chowk@two

(MWZAMAN Manik #I, December 31, 1999)

THE LEGACY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN:

GENESIS OF RUTHLESS AUTHORITARIANISM AND UNDEMOCRATIC MODE OF GOVERNANCE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF PAKISTAN(1947-’55) [PART I]

By M. Waheeduzzaman Manik

The political history of Pakistan is replete with anti-democratic modes of governance. The authoritarianism seems to be the legacy of Pakistan. Indeed, the authoritarianism has always been the hallmark of government and politics of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of the nation, was known for his honesty and integrity of character. Yet, it was Jinnah who laid the foundation of ruthless authoritarianism and centralized political structure in Pakistan. It was him who created the precedents of undemocratic and autocratic modes of governance in Pakistan. He was as much responsible as his successors for the continuation of the undemocratic tradition of authoritarian mode of governance in Pakistan. At the independence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947, Jinnah had both the charisma and authority to introduce democratic norms and institutions in the new nation. Yet, from the beginning, he demonstrated his disdain towards democratic norms and practices. At his behest, an oligarchy was formed for ruling Pakistan with iron fist. The ruling oligarchy was completely divorced from the rudiments of democratic principles and values.

Although Mohammad Ali Jinnah had ruled the nation only for 13 months, his tradition of assumption and exercise of “absolute” state power had dangerous effects on the subsequent rulers of Pakistan. Instead of instituting the ‘institutional rule’, he installed his ‘personal rule’. The way the nation was administered by the founding father and his chief lieutenant Liaquat Ali Khan had invariably conditioned the behavior of the successive regimes.

The re-assessment of the nature of governance of the early years of Pakistan is quite pertinent at a critical juncture of the country when a military dictator has seized state power by force. It is imperative for observers of Pakistani political scene to look back to the past heritage of the country at a time when the military junata has virtually declared Pakistan a polity without politica and politicians.

The main intent of this paper, then, is to examine the genesis of ruthless autocracy and authoritarianism in the early years of Pakistan with specific reference to Jinnah-Liaquat-Ghulam Mohammad regimes. Once Jinnah’s passion for the use of unlimited power and authoritarian mode of governance is overviewed, the undemocratic and autocratic behavior and actions of Ghulam Mohammad will be underscored.

Given the fact that neither Khwaja Nazimuddin nor Mohammad Ali Bogra had any real power, the timid roles of these dwarfed leaders from East Bengal will be discussed with reference to Liaquat Ali Khan and Ghulam Mohammad. Aimed at substantiating my generalizations, some gleanings from well-recognized scholarly works will be quoted. Finally, some concluding observations will be made.

Let me also point out the scope of this commentary: No attempt has been made to cover Iskander Mirza and Ayub Khan years. Hopefully, each of these despicable authoritative regimes can be the focus of separate articles. The power relationship between the Central Government and the Provinces will also not be included within the purview of this paper.

Jinnah’s Passion for Unlimited Power & Undemocratic Mode of Governance

Jinnah was undoubtedly the most effective and powerful President of All-India Muslim League (AIML). There was a total absence of any leader of Jinnah’s stature in the entire AIML to question or challenge his policies or desires in the mid-forties. His words were like dictates from the absolute monarch. He always encouraged lieutenants or loyalists in the party, not colleagues per se. Thus, at the independence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947, Jinnah was all of the following: Quaid-I-Azam, Governor General of Pakistan, President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (which was also the Central Legislature of Pakistan) and the President of Pakistan Muslim League.



In his seminal book titled Pakistan: A Political Study, Keith Callard, one of the early writers on the government and politics of Pakistan, had succinctly observed that people of Pakistan “looked for guidance to their Great Leader, Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. There was no one else, he was Pakistan; and wherever he went he was received by vast crowds with adulation amounting almost to worship.” Keith Callard also underscored that Jinnah “was by nature a commander and leader of men. He was not to be treated as a colleague or even primus inter pares, for he demanded lieutenants who would serve him rather than partners who would argue with him. In manner he was cold, brilliant and unyielding, a man to inspire either fury or devotion. He organized the campaign for Pakistan as though he were a commander-in-chief issuing orders of the day to encourage the troops and tactical directions to control the provincial commanders” (Keith Callard, Pakistan: A Political Study, (New York, N.Y: The Mcmillan Company, 1957, pp. 19-20. Henceforth this book will be cited as Keith Callard, 1957).

