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Breaking the spell of power
I wanted all PP to read this article, that's why I am posting it so that everyone can see. Please keep the debates in the Democratic Future of Pakistan thread.
Breaking the spell of power
Source: The News
Quote:
The old adage has it right: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In human history, only the chosen few have been able to reject the seductive embrace of power. Their uncommon valour and magnanimity have endeared them to posterity. We find such illustrious examples a rarity in Pakistan, where the jockeying for unbridled power has become worse than ever.
A joke making rounds among overseas Pakistanis is that their country recently was adjudged the most corrupt nation on earth, a distinction it managed to shed only after bribing the judges. The result: it moved down to number two, with Nigeria leading the pack.
The lure of power, and the fear of losing it, is driving the leaders in Pakistan to desperation. We all hope that their despondency will not result in disastrous actions. But that might just be wishful thinking, given the ominous signs all around us.
Unfortunately, the usurpers of power often commit oppression to frighten the populace and keep them in line. Their original mistake, the illegitimate acquisition of power, inevitably leads them to commit many more mistakes. They never learn.
For almost half its life, Pakistan has lived intermittently under stiff military rule, punctuated by episodes of civilian governments during the rest. The military, echoing the Maoist theory that political power comes from the barrel of a gun, threw out the civilian government, appointing themselves temporary caretakers. Their excuse: the civilian government was corrupt, inept and unable to protect the nation against external threats.
As a nation we must make a distinction between criticism and critique, and between those who criticize only to help and those who do so only to harm. The people of Pakistan have an inalienable right to voice their concern when things go awry, because they are the real stakeholders.
Gandhi famously remarked during the anti-British struggle that the 'power of the ruler is derived from the consent of the ruled.” When the people of Pakistan have withdrawn their consent from the rulers, whether military or civilian, it is enough reason for them to quit and allow a new election. Engaging in gimmicks to stay in power, or muffling the media, or lashing out against recalcitrant voices is not the way to handle popular discontent. No amount of political realignment of forces or wheeling and dealing can change the fundamental issue of legitimacy.
President General Musharraf said something very interesting the other day. He complained, somewhat bitterly, that most of his allies had left him in the lurch. The statement is worth serious reflection. After all, why do people desert allies? Did Musharraf's supporters back out because supporting him was no longer defensible or in personal best interest? Could they be upset that some of the controversial decisions were made without their input?
Most rulers often commit the same mistake: look at the world through the tinted glasses of their inner circle. The men and women around the ruler tell him what he wants to hear and show him what he wants to see. They paint a rosy picture of the regime until the very last moment, isolating their leader in a utopian bubble.
It has been recorded that Muslim caliphs in the early days of Islam would patrol the streets of Madina in disguise to gauge the situation of the people without any filters. There were no motorcades, no trappings of power, nothing between them and the people who had appointed them as their ruler.
Some of President Nixon's advisors aided him in his abuse of power. They must have known that breaking into the Democratic Party's headquarters in Washington was illegal, yet most went along. The result was the Watergate scandal, a national disaster of immense proportions. A modern American president came imminently close to impeachment and resigned in disgrace. Disclosures from former Nixon officials and declassification of archived information show a president who was obsessed with winning and degrading his opponents. Nixon's advisors, dubbed "All the President's Men” in a Hollywood movie of the same name, deceived the president and left him in the lurch when the situation became too hot.
Sometimes leaders delude themselves into believing that the situation is not all that grave. Toward the waning days of the Mughal rule in India, Mohammad Shah Rangeela, a king steeped in worldly pleasures, dismissed the repeated warnings of his chief of security about the looming attack of Nadir Shah, declaring "hunooz dilli door ast.” Not long after, Nadir Shah's forces descended on Delhi and ransacked it. The callousness of the king in the face of an imminent disaster has become a proverb in the Indian subcontinent.
While discussing Pakistan 's current turmoil, -- the chief justice's suspension, government's threat to the media, and Musharraf's reported secret deal with the PPP -- let's not be carried away by the hype. Yes, the suspension of the chief justice has galvanized popular resentment against Gen Musharraf's government and given huge impetus to the democratic aspirations of people. But before we get too cosy with political parties and jump on their bandwagon it would be important to remember how Pakistan faired under the so-called democracies.
Two of the democratically elected governments were dismissed on allegations of incompetence and rampant corruption. Others were accused of vote rigging, nepotism and graft. Sounds familiar? You bet! It's a sad commentary on our situation that if free elections were held today, the two former prime ministers would have the greatest chance of winning. Will they bring integrity and transparency into their new administration or once again busy themselves settling personal vendettas and making up for past "losses?”
The fear of revenge from deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif or a hostile coalition coming to power in the wake of a free election might be a major stumbling block in Musharraf relinquishing authority. Usually when Pakistani rulers leave, investigations and "white papers” follow. The next stop is exile or worse.
It's unfortunate that this "Land of the Pure” has been sucked into a culture of chronic abuse of power by civilian and military governments. The seesaw power struggle between political and military leaderships has done a great disservice to the country. The military leaders who covet political power have to ask what effect such pursuit has on their ability to defend the country against external threats. Armed forces that are wedded to their traditional role command respect from the people. On the other hand, they invite contempt and opprobrium if they politicize themselves.
Pakistan urgently needs to get out of this alternating cycle of civilian-military fiascos. President Musharraf, who has often spoken with candour and honesty, can break this cycle by holding a completely fair and independently verifiable election without any strings attached. He would be taking a personal risk, but it would be good for the country. In so doing, he might bequeath a good legacy. The political parties on their part can also help by eschewing revenge. Pakistan cannot afford another round of regressive politics and violence. We don't need lofty promises on the election eve, only small and sustainable actions after the election.
Our next goal should be to strengthen checks and balances in the Pakistani constitution, enhance civil liberties, and build strong and resilient institutions. Yes, absolute power corrupts absolutely, but our system of checks and balances should not allow anyone to assume absolute power to begin with. Our generals and politicians can help us by playing their appropriate roles responsibly.
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13th June 2007, 21:28
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