Unfit For Command

It would be an entirely superfluous endeavour to discuss Musharraf’s recent callous remarks about rape victims of Pakistan, before that adding poor Mukhtaran Bibi’s name on the notorious “Exit Control List”, restricting her movement, taking away her passport, crudely gagging her and idiotically barring her from proceeding abroad, according to moral and legal norms. Because, talking about morality, legalities and justice with our incumbent rulers would be tantamount to asking stones to shed tears.

Having said that, the both episodes are not only outrageous and sheer PR-disasters they contain within terrifying long-term consequences for the country. Beyond ordinary human rights issues, there are a several more intriguing aspects needed to be looked into. Thus, let’s set aside all demands for propriety, turn a blind eye to even basic most ethics for the sake of simplicity, keep it strictly confined to non-normative precincts and dilate upon it through pragmatic lenses alone.

The manner a very simple, unnecessary issue had been handled, sorry mishandled, right from the top most office-holder down to foot soldiers makes your skin crawl. Sure, disgusting it was to observe the grisly treatment meted out to a hapless but pretty sensible woman, actually much more disturbing was to discern the total lack of analytical prowess of our rulers. If positive publicity and preventing bad image for Pakistan was Mr Musharraf’s goal, he could not have chosen a worse strategy on both occasions.

Observe, now everyone is not just condemning Musharraf for this idiocy, but also badmouthing Pakistan with an intensity seldom seen before. A lot more worrisome side-effect is that an increasing number of influential writers are also questioning Pakistan’s record on assorted fronts not even remotely related to this issue. From A Q affair to insurgency in IHK, anti-terrorism drive along the Afghan border, we are being scrutinized as never before. And rest assured more to follow. For what? Only because of one man’s high handedness, his total intellectual bankruptcy and his awful supporters and advisers.

"Leave it to me and I will not let Pakistan surrender to the US or India." President General Pervez Musharraf pledged to Kashmiri leaders in a briefing in Rawalpindi recently. Likewise, when asked last year if the world would pardon Dr Khan as he had done, the president said: "Leave it to me. I am standing between Dr Khan and the world community. Nothing will happen to him."

The very pertinent question, we must ask today: can this man be trusted upon? His honesty have we already witnessed on a number of times – may it be pledge not to perpetuate himself to not holding bogus referendum to doffing uniform. His values and patriotism have we already observed umpteen times – from the quality and quantity of his ministers to the dismal performance of NAB to orchestrating the complete rupture of judiciary and other civil institutions. If there was any doubt left in any respect, the recent display of his superb administrative skills and palpable mental insanity has shattered that one too.

To tell the truth, instead of a seasoned statesman, he behaves more like a half-mad janitor. He doesn’t allow some Pakistani citizens to enter the country, an unambiguous ruling from the Supreme Court of Pakistan notwithstanding. To some he doesn’t allow to leave no matter if not accused of even jumping the red light at traffic crossing. It vividly shows why and how he will end up damaging Pakistan’s interest while trying to do exactly the opposite. It is all so depressing.

Do we afford this one-man spoof as a nation state? Some collective soul-searching would be well advised.

Never mind that Mukhtaran had already been to several countries, including our arch-enemy India, and had posed no threat to Pakistan’s image before. It all started when an ex-army chief, currently posted as Pakistan’s envoy to Washington, declaring Mukhtaran a gross risk to “supreme national interests” ordered the Foreign Office in Islamabad to scuttle poor lady’s forthcoming visit to the United States. His successor in the coveted office duly complying with his sagacious advice. Welcome to the invincible and enlightened land of pure.

Well, it is hard not to marvel about the mental and moral horizon of our star officers. In particular, when the general-ambassador in question used to be projected as “intellectual general” during his tenure. The other markets himself as indispensable for the very existence of the country. Taken together, the sordid chain of events makes one shudder.

I can bet 90 % rikshaw-wallas plying the roads of Pakistan would have shown better judgement in analogous circumstances than the infinite wisdom of two consecutive chiefs of army staff put together – without ever crossing the well-guarded gates of fabulous Staff College.

The book Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry by John E. O’Neill and Jerome R. Corsi, which claimed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry lied to get his Vietnam medals, is widely held to have damaged the Massachusetts senator’s campaign. In due course, Mukhtaran Mai: Exposing a Tin-pot Dictator & His Perverted Moderation, will cost Musharraf his uniform as well as presidency.

Apropos the legendary valour and celebrated steadfastness of our commando saviour, it would be interesting to mention that a call of PA to Under Secretary, South Asia at the State Department was enough to make him prompt U-turn, yet again - in supreme national interests. Past a general-salute to Daddy Bush on video telephone, travel restrictions on Mukhtaran were instantly lifted, her passport promptly delivered back.

A commander with this analytical prowess and moral values, would be a danger not only to Islamic Republic of Pakistan but also to entire South Asia, if not beyond. Entrusting him nuclear weapons on one hand and leaving the fate of 160 million in his hands on the other is nothing less than a suicide attempt. Interestingly suicide attempt is also cognisable offence in the land of pure.