Jinnah’s passion for the assumption and consolidation of state powers was evident when the date of partition was nearing. He had selected himself to be the Governor General of Pakistan. According to Ayesha Jalal, “On July 2, 1947, Jinnah formally told Mountbatten that he intended to become Pakistan’s first Governor General. Of course Mountbatten was outraged. It complicated the partition process, as planned by him [Mountbatten], and especially the already odious business of dividing the Indian army. ------- He knew that as Governor-General he would have wide ranging powers over the Muslim areas, powers which he could not possibly afford to let any other individual exercise. Moreover, as the Governor-General of Pakistan, Jinnah felt he would be better placed to ensure the division of the army, and the army was what he needed most of all to clamp central authority over Pakistan’s provinces. At any rate, the Prime Minister of Pakistan would have to take orders from the Governor-General. ‘In my position’, Jinnah told the bemused Viceroy, ‘it is I who will give the advice and others will act on it.’ Mountbatten concluded that Jinnah had either gone ‘mad’ or was suffering from an acute form of ‘megalomania``(Ayesha Jalal, The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985, p. 292).

It is apparent from Ayesha Jalal’s observation that Jinnah made a deliberate choice to assume the position of Governor General of Pakistan. He had planned ahead of time to dictate the terms of reference to the Prime Minister. As the undisputed leader of the All-India Muslim League (AIML), Mohammad Ali Jinnah had consolidated all organizational authorities and powers in his hands even before Pakistan came into being on August 14, 1947. Therefore, he knew it well that there will be no one from his party to oppose him. In fact, he used to act like the Head of the Muslim State before Pakistan was even created. Keith Callard had pointed out long time back in 1957 that as “President of the Muslim League he (Jinnah) felt that he was the effective head of the Muslim nation” (Keith Callard, 1957, p. 20).

The first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (CAP) met on August 10, 1947 (Four days before independence). Jogendra Nath Mondal was made the interim President of CAP. Aimed at controlling both the process and outcome of the Central legislature of Pakistan, Jinnah, the Governor General designate of Pakistan, expressed his desire to be the President of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. The members of the CAP obliged, and on August 11, 1947, they unanimously elected Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the President and Tamijuddin Khan, the Vice President of the CAP. The CAP also passed a resolution conferring on Mohammad Ali Jinnah the title of Quaid-I-Azam (the Great Leader) – a title to be invariably employed in official correspondence of the Government of Pakistan. As noted by Keth Callard, “When Pakistan was formed the Quaid-I-Azam was recognized to be above the political battle, a figure to whom all might turn for authority and justice and protection. He became Governor- General and President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan; ---- he (Jinnah) was the personification of the state” (Keith Callard, 1957, p. 20).

As the Governor General, Mohammad Ali Jinnah had handpicked Nwabzada Liaquat Ali Khan to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan. There is no doubt that Quaid-I-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan was capable of running the administration. Yet, Jinnah decided to retain the de-facto authorities of the Head of the Government in his hands. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet had to hold offices at the pleasure of Jinnah, the Governor General of Pakistan. In other words, Jinnah combined the roles of both the Head of the State and Head of the Government. Was it unconstitutional on the part of Governor General to intrude in carrying out of executive functions of the Prime Minister? I don’t think that it was unconstitutional per se because of the existence of contradictory constitutional provisions. Henry Frank Goodnow has summarized the context: “Prior to 1956 [Constitution] the governing constitutional laws were similar, but the relationship between the Governor General and the cabinet ministers was not entirely clear. The Pakistan Provisional Constitutional Order of 1947 had provided that the Governor General and the provincial governors would act on the advice of their ministers. On the other hand, an unrepealed provision of the Government of India Act of 1935 provided that the ministers were to be chosen by the Governor General and would hold office at his pleasure” (Henry Frank Goodnow, The Civil Service of Pakistan: Bureaucracy in a New Nation, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1964, p.54).

In view of the above-mentioned provision of 1935 Act, Jinnah had the legal basis to establish the Governor -General’s hold over the Cabinet. Yet, it needs to be recognized that he had deliberately ignored the provision in the 1947 Provisional Order in which it was stated that the Governor General would act on the advice of the Cabinet. It is also fair to suggest that it was Jinnah’s responsibility to see to it that the contradictory provision of 1935 was being repealed with the passage of 1947 Provisional order. It is very difficult for me to comprehend after so many years how and why a constitutional lawyer of Jinnah’s stature had used a dead provision of 1935 Act over a provision of 1947 for the purpose of dwarfing the independence of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. At any rate, Jinnah had created a dangerous precedent that directly impacted the relationship between the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the subsequent years, especially when Ghulam Mohammad was the Governor-General of Pakistan. The volatile relationship between the Head of the State and Head of the Government was also a characteristic feature during the years when Iskander Mirza was either Governor-General or President of Pakistan.



With assumption of the Presidency of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, Governor General Jinnah virtually controlled the functions, the process, and the outcomes of the legislative branch of the central government. Such concentration of both the legislative and executive powers of the State in Jinnah’s office of Governor General was nothing short of nullification of the separation of powers between the legislative and the executive branches of government. It was unfortunate that the legislative branch of the central government was rendered impotent from the very beginning of independent Pakistan. Additionally, Jinnah had retained substantial decision-making powers of the Muslim League even though Chowudhury Khaliquzzaman was chosen to be the Chief organizer of the party (later he became the President of Pakistan Muslim League).

