Cover Story 16 Democracy may be an ideal in South Asia but it is not a reality.

Islamabad Kathmandu Editor’s Desk 07 Farce of Democracy 32 Remote Control 39 Readers’ Thoughts 08 Bani Gala Kabul Hopes and Hurdles 34 No Direction 40 Who Said That! 10 Islamabad Future Imperfect 41 Grapevine 11 A Question of Ideology 35 Neighbour Dhaka News Buzz 12 Tehran Leading by Force 37 Imperial Greatness 43 Cover Story Truth is Bitter 16 Democracy in the Dock 19 31 Which Democracy? 21 Pursuing the Dream 23 Guided Democracy 25 Interview Munir Akram 27 Region New Delhi Economic Decline 31

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37 40 45 54

Lifetime Achiever Khalid Awan 45 International Washington 59 Selling Bullets 49 Madrid Opportunities Lost 50 Opinion 61 The Other Truth 52 Features Around Town Karachi New York Fashion Week 59 Homecoming 53 Reviews Peshawar Book The Virus is Coming Back 54 Fighting Shadows 60 Female Diversity Films Understanding the Need 56 Charlie’s Angels 61 Bad Boys for Life 62 Tribute Waqar Hassan 58

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 5

Editor’s DesSlugk

A Bridge Too Far

Reality does not go away when Reorganization Act which bifurcated Indian-held Jammu and you start believing in it. This is true in Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. They the case of India that makes every ef- have now also moved laws like the CAA and NRA and have fort to avert global attention from that made life really miserable for their entire Muslim population. part of Kashmir that it has grabbed, by However, Donald Trump, known for his straightforwardness relegating the exploding Kashmir is- and blunt diplomatic style, put a dampener on India’s eupho- sue as merely an internal matter which ria when he let the ‘mediation ghost’ out of the bag, this time does not fall under the definition of an on Indian soil. Delivering a massive but unexpected blow to international crisis. In doing this, India Indian hopes, he went to the extent of reminding the Indians brings into play its entire political and of the ‘good relationship’ between the US and Pakistan. This lobbying machinery to subvert every diplomatic move that can also be referred to as a monkey’s balancing act aimed at may be aimed at internationalizing the issue at global and re- appeasing both adversaries through a single move. By acting gional forums. Recently, India used its conventional diplomat- in this way, the U.S. president basically gave both the op- ic tactics, coupled with economic blackmailing maneuvers, posing parties what they wanted to hear from the world’s su- to pressurize the European perpower. Treading on a tight- Union parliamentarians to de- rope, Washington has rolled fer a vote that would criticize out state-of-the-art military the Citizenship Amendment helicopters and other equip- Act (CAA) and India’s con- ment worth over $3 billion to tinuing lockdown in Jammu the Indian armed forces but & Kashmir. At times, an ap- there are no such goodies for propriate Indian tactic to hide Pakistan. It is apparent that the reality is to bury its head in the U.S. is eyeing India to play the sand but such strategies a larger role in a region that is do not always work, particularly where long-standing human dominated by China. The US is not doing this as a matter of crises are concerned. Kashmir is not merely a law and order charity; it is well aware it cannot handle China alone and a triviality that can be repaired in a few days. It has festered for regional ally is required to work as a watchdog. It even seems decades and is a cause of enmity between India and Paki- a troika comprising India, Japan and America is emerging to stan, which translates in the backwardness of all of South contain China. Asia. When US President Donald Trump, on a recent visit to At the same time, the U.S. successfully manages to keep India, offered to mediate the Kashmir conflict, the Indian gov- Pakistan happy as it has had a very tough time negotiating ernment again played its triviality card. But President Trump with the Taliban and it cannot move ahead without Pakistan’s did say he was beginning to see signs of big progress with help to achieve the peace accord it is seeking in order to get Pakistan and was hopeful that the tensions were reducing. He out of the war that it has lost in Afghanistan after 18 years repeatedly offered mediation to settle the protracted Kashmir of trying to win. Trump’s mediation offer regarding Kashmir dispute but it seemed the Indians were not game for it. could be another way to appease Pakistan just for the time If anything, the Indians have made things worse for the being. Assuming that the US is a trustworthy friend could be huge minority population of over 20 million Muslims in India. a big fallacy. It restricts Pakistan’s ability to look at the future The Indian government moved on August 5, 2019 to re- more realistically. Pakistan and its people may be all keyed up voke Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution, which for things to ease up in Kashmir following Trump’s India visit awarded special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. but considering the American President’s balancing act, this Within days, the Indian parliament also passed the Kashmir seems like a bridge too far.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal President & Editor in Chief

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 7 Readers’ Thoughts

Preaching

March 2020 Vol.24 Issue 3 Hindutva

PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF his is related to your cover Syed Jawaid Iqbal Tstory ‘India Crumbles’. With the EDITOR Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Javed Ansari and National Register of Citizens CONTRIBUTING EDITOR S. G. Jilanee (NRC) laws prevailing in India, it ASSISTANT EDITORS seems that Narendra Modi is fast Faizan Usmani losing his popularity and is being Syeda Areeba Rasheed questioned for his stand to make Special COrrespondent India a Hindu state. Many, including Rafi Khan - UK the students of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University. protested CONTRIBUTORS against the CAA but faced a crackdown Aadil Nakhoda – Asma Nisar – Dr Talat Farooq Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas – Dr. Moonis Ahmar by the police. The situation went out of Faizan Usmani – Imran Jan control and reactions started pouring Jahangeer Kakar – Justice (R) M. Shaiq Usmani in, condemning the atrocities on the students andthe promulgation of the NRC Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi (R) Maj. Gen. Inam Ul Haque (R) – Meriam Sabih and CAA. Strict action must be taken against these laws as this will soon create a Muhammad Ali Khan – Muhammad Waqar Rana serious global situation for which ‘shining’ India would be solely responsible. Nikhat Sattar – Prof. S. Shafiq-ur Rehman Saher Shah, S.G. Jilanee – Sabria Chowdhury Balland Shahrukh Mehboob – Sidra Khan Karachi, Pakistan. Syed Zubair Ahmed – Syeda Maham Rasheed Taha Kehar

GRAPHICS & LAYOUT US-Pak Relations both countries can further increase this Haroon Rasheed Kamran Ghulam Nabi - Riaz Masih potential. There is also an agreement web developer o far, SouthAsia magazine has between the leaderships of both Hassan Raza Spublished countless interviews of countries that their improved relations industry bigwigs, diplomats, country would highly benefit the people and the General Manager-Marketing heads, regional managers, etc., and I business communities. Syed Ovais Akhtar must say the quality of these interviews Tauqeer Salahuddin, PRODUCTION & COORDINATION Aqam-ud-Din Khan is really good as they are interesting Islamabad, Pakistan. CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION and informative. This time again, the Shehryar Zulfiqar interview of Ervin Massinga, the Deputy Sandwiched Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Affairs at EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE the Bureau of South and Central Asian Community 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II Affairs in the US State Department, Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan struck the right chords. Talking about his is with reference to the article Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 Fax: 92-21-35313832 the US-Pak relationship, Ervin Massinga T‘Sandwiched Community’ by Website: www.southasia.com.pk was of the view that both the countries Quratulain Thalho (SouthAsia, February Email: [email protected] have real potential and joint efforts of 2020). This article was a real eye opener SouthAsia is published every month for me. While we are currently inundated by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of with narratives, some true and some JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. and printed by fabricated, about Bangladeshi refugees Ibn-e-Hasan Offset Printing Press, Karachi. in India, the fact that there are 3 million Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily shared by the editors. Bangladeshis living in Pakistan without Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was proper documentation is astonishing, re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia. to say the least. Their living situation, essentially in limbo, with no hope for their Read our digital edition at: future or their future generations, is truly www.southasia.com.pk heartbreaking.

8 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Readers’ Thoughts

One of the many excellent points since they took refuge after 1971. Bengalis The menus really tantalized the taste Ms. Thalho made in her article, about the have time and again been questioned about buds. Chipseez introduced signature government of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh their existence in Pakistan as they don’t hold beetroot, sweet potato and potato chips, Awami League, is particularly astonishing. any documented identity claiming their right Lemon Grass launched Crying Tiger and The BAL apparently considers these migrants to be in the country. Though a large number Spicogetti offered new entree Chic ‘N’ supporters of the opposition, the BNP. This of Bengalis were able to get their documents Cheese Spaghetti in addition to Khausa and irrational paranoia of the BNP somehow when identity cards were being made, which Singaporean Rice. Churrosity also came creeping up on Sheikh Hasina and snatching they later transferred to CNICs, many of them back with a new Churro Hot Dog. power is extremely far-fetched, at best. The stayed away from the course, fearing they To top it all, the performances by Zoe BNP has been beaten down significantly would be deported to their country of origin. Viccaji, Canadian bhangra group Josh and by Sheikh Hasina’s “network” to not be a However, to further intensify their Punjabi band Sahara UK among others, veritable threat any longer and perhaps for problems, even their home country is not added further excitement to the atmosphere. many years to come, if ever. Thus, to assume willing to welcome them assuming their As they say, good music and good food that Bangladeshis in Pakistan, scraping by to support for the Bangladeshi opposition party make a unique combination. make a living and existing in abject poverty, that is pro-Pakistan. The question is, how Asim Riaz, with no hopes of being able to improve long will they have to fight for their identity? Karachi, Pakistan. their lives can actually be a threat to the Will the Pakistan government reconsider its Bangladesh government is absurd on the policies? Let’s just hope they don’t have to Pre-planned part of the ruling party. face what the people of Assam are facing. Maheen Saleem, Agenda Chittagong, Bangladesh. he Wuhan coronavirus spreading from Worsening TChina is a serious disease that circles the globe. Scientists do not yet know how lethal Conditions the new coronavirus is so there is uncertainty about how much damage it might cause his is regarding the article ‘Only a Face- but there is growing consensus that the Toff’ written by Raja Rafi Ullah about pathogen is readily transmitted between the assassination of Major General Qasem humans. Though the virus is attacking the Soleimani via a drone strike near Baghdad’s innocent Chinese at large, in actuality, this international airport and the outcome it had on the people of Iran as a whole. Though the act was condemned by many international Having said that, these people are observers, Iran responded by targeting US Bangladeshis in name only, having been military bases in Iraq with missile strikes. Iran settled in Pakistan for almost 50 years. Many even mistook a Ukrainian passenger plane as have been born in Pakistan. Thus, they US military aircraft, resulting in the death of should be given the proper documentation to 176 innocent human beings. The relationship allow Pakistani citizenship. Keeping 3 million between both the countries has been bitter innocent victims of the liberation war in limbo since 1978 and conditions will worsen if they is a grave human rights issue. They are not proceed towards escalation of hostilities. going anywhere and Bangladesh will never Asad Elyas, take them in. It seems pointless to leave Tehran, Iran. virus has its long term pre-planned agenda innocent victims of war stateless. against China to destroy its economy by Sabria Chowdhury Balland, Unique hitting at them directly. Currently, there have Houston, USA. been only a handful of confirmed cases of Combination the coronavirus in India, mostly in recent Fighting for travellers to Wuhan. Rather than rushing out ith talented chefs and street vendors, to buy masks and fretting over the unlikely Identity WKarachi Eat 2020 proved to be a tasty chance of contracting coronavirus, we must and flavoursome food fest with people of be vigilant in monitoring its spread while his is regarding the article ‘Sandwiched all ages enjoying their time. Several eateries working to find solutions. TCommunity’ by Quratulain Thalho about had new entrees as well as home-based Lalita Goswami, the Bengali community living in Pakistan preparations. Kerala, India.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 9 Who Said That!

