’t satiate our top brass anymore. Now they barter national secrets for mega deals in hard currency.