In his assessment of the nature of Jinnah’s power, Keith Callard observed: “No constitutional ruler and few autocrats have possessed such plentitude of power. He had full authority over the civil administration and armed forces. By his own order he could amend the existing constitution and promulgate laws that would be beyond the effective of review of any court. These were not powers which existed only on paper and which in practice were limited by the conventions of constitutional responsibility. On the contrary, cabinet ministers understood clearly that they held office as the agents of the Governor-General, and the [Constituent] Assembly, with its powerless opposition, was in no mood to challenge any action of its own President” (Keith Callard, 1957, p. 20).

(TO BE CONTINUED)

assalamu alaikum

Assalam Aalaikum,

Sir, I fell regret for hijacking of Indian

Aircraft It is really shame for muslims..

yours

abdusalam@angelfire.com

Assalamo Alaikum:

I strongly believe that this hijacking drama is all created and wickedly cooked by these military commands and their associates.

I have read with my own eyes about the dismissal of this Commands General way before his even departure from Sri Lanka. Now he is telling all kind of funny stories. The other day he claimed that his wife started crying after learning that the plane is being denied landing rights at the Karachi Airport. It is very hard to believe even for a simple person. The truth of the matter is that she cried over his dismissal from the armed forces rather than landing permission.

All this is being cooked on behalf of rival parties and specially from Military Generals since it was long for them not to be a ruling Monsters. And now I am afraid that if these Generals did not straighten their Qibla soon, the chances are we may be facing the similar situation as was taken place in the East Pakistan (Bangladesh).

I want to make it clear that I am not a friend of Politicians at all. And I am not prepared either to accept these Generals to hijack the civilian elected Government. These politicians are crooked no doubt in mind but I believe that eventually we will come out with a good batch of people some day from civilian elected body, who will make us to walk proudly with global Uma. Insallah.

MTariq_@hotmail.com

In the month of October 1999, I had dedicated/written my comments/view concerning ``YES! MARTIAL LAW IS THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR PAKISTAN ?. I wonder why it has not yet posted? Please advise at your earliest. Thanks.

Asalamo Alaikum

This Commando (Mr.Musharaf) is a chain smoker, lives with Dogs, playing puppet role in the hands of other military generals for their evils especially for the corp commanders of Rawalpindi and Peshawar cores, I am wondering what kind of Islam and Government System he would be imposing to our robed Muslim nation by the Politicians, Bureaucrats and Military?

MS_Tariq@hotmail.com

It is very important that Generals should return to democratic process soon.

But returning to democratic process in the current constitutional framework will be a great folly.

Current constitution is tilted in favor of 1-Prime minister 2-Rich class 3- Larger Province Punjab. And it is very obvious that in a dictatorial regime contradictions in society are not going to surface until things are out of control.

Constitutional framework should address these issue and also issue of check and balance and strengthening of institutions.

Before long we will again be calling for democracy, this time for a new corrupt leader.

Institutions are important and it is very important to have a serious debate on the form of new constitution.

We ran behind slogans and in search of Messiah for too long already.

WANTED

i have read the comments very intrestingly and i have been keenly following up on all the developments going on in Pakistan.

first of all, let me state that i am a blind supporter of democracy! democracy is a MUST for Pakistan and i am sure everyone in Pakistan will believe in this.

now comming to the recent military takeover in Pakistan, i am surprised to be stating that after a long time such a good thing has happened for Pakistan. despite being under a democratic setup for sometime, the true sense of democracy had never come into limelight! the power and the control of the government and the country moved between two groups of politicians and the way both of them destroyed the economy, looted and mismanaged and most of all, broke all records of corruption, trying to superseed eachother, was totally gruesome, unethical, unhuman and unpatriotic!

i might just be a 20 year old young man, but even i could see the problems being faced by our country!

while studying in an asian country(malaysia), which gained its independance around the same time we did, i sadly have to note this down here that the place where they stand, Pakistan is not close to them by unbiased criteria!

when a country stands where we stand even after 52 years of independance, IT IS A SHAME FOR ITS PEOPLE AND ITS GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT SO CALLED ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE!

let me now comeup with what i have been observing about the way the things have been proceeding!

democracy, yes it sounds so nice and so energetic to ears but the problem with the Pakistani nation is they don`t DESERVE a democracy. a government of the people, WOW, what a cool idea......isn`t it? but has anyone ever thought, the people who are going to bring this government up, are they educated enough to do it? let me say out ONE POINT HERE! the population of Pakistan is 150 million approx. and out of that population, only 23% are educated(but in my personal view, the figure is even lower because education should change the mind, the thinking, the thoughts, the ideas). on the closer look of it, it is so sickening to state that the criteria of that 23% figure is based on the ability of an individual to just read a letter and write his name. when a nation is educated to just that level of education, i just ask one question, CAN THAT NATION BE TRUSTED TO CHOOSE A LEADER FOR THEMSELVES? personally, i think it is the worst shame to be elected a PM from a nation like that.