“To identity friend or foe is “We don’t want cricket often impossible, unless “There is nothing reduced to a level where someone commits a inevitable about crime it turns into a hooligans’ hostile act.” and there is nothing sport and the spirit of – General (Retd) inevitable about anti- the game is eroded. Pervez Musharraf, social behaviour.” We can’t have a former president of – Theresa May, situation like we see in Pakistan former British prime minister football.” – Ehsan Mani, Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board “I don’t need to use “Women have never had politics as a way of access to the jirgas and panchayats anyway.” making money.” “In the battle between the – Justice (r) Nasira – Imran Khan, heart and the mind, Iqbal, former judge Prime Minister of winners always listen to of the Lahore High Pakistan their hearts.” Court – Rameez Raja, Cricket commentator “If Bangladesh succumbs to “The Rashtrapati Bhawan the rule of one family, is a 340-acre house in it would be a major the heart of Delhi. In step backward for the “I feel my career is all the same city, 40 per region.” about being at the cent people live in – Khaleda Zia, right place at the right slums like insects.” Bangladesh opposition time.” – Arvind Kejriwal, leader – Shabana Azmi, Indian politician Indian actress

“I cannot keep quiet “Price is what you pay. even when I am a lone “In Hollywood everything is Value is what you get.” voice.” so documented. If you – Warren Buffet, – Mahathir Mohamad, go for a drink with American Prime Minister of somebody, it’s passed entrepreneur Malaysia around the world so quickly.” – Catherine Zeta-Jones, “There exists an unmistakable “Pakistan will not be party American actress demand in the Middle to anyone or anything East and in the wider but will be a partner Muslim world for of peace and peace “Republican comes in democratization.” alone.” the dictionary just after – Recep Tayyip – Maj. Gen. Asif reptile and just above Erdogan, Ghafoor, GOC, Okara repugnant.” President of Turkey – Julia Roberts, American actress

“I don’t sit around thinking about my titles and “The illegal immigrants are “I have experienced failure roles; I just do what like termites. They are as a politician and for feels right.” eating the grain that that very reason, I – Meghan Markle, should go to the poor; am ready to give Duchess of Sussex they are taking our everything for Japan.” jobs.” – Shinzo Abe, – Amit Shah, Prime Minister of Japan Indian politician

10 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Grapevine

The Big Story What’s In a Name? or actor Fawad Khan, it’s never been a better time for tal- V actress Ayeza Khan says she had reservations about the Fented wordsmiths to become screen writers. His production Tname ‘Danish’, the name of Humayun Saeed’s character, house, Alteridom Films, has come up with the opportunity for in Mere Paas Tum Ho. Her husband’s name in real life is Danish story writers to produce a winning script for his next film. This Taimoor. way he aims to groom new writing talent as, in his view, this Ayeza says that in the beginning she had questions about may be the answer to the problems film industry professionals the name of Danish in the drama serial because it is the name in Pakistan face in finding the right stories and scriptwriters who of her husband in real life. She even asked, why “Danish?” She are adept in their work. The writers would also know where to had a particular difficulty over the name because she always go and whom to contact. addresses her husband Danish Taimoor as ‘Aap’, while in the drama she had to call Humayun Saeed as ‘Tum’ - in a husband- Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad! wife relationship going sour. ahira Khan is to appear in the Nabeel Qureshi film, Pretty Face M‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’ with Fahad Mustafa. She has

fter Hina Rabbani Khar and Tasneem Aslam, another pretty Aface that now represents the Pakistan Foreign Office is that of Aisha Farooqui. She has been in the Foreign Service since 1994, and succeeds Dr. Mohammad Faisal, who has been named as Pakistan ambassador to Germany. Aisha has served in several important places in her career like Houston, An- kara and Lon- don. She is an previously worked in a cameo role with Nabeel and Mustafa in experienced ‘Actor-in-Law’. This time she will be the main lead. diplomat and Mahira has developed into the sort of personality which only knows what to evokes softness and warmth but seeing her with Fahad Mus- say where. If her glamour adds to her tafa, who plays a policeman fighting corruption, would be quite credibility, along with Prime Minister a change. As for the Quaid-e-Azam part, the director is probably Imran Khan’s charisma, then Pakistan only using it in the film’s title as it is now common to say ‘A few has a lot of good going for it – at least Quaid-e-Azam will do the trick – meaning that money makes the on the foreign office front. mare go.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 11 news buzz

Shah Mahmood Qureshi Visits IBA BA recently organized a Qureshi. Guests included the academia, free-flowing. Emphasizing the importance distinguished lecture on media, consul generals, the corporate sec- of economic diplomacy, he said that it is I‘The strategic importance tor, the IBA faculty, students and alumni. an ‘opportunity’ and his office has made of Economic Diplomacy for A seasoned politician, Mr Qureshi a conscious determination to place Pakistan in the 21st cen- has twice served as Minister for Foreign Economic Diplomacy in the front and cen- tury’ by Foreign Minister of Affairs; from 2008 – 2011 and currently, tre of Pakistan’s diplomatic agenda. Pakistan, Makhdoom since August 2018. He is also at present He discussed the economic challenges of Shah Mahmood the Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e- the current account deficit and falling exports Insaf (PTI). He has served as the Minister that Pakistan’s economy is facing. He also of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the mentioned that Pakistan will no longer fight Federal Cabinet from 1993 to 1996. An wars for other countries and will maintain its alumnus of Aitchison College, in Lahore, stance for peace which is why even despite and a Cambridge University graduate, India’s aggression, Pakistan reacted with re- he studied Law and History from Corpus sponsibility and restraint. Christi College for a Master’s degree. While talking about the future, he said During the lecture, Mr Qureshi described Pakistan must climb up the global value chain how the 21st century is different from the by upgrading technology, leveraging young old times as borders have become fluid talent and by capitalizing on export-related and communication is instantaneous and opportunities that CPEC will create. Pakistani Trans Activist Wins

ayyab Ali, a well- known transgender Nsocial activist and political worker, was pre- Outstanding sented with the ‘International Activist of the Year’ award. Peacekeepers Her efforts were recog- Pakistani all-female group of 15 peacekeepers have re- nized by The Galas Awards ceived medals for performing a range of services in the which highlights the work of Aconflict-affected eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of the LGBTQ+ activists. Congo). A transgender rights de- The team of 15 female officers, who serve in the ranks of major fender and Chairperson of Pakistan’s National Transgender and captain, have been stationed in the war-torn country since the All Pakistan Transgender Rights Protection Policy. June 2019. The officers are psychologists, stress counsellors, vo- Election Network, Ali manages Four others were also nomi- cational training officers, gender advisors, doctors, nurses, opera- the ‘Khawaja Sira Community nated belonging to Brazil, tions officers, information officers and logistics officers. Centre’ in Okara which offers Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Pakistan has a long history of sending troops to various UN a basic literacy and numeracy and Pakistan, by Amnesty peacekeeping missions and has been recognized as one of the programme, vocational training, International, Frontline largest contributors of troops and police. life skills education and driv- Defenders and the International According to the UN, Pakistani troops are currently serving in ing classes for the transgender LGBT Action Foundation. The seven UN operations, with the vast majority of them deployed in community. In 2018, Nayyab ceremony was held in Dublin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Darfur region of Sudan was one of the four transgen- Ireland which Ali, unfortunately, and the Central African Republic. der candidates who ran for could not attend as she was US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Pakistan’s general elections and sick. However, she did record a Asian Affairs Alice Wells says she is inspired by the award-winning has also been leading the advo- video thanking the attendees for Pakistani female peacekeepers serving in the war-torn Democratic cacy efforts for the approval of the award. Republic of the Congo (DRC).

12 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 news buzz

Carry On PR Legend Dies Momina arold Burson, the co-founder of and communications professionals around Burson-Marsteller and one of the the world. inger Momina Hmost influential figures in PR his- The PR legend started Burson-Marsteller SMustehsan showed up tory, passed away at the age of 98. with Bill Marsteller in 1953 and the agency at the red carpet of Pakistan Burson lived a giant life as a master of in- became one of the largest public relations International Screen Awards fluence and was one of the true pioneers of companies in the world. In 1979 it became (PISA) 2020 in Dubai but it a subsidiary of Young & Rubicam, which in was her mustard-coloured turn was later acquired by WPP. In 2018, ensemble that got all of it merged with Cohn & Wolfe and was re- Twitter talking. named as Burson Cohn & Wolfe. Before The actress dyed her starting up Burson-Marsteller, Burson had signature red hair completely established Harold Burson Public Relations blonde, which she previously in 1946. revealed at the Hum Style Awards paired In addition to his career in PR, Burson with a red dress. However, this time around made many contributions to society at at PISA, Mustehsan matched the colour of large, serving as a Presidential Appointee to her yellow-based hair with an off-the-shoul- the Fine Arts Commission, Founder of the der gown, undoubtedly a bold choice. Kennedy Center Corporate Fund, a Board Many took to Twitter to criticize the star PR and strategic communications. He was Member of the World Wildlife Fund, and an for the interesting shade, comparing her to the wisest person with the highest level of Executive Council Member for the Center foods such as haldi, corn, mustard and egg integrity, humility and kindness. Harold in- for the Study of Southern Culture at the yolk. Many were quick to point out that the spired tens of thousands of public relations University of Mississippi, his alma mater. star also donned the same outfit as Mahira Khan and with her style. But Mahira looked classy. Clampdown on Joaquin Phoenix Social Media Wins Oscar oaquin Phoenix won his first Oscar for pecial Assistant to the Prime Minister which would be Jhis performance as an on Information and Broadcasting, responsible to isolated loner who becomes SDr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that regulate content one of the world’s best social media platforms can’t be left com- on social media known comic book villains pletely unregulated. platforms. in Joker and invoked his She says the biggest problem concerning Foreign digital companies would be re- late brother River Phoenix in social media websites was that there was quired to set up data servers in Pakistan one of the most emotional no cell in the country to regulate them. and it will be compulsory for them to pro- acceptance speeches of Digital media companies are providing vide data of accounts found guilty of vari- the night. services in Pakistan from abroad and are ous crimes — including targeting state Phoenix, 45, won the making money from it. Now these com- institutions, spreading fake news and hate best actor Oscar after panies will have to register in Pakistan speech, engaging in harassment, issu- three previous nominations, crowning and open their offices in the country. The ing statements that harm national secu- an awards season that has seen him social media companies will be bound by rity or uploading blasphemous content. sweep every major prize for his role in law to provide data to Pakistan’s intel- Authorities would, therefore, take action the standalone original story of Batman’s ligence agencies. All global social media against Pakistanis found guilty of target- arch-enemy. platforms and companies would have to ing state institutions at home and abroad The actor, known for playing brood- register in Pakistan within three months and on social media. The law would also help ing or emotionally troubled characters, open offices in Islamabad. They will have the law enforcement authorities to obtain dropped more than 22 kilograms to play to appoint a representative in Pakistan to access to data of accounts found involved Arthur Fleck, an emaciated mentally ill deal with a national coordination authority, in suspicious activities. clown.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 13 news buzz

