‘Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal’ Martin Luther King.
Pakistan, a unique State that came into existence in 1947 and ever since then has remained in search of a national identity. The justification for demanding and then acquiring a separate homeland is vehemently supported by the ‘two nation theory’. That is usually explained as that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations and could never live together. The Quaid is quoted on this and referred to but there are so many quotes of his that are also ignored when convenient and as is in this case, deliberately misunderstood for so many ulterior motives. However, the Ulema strongly protested against the establishment of Pakistan. This contradicts the popular belief that Pakistan came about because of an Islamic Movement. Pakistan came about because of a political movement and not a religious movement.
In fact, The Republic of Pakistan was later labelled as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956 – more as an afterthought than a raison d’etre. Pakistan’s self-inflicted disaster gradually progressed from 1949 to 1973 and was determined to marry the State to an ideology. Now one is in a quandary as to who one is, where one had come from and what should one do – a people stranded amidst confusion and contradictions, who were once promised liberty, freedom and fraternity in a country free of Hindu dominated politics are hostage instead, to the belligerency and the rhetoric of demagogues. The 1940 Lahore Resolution never mentioned the ‘two nation theory’, and the word Islam is not mentioned even once in its text; in fact, it never demanded a separate State for the Muslims but was more focused on getting Muslim Rights in a Hindu Majority Regime.
In the end, the contradiction of the Lahore Resolution lies in the fact that the Muslims in Hindu dominated areas were abandoned (who were far more in number than other Muslims) while the Muslims in the Muslim majority areas were protected though they did not need any protection.
Similarly, it is universally believed now, that Pakistan was created with the slogan, ‘Pakistan ka matlab kia, La illaha ilallah’, a slogan never used by the Quaid-e–Azam himself. Indeed Jinnah ruled out, ‘Pakistan ka matlab kia, La illaha ilallah’, when he censured a Leaguer at the last session of the All India League after Partition in these words, ‘Neither I nor the Muslim League Working Committee ever passed a resolution – Pakistan ka matlab kia, La illaha ilallah – you can use it to catch a few votes.’[1]
Also, the Two Nation Theory was a concept that was created by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a contemporary of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who he was very close to. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad used substantial part of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s philosophies[2] on religion and ideology in his own writings that ultimately became the religious thought of the Ahmadiyya Community[3]. However, when the Quaid articulated the Two Nation Theory, he referred to language, culture, family laws and historical antecedents[4]. He was making a case for changing the status of a minority into a nation and not separating Islam from India as is alleged by his distractors. H.V. Hodson, the Reforms Commissioner of India believed that ‘Pakistan’ was a revolt against a minority status.
The Two Nation Theory, as is currently distorted, was turned on its head with the break-away of east Pakistan. In fact, if seen in hindsight, it was about the Hindus as a majority nation, and the ‘others’ as minority nations, that could never live under an intolerant Hindu dominated democracy whether they be the Sikh, Christians or the Muslims. A reality that has been proved correct today in so many ways.
Thus the reality of our current national position is deeply embedded in the distortions of history, as lies were written and truth suppressed in narratives that were either invented or twisted. Slowly, a perception was shaped which took hold over the years, that of an ideological state rather than a political one, which is now very difficult to challenge. Yet, if we are ever to become a nation at all, it is this false narrative that needs to be questioned, challenged and overruled.
This a very difficult ask and will be resisted tooth and nail by the current leadership as well as the Ulema. However, the choice is that we either accept this false and engineered narrative as the reality today and live with it as we already have or gradually change the narrative. We need to bring it back to where it started from, freeing us from the religious bigotry imposed upon us and the hypocrisy we witness in our leadership everyday as each one of them exploits religion and politicises our belief.
Now today, after 76 years of its existence, Pakistan still refuses to be a country and remains in search of its identity. This is because of the contradictions in the thought leading to our conception where ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’ conveniently became ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’, Where Unity was a cohesive, homogenous nation regardless of religion, caste or creed, as was emphasised in the Quaid’s first and only Constitutional speech, ‘You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.’[5]
Where ’Faith’ was universally considered to be faith and self-reliance in a new and fledgling nation but instead gave way to a popular label for an ideological state. Where, ‘Discipline’ was clearly meant to be rule of law which has now totally collapsed to prop up artificial governments at the cost of the State.