when things are at such a worst level, how can we expect a democracy to work! at-least, for my logical thinking, this seems most immpossible!

here, let me bring up this small point that most people have answered me by saying that even Jinnah brought up a country among these JAHIL people. but let me answer that point once and forall, when Jinnah started, HE WAS NOT elected to become the leader. WAS HE? can u say YES?

i admit i am a part of this JAHIL population. thats why, i myself want a dictator, an educated (whether from army or from civilian), selfless, honest, uncorrupt and pious but a strict and stern ruler for the nation! someone like Jinnah to take the country in his/her hands and take it to levels beyond the imagination of the nation itself.

this is NOT AN IMMPOSSIBLE TASK, we r a nation with EVRERYTHING but we lack leadership and education, rest of the factors r all related.

here, i must state one more thing! the general stated he would bring technocrats and people who deserved to be brought to the top! i have just one question from him? HOW WILL BE FIND FOR SUCH PEOPLE? because of the past 52 years corruption and mismanagement, the people who were deserving and they were a master in there ways but were pious and un-corrupt, they were never allowed to go up. they were faced with so many problems that they never managed to reach the top levels. army might be one exception to it but no other sector, varying from banking to utility providing departments, from police and to the medical depts, all are corrupt!

so just how will u look for people who always deserved to be working in the gevrnment right now! let me quote one small exmaple which i have observed being a son of a banker! during the nawaz regime, the retrenchment of certain banks took place. in a particular bank, a policy of FORCED RETRENCHMENT was carried out. in that RETRENCHMENT, the criterion set was that ANYONE PROMOTED AFTER 1994 WAS TO BE RETRENCHED, a fact so beautifully hid from the layman. the bankers tried to fight for their right but noone listened as all the judiciary was under the nawaz regime`s control. in that retrenchment alone, people who were deserving and who had been working for a long time in that bank, were also KICKED OUT ruthlessly and their years of experience(reaching in cases upto 35 years +) was not taken into consideration. on the other hand, advisors with salaries more than 4 times the salary of the employees were hired and their credibility was totally ignored! let me note down here one more point that in year 1994 alone, those employees whose promotions had been delayed JUST BECAUSE they had denyed corrupt practises was carried out! i just ask one question, WAS THAT FAIR and how will this regime find THISE PEOPLE who were so INSULTINGLY kicked out. who will pay for the shock they were given and who will give them the respect so ruthlessly taken away from them! i just don`t know how will the general fight so much wrong which has been done for such a long time!

to end up my discussion, let me conclude that i am very happy to have seen Pakistan under an army regime but now i want to ask what and HOW will the general carry out what he has promised to do! just looking at one small example i gave above, how will u bring back those worthy people who were kicked out by the Nawaz regime just to save money for their own evil practises!

my mind has questions, questions everyone in Pakistan MIGHT HAVE and i don`t demand answers as i don`t come undera democratic setup anymore but i request answers, answers which i die to listen to!

if anyone wants to contact me, my e-mail is

wiseguy911@hotmail.com

at end, i pray my country can come out of the crisis it is in.

May Allah Help us All.

Pakistan Zindabad.

i have read the comments very intrestingly and i have been keenly following up on all the developments going on in Pakistan.

first of all, let me state that i am a blind supporter of democracy! democracy is a MUST for Pakistan and i am sure everyone in Pakistan will believe in this.

now comming to the recent military takeover in Pakistan, i am surprised to be stating that after a long time such a good thing has happened for Pakistan. despite being under a democratic setup for sometime, the true sense of democracy had never come into limelight! the power and the control of the government and the country moved between two groups of politicians and the way both of them destroyed the economy, looted and mismanaged and most of all, broke all records of corruption, trying to superseed eachother, was totally gruesome, unethical, unhuman and unpatriotic!

i might just be a 20 year old young man, but even i could see the problems being faced by our country!

while studying in an asian country(malaysia), which gained its independance around the same time we did, i sadly have to note this down here that the place where they stand, Pakistan is not close to them by unbiased criteria!

when a country stands where we stand even after 52 years of independance, IT IS A SHAME FOR ITS PEOPLE AND ITS GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT SO CALLED ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE!

let me now comeup with what i have been observing about the way the things have been proceeding!