Byco Celebrates 25 yco Petroleum, founded in 1995, is to make Pakistan self-sufficient in energy the largest oil refining company in production. My father was a farsighted lead- BPakistan. It recently celebrated its er who instilled in Byco a consuming desire Silver Jubilee. The company has made great to dream. His dreams and vision continue to efforts to serve the nation and to achieve its guide Byco and help us grow.” mission of becoming Pakistan’s premier oil Byco launched its first refinery in 2004, company despite facing serious obstacles. with a refining capacity of 18,000 barrels sea floating port for petroleum shipments, a At the Silver Jubilee ceremony, the com- per day. In 2007, it launched its first retail national strategic asset which has imported pany’s CEO, M Amir Abbassciy said, “On 9 outlets in Sukkur and Rawalpindi. In 2012, 11 million tonnes of crude oil to date. January 1995, my father, Mr Parvez Abbasi Byco commissioned Pakistan’s first and Today, Byco has 389 retail outlets across and I founded this company with the vision only Single Point Mooring, a dedicated deep the country. New IBA Executive Director

n eminent and renowned Apolitical econo- mist, Akbar S. Zaidi, has been appointed as the Executive Bill Gates Buys Director of the pres- tigious Institute of Business Administration Superyacht (IBA). He is a renowned academic and political economist with over 35 years of icrosoft co-founder and the vessel and has preferred to rent during experience. He has served as a faculty world’s second-richest man, his summer trips. His plans of buying the member at renowned institutions across the MBill Gates has commissioned superyacht were unveiled at the Monaco globe, including Columbia University, Johns for himself an ultramodern superyacht Yacht Show in December 2019. Hopkins, IBA, Karachi and the University of called ‘Aqua’ that is powered entirely The luxury liner is 370ft-long and Karachi. He has written many books. by liquid hydrogen for Rs 4,600 crore. comprises five decks complete with Dr Zaidi said, “I hope to make the IBA an Notably, this is the first of its kind vehicle space for 14 guests, 31 crew members, institution where we can attract the best powered by liquid hydrogen. a gym, yoga studio, beauty room, mas- possible teachers. I want more academic Gates is a regular superyacht holiday- sage parlour and cascading pool on its and intellectual engagement between the maker but has not previously owned a rear deck. IBA and scholars and academics from within Pakistan and abroad and hope to an- More from Minions nounce a number of initiatives which bring in such scholars for lectures, symposia and niversal-Illumination studios have released the teaser to run short seminar series. My ambition is trailer for the upcoming film ‘Minions – the Rise of Gru’. to make the IBA one of the leading centres UThis will be the second film in the ‘Minions’ franchise. of learning, education and creative intel- However, it will be the fifth film in the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise. lectual endeavour in the region.” The film will be focusing on how Gru came into power and is Dr Zaidi holds PhD and M Phil degrees in going to hit the theatres this year in summer 2020. History and Economics from the University The first film ended as we saw the minions saving the world; of Cambridge, an MSc in Social Planning however, in the end, we were introduced to young Gru who is in Developing Countries from the London using his mind to become one of the most dangerous villains School of Economics and Political Science in the world. The minions who get attracted by Gru set on a and a BSc in Economics from University journey to join Gru and become his workers and that is how Gru College London. comes into power.

14 SOUTHASIA • march 2020 news buzz

Recognition for Bank Islami Woman in ank Islami recently bagged four prestigious awards in the cat- Begory of Biodiversity, Employee Space Engagement and Volunteering, Education and Scholarship, and Green Energy at a ceremony organized by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH). With its contribution to a sustainable future, the bank aims at giving back to society and so it continues to tap more asa’s Christina Koch returned to record for a single spaceflight by a woman opportunities to fulfill its corporate social Earth safely after shattering the of 289 days, set by Nasa veteran Peggy responsibility in the present year. These Nspaceflight record for female as- Whitson in 2016-17. Koch also made his- tronauts with a stay of almost 11 months tory as one half of the first-ever all-woman aboard the International Space Station. spacewalk along with Nasa counterpart Koch touched down at 0912 GMT on the Jessica Meir, her classmate from Nasa Kazakh steppe after 328 days in space, training, in October last year. along with Luca Parmitano of the European The first woman in space was Soviet Space Agency and Alexander Skvortsov of cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova whose the Russian space agency. Koch was smil- spaceflight in 1963 is still the only solo mis- ing broadly when she landed. sion carried out by a woman. Russia has Koch, a 41-year-old Michigan-born en- sent only one woman to the ISS since ex- gineer, on December 28 beat the previous peditions began in 2000. continuous efforts have rewarded them with the honourable recognition at the prestigious NFEH’s awards. Mirage Release ‘Barhe Chalo’ Bank Islami currently has 330 branches in 114 cities around the country and is an irage – the band - has released Shah on guitar, Shane Kerr on bass and advocate of eco-friendly living. the pop-rock inspirational song Ajay Harri on drums. Conceptualized and M‘Barhe Chalo’ from their second co-directed by Saad Hayat, the music Google HR Steps album Doosri Dastak. ‘Barhe Chalo’, played video for ‘Barhe Chalo’ features Asghar Ali and recorded live, highlights the importance Ghanchi as co-director and cinematogra- Down of change needed in the times we live in pher, Hasan Ahmed as art director, Aafreen and that the change can only come from Shahab as the stylist with hair and makeup he Head of within. by Sikander Khan, wardrobe by Naghma’s, THuman Resources With composition line production by Azeem Arif and Adnan at Google, Eileen and lyrics by Saad Yunus, edit and post by Bilal A. Mughal and Naughton, stepped Hayat and Rehan post-production by Kashif Ahmed Khan. away from her job as Nazim, the song fea- ‘Barhe Chalo’ is the fifth release from the the Vice President of tures Mohsin Raza album Doosri Dastak comprising songs People Operations though the company ‘Befiker’, ‘Panchi’ added more than 70,000 employees featuring Alycia Dias, during Naughton’s tenure. She further ‘Pyar Hua’ and ‘Zara worked with Pichai and Chief Financial Suniye Tou’ featur- Officer Ruth Porat to find a successor. ing Natasha Khan. In recent years, the Google work- The new song has place has been disrupted by employee been mixed, mas- opposition to top-level decisions rang- tered and produced at ing from forging contracts with the Saad Hayat Studio in US military to tailoring a version of the Karachi. search engine for China.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 15 Cover Story

Truth is Bitter Whenever the military took over in Pakistan, the initial response of the public was positive, but every time the military left, the situation was even worse than before.

cept these as democratic processes? Sim- ers’ jurisdictions. Because that is civil-to- By Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi (R) ply because we have a fixed definition and civil relations and they do not disturb the e have all heard the story perception of the term. And anything lying democratic norms to a large extent. It is of the four blind men who, outside our understanding of the process also not necessary to ascertain what ‘the after touching an elephant, would be non-democratic? We have a right government of the people by the people’ Wdescribed how the huge ani- to persist with our beliefs, but then so is the is doing or not doing ‘for the people.’ If mal looked. Naturally, the one touching the right of others. the members of the armed forces, includ- trunk had a very different story as compared What is the state of relations between ing the military leadership, were robots and to the one who had felt the tail. I have seen the civilians and the military in Russia, Chi- not made of the same flesh and bones as the situation in Pakistan from more than na, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and even the USA? civil society, then they would remain oblivi- one angle, as I have been part of both the The Capitol Hill and the Pentagon quarrel ous of whatever happened to the people of armed forces and the government. Though with each other on various issues. Presi- the country. Since it is not like that, they ex- the case is already built against military in- dent Trump was genuinely interested in press their concerns and because truth is terventions but it is important to remember withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, both bitter, it bites. There may be an uproar from the strength of the political culture that re- before and immediately after the elections. within and outside the country but from a sists such interventions. But he could not and his desire has mor- purely democratic point of view, the objec- When Francis Yokuhama was pro- phed into a sluggish match with the deep tion against military intervention is very well- claiming the end of history and crowning state. justified and no one can defend such inter- democracy and capitalism as the ultimate What does civilian mean? (Assuming ference in theory. The main reason is that panacea for the ailments of the human that the military is the only non-civil insti- they have guns provided by the nation for race, Samuel Huntington, his senior, was tution). The judiciary, police, bureaucracy, their defence and these are not supposed cautioning us about the clash of civilisa- government and the people are all civilian to be used against the nation’s own people. tions, which meant that other competing institutions. People can have problems The unfinished agenda of the subcon- systems do exist and they might rise and with the police. The government can have tinent’s division became the first misfor- pose a challenge. problems with the judiciary. There can be tune for the people of India and Pakistan There is no single model of a political problems in civil-to-civil relations as well. and ushered the two nations into perpetual system that fits all social paradigms. Even In Pakistan, the quest is for an ideal form animosity. The Kashmir freedom struggle democracy has different shades and hues. of democracy and any incursions by the started right away, and Pakistan, being Putin was elected as president, Xi Jinping military in the civilian domain is highly ab- much smaller in resources, started look- got overwhelming votes from the Grand horrent. It is true that the judiciary, the ex- ing for support and military alliances. This National Congress, Mullah Umar was elect- ecutive, the media and the legislature are affected the very nature of the state, con- ed by a jirga. But how many of us will ac- interfering and encroaching on each oth- verting it into a security-conscious country