There is a total collapse of moral and ethical values; whereas the notions of governance have been reduced to the philosophy of ‘might is right’. The differentiation between State and Governance is indistinguishable as governments continue to use all means to survive at the cost of the State. The Constitution has become a meaningless document, amended, modified and adjusted to accommodate those who were given custody of it but who, instead benefitted the most by distorting it. The people, who the constitution is designed to protect from their own government, are now exposed and vulnerable to the oppression of the government itself. No mechanism exists that protects the people from misconduct and tyranny of a government that cannot be held accountable and has gone totally berserk.
The judiciary are not in a position to dispense justice and await directions on every legal issue, as individual adjudicators are coerced, black-mailed and intimidated to announce pre-mediated judgements in obvious cases. Divinity has been politicised so that one cannot differentiate sin from crime, where mosques are filled up but no child is safe on the streets, where God is sold and form is more important than substance, as we celebrate in our pretences to be chaste and good Muslims, labelling this hapless country, ‘The Islamic Republic of Pakistan’. It is neither Islamic, nor a republic but then what do such minor details have to do with governance?
The country drowns in debt, with inflation at 35%, and an unsustainable economy defined by a negative balanced trade where imports will always be more expensive than exports. This is simply because we are a cheap labour economy and our products are cheaper when compared to what we import. Solutions to the national crisis, under the circumstances or with governments such as the one we have, do not exist. Devastated by the unprecedented floods of August 2022 that affected every component of life, living, economy and trade, the crisis takes on a much more urgent nature. Because of the Russo-Ukraine War, price of oil/gas and wheat has further aggravated the hopelessness of the situation.
The IMF relief comes with its demands in changes to the fiscal policy which if implemented could make life unbearable for the common man. Given Pakistan’s integration into global affairs and the economy, there are international attempts to keep the country afloat. The US is sending a heavy delegation to search for a way out, the Russians are offering a life line, while China is trying to address the situation. However, nothing comes for nothing and Pakistan will have to give into demands if it wants to survive. Pakistan’s only hope lies in foreign assistance and that would most likely be from Saudi Arabia and China but once again at a cost. What that cost is, needs to be determined.
However, a government comprising a cabinet of 78 ministers, mostly wanted for corruption or in one criminal case or another, if empowered to determine the price of any relief, will only do so, so that their government can survive but at the cost of the State which will eventually pay that price. Here Government matters but not the State and the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan’ will be forfeited for collective and individual benefits of a so called government, willing to do anyone’s bidding – pliant sycophants willing to sell us out to the highest bidder.
So divinity will not save us, since God only helps those who have the will, determination and intent to help themselves.
We are not helping ourselves. The political rhetoric is deafening, the lies and exaggerated spins unbelievable, while the antics of the government are childish, blatant and totally lacking in any legal, moral or administrative propriety. The people, the only sovereign in this environment, look on helplessly as they find they do not matter and no one cares. Yet the political scenario is fluid as it appears that the government is preparing for elections. Manipulation by the government has already been demonstrated in the local body elections of Sindh. The Sindh experience will give them the wherewithal to rig these new elections too with the sole purpose of contesting a one-sided affair with the opposition appropriately dis-enfranchised. It is expected that PDM will win seats by the fraudulent practices and the foulest means, thereby not allowing a popular sentiment to take root. The powers that be are totally misled, poorly guided and have a skewed perception of PTI’s popularity – confusing it with exaggerations of the social media campaign.
This is not true and the ground reality points towards huge masses of people supporting the PTI. There is also a blatant attempt to disqualify Imran Khan which may not help the PDM because he will take on the position of the party leader one way or the other and probably enhance his popularity on account of greater sympathy with his cause. PDM is hoping that having manipulated their victory in the provincial elections that they would find it easier to influence the National Elections later and come back to the assembly. What they hope to achieve then remains a question since they neither have the moral will, capacity or capability to address the economic situation, national stability or the law and order situation. Indifferent to public demands, with no moral or ethical justification, they will twist the legal apparatus, manipulate the administrative system and remain in power till there is still a country – while it totters on its last legs.
The political engineering, the fraudulent means and deceit by the government and their various departments are visible to all. The obvious shameful acts of the Speaker of the national Assembly, the unconcealed shenanigans of the Election Commission and the criminal indifference of the judiciary have not gone unnoticed. Nevertheless, it is expected and sincerely hoped that the people of Pakistan will not take this lying down – not anymore. Though there appears no will or appetite for a general revolution in this country, which is actually the need of the hour, yet the people will react in one way or the other.
These small time politicians, artificially empowered to govern, pretending to be part of a non-existent democratic system, will not be tolerated neither allowed a free hand to extenuate their role in destroying this country. It is expected that the PTI will organise themselves so as to ensure that there is proper oversight wherever the polling takes place and that the returning officers and the presiding officers are physically supervised. The PTI must use its centre of gravity, that is, the masses, to overwhelm any attempts to manipulate the elections – they should do it by the presence of their workers and must concentrate groups to physically overcome thugs, disruptors and gangs sent out by this artificial government.
There is no other way to address this travesty – there is no legal recourse, no administrative step, no moral appeal, no ethical obligation and as such unless the threat of force is not visible, this blatant manipulation to influence the results of any poll will be rampant. It will done in the face of the people, openly, shamelessly and with a visible statement to the people of Pakistan, ‘do your damnedest – you do not matter and we do not mind.’ Mind over matter.
However, if the PTI can prevail it is expected that it shall return to the parliament with a 2/3 majority and be able to do the needful: First put up a white paper, defining what all went wrong, second, reverse the laws that were undertaken to benefit thieves and crooks, third hold all those accountable who went overboard trespassing the limits of their office murdering some people, attempting to kill others, threatening people, blackmailing some and castigating the remaining only to silence any legitimate political opposition. These measures must be taken up at a priority and concluded quickly, before the government can even get to addressing the issues of the economy and national security.
Yet, the woes of this country have now gone beyond solutions that can be addressed through political methods. Democracy as we see it, is too diversified in its attitude, to deliver. Whereas, it is hoped that PTI prevails and wins in any future elections, yet the magnitude of the crisis is beyond PTI’s capacity even if they get 2/3 of the majority.
PTI itself has a limited view on individual freedom and independence, a view that is heavily influenced by personal ideological biases. The education system they introduced and their often voiced views on Pakistan’s War on Terror are some notable deficiencies in their clouded thought process.
Nevertheless, they remain the most popular political entity that cannot be wished away and are a reality representing the sentiments of the people. Yet in keeping with the current environment, it must be recognised that matters are now so serious that unless major reforms are undertaken, nothing will really change and the country will continue to struggle – surviving from day to day.
These reforms cannot be held hostage to the unnecessary bickering and bargaining of a politicised society or become part of democratic arguments settled through the usual give-and-take where everyone is a winner. Here everyone will be a loser. It is why a technocrat government has to be established to undertake these very difficult reforms. These include the judicial reforms, de-politicisation of the police, rewriting/amending the constitution, removing religion from governance, constructing more provinces, introducing meritocracy through national certification, educational reforms on an international plane and economic reforms amongst many others.
Whereas, many are opposed to such a technocrat government, a possible middle course, acceptable to all, could be for the new government, when in chair, to find it within itself, to put in place an independent technocrat committee to do the needful. The committee should be empowered to do the reforms, must be apolitical and be protected from any influence or the biases of political and ideological preferences of the collective and individual rulers in chair. Such a measure, will in fact, give greater depth and room for manoeuvre to the government while the technocrat committee takes the fall for unpopular decisions and steps that are taken, but are necessary, to put the country back together.
This article is closed with the prayer and a hope that free and fair elections are ‘enforced’ and that may the best political party win. Let’s save our country!!!!
“The evil of corruption reaches into every corner of the world. It lies at the heart of the most urgent problems we face – from economic uncertainty, to endemic poverty, to the ever-present threat of radicalisation and extremism”, David Cameron.
[1] Jinnah: Myth and Reality, pages 1 &2, Yasser Latif Hamdani.
[2] Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Ahmadiyya Movement, https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.com
[3] Khutbat-e-ahmadia 1870, by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. https://www.rekhta.org > ebooks
[4] Jinnah Myth and Reality page 3.
[5] Quad-e-Azam’s address to the Constituent Assembly, 11 August 1947.
Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired), an erudite general from Pakistan’s Armored Corps and a decorated War Veteran, is an expert on critical issues related to Terrorism & Insurgencies. General Tariq Khan during the Battle of Bajaur, transformed and re-shaped Frontier Corps into a relentless fighting force and raised FC’s own special forces popularly known as SOG. Commanded and led major operations in FATA from the frontline, his model on counter-insurgency is still applied to this day.
Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired) leads CommandEleven’s Board of Advisors as our Patron-in-Chief.
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Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired)https://www.commandeleven.com/author/tk/
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Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired)https://www.commandeleven.com/author/tk/
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Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired)https://www.commandeleven.com/author/tk/
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Lt. General Tariq Khan (Retired)https://www.commandeleven.com/author/tk/