democracy, yes it sounds so nice and so energetic to ears but the problem with the Pakistani nation is they don`t DESERVE a democracy. a government of the people, WOW, what a cool idea......isn`t it? but has anyone ever thought, the people who are going to bring this government up, are they educated enough to do it? let me say out ONE POINT HERE! the population of Pakistan is 150 million approx. and out of that population, only 23% are educated(but in my personal view, the figure is even lower because education should change the mind, the thinking, the thoughts, the ideas). on the closer look of it, it is so sickening to state that the criteria of that 23% figure is based on the ability of an individual to just read a letter and write his name. when a nation is educated to just that level of education, i just ask one question, CAN THAT NATION BE TRUSTED TO CHOOSE A LEADER FOR THEMSELVES? personally, i think it is the worst shame to be elected a PM from a nation like that.

when things are at such a worst level, how can we expect a democracy to work! at-least, for my logical thinking, this seems most immpossible!

here, let me bring up this small point that most people have answered me by saying that even Jinnah brought up a country among these JAHIL people. but let me answer that point once and forall, when Jinnah started, HE WAS NOT elected to become the leader. WAS HE? can u say YES?

i admit i am a part of this JAHIL population. thats why, i myself want a dictator, an educated (whether from army or from civilian), selfless, honest, uncorrupt and pious but a strict and stern ruler for the nation! someone like Jinnah to take the country in his/her hands and take it to levels beyond the imagination of the nation itself.

this is NOT AN IMMPOSSIBLE TASK, we r a nation with EVRERYTHING but we lack leadership and education, rest of the factors r all related.

here, i must state one more thing! the general stated he would bring technocrats and people who deserved to be brought to the top! i have just one question from him? HOW WILL BE FIND FOR SUCH PEOPLE? because of the past 52 years corruption and mismanagement, the people who were deserving and they were a master in there ways but were pious and un-corrupt, they were never allowed to go up. they were faced with so many problems that they never managed to reach the top levels. army might be one exception to it but no other sector, varying from banking to utility providing departments, from police and to the medical depts, all are corrupt!

so just how will u look for people who always deserved to be working in the gevrnment right now! let me quote one small exmaple which i have observed being a son of a banker! during the nawaz regime, the retrenchment of certain banks took place. in a particular bank, a policy of FORCED RETRENCHMENT was carried out. in that RETRENCHMENT, the criterion set was that ANYONE PROMOTED AFTER 1994 WAS TO BE RETRENCHED, a fact so beautifully hid from the layman. the bankers tried to fight for their right but noone listened as all the judiciary was under the nawaz regime`s control. in that retrenchment alone, people who were deserving and who had been working for a long time in that bank, were also KICKED OUT ruthlessly and their years of experience(reaching in cases upto 35 years +) was not taken into consideration. on the other hand, advisors with salaries more than 4 times the salary of the employees were hired and their credibility was totally ignored! let me note down here one more point that in year 1994 alone, those employees whose promotions had been delayed JUST BECAUSE they had denyed corrupt practises was carried out! i just ask one question, WAS THAT FAIR and how will this regime find THISE PEOPLE who were so INSULTINGLY kicked out. who will pay for the shock they were given and who will give them the respect so ruthlessly taken away from them! i just don`t know how will the general fight so much wrong which has been done for such a long time!

to end up my discussion, let me conclude that i am very happy to have seen Pakistan under an army regime but now i want to ask what and HOW will the general carry out what he has promised to do! just looking at one small example i gave above, how will u bring back those worthy people who were kicked out by the Nawaz regime just to save money for their own evil practises!

my mind has questions, questions everyone in Pakistan MIGHT HAVE and i don`t demand answers as i don`t come undera democratic setup anymore but i request answers, answers which i die to listen to!

if anyone wants to contact me, my e-mail is

wiseguy911@hotmail.com

at end, i pray my country can come out of the crisis it is in.

May Allah Help us All.

Pakistan Zindabad.

i have read the comments very intrestingly and i have been keenly following up on all the developments going on in Pakistan.

first of all, let me state that i am a blind supporter of democracy! democracy is a MUST for Pakistan and i am sure everyone in Pakistan will believe in this.

now comming to the recent military takeover in Pakistan, i am surprised to be stating that after a long time such a good thing has happened for Pakistan. despite being under a democratic setup for sometime, the true sense of democracy had never come into limelight! the power and the control of the government and the country moved between two groups of politicians and the way both of them destroyed the economy, looted and mismanaged and most of all, broke all records of corruption, trying to superseed eachother, was totally gruesome, unethical, unhuman and unpatriotic!

i might just be a 20 year old young man, but even i could see the problems being faced by our country!

while studying in an asian country(malaysia), which gained its independance around the same time we did, i sadly have to note this down here that the place where they stand, Pakistan is not close to them by unbiased criteria!

when a country stands where we stand even after 52 years of independance, IT IS A SHAME FOR ITS PEOPLE AND ITS GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT SO CALLED ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE!

let me now comeup with what i have been observing about the way the things have been proceeding!