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rather than a welfare-based state. Pakistan to reduce as long as the platform of the Na- casional spikes (as is perceived presently) was born as a security state and was not tional Security Committee remains active on some highly controversial issues. The converted into one. This also led to carving and the suggestions put forth by the military military leadership, from General Kiyani on- out a larger than legitimate or reasonable are not taken as dictations but considered wards realised their own shortcomings in space for the military and its leadership. on merit and logic. the fields of non-kinetic affairs, and chang- The early demise of strong political To keep the military out of politics, they es in the world conscience, and outrightly leaders also created a vacuum that needed must be kept on board in major national rejected military interventions in civil affairs. some time to be filled by the next tier of decision-making. The size of the armed It is a common perception that certain political leaders. Unfortunately, this unsta- forces, and their strong footprint in non- foreign policy decisions in Pakistan are ble period, instead of being protected by professional fields is also a matter of con- taken at the behest of military leadership. the civil and military bureaucracy, was ex- cern. But this must be weighed against the It is argued that all countries, while taking ploited by the same institutions that were fact that the best public schools, hospitals important foreign policy decisions that im- supposed to defend them. Because military and housing schemes were introduced by pact the security situation, do consult the units are cellular in nature, the army insti- the armed forces in Pakistan. Though the military establishment. Once the Pakistan tution was comparatively in good shape at Fauji Foundation comprises some best per- Army Headquarters received instructions the time of partition. forming companies with no uniformed per- from the government that foreign delega- It also needs to be kept in mind that sonnel, and is properly listed in the stock tions of a pure political and non-military the British employed a strong combination exchanges and amongst the highest tax nature should not be encouraged by the of the bureaucracy and the armed forces payers, yet it remains a whipping opportu- armed forces to call on their senior lead- to control the subcontinent. Strong politi- nity for some who tend to be ideologues ership. The Army Chief agreed and asked cal leadership in India controlled the armed of democracy, an elusive commodity found the foreign office that they should decide on forces right away. This unfortunately could only in well-educated and affluent societies. the programmes of visiting dignitaries. But not be done in Pakistan. Whenever the In the triumvirate - the government, the it was realized that many important delega- military took over in Pakistan, the initial re- people and the armed tions or foreign dignitaries sponse of the general public was normally forces - whenever a po- The would insist on calling on positive, but every time they left the situa- litical government wins the COAS, etc., and thus tion in a worse condition than before. the hearts and minds of frequency of the routine continued and Ayub Khan’s era brought development civil society by delivering civil-military has continued to this day. and prosperity, but the alienation of the erst- in education, health, jus- The main allegations while East Pakistan and the importance of a tice and economic oppor- stand-offs against the armed forces smooth political transition when his position tunities, the armed forces is likely to in Pakistan are that they became untenable, was not perceived by automatically get margin- dictate national interests him and the junta. Military dictators, criti- alized and lose their influ- reduce as and don’t want peace with cally short of political insight, allowed the ence beyond their desired long as the India. This means that the country to be sucked into the vortex of the role. On the other hand, armed forces, instead Cold War, resulting in some mortal blows if the armed forces are platform of of enjoying the peaceful for the people and society. called upon to play roles the National life of cantonments and Intermittent political dispensations also that are not their basic messes, would prefer the did not show enough acumen to steer the responsibility, and if they Security hardships of trenches, country into mainstream democratic tradi- also do better in those Committee sweat and blood. This tions, or were hemmed in for political space. roles, then their political is twisted logic. It is also A mixture of these factors kept Pakistan in a ambitions get stronger. remains said that a perpetual con- hybrid zone that was neither pure democ- An effective foreign policy active. flict-like situation allows racy nor pure dictatorship. The nation still that reduces the number the armed forces to justify continues to tread that path and is in the of enemies and thus minimises the prob- their size and existence. The armed forces, grey zone though the journey seems to be ability of conflict, will also preclude the role unlike some political parties in Pakistan, do gradually moving towards more democracy of the armed forces in affairs of the state. not belong to any family in which the gener- and less military interference. Before attaining these two conditions, als want their sons to keep presiding over However, with the prevailing external that is drastic improvement in social indica- the armed forces. In fact, statistics would and internal political military situation of the tors and reduction in internal and external prove that, in Pakistan, very few sons and region, along with sluggish delivery of other conflicts, any attempts to reduce the role of wards of senior officers make it to the sen- institutions in Pakistan, the influence of the the military in Pakistan may not completely ior ranks.The top armed forces leadership military is likely to stay for some time. The succeed. In my view, there is a tapering is concerned about their main mission of frequency of civil-military stand-offs is likely down of military interjections, with only oc- defending the country and they definitely

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demand a certain size of force and equip- ties, ably supported by their media friends, ple of Pakistan, we can carve out a system ment to accomplish their duties. As far as backfired due to lack of public support. and institutions that would suit our own the supreme national interest is concerned, The world is not a level playing field, needs. However, I am not recommending that happens to be the welfare and pros- where every nation is playing honestly by reinventing the wheel as it is not necessary perity of the people, irrespective of whoso- the rules. The internal socio-economic en- to focus only on western democracy. There ever decides. vironment is not identical. No system fits are some other practical systems that have It needs to be understood that, in Pa- all societies and countries. However, the succeeded around the world. kistan, the situation has not yet reached a stronger nations keep harassing the small- I have alluded to the factors that, in my threshold like in Turkey, where Tayyip Er- er ones in the name of democracy, human opinion, have led us on the path we are dogan was successful in cutting the military rights, terrorism, etc. All moves, whether treading today. I am optimistic that we are to size. This happened due to two factors. geo-strategic or geo-political, will attain gradually moving towards the right direc- One, the Turkish government was deliver- prominence in the geo-economics. Coun- tion. To ensure that we do not waver from ing in the socio-economic sectors and two, tries like Pakistan should look inwards to the right path, a relentless critique will al- the Erdogan government has a religious improve the social indicators and should ways help. It needs to be understood that leaning that is closer to public aspirations look outwards to reduce conflicts. At the political power does not grow out of the as compared to the Turkish armed forces, same time, they should keep pursuing their barrels of guns anymore. It is moral au- that had assigned to themselves the role of generally agreed interests. External unso- thority and legitimacy that is the ultimate the defenders of secularism. In the trio -the licited consultants and advisors with regard power. government, the people and the armed to our political systems, economic frame- forces - the balance was heavily tilted in fa- work and inter-institutional relations, may The writer is a former vour of the Turkish political government. In be listened to, but we need to proceed Minister of Defence and Pakistan, both these factors are yet miss- according to our own needs and interests former Secretary of De- ing and a recent overt attempt to malign and for that we have enough expertise at fence. He can be reached at the armed forces by some political enti- home. With the help of Allah and the peo- [email protected]

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Democracy in the Dock Democracy can only succeed if feudalism is buried and the parliament plays its role in legislating for the people.

By Justice (R) M. Shaiq Usmani learned men they mostly involved themselves the Westminster model that he favoured. He with laying down rules for daily lives of the never tarried to think whether such a system slamic history bears a witness to the fact Muslims rather than for their collective well- would suit a country like Pakistan and its that in spite of Islamic jurisprudence pro- being as a polity, with the possible exception inhabitants. Essentially, democracy is a sys- viding for governance through consul- of Ibne Khaldun who was the only one who tem of representative government and there Itation and deprecating totalitarian rule, advocated separation of state from religion. is no specific model of it. The United States, soon after the Right guided Caliphs in the As a result, the Muslims never evolved a cul- when it gained independence from the Brit- early years of Islam, totalitarian rule, like in ture of democracy in as much as it connotes ish, in spite of its people belonging to the the other Empires in those times, became the Representative government. same milieu as its erstwhile rulers, it chose a norm in the Islamic world and continues to re- Even in Pakistan, the successor to Mus- different system of governance that came to main so to this date with brief variations here lim India, the majority of our founding fathers be known as a Federal Presidential form of and there. In Muslim India the Muslim kings were of an autocratic bent of mind and rep- government which has lasted for the last two wielded absolute power even though they resentative institutions or government were centuries without any interruption and even a owed cosmetic allegiance to the Caliphs in far from their minds. It is only the personality civil war could not dislodge it. Baghdad and hence could pretend that they of Jinnah that kept them on the track of de- Similarly countries like Switzerland and were not absolute rulers and had some kind mocracy even though in pursuit of this ob- the Scandinavian countries have evolved their of divine sanction. jective, Jinnah himself had to take measures own systems of representative government Intellectually too, there was no attempt that were by no means democratic, such as which have lasted. The trick then is in choos- by Muslim scholars to evolve some rules for becoming the Governor General as well as ing a system of government that suits the representative government which indeed is the President of the Constituent Assembly background and ethos of the people and not the crux of democracy. There were no Mon- of Pakistan after Partition. While it is true that to imitate a system because it has worked tesquieu or Thomas Paine amongst them. Jinnah instinctively favoured a Democratic well in some other country. The concept of Separation of Powers and ef- system of governance but because of be- It is here that Pakistan went wrong and ficacy of Human Rights was far removed from ing imbued by the Anglo Saxon culture, it is failed to install a truly democratic system, their vision. Though some of them were very the Parliamentary system of government on which is epitomized by the famous saying of

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Abrahim Lincoln, “Democracy is a govern- Justice Shahabuddin, which after much de- needs of the populace but it was again Parlia- ment of the people, by the people and for the liberations, gave its report in 1961 provideing mentary in nature and hence the power of the people”. for the system of One Unit but stopped short feudals did not diminish and soon, in com- Ironically much of the blame for this rests of giving autonomy to the two wings perhaps bination with the religious elements backed with Jinnah because as a jurist par excellence because there was lack of trust amongst the by the Army, Bhutto was removed. This is it was the easiest thing for him to dictate a military in so far as the people of East Paki- how it appeared on the political canvas but Constitution within a few hours to his stenog- stan were concerned. The Commission also essentially Bhutto's removal was due to his rapher. If he had done just that, such a Con- failed to take into account the ethnic differ- autocratic tendencies and so also the sub- stitution could never have been challenged by ences amongst the people residing in the four sequent removal of his political successor i.e. anyone after his death. But even if it had hap- provinces of West Pakistan, who were not too Nawaz Sharif. pened so, it was unlikely that the Constitution enamoured by the attempt to herd them to- While it is easy to blame the military for given by Jinnah would have suited our people gether in one unit as it meant dominance of dislodging democracy in the country and and hence probably not lasted because Jin- the majority province i.e. Punjab. not allowing it to prosper but the fact of the nah was taken up with the notion of Muslims Nevertheless, Ayub Khan did manage matter is that military takeovers, except that of India being a separate and homogenous to promulgate the 1962 Constitution which of Musharraf in 1999, were welcomed by nation as manifested in his famous speech in introduced a Presidential system of Govern- the masses generally and the three military Dacca in 1948 where he declared, much to ment with a unicameral legislature consist- regimes made a definite contribution to the the chagrin of the Bengalis of East Pakistan ing of indirectly elected Basic Democrats as evolving of a political system that could give that Urdu would be the language of Pakistan well as the President and also provided for the fruits of democracy to the common man, thereby ignoring the differences between limitation in land holdings but alas, not for that is Ayub through an attempt to eliminate people of East and West Pakistan. abolishment of feudalism. There were certain feudalism and introduction of strong local The fact of the matter then is that the merits in the system but it was opposed by governments, Yahya through holding the first kind of Constitution and system of govern- politicians of all hue. The Bengalis opposed it free and fair elections in the history of Paki- ance that Pakistan required was different than because they did not get autonomy and the stan and Zia through giving Islamic bearings what India required because firstly Pakistan West Pakistanis opposed it because the feu- to the Constitution though in doing so he consisted of two wings separated by over a dal politicians were deprived of political power committed unforgivable excesses. thousand miles and secondly its one wing, through introduction of the system of Basic In the final analysis the reason why true that is West Pakistan, consisted of four prov- Democrats. It is unfortunate that when the democracy has not prospered in Pakistan is inces where only one province i.e. Punjab had crunch came and a movement against Ayub firstly because the quest for a Constitution to some sort of a representative institution. All Khan’s rule began he, instead of following suit our ethos has been like the search for the other provinces consisted of feudal fiefdoms his own Constitution, which in such a situ- Holy Grail, secondly any format of Constitu- and were entrenched in the nineteenth centu- ation provided for power to be handed over tion introduced was violated with impunity ry. The other wing i.e. East Pakistan, consist- to Speaker of the National Assembly, handed by those very people who introduced it and ed of a populace with a language, culture and over power to the Army Chief General Yahya lastly that our politicians, because of their ethos very different to that of West Pakistan. Khan. If only Ayub Khan, while leaving had feudal and quasi-feudal mindset, are auto- It is not surprising then that after Jinnah handed over power to the Speaker of the cratic in nature and are not prepared to cede and Liaquat Ali Khan left the scene, the poli- National Assembly, perhaps the history of Pa- power to the people at the grass roots and ticians were unable to give a Constitution to kistan would have been different. Need it be are uncompromising, intolerant and deter- the nascent country until 1956 and when they said that power was not handed over to the mined to have their own way no matter what did, it was a mix of the British Government Speaker only because he happened to be a the means. Democracy can only succeed if of India Act, 1935 and the Indian Constitu- Bengali. Thus we owe the debacle of the loss feudalism is buried and our Parliament plays tion and was based on a Parliamentary form of East Pakistan and the resulting turmoil, the its role and legislates in the interest of the of Government on the Westminster model. It effects of which we are reeling under even to- people and its Members do not scheme and is obvious that no thought was given by the day, to the prejudice of the top brass of the manoeuvre to seek office, pelf and power for makers of the Constitution to peculiar geo- Army against the Bengalis. themselves and for their acolytes and are will- graphical, ethnic and cultural circumstances Following the departure of Ayub Khan ing to accommodate and listen to their politi- of the provinces of Pakistan, particularly its and Pakistan’s geography having changed cal opponents. Eastern wing. As a result the system col- due to the loss of East Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali lapsed within two years and led to a military Bhutto got an opportunity to do some politi- The writer is a former takeover. cal engineering to devise a Constitution that Judge of the Sindh High It is to the credit of Ayub Khan that he was would suit the ethos of the inhabitants of the Court. He has been ac- the first leader, though self appointed, who part of Pakistan that remained. The Consti- tively involved in human and gave thought to the peculiar situation of Paki- tution that Bhutto gave to Pakistan was bi- women’s rights causes. stan and set up a proper Commission under cameral and by and large it catered for the

