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The
extension syndrome
Dr Qaisar Rashid
First proclaim a
personality indispensible for the system and then rue
the day the proclamation was made. That is, in a
nutshell, an exercise carried out by the Pakistanis
time and again.
On July 22, Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani announced on the state
television that the service of the incumbent Chief of
Army, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, was extended for
three years.
The succinct speech
left the viewers on their own to find the reasons
which prompted Gillani to announce the hurried
decision of extension of a public servant (subordinate
to the Secretary of Defence). The decision could have
been taken implicitly for being an administrative
matter – though having unavoidable political
connotations. Nawaz Sharif has said that he was not
taken into confidence on the matter.
In the recent past,
the ghost of ‘continuity of policies’ along with the
twin spectre of ‘continuity of personalities’
(including oneself) also took possession of General
Pervez Musharraf until he was successfully exorcised –
by exorcists called, in this case, the lawyers.
The prevalent spell of
democracy had promised to usher in an era of
fortification of the institutions rather than
personalities: personal qualities should not override
institutional norms and practices. That jingle took
the wind out of Musharraf’s sail and made him
dispensable – even if not accountable. Retention of
personalities in the name of continuity of the system
was declared tantamount to choking of the system. No
one knows for sure the calibre and qualities of the
next man in the row – unless abilities and
inadequacies are exposed. The next in the line had a
right to replace his boss and display his skills; he
might be better than his boss.
Against that
background, the current turnaround through extension
of service of the army chief leaves one dumbfounded.
The doctrine of necessity may have abandoned the
judiciary – one thought the doctrine might have fallen
into desuetude – but it is still around and raises its
ugly head here and there.
The saga of Pakistan
is also laden with lamenting the strength of one
institution at the cost of the rest. There would be no
preferential treatment – but that, perhaps, is also
unavoidable conduct given the frailties of the
politicians dredged up by the system. The crime of
producing and presenting fake degrees to the Election
Commission to get qualified for the elections has
inflicted a demoralising blow on society besides
jolting its conscience. People have awakened to the
reality that several lawmakers are consequently
unqualified (or disqualified) to pass a bill and make
a constitutional amendment. In the wake of the fake
degrees scam, what credibility of the recently passed
constitutional amendment has been carrying is yet to
ascertain.
Possibly, the problem
is not in personalities or institutions but somewhere
else. The prevailing system of democracy was erected
on the crutches of the NRO and the related guarantees.
The foreign patrons required restoration of political
(and judicial) order in the country to relieve the
Pakistan army for focusing wholeheartedly its
attention towards the western borders. General Kiyani
was one of the witnesses to the NRO. Unfortunately,
the spanner of the NRO is now cramping the system.
The system has
gradually degenerated to the extent that the exalted
principles of giving the institutions precedence over
the personalities are being compromised and personal
objectives are being met in the name of ‘national
interests’. Through the announcement, PM Gillani might
be trying to dissemble insecurity lurking in the
hearts of the politicians owing to their dwindling
credibility, thanks to the fake degrees issue.
Secondly, PM Gillani might be dissimulating the fear
that an entry of any new army chief might mean an
automatic alienation of the sitting government. The
new chief may not be a witness to the NRO and may
listen to the Supreme Court, in case the court asks,
to get its orders implemented (through the executive
including the army).
Disgorging the
embezzled money would create deterrence for the
depraved. The misappropriated money has to be
retrieved from the foreign banks. Without that money,
the national exchequer is not going to be doomed, no
doubt, but the trend of fetching kickbacks in the
sale-purchase of the national assets (or the items of
national utility) should be condemned.
The country like the
US which is fighting the war on terror does not
consider an army general, McChrystal, indispensable.
When the general stumbled on rules, he was shown the
exit door – without faltering. If personalities are
considered vital, institutions are demeaned. The
institutions which bring up a person to lead that
institution should be relied on again to bring another
one to perform better. An institution should not look
pale in front of a personality of its making.
Continuation of a policy needs to be linked with
continuation of institutions and not personalities. Of
course, the policies adopted by General Musharraf have
been followed by General Kayani essentially in the
same way. The next chief would not have changed the
itinerary to the loss of the stakeholders – both
domestic and foreigners.
General Kayani is a
marvellous officer and has been serving the country in
a professional way but extension of his service, even
if it was consented, is a great injustice to the next
candidate for the enviable post, besides an insult to
the performance of the institution of the army. The
same formula is applicable to the institution of the
judiciary and the presidency. The trend to look beyond
one’s prescribed limits of time should be quelled. |