democracy, yes it sounds so nice and so energetic to ears but the problem with the Pakistani nation is they don`t DESERVE a democracy. a government of the people, WOW, what a cool idea......isn`t it? but has anyone ever thought, the people who are going to bring this government up, are they educated enough to do it? let me say out ONE POINT HERE! the population of Pakistan is 150 million approx. and out of that population, only 23% are educated(but in my personal view, the figure is even lower because education should change the mind, the thinking, the thoughts, the ideas). on the closer look of it, it is so sickening to state that the criteria of that 23% figure is based on the ability of an individual to just read a letter and write his name. when a nation is educated to just that level of education, i just ask one question, CAN THAT NATION BE TRUSTED TO CHOOSE A LEADER FOR THEMSELVES? personally, i think it is the worst shame to be elected a PM from a nation like that.

when things are at such a worst level, how can we expect a democracy to work! at-least, for my logical thinking, this seems most immpossible!

here, let me bring up this small point that most people have answered me by saying that even Jinnah brought up a country among these JAHIL people. but let me answer that point once and forall, when Jinnah started, HE WAS NOT elected to become the leader. WAS HE? can u say YES?

i admit i am a part of this JAHIL population. thats why, i myself want a dictator, an educated (whether from army or from civilian), selfless, honest, uncorrupt and pious but a strict and stern ruler for the nation! someone like Jinnah to take the country in his/her hands and take it to levels beyond the imagination of the nation itself.

this is NOT AN IMMPOSSIBLE TASK, we r a nation with EVRERYTHING but we lack leadership and education, rest of the factors r all related.

here, i must state one more thing! the general stated he would bring technocrats and people who deserved to be brought to the top! i have just one question from him? HOW WILL BE FIND FOR SUCH PEOPLE? because of the past 52 years corruption and mismanagement, the people who were deserving and they were a master in there ways but were pious and un-corrupt, they were never allowed to go up. they were faced with so many problems that they never managed to reach the top levels. army might be one exception to it but no other sector, varying from banking to utility providing departments, from police and to the medical depts, all are corrupt!

so just how will u look for people who always deserved to be working in the gevrnment right now! let me quote one small exmaple which i have observed being a son of a banker! during the nawaz regime, the retrenchment of certain banks took place. in a particular bank, a policy of FORCED RETRENCHMENT was carried out. in that RETRENCHMENT, the criterion set was that ANYONE PROMOTED AFTER 1994 WAS TO BE RETRENCHED, a fact so beautifully hid from the layman. the bankers tried to fight for their right but noone listened as all the judiciary was under the nawaz regime`s control. in that retrenchment alone, people who were deserving and who had been working for a long time in that bank, were also KICKED OUT ruthlessly and their years of experience(reaching in cases upto 35 years +) was not taken into consideration. on the other hand, advisors with salaries more than 4 times the salary of the employees were hired and their credibility was totally ignored! let me note down here one more point that in year 1994 alone, those employees whose promotions had been delayed JUST BECAUSE they had denyed corrupt practises was carried out! i just ask one question, WAS THAT FAIR and how will this regime find THISE PEOPLE who were so INSULTINGLY kicked out. who will pay for the shock they were given and who will give them the respect so ruthlessly taken away from them! i just don`t know how will the general fight so much wrong which has been done for such a long time!

to end up my discussion, let me conclude that i am very happy to have seen Pakistan under an army regime but now i want to ask what and HOW will the general carry out what he has promised to do! just looking at one small example i gave above, how will u bring back those worthy people who were kicked out by the Nawaz regime just to save money for their own evil practises!

my mind has questions, questions everyone in Pakistan MIGHT HAVE and i don`t demand answers as i don`t come undera democratic setup anymore but i request answers, answers which i die to listen to!

if anyone wants to contact me, my e-mail is

wiseguy911@hotmail.com

at end, i pray my country can come out of the crisis it is in.

May Allah Help us All.

Pakistan Zindabad.

I DO NOT WANT TO BE EXTREMIST,BUT THE WAY ALL THESE CORRUPT LEADERS LOOTED MY BELOVED COUNTRY FOR 52-YEARS ,IT IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE REVANGE.I WISH PAK ARMY PUT ALL CORRUPT LEADERS IN A FULLY INSURED SHIP(I DO NOT WANT TO LOOSE MONEY) AND TAKE THAT SHIP TO DEEP INSIDE ARABIAN SEA AND TEST OUR NEW ANTI-SHIP MISSILE MADE BY WHO ELSE DR A.Q.LABS.GOD BLESS PAKISTAN.

This is in support of the army action in Pakistan,

and Bilal Musharraf`s letter. I shall give my rea-

sons for this.

Pakistan faces a tremendous and crucial opportun-

ity in its history to make a new start in a proper

direction. But first, let us look at Western

hypocrisy a bit. Since 12 October, the western

world has been harping on sorrowfully about

``democracy`` in Pakistan, i.e referring to the

past decade`s free-for-all that assailed our

country as a ``democratic`` period. Nothing could

be a more clear indicator of their intentions.