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Which Democracy? “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.” - Aristotle “Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.” - George Bernard Shaw

rights. The Western concept of democracy Even in the Western world where the By Dr. Moonis Ahmar flourished during the 19th and 20th cen- very concept of modern democracy origi- turies and reached the newly independent nated, contradictions present in the lead- he afore-stated quotes by re- states of Africa and Asia following the de- ership raise questions about the merit of nowned philosophers reflect the mise of European imperialism. The post- a system which commits the rights of the pluses and minuses of democra- colonial states, also called the third world, people but in practice fails to deliver. Tcy. Why democracy is termed as however, failed to establish a democratic Transformation of democracy from a boon and how it becomes a bane needs society because of enormous social back- boon to bane is a fundamental reality in to be analyzed in some detail. wardness, illiteracy and a feudal and tribal today’s world and is the outcome of four Democracy per se provides people an system. major realities. First, those who claim that opportunity to elect their representatives The ideal and reality of democracy is they represent people follow a different and, in return, those who form the gov- reflected when elected representatives path once they are elected or reach the ernment as a result of elections commit fail to fulfill the following six major require- corridors of power. Here, politicians are not to provide people with essential neces- ments: mainly responsible for ditching their voters sities of life. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a 1. Accountability. after seeking their mandate but people Genevian philosopher (28 June 1712 – 2 2. Transparency. are equally to be blamed for their failure July 1778), presented the famous theory 3. Rule of law. to make their elected representatives ac- of ‘social contract’ whereby citizens sur- 4. Justice system. countable. Particularly, in the global south, render a part of their sovereignty to their 5. Tolerance. one can observe how people on account rulers and in return get protection of their 6. Good governance. of their lack of political awareness, are

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betrayed by their leaders. Democracy is those who seek their votes and seldom against democracy became obvious when merely used by politicians to get elected show up. all the three military dictators who over- and seek power and in a fragile political As far as Pakistan is concerned, the threw civilian governments termed democ- process there is marginal possibility of notion about ‘democracy as a bane’ is very racy unsuitable for Pakistan. General Ayub questioning those who let down their elec- much true because of three main reasons. Khan came out with the idea of ‘basic de- torates. First, since the inception of Pakistan as a mocracy’ which was in fact negating the Second, democracy is also termed a new state in August 1947 till today, democ- very spirit of democracy. Generals Zia-ul- myth and far from the reality because it is racy was never practiced in its true sense. Haq and Pervez Musharraf didn’t hide their used as a gateway to seek power and then Out of 73 years of Pakistan’s existence, contempt for democracy when they openly as a means to make mon- the country remained un- stated that for them constitution was just ey through corruption and der military rule for more like a piece of paper! nepotism. In established Since the than 30 years and, in the Unfortunately, democracy was neither democracies like Britain remaining time, the fragil- owned by the majority of politicians nor by and the United States, inception of ity of democracy posed a the people. Civil society, which should have voters have grievances Pakistan as a big challenge for various been supportive of democracy, failed to ef- from their politicians who civilian governments. fectively mobilize people when generals are accused of betray- new state in The tribal and feudal cul- overthrew civilian governments because ing their trust for political ture of Pakistan along people on account of corruption, nepotism and financial gains. But, in August 1947, with illiteracy and social and bad governance had lost their trust on the third world countries, backwardness became a political parties. If democracy is viewed as illiteracy, lack of political democracy major reason explaining a bane and not a boon, it is not because awareness, the culture why democracy failed to of the mode of democracy but in view of of tribalism, feudalism, was never render positive results. the fact that it was never properly owned. corruption and nepotism Second, democracy Pakistan has a long way to go in terms prevent the major require- practiced in could have been a boon of transforming democracy from bane to ments of democracy like for the people of Paki- boon. It would require cultural transforma- tolerance, accountability, its true sense. stan had political parties tion from authoritarian, tribal and feudal to rule of law and justice sys- behaved in a mature and egalitarian, enlightened and tolerant. Lit- tem to fulfill. prudent manner. When eracy is not the issue in democracy. What The ground realities in many third world political parties remained as fiefdoms with matters is proper awareness among the countries militate against democracy be- no process of accountability in their rank masses to assert their position and take cause neither politicians nor people pos- and file, there was no chance of democ- their elected representatives to task if they sess any commitment to that mode of racy to succeed in Pakistan. Political par- fail to deliver. It would also require empow- governance. Third, democracy is a myth ties, like the PML (N), PPP, ANP and JUI erment of women, youth and minorities because of social and cultural realities in (F), instead of training their workers in so that the vulnerable segments of soci- those countries where there is asymmetry political ethics, sense of responsibility, ac- ety, are able to challenge the mafias who, of rights and duties. Democracy is misun- countability and the rule of law, remained in the name of democracy, religion and derstood because it merely ensures rights under the influence of various families. As a national security are involved in loot and and overlooks duties. The ideal of democ- result, the non-professional and imprudent plunder. Till the time, a common person racy is only understood in terms of rights way of running political parties provided an is able to understand what democracy is whereas democracy cannot flourish unless opportunity to non-political forces to pen- all about and that it is not only about his people are dutiful like paying taxes and ad- etrate the rank and file of such parties. rights but also his duties, namely to ad- hering to the rule of law. Third, the very concept of democracy here to the rule of law and duty to vote, he Finally, when corruption, nepotism and was made controversial by those who ar- or she will continue to be exploited by the misuse of authority is not checked and bad gued that in an Islamic state there was no mafias in the name of democracy. governance transforms a state from fragile scope of democracy as it was ruled out to failing and failed, democracy is blamed as a western ideology and not suitable for The writer is Meritorious Professor of for such debacles. It is not democracy Muslims. By terming democracy as un- International Relations and which should be held responsible for not Islamic without any logic and reason, that former Dean Faculty of So- yielding positive results but the people who segment of clergy in nexus with non-polit- cial Sciences, University of use it for their vested interests. Democracy ical forces conspired against those politi- Karachi. He can be reached becomes a liability and a bane when the cal parties who happen to be enlightened at [email protected] expectations of people are shattered by and secular. Generals’ distrust and venom

22 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Cover Story Pursuing the Dream Pakistan is a long way from a functioning democracy. Space needs to be created for the people’s economic well-being as well as their intellectual wellness. The government must also demonstrate that it is the servant of the people and not their master.

By Dr Talat Farooq 1990s. By opting for open political process- domestic and global politics; at the same es the new-comers appeared to strengthen time, mass media has exposed them to he end of the Cold War was greet- the hand of the democracy enthusiasts in fake news and conspiracy theories that ed with an optimistic ‘’end of his- the US and the West. The newcomers, can manipulate voter independence. More tory’’ thesis that argued in favour of however, began to falter by the end of the interestingly, the advancement in commu- T‘’unabashed victory of economic decade as they struggled to cope with un- nication technology can facilitate external and political liberalism’’. This approach saw favourable economic trends and transna- interventions in a country’s electoral proc- democracy as the end-point of humanity’s tional crimes that globalization brought in ess. These developments undermine the quest for the ideal form of governance. its wake. voter’s freedom to choose. Fukuyama’s optimistic approach was To be fair, modern globalization did in- Mass media is not the only medium in- reinforced by Bill Clinton during his two troduce and reinforce democratic norms fluencing political outcomes. Over the past terms in the White House. His administra- and universal principles of human rights in four decades or so the concept of democ- tion never tired of endorsing economic inter- a number of international and regional in- racy has lost its immaculate roots in the dependence as the harbinger of ‘’Democ- stitutions. The UN war crimes tribunal for face of the massive cost of running for pub- racy Enlargement’’ in the world - a world in Yugoslavia and Rwanda and the establish- lic office. This has given wealthy corporate which, according to Clinton, the US must ment of an International Criminal Court that interests and influential non-state actors lead ‘’alliances of free market democracies empowered humanitarian law, are cases in the opportunity to manipulate election out- in Asia, Europe and the Americas in sup- point. comes by investing in the electoral process. port of democracy and economic liberty.’’ Contemporary globalization has also To return the favour, the representatives of A number of former Soviet-bloc coun- enabled exchange of ideas between com- the people often lobby for regulations that tries embraced democracy in the early mon people, thus giving them a voice in favour corporate interests at the cost of

