Tariq Khosa
PAKISTAN today suffers from a crisis of governance. The radical correct is ascendant. Institutional decay is advanced; the state’s writ is eroded. We presently become to the polls inwards a divisive, belligerent in addition to to a swell extent despondent environment. It is fourth dimension for serious reflection in addition to introspection. In the past times decade, our governments induce got been unable to arrive at a comprehensive national safety policy. Instead of strategic, visionary long-term policies for both external in addition to internal safety challenges, in that place was a reliance on short-term, tactical (ie reactionary) responses to a myriad challenges on work concern human relationship of economical mismanagement, corruption in addition to a convoluted policy of using religious extremists every bit tools of the invisible state. This mess tin exclusively last cleared through an effective charter of governance based on safety in addition to justice.
Our combat against terrorism, militancy in addition to extremism is non over. The maiden off gene behind such violence is the state’s failure to recognise that in that place are no ‘pro-state’ or ‘anti-state’ elements amid those who pursue a trigger-happy agenda. Similarly, the failure of governments to reform criminal judge is a major argue people lost trust inwards the arrangement in addition to expect elsewhere for protection. Above all, a lack of political volition turned NAP into a invention of inaction. The cumulative trial has been a unsafe drift towards lawlessness. As such, the next six-point national agenda requires consideration.
Only an effective charter of governance tin aid us.
First, Islamic Republic of Pakistan must halt harbouring a massive insecurity complex. As a nuclear province amongst the world’s 6th largest army, nosotros should last confident in addition to terminate our garrison-state mentality in addition to constant worrying nearly survival. Rather, nosotros should last a trading field that takes payoff of its geographic place for economical prosperity. Second, in that place is no incertitude inwards my heed that the relevant stakeholders inwards the province safety establishment induce got in conclusion undertaken to terminate back upward for former militant jihadi groups that was given on work concern human relationship of some strategic compulsions that are counterproductive inwards the acquaint milieu. The fourth dimension for proxies is over; beingness blacklisted past times FATF would resultant inwards international isolation, sanctions in addition to the stigma of a pariah state.
Third, nosotros must adhere to dominion of law in addition to guarantee private rights. The issues of missing persons in addition to enforced disappearances are of grave concern, every bit is the fact that dissenting voices are beingness muzzled. This is disturbing, peculiarly when elections are circular the corner. Any endeavour at a ‘controlled’ republic would resultant inwards a mistaken mandate. Fourth, social judge must last ensured for all citizens, irrespective of caste, creed or ethnicity. The elite induce got pushed the poor into wretched weather condition that cultivate violence in addition to crime, in addition to move out the youth vulnerable to manipulation past times extremist forces.
Fifth, nosotros must cultivate tolerance for national harmony. Our strength lies inwards beingness a various polity. Its potential tin do a dynamic human resource, but channelling such unloosen energy requires a guiding mitt rather than a draconian fist. The province should demo magnanimity in addition to grace inwards guild to resolve disputes through tolerant dialogue. Similarly, the province should enable citizens to do their religions freely. Our Constitution’s framers consciously avoided giving enforcement powers to the province inwards matters of faith. They must resist becoming a theocratic musical instrument of a dogmatic brigade. Leaders must ready the note for a national narrative that shuns violence in addition to promotes tolerance.
Sixth, institutions must accept precedence over individuals. The police, judiciary, civil armed forces, intelligence agencies in addition to the state of war machine must induce got the courage to uphold the dominion of law in addition to eschew whatever individuals who mean value themselves higher upward the law. All these institutions postulate to larn together in addition to carve out a charter of governance that defines their roles in addition to restraints inside their constitutional mandate.
In conclusion, such a framework revolves only about security, sovereignty in addition to sustainability. Security implies the state’s monopoly over the utilisation of force, in addition to elimination of domestic threats similar terrorism. Sovereignty implies effective attain of law enforcement throughout the country, utilisation of armed forces inwards assistance of civil authorities, in addition to parliament taking the atomic number 82 on national security. Sustainability entails socioeconomic justice, character world education, a counter-extremism narrative, expert governance in addition to the dominion of law.
In Oct 1947, the Quaid-i-Azam stated, “We should induce got a province inwards which nosotros could alive in addition to breathe every bit gratuitous men in addition to which nosotros could develop according to our lights in addition to civilization in addition to where principles of Islamic social judge could discovery gratuitous play.” In some other address a few days later, he said to our fledgling nation, “My message to y'all all is of hope, courage in addition to confidence. Let us mobilise all our resources … in addition to tackle the grave issues that seem upward us amongst grim decision in addition to bailiwick worthy of a swell nation.”
Let his dream non become sour.
The author is a former IG Police in addition to author of The Faltering State.
Published inwards Dawn, July 12th, 2018
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