Let me now introduce myself. I am 31, unmarried,

and live in Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan, where I was

born. My late father was a Pathan, and my mother

is English. She has lived here for the past 40

years since marrying my father and is still here.

In my physical appearance and features I take

almost totally after her, and my features are so

European, that I am always mistaken for an

``Angrez`` except by those who know me. Yet I have

only been on three short trips to Britain (and

one to Canada), and I don`t have a British

passport. The only one I have is Pakistani.

I mentioned western hypocrisy above; yet even

more reprehensible in this regard is the role

of ``overseas Pakistanis``, whose protestations

concerning our ``democracy`` can be seen plastered

all over sites such as this. At worst, they are

mostly deliberately vague and pretentious, not

treating the matter with the seriousness it des-

erves. Or either they display the cluelessness

characteristic of western society`s concern with

``boring`` matters other than baseball or the latest

soap.

The easy proffering of smarmy words of opinion and

advice from the comforts of abroad (in the West)

is nothing marvellous. In fact, their comments

seem mainly designed to ``fit in`` with the gullible, flighty and unconcerned liberalism of

western general public opinion. This is obviously

to influence it in its misperception that Pakistani reality is the same as the western, so

that the overseas Pakistanis can continue to be

regarded ``normally`` just as westerners would

regard themselves. So that they can fit in to

``their`` (adopted) societies and be viewed as

``Europeans``, ``British``, ``Americans`` or ``Canadians``

effortlessly and without suspicion. Nothing could be further from the truth. This attitude, among

other reasons also, is why Pakistan`s image has

been so tarnished abroad, and why ``Paki`` has

become the stock swearword of hate and description

of contempt. We have permitted them this lever

to use against us.

Overseas Pakistanis have so much potential; but

by becoming ``runaways`` they are criminally

guilty. If their intentions were true, they could

have been the main force and influence of change

back where they truly belonged. In their foster

societies, they are un-needed and for the most

part, unwanted. Latching onto and integrating

into readymade systems created by the toil and

honesty of a christian and European ethos is

easy. But it does not bear the stamp of legitimacy, which all our expatriates are sub-

conciously aware of and haunted by. Their true

value would only be created if they themselves

managed to create and set up such a system

and resources here, in their own home.

Hic Rhodus, Hic Salta as the time honoured wisdom

puts it. Pakistan needs more than just foreign exchange remittances. It needs sacrifice, pioneer-

ing effort, individual creativity, and even fight-

ing (if it is used to confront our ills). It is a shame , as Bilal Musharraf says, that such things

are wanting even after 52 years. What we don`t

need is fancy declarations and ill conceived

opinions from those abroad who want to have their

cake and eat it. Let us support the army, as this

time its intentions appear true. If they don`t

at a later stage, we can always reconsider our support.

The western establishments too, are cunning and

hypocritical. Perhaps they have allowed such

large cmmunities of Pakistanis to settle through-

out their territories, because they need a ``cons-

tituency`` of anxious fifth columnist supporters

while carrying out their unfair exploitation over

here.

(Note to editor: The last paragraph was missed

out in my submission a few minutes earlier.

Kindly post this submission in place of that one.

All else remains the same).

This is in support of the army action in Pakistan,

and Bilal Musharraf`s letter. I shall give my rea-

sons for this.

Pakistan faces a tremendous and crucial opportun-

ity in its history to make a new start in a proper

direction. But first, let us look at Western

hypocrisy a bit. Since 12 October, the western

world has been harping on sorrowfully about

``democracy`` in Pakistan, i.e referring to the

past decade`s free-for-all that assailed our

country as a ``democratic`` period. Nothing could

be a more clear indicator of their intentions.

Let me now introduce myself. I am 31, unmarried,

and live in Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan, where I was

born. My late father was a Pathan, and my mother

is English. She has lived here for the past 40

years since marrying my father and is still here.

In my physical appearance and features I take

almost totally after her, and my features are so

European, that I am always mistaken for an

``Angrez`` except by those who know me. Yet I have

only been on three short trips to Britain (and

one to Canada), and I don`t have a British

passport. The only one I have is Pakistani.

I mentioned western hypocrisy above; yet even

more reprehensible in this regard is the role

of ``overseas Pakistanis``, whose protestations

concerning our ``democracy`` can be seen plastered

all over sites such as this. At worst, they are

mostly deliberately vague and pretentious, not

treating the matter with the seriousness it des-

erves. Or either they display the cluelessness

characteristic of western society`s concern with

``boring`` matters other than baseball or the latest

soap.

The easy proffering of smarmy words of opinion and

advice from the comforts of abroad (in the West)

is nothing marvellous. In fact, their comments

seem mainly designed to ``fit in`` with the gullible, flighty and unconcerned liberalism of

western general public opinion. This is obviously

to influence it in its misperception that Pakistani reality is the same as the western, so

that the overseas Pakistanis can continue to be

regarded ``normally`` just as westerners would

regard themselves. So that they can fit in to

``their`` (adopted) societies and be viewed as

``Europeans``, ``British``, ``Americans`` or ``Canadians``

effortlessly and without suspicion. Nothing could be further from the truth. This attitude, among

other reasons also, is why Pakistan`s image has

been so tarnished abroad, and why ``Paki`` has

become the stock swearword of hate and description

of contempt. We have permitted them this lever

to use against us.

Overseas Pakistanis have so much potential; but

by becoming ``runaways`` they are criminally

guilty. If their intentions were true, they could

have been the main force and influence of change

back where they truly belonged. In their foster

societies, they are un-needed and for the most

part, unwanted. Latching onto and integrating

into readymade systems created by the toil and

honesty of a christian and European ethos is

easy. But it does not bear the stamp of legitimacy, which all our expatriates are sub-

conciously aware of and haunted by. Their true

value would only be created if they themselves

managed to create and set up such a system

and resources here, in their own home.

Hic Rhodus, Hic Salta as the time honoured wisdom

puts it. Pakistan needs more than just foreign exchange remittances. It needs sacrifice, pioneer-

ing effort, individual creativity, and even fight-

ing (if it is used to confront our ills). It is a shame , as Bilal Musharraf says, that such things

are wanting even after 52 years. What we don`t

need is fancy declarations and ill conceived

opinions from those abroad who want to have their

cake and eat it. Let us support the army, as this

time its intentions appear true. If they don`t

at a later stage, we can always reconsider our support.

Reply to Bilal Musharraf:

I fully support the army take-over.I feel that the

replies given by the army spokesman to the international media need some improvement:

When asked about the overthrow of a democratically

elected government,he could add the following

points:

1)that the Nawaz Sharif govt.may have been elected,but it was the most autocratic govt.in

Pakistan`s history;

2)that the overwhelming support of the people of

Pakistan to his removal,matters more to us than

international opinion;

3)a counter-question to these correspondents could

be:In which western democracy would a head of

govt.communicate with the air traffic control and

order the diversion of a flight to a third country

and refuse permission to land of an airline,thereby endagering the lives of 200 innocent people.

4)Nawaz Sharif had blocked all the constitutional

routes to change of goverment and had assumed

absolute powers.The country was sliding down the

path of total destruction and the armed forces

were the only institution which was in a position

to prevent that from happening.

Syed Salam

What next?

It has been amply proven by the rule of Z A Bhutto, Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, that the constitution of 1973 has failed miserably to keep a system of check and balance on Prime Minister, who is also the political party.

The three institutions. Administration, Judiciary and Army should have no interference from outside political or otherwise.

Also sacking of NWFP and Baluchistan Government by Z A Bhutto and now running of sind as a colony by Nawaz Sharif raises concerns about minority provinces. I think senators should also be elected by direct vote of the people, rather than by assembly members and their election should be at different time may be in the middle of tenure of Government to also acts as a check on Government`s efficiency.

One of the thing which was seen in Sharif`s regime is, he would pass a legislation, which would come into effect right away. Later on if it is rejected by court, they would come up with something new to serve the same purpose. If legislation before it is passed should go to judiciary for its constitutionality before it becomes law is an option. Like 14th ammendment clearly violates freedom of conscience (if politicians have that) and speech.

May be I am suggesting the stop gap measures only.

Who will do that.

I think, a team of jurists, politicians, economist and people from other walks of life should be given a task to draft the constitution, get a referendum on that and elect the next parliament on that basis.

Particularly, the objective of constitution, whatever one wants to put, cannot be changed by any government, unless approved by assemblies and with referendum.

In short, to involve the people in nation building, we have to involve the parties.

The orientation of constitution should be in that direction. Also the development of country should go along with fruits of development reaching to common man.

Points are.

1- Judiciary, Army, and Administration should not have any interference from outside and should be strengthened as institutions.

2- There should be a system of check and balance.

3- Direct election of senator discordant with National assembly.

As far as Ehtesab is concerned, it should be done.

to punish the culprits, to show other people, and also as a measure, so that looters of National exchequer should not be elected on the basis of their looted money.

What is the role of article 62 and 63 as proclaimed by certain parties. I think, anybody involved in crime, should be barred from taking part in election, no more no less.

Any experiment in Dictatorship at top and democracy at bottom is going to fail, as is evidenced by Russian experiment,Ayub Khan`s experiment and Zia-ul-Haque experiment.

It is also evident, that election with current constitutional set up is going to lead to another cycle of Martial law or sacking of Government, because the constitution gives excessive power to prime minister without any check and balance.

I don`t want to elect my own dictator.