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public interest. construct after World War II. And all this is facilitated military interventions in Pakistan. The democratic idea of free-trade, that carried out in the name of democracy and Direct military interventions and indirect was supposed to benefit the working class liberal values. What the American democ- manipulation of the electoral process are in the developed and developing countries, racy enthusiasts have failed to understand key reasons for the stunted growth of a has failed to deliver. Consequently, inequal- is that democracy cannot be imposed from democratic system. ity of income and distribution of wealth has above; it has to evolve from within the so- Of late, however, there appears to be increased, widening the gap between the cio-cultural milieu of a society. a ray of hope, at least in terms of power rich and the poor not only in the developing So, within the context of the current in- transition. The political power shift in 2008, world but also in the democratic, developed ternational scenario, where does Pakistani 2013 and 2018 polls from one set of civil- countries. This has spawned distrust of the democracy stand today? ians to another is a huge accomplishment ruling elite and given rise to populism and Big money plays a big role in influenc- in a country that has been under military ultra-nationalism that weaken democratic ing election results not only in rich countries dictatorships at regular intervals for more norms of inclusiveness and equality. Brexit like the US but also in developing nations. than three decades. is an apt example in this regard. Therefore, it is not surprising that vested That being said, Pakistan is still a long Contemporary populist trends are re- economic interests often drive the politi- way off from becoming a truly democratic flected in the electoral victory of Donald cal processes in Pakistan, state that upholds con- Trump and the strengthening of white su- too. This invariably leads stitutionalism, the rule of premacists in the US, the mainstreaming of to financial corruption that Elections are law, freedom of expres- far-rightist leaders in a number of European perpetuates societal im- not enough sion, respect for human countries, the election and re-election of balances. rights and provides equal Narendra Modi and the rise of Hindutva in Like all good things to make protection to all seg- India. These are big question marks on the in life, democracy begins democracy ments of society. efficacy of democratic mechanisms and at home. Unfortunately, A functioning democ- electoral independence. competing political parties a viable, racy is about institutional The enthusiasm of the 1990s was in Pakistan lack internal functioning checks and balances and questioned by some who wondered what democratic structures be- accountability, in which would happen if free and fair elections cause the feudal and tribal system of all are equal and in which transferred power to bigots and racists. mindset remains well-en- the people are given the Such reservations, however, were never trenched. The situation is governance. right to make informed, addressed seriously; the staunch support- exacerbated by a lack of a independent choices ers of democracy believe that the collective well-rounded education system that would when electing their representatives. judgment of the voters is the best defence allow the learners to ask questions instead A functioning democracy creates space against democracy being exploited by the of bowing to authority and to share their not only for economic well-being but also undeserving. thoughts on taboo subjects without fear of for intellectual wellness that encourages According to Human Rights Watch re- repercussion. knowledge creation. In short, it is a system ports, in the post-9/11 world the United Lack of education means a lack of of governance under which the govern- States has moved backwards on human gainful employment that can loosen the ment is the servant of the people and not rights and continues to support authoritar- feudal hold. Consequently, the feudal and their master. ian governments and individuals abroad tribal mindset continues to give birth to rul- Today, as we face an increasingly un- militarily, financially and diplomatically. This ers and not leaders, thereby widening the certain environment, it remains to be seen reflects the double standards of the US, the perennial disconnect between the state whether democracy does, after all, pos- champion of democracy. and society. sess an inherent corrective mechanism The US has chosen militarist solutions Elections are integral to the democratic and whether Fukuyama’s faith in its return to the problem of terrorism. Along with the process but they are not enough to make despite setbacks is based on solid founda- military approach, non-democratic prac- democracy a viable, functioning system of tions. tices of torture, indefinite detention and governance. Lack of performance legitima- rendition are employed without fear of ac- cy on the part of the ruling elite and contin- The writer is Senior Consultant at the countability. US drone attacks constitute ued intolerance in the Pakistani society, are Islamabad Policy Research Institute and unlawful use of force and a wilful breach of instrumental in undermining the democratic author of Pakistan’s Stra- state sovereignty. dispensation. tegic Choices in the 1990s Minus UN approval, the targeted kill- In fact, failure to deliver on the part of (Routledge, UK, 2016). ings in the Muslim world breach interna- political leaders weakens voter confidence She can be reached at tional law and undermine the very liberal to the point of questioning the very con- [email protected] democratic world order that the US helped cept of democracy. This in turn has often

24 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Cover Story Guided Democracy Democracy may have arrived in South Asia but it is mostly in name because this part of the world remains a very backward region and all because power is never given to the masses.

By Muhammad Waqar Rana The idea of a democratic state is in- nerstone of liberal democracy is individu- tertwined with a welfare state. A constitu- alism. A government founded on common emocracy means government tional democracy on the western model consent pre-supposes that the government with the consent of the majority, envisages that all three organs of the state, does not trample upon or undermine liber- obtained through a vote at the legislature, executive and judiciary, func- ties of people. The constitution ensures a Dperiodically held elections, on tion within their allotted spheres and in ac- check against unlawful actions of the ex- the basis of adult franchise. Consent ex- cordance with the rules laid down in the ecutive and legislature in the form of an in- pressed through a poll has to be informed constitution and or conventions developed dependent judiciary, which has the power and free. To ensure honest, fair and trans- around certain practices that ensure ob- of judicial review. The executive is also re- parent elections, institutions are created servance of democratic norms. The cor- sponsible to the parliament for its policies. under the constitution to protect A democratic government is ob- the integrity of the electoral sys- ligated to protect certain values tem, which includes an election necessary for the society, which commission and the judiciary. include rule of law and respect These bodies must be vibrant for humanity. and proactive in their functions. The people of South Asia People must also ensure by the share common stock and his- their attitude, political behaviour tory. With the exception of Nepal and participation in the process and Bhutan, all other countries, the vitality and integrity of the Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and whole government and guard it Sri Lanka, have written consti- against manipulations and cap- tutions and democratic govern- ture. They must own the system ments with varying experiences and save it from external forces. and different political histories. Moneyed/land mafias and All these countries were British corporate/capitalist cartels cre- colonies. People were gradually ate irresistible temptations for introduced to democratic institu- those in power. Only an ingrained tions. A brief survey of the consti- ideological commitment to the tutional dispensation and political loftier ideals can provide pro- history of these countries would tection against this cancerous help in our ultimate analysis and malady of corruption. Democ- conclusions. racy also comes under threat India: India was the first do- from various institutions within minion that became a republic the state, which are prone to ar- after independence in 1947 on rogating resources and powers. the framing of its Constitution in All these anti-democratic forces 1949, which came into force on threaten the most cherished ide- 26 January 1950. The first elec- al of the people - liberty. Liberty tions under the new constitution is the bedrock of a free society, were held in 1951-52. India had freedom of thought and con- the advantage of having a versa- science. Strict compliance with tile leadership trained in and com- the basic democratic norms and mitted to democratic tradition processes confers legitimacy on tempered with socialist ideology. the governments formed there- Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime under. Minister, provided leadership dur-

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 25 Cover Story

ing the initial years and helped in strength- other institutions. ciliation Commission was constituted on ening the democratic culture and institu- Pakistan has had three constitutions. the South African model in Bangladesh that tions. Electoral process has never been The Constitution of 1973 is a consensus would have saved many precious lives. An interrupted in India. The Emergency im- document. It envisages a parliamentary authoritarian regime supported by external posed by Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977 form of government. The future of democ- powers and internal corporate forces could is considered a bad patch in Indian history. racy in Pakistan is largely dependent upon seriously undermine democracy in Bang- But the general elections many factors. An external ladesh despite seemingly substantial eco- held in 1977 showed that Pakistan’s threat from its hegem- nomic progress in recent times. the Indian society and its onic neighbour, which is Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was also political traditions were democracy unwilling to settle many a British colony. It got its independence on strong and they rejected disputes, is the greatest 4 February 1948 but remained a dominion undemocratic actions. faces impediment in the way of of the Commonwealth. It became a repub- India introduced land threats from a democratic and pros- lic in 1972. Its present Constitution was reforms soon after in- perous Pakistan. Internal- promulgated in 1978. Two of its presidents dependence and ended manipulative ly, due to wrong policies, (S.W.R.D Bandaranayke and Premadasa) the landed aristocracy land and Pakistan’s democracy were assassinated. A bloody civil war start- created by Lord Curzon faces threats from manip- ed by the Tamil rebels in 1984 ultimately in the 1890s. Its lead- corporate ulative land and corporate ended in 2009. However, elections were ers were committed to mafias, which mafias, which have easy held regularly. There is a presidential form socialist ideology, which access to the corridors of of government in Sri Lanka. It has the high- helped in checking the have easy power. Education, control est education rate in the region. The future capitalistic manipulation on population growth, of democracy is very bright in Sri Lanka. Its of institutions. But, in access to better management of Constitution and people are a guarantee recent times, some cor- the corridors resources and strict ob- for a democratic Sri Lanka. porate octopuses have servance of the rule of law Nepal and Bhutan: These tiny Himalay- strangled the systems. of power. and merit-based policies an landlocked states are members of the Democracy in India is un- can enlighten the path of South Asia Association for Regional Co- der an existential threat from religious ex- democracy in Pakistan. operation (SAARC). Nepal has now a fully tremists and big corporate interests, which Bangladesh: Bangladesh, once East operational democracy after the assas- are seriously undermining India’s claim to Pakistan, has a long history of democracy. sination of the royal family. Bhutan, after democratic traditions. Democracy has firm Bengalis, under British rule, were the most remaining for a century under a religious and deep roots in India that will ultimately informed and politically active people. The monarchy, transitioned to democracy in trickle down its benefits to the little man All India Muslim League was formed in 2006-2008. These peace loving states stricken in poverty and ignorance. Dacca in 1906. After its separation from have great future. Pakistan: Pakistan has a turbulent po- Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh framed its The credibility of democracy has erod- litical history. M.A Jinnah, the founder, had Constitution, which has gone under many ed all over the world but it still remains the an unflinching belief in and commitment changes. Since its creation, Bangladesh best system of government. Despite being to democracy. What followed after his un- has had two martial regimes (1975-1981 under democratic regimes for over seventy timely death was an incessant tale of pain and 1981-1986). As result of the referen- odd years, South Asia remains the most and suffering. Pakistan’s democracy was dum, parliamentary democracy has been backward and poor region in the world derailed by a fatal attack on its basic insti- restored. Democratic institutions have after Africa. There is an unstable constitu- tution, the Constituent Assembly in 1954, started gaining roots in Bangladesh. tionalism in South Asia but the future is not which permanently shifted the scales in fa- The present Prime Minister, Sheikh bleak. vour of undemocratic forces. Pakistan has Hasina Wajed, is the only surviving mem- had four undemocratic regimes spanning ber of her father Mujibur Rehman, who The writer is an advocate of the Supreme half its life. Elected governments during the was the funding father of Bangladesh. Her Court and former additional attorney intervals between military regimes were in- grasp on power has been strengthened general of Pakistan. He holds an LL.M. fested with corruption and controversy. Ex- as a result of her relatively retaliatory ruth- degree from Harvard Law cept for the general elections of 1970, al- less actions, particularly the hangings of School and is the co-author most all other elections were disputed and Jamat-e-Islami’s leaders and others who of a book ‘Comparative lacked transparency. Hence those govern- supported a united Pakistan, which has Constitutional Law.’ He ments lacked legitimacy. These weak gov- seriously eroded Bangladesh’s claim to can be reached at ernments were prone to subservience to democratic norms. Alas, a Truth and Con- [email protected]

26 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 CoverIntervie Storyw

‘There is greater awareness about the plight of minorities in India at the United Nations today.’

Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations, speaks to SouthAsia in this exclusive interview.

What are the key challenges that the Pa- challenges such as climate change, poverty, What progress has Pakistan made in kistan UN mission is addressing at pre- inequality and mass migration. tackling the Kashmir issue at the UN? sent in the context of Pakistan? In this backdrop, the key challenge for What efforts has the Pakistan mission The world is undergoing a complex Pakistan at the UN is to mobilize opposition made at the UN to build world opinion in transformation. Great power rivalries have to India’s oppression in occupied Jammu favour of Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir revived, polarizing international relations. and Kashmir and revive the legitimacy of the and treatment of Muslims in India? The economic slowdown, job losses and Kashmir struggle for self-determination. Following India’s illegal measures of 5 mass migration have led to trade and tech- For over seventy years, India has vio- August 2019, and the imposition of a com- nology “wars” and the rise of ultra-nationalist lated the UNSC resolutions on Jammu and plete lockdown and curfew in occupied passions and populist political postures. Kashmir and denied the right of self-determi- Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan has taken a Today the very essence of the UN Char- nation of its people. In the wake of unilateral series of steps to highlight the plight of the ter, the basic rules and principles govern- and illegal actions taken by India on August people of Jammu & Kashmir and promote ing the use of force and respect for human 5, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts their cause at the United Nations. Our efforts rights, are being flagrantly violated. The ris- to revive support for the Kashmiri freedom have focused on three areas: ing unilateralism is eroding multilateralism struggle and seek a solution for the Kashmir One, India’s grave human rights viola- and international cooperation to effectively dispute - one of the oldest and unresolved tions in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir; address threats to peace and security - such items on the agenda of the Security Council. Two, the legitimacy of the freedom as the unresolved conflicts in the Middle Despite immense challenges, we have made struggle of the Kashmiri people to realize East and South Asia - as well as other global encouraging progress on this issue. their inalienable and recognized right to self-

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determination; and have rejected the stan mission creating awareness among Three, India’s threat of Over so-called political Muslim countries at the UN about the aggression against Paki- maps issued by the differential treatment being meted out to stan and its continuing vio- the last Indian government Muslims in India? lations of the ceasefire line 75 years, wrongly projecting Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first along the LOC in Jammu the occupied ter- to alert the world to the implications of the and Kashmir. Pakistan ritory of Jammu & fascist and extremist policies of the current A major thrust of our has made Kashmir and Azad Indian government in his historic address efforts has been to expose Kashmir as part of to the General Assembly on 27 September the human rights abuses significant the Indian Union. 2019. carried out by Indian occu- contributions The spokesperson We have consistently told the world that pying forces. We have ap- of the UN Secre- the BJP-RSS government is stoking Islamo- prised the world that with to the tary General has phobia by using religion as an instrument deployment of more than principles affirmed that these of identity politics in India. We firmly believe 900,000 security forces, maps have no va- that this is all part of the larger extremist India has imposed a reign and purposes lidity for the UN “Hindutva” agenda of the RSS-BJP Indian of terror in Kashmir, with of the UN which continues to government. The illegal attempt to annex severe restrictions on all depict Jammu and IOJK, the Babri Mosque verdict and the Na- fundamental freedoms Charter. Kashmir in its maps tional Registration of Citizens (NRC) law and and human rights, and to- as a disputed terri- the latest Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) tal blackout of all forms of tory in accordance are all driven by a toxic mix of an extremist communications. with UNSC resolutions. ‘Hindutva’ ideology and hegemonic ambi- Due to our efforts, the UN Secretary Our UN Mission continuously apprises tions in the region. Modi’s Hindutva policies General has affirmed that the UN’s position UN member states of the situation in IOJK have completely exposed the hollowness of on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is based and the developments there. All relevant Indian claims to ‘secularism’ and ‘democ- on the UN Charter and Security Council res- news stories that come out of IOJK are racy’. olutions. The UN High Commissioner for Hu- shared with all Permanent Missions, UN Of- Undoubtedly, there is greater awareness man Rights has issued several statements ficials, think tanks and NGOs. about the plight of minorities (in particular expressing concern over the human rights As part of successful lobbying efforts by Muslims) in India at the United Nations to- situation in occupied Kashmir. Several UN the Government of Pakistan, India’s actions day. In this regard, I would like to draw at- Special Rapporteurs have raised concern have attracted almost universally negative tention to the latest report of the United Na- about arbitrary killings and detentions and media coverage. A spate of news stories tions Special Rapporteur on Minorities who other violations in occupied Kashmir. and op-eds have highlighted the suppres- expressed alarm at the despicable treatment After 50 years, we raised the issue in the sion of Kashmiri human rights, the risk of accorded to Muslims and other minorities in Security Council which has now discussed war between nuclear-armed India and Paki- India. In the context of NRC-CAA, the Spe- the situation in Jammu & Kashmir twice stan and the rise of the extremist “Hindutva” cial Rapporteur noted and I quote directly in the last six months. This has reaffirmed ideology in India. from his report: our long-standing position that Jammu and These developments have vindicated “Millions of Muslims in Assam face the Kashmir is an international dispute which Pakistan’s longstanding and principled posi- threat of being deemed “foreigners” and remains on the Security Council’s agenda. tion on Kashmir and once again brought this treated as non-citizens, and could therefore Its consideration by the Council reflects rec- issue into the global spotlight. We will con- become stateless in India”. He further cau- ognition of the disputed status of Jammu tinue to make these efforts. The growing in- tioned the world that this process could fuel and Kashmir and the gravity of the prevail- ternational scrutiny is exerting considerable a xenophobic climate, religious intolerance ing situation there. We believe that increased pressure on India as apparent from its less and discrimination, leading to other states in international scrutiny will exert pressure on than credible attempts to portray “normalcy” India using similar approaches to deny or re- India and restrain it from magnifying its illegal in occupied Kashmir. Such pressure will cer- move citizenship for Muslims and other mi- and draconian oppression in IOJK. tainly succeed in easing India’s clampdown norities. The Special Rapporteur has rightly Similarly, a joint statement was issued in IOJK and restrain its aggression against called on the Security Council and the Hu- by more than fifty countries in the Human Pakistan. It will also advance the ability of man Right Council to intervene “as a matter Rights Council, which condemned the hu- the Kashmiri people to struggle for their right of urgency in view of the risk and scale of man rights abuses by India in IOJK. The to self determination. the crisis emerging in India, with millions of OIC, through its Contact Group on Kashmir members of minorities soon being deemed also voiced its concern on this issue. The Has Pakistan sensitized the UN on the foreigners, treated as non-citizens and pos- United Nations and its various agencies plight of Muslims in India? Is the Paki- sibly finding themselves stateless, to con-

28 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 CoverIntervie Storyw

sider immediate discussions and actions on cally, financially and diplomatically. For about ject during his address to the General As- this issue with the Government of India in or- a decade, Pakistan suffered the most due to sembly in September last year. der to protect the human rights of those in- terrorism; including terrorism supported and Unfortunately, despite widespread prev- volved and avoid what could easily become sponsored from abroad. During this period, alence of Islamophobia, the debate on the a threat to regional peace and security.” India and other adversaries deliberately por- issue at the United Nations remains highly As you can see, the Special Rappor- trayed a negative image of Pakistan through divisive between the western countries and teur’s report fully vindicates Pakistan’s po- an orchestrated diplomatic and propaganda the OIC members. sition and has crystallized the widespread campaign. However, with the concerted ef- The western countries are of the view concern around the world about the direc- forts of our armed forces and security agen- that any official endorsement of the term tion and consequences of the policies of cies, Pakistan has broken the back of terror- “Islamophobia” and its criminalization by the Modi’s BJP-RSS government. ist groups operating against Pakistan. The United Nations would limit the scope of free- improved security situation in Pakistan has dom of expression, including one’s right to The OIC foreign ministers will probably also been duly acknowledged by the United criticize any set of religious beliefs or views. meet in April to address the issue of Mus- Nations. The UN has restored the status of On the contrary, OIC members are of the lims in India. What are the preparations? Islamabad as a “family station” for its inter- view that a misguided “absolute” notion of The next OIC conference of Foreign national staff. The responsible and forward freedom of expression allows hate speech Ministers will take place in Niamey, Niger this looking polices of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Islamophobia to be mainstreamed re- April. Preparations for the conference are and his Government, eschewing extremism sulting in systematic prejudice and violence underway at OIC Headquarters in Jeddah. and promoting tolerance, have contributed against Muslims. For OIC members, Islamo- Pakistan is likely to host the following OIC greatly to generating a positive image of Pa- phobia is not a threat to freedom of expres- Foreign Ministers Conference. kistan in the international community. sion but a new type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Does our UN mission find Pakistan’s in- Which countries have most backed Pa- Muslimness. ternational reputation in a better shape kistan’s cause at the UN? Who are Paki- We are closely working with OIC coun- than before? stan’s most prominent supporters at the tries to revive the campaign for criminalizing Over the last 75 years, Pakistan has UN? certain manifestations of Islamophobia and made significant contributions to the prin- In multilateral forums coalitions are usu- other forms of incitement to violence at the ciples and purposes of the UN Charter, in ally formed issue by issue. A group of friends United Nations. In this regard, Pakistan will particular the promotion and maintenance on one issue may be opponents on another. host a high level meeting on the theme of of international peace and security. We have For example, the EU and OIC members Islamophobia later this year. We are deter- served on the Security Council seven times have opposing and divergent positions on mined to carry this momentum forward. and presided over the Economic and So- a number of human rights issues; however, Given the divisions at the United Nations cial Council six times. Pakistan has been an both groups support the resolution on the on this issue, progress in these efforts may ardent advocate of multilateralism and the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar at be slow and uneven, but with determination primacy of the principles of the United Na- the UN. and persistence, the Muslim countries will tions Charter in the conduct of international Notwithstanding the fluid and issue- eventually prevail. affairs. Pakistan is a major contributor to the specific partnerships at the UN, Pakistan UN Peacekeeping. enjoys strong and consistent cooperation Which other areas is our UN mission Pakistan is currently an elected member with its strategic partner China and brotherly working on about building a positive im- of a number of key UN bodies including Hu- member states, including Turkey, Saudi Ara- age for Pakistan? Is our mission taking man Rights Council (2018-20); ECOSOC bia, Malaysia and other OIC members, on advantage about building Pakistan’s im- (2019-2021); Chair for the Commission on the issues of concern to Pakistan including proved image as a country showing bet- Narcotics Drugs (2020); Chair for the Con- Kashmir, Afghanistan, terrorism and devel- ter economic indicators and being recog- vention on Certain Conventional Weapons opment. nized as a preferred tourist destination? (CCW) (2020) and UNICEF Executive Board Similarly, on issues of development, our At the UN, Pakistan has maintained a (2018-20) to name a few. Recently, we were position is fully aligned with the G-77 and leadership position on all major economic also elected as Head of UNESCO’s Educa- non-aligned countries. and social issues including the implementa- tion Commission. Pakistan is likely to be tion of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement elected as President of the ECOSOC again Has our mission further worked on the is- on Climate Change. later this year. sue of Islamophobia following PM Imran We have taken initiatives to prevent illicit Pakistan’s wide membership of multiple Khan’s speech at the UNGA? financial flows and upheld financial integrity UN bodies is reflective of our strong standing Countering Islamophobia is one of Paki- standards. One recognition of our proactive and credibility at the UN. However, the “War stan’s and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s key role is Pakistan’s inclusion in the high-level on Terror” took its toll on Pakistan, physi- priorities. He spoke passionately on the sub- panel on international financial accountabil-

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ity, transparency and integrity for achieving I think those who The United at the UN recognize the 2030 Agenda, which has been jointly ascribe a zero-sum this? constituted by Presidents of the General As- nature to Pakistan's Nations’ Pakistan has long sembly and the ECOSOC. relations with China categorization of held the view that Our role at the UN has been reinforced and United States there is no military so- by the recent improvement in Pakistan’s of America, should Islamabad lution to the conflict in economic indicators, such as ease of doing recall the history of as a family Afghanistan. Recent- business (recognized by 2020 World Bank our relationship with ly, the international Report), reports indicating macro-economic both countries which station is community, including stabilization and an increase in investments would certainly help reflective the US, has accepted in Pakistan by 78% and increase in overall to invalidate this this position. Paki- revenue deposits by 15%. flawed notion. Paki- of the stan has extended all Pakistan has also taken a lead posi- stan played a central improved security possible support and tion on issues related to energy transition. role in one of the most facilitation for the Af- It currently co-chairs the Group of Friends of dramatic episodes of situation and ghan peace and rec- Sustainable Energy for All and has proposed the Cold War - the better economic onciliation process. high-level dialogue on sustainable energy in opening to China by Our efforts have 2021, which we may host in Pakistan. President Nixon - indicators in been pivotal for the Our Eco-System Restoration Initiative because it enjoyed Pakistan. advancement of the (ESRI), with the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami at good relations with US-Taliban talks. We its core, was introduced by the Prime Min- both China and the are pleased with the ister during the UN Secretary General’s Cli- United States. resumption of nego- mate Action Summit in 2019. The initiative is Pakistan hopes to play a similar role in tiations and hope that these will conclude widely recognized as one of the most ambi- the future if needed and to maintain good soon. In the next phase the Afghan parties tious programs launched during the Summit relations with both powers even if the two will need to renegotiate the path to sustain- as part of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to are engaged in a competitive relationship. able peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan will combat climate change. Pakistan’s desire to have close cooperation continue to play a facilitative role as part of Our leadership position on information with both China and the US stems from the its shared responsibility because a peace- and communication technologies is promot- imperative to reinforce our economic devel- ful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in ing tax reforms in many countries for equita- opment and foster regional peace, progress, our national interest. Pakistan’s role is wide- ble sharing of revenues generated from digi- and prosperity. We seek a positive synergy ly recognized and appreciated. Of course, tal transactions. Our presence in ECOSOC which we believe to be a stabilizing factor there are “spoilers” in our region, especially as vice-president has also placed us at the for the region. India, which does not want peace and rec- center of the international discourse on so- onciliation in Afghanistan since it is utilizing cial and economic issues and enabled us to Pakistan has always played a positive Afghan territory to foment terrorist attacks highlight Pakistan’s priorities. role regarding Afghanistan. Do countries against Pakistan. Importantly, as I mentioned earlier, the United Nations’ cat- egorization of Islamabad as a About Munir Akram family station is truly reflective of Munir Akram is the Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations, New York. He the improved security situation previously served as Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent UN Representative in New York for six and better economic indicators in years between 2002 and 2008, after serving as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Pakistan. We understand that fol- United Nations in Geneva for seven years from 1995 to 2002. Between 1988-1992, Munir Akram lowing the UN recognition, other was Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Council, Belgium and Luxembourg. During his term countries would follow suit in re- at the United Nations, Munir Akram served twice as President of the Security Council in May 2003 vising their negative travel advi- and in May 2004; President of the Economic and Social Council in 2005; Chairman of the Group of sories on Pakistan which would 77 and China (developing countries) in 2007, and Facilitator on UN Administrative Reform in 2006. provide a huge boost to tourism Among the positions he held in various intergovernmental organizations were: Member of the UN and investment in Pakistan. Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament; Chairman of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body and President of the Conference on Disarmament. Munir Akram joined the Foreign Service Does the US-China rivalry pose of Pakistan in 1967. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in Political any problems for us at the UN Science from Karachi University. In recognition of his services, he was conferred the award of Hilal- since both countries are Paki- i-Quaid-e-Azam by the President of Pakistan. stan’s friends?

30 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region Economic Decline The period when India reported exceptional GDP growth rates was accompanied by greater trade integration between India and Pakistan. New Delhi

twenty years or so even if it grows at a country in South Asia, the declining trajec- By Aadil Nakhoda relatively modest rate of 5% per annum, tory in its growth and trade is likely to have he Indian economy is currently its dream of achieving such a status in the an impact on regional integration. experiencing a poor patch as its next four years seems impossible. Accord- Although, the regional trade between GDP growth has tumbled below ing to basic calculations, the nominal GDP India and Pakistan is held hostage to un- T 6% in the last two quarters. The has to grow at more than 10% per annum certain diplomatic relationships and terri- GDP growth rate at market prices based for it to achieve the impossible. torial disputes, the period when India re- on constant local currency as reported The statistics provided by the Reserve ported exceptional GDP growth rates was by the World Bank for India was on an Bank of India paint a gloomy picture in accompanied by greater trade integration ascendency between 2011 and 2016, 2019-20 relative to the readings reported between the two countries. According to peaking at 8.17%. This ascendancy in the in the previous fiscal year. The industry data obtained from ITC’s Trademap.org, economy had provided several opportu- growth rate is at -0.5% in Q2 of 2019- exports from India to Pakistan picked up nities to the smaller economies of South 2020 from 9.9% in Q1 of 2018-2019, ser- sharply in 2004 as it grew by more than Asia to tap into the expanding market po- vices growth has declined to 6.4% from 180% relative to the value reported in tential through greater trade integration 7.5%, and gross fixed capital formation 2003. In 2006, exports further increased with India and consequently with other growth has fallen from 13.3% to 1%. by more than 100% as they surpassed regional countries. The inflation in India is also reporting the $1 billion mark. This upward trend India is currently reporting its slow- an upward trend as the All India consumer continued rapidly as exports from India to est expansion reported since 2013, with price index has increased to 5.5% in No- Pakistan surpassed the $2 billion mark in growth rates expected to be below 6% in vember 2019 from 2.3% in November 2010. Therefore, exports increased from 2019. Raghuram Rajan, the former Re- 2018. Foreign trade has also been on a a meagre amount of $180 million in 2003 serve Bank of India governor, has stated declining trend. Exports declined by 0.3% to $2 billion in 2010, an increase of more that India is in a ‘growth recession’ as in November 2019 and imports declined than 11 times in a span of 7 years. It was in he raises concerns not only on the real by 12.7%. The growth rate in October this period that India reported high growth sectors of the economy and on the con- 2018 was strongly positive for exports and rates of more than 7% each year, except sumption demand, but also on the rising imports in 2018-19, at 8.7% and 10.4%, in 2008 as the global recession hit several corporate and household debt as well as respectively. With India by far the largest major economies. Even though diplomatic on growing unemploy- ties between India and ment. India experienced Pakistan were again im- six quarters of slowing pacted after the Mumbai growth. Further, the IMF attacks in 2008, trade projected a reduction in was not hampered as its growth rate. National much as expected. In- statistics are indicating dia exported more than a struggling economy. $2 billion to Pakistan in Government officials 2013 and 2014. Interest- continue to tout India ingly, the exports to Pa- to grow to $5 trillion kistan were the highest by 2024, making it the in 2018, as they crossed fourth largest economy the $2.3 billion mark. A in terms of nominal GDP, significant proportion of overtaking Germany, exports to Pakistan from United Kingdom and India in 2018 was of raw France. Although, In- cotton, cotton yarn, or- dia, in all possibility will ganic chemicals and overtake its European petrochemical products. counterparts in the next Trade between India

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 31 Region

and Pakistan is severely impacted today, Portland cement, light and medium oils growth rates. With economic and other not only due to the economic conditions and preparations of petroleum and gyp- domestic political and economic chal- prevailing in both countries but also due sum from Pakistan. Pakistan is a crucial lenges looming within India, regional trade to the conditions in the disputed territory source for dates, Portland cement and integration is likely to suffer as well. Ulti- of Kashmir and the war tensions between gypsum. Again, export receipts from India mately, better regional integration should the two countries. Trade is virtually frozen. reported by SBP were down 91% in the accompany the resolution of long-stand- According to the import payment data first five months of FY20 as compared to ing disputes between India and Pakistan. obtained from the State Bank of Paki- the values reported in the same period in The South Asian region is reported to be stan, import payments to India in the first the previous year. the least integrated region in the world. five months of FY20 are down more than India’s exports to SAARC had in- Greater trade integration can only benefit 60% relative to the import payments in the creased significantly from $2 billion in 2001 the entire region. same period in the last fiscal year. to more than $24 billion in 2018. However, On the other hand, the growing econ- 2019 has imposed certain challenges in The writer is an Assistant Professor of omy of India and easier access into the trade. For instance, exports of onions from Economics & Research Indian market benefitted Pakistani export- India to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were Fellow at CBER, ers as exports to India from Pakistan more banned as production failed to meet do- Institute of Business Ad- than doubled between 2004 and 2005. mestic demand. ministration (IBA) Karachi. The figure crossed $500 million in 2012, In essence, South Asian intra-regional He can be reached at 2014 and in 2018. India imported dates, trade gained when India reported higher [email protected]

Farce of Democracy

d slamaba Democracy in Pakistan is now only a perception and far from I reality because it may be a voice of the people in the ideal form but the situation on ground is different.

By Jahangeer Kakar Parliament was supposed to be instru- that had caste their mesmerizing spell to mentally an epitome of representing a true beguile the democrats into a state of hal- here was a lot of naughty me- democracy, as claimed by the politicians, lucination and had pushed them into be- dia rumpus on how the Services especially in the opposition benches. Was coming freaky clowns in practicing such Chiefs’ Extension Bills could be it purely the art and craft of dark magic or hasty democracy? Tpassed with such ease when the some powerful Harry Porter incantations Democracy was last seen moving on

32 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region

wheel chairs twice: first, when it was com- ing out of an accountability court in Sindh and second, when the wheel chair flew to the birth country of democracy. This is what happened to 220 million people mov- ing on a wheel chair democracy! A consumerist nation exists on per- ceptions imported by its historical ground realities and blindly subscribes to anything foreign, defying both rhyme and reason. This consumerism shuts down their own intellect and forces upon them the habit of seeking foreign harbingers in the hope of resolving indigenous problems manu- factured by intellectual dacoits. The case for democracy as chanted in Pakistan re- flects the country’s consumerist nature as The evolution of political parties is an- and the PPP. They share the same mind- a state. What is known as ‘democracy’ is other perplexing development in the po- set and their only agenda is getting power absolutely not what we is practiced and litical landscape of Pakistan. Democracy for themselves. Had Imran Khan continued though it postures as being’ democrat- is based on representatives of the people his struggle with the original PTI, his party ic.’ Plainly, it is a tale of controlled power and is grounded well in the people. Such would have developed into a truly demo- politics where certain houses, families and re-presentation further expresses the cratic party and his dream of ‘change’ groups of influential clans, have always popular will of the people which forms the may then have come true. But it seems, flouted democracy and have been grinding inner core of democracy. Sadly, in Paki- IK was sent people by the other two ma- their own axes in perpetuating their individ- stan, no political party can be said to have jor political parties to maintain the status ual, family or clan legacies that have been evolved any original political thought. This quo in hereditary and power politics. The wholly taken over by brute power and bra- tells the sob story of how political par- other political parties in the country strictly zen self-interest. They are setting up ideals ties in Pakistan are simply half-measures. adhere to either family politics or coveted of aristocracy rather than democracy. These parties do not follow any concrete bloodline politics. Force and power have been the innate political thought and cannot perpetuate The chatter from Pakistan’s political attributes and sine qua non in Pakistan as their existence by motivating people. They parties about democracy is just a farce. inherited after the dvision of British India. are not aware of the real hindrances and Any political party which itself is enveloped From the very day of its birth, Pakistan has how they can lead revolutions against the by the pressure element and which be- faced practical extinction threats from its status quo. lieves in power politics, cannot withstand bigger neighbour. The security of the state With the exception of the Pakistan the openness, fairness and merit of de- has always been of paramount priority from People’s Party in Bhutto’s earlier times, mocracy. The race for preservation of self- the very day Pakistan came into existance. which represented a hybrid form of social- interests and perpetuating the status quo The political junta in Pakistan has always ism, other political parties are merely pres- are the prime features of Pakistan‘s politi- hidden under the apron strings of Paki- sure or interest groups and the PPP has cal landscape. They may be talking about stan’s security. There were instances of now also joined the same lot. The feudal their struggles for democracy but, in fact, political parties at the left of centre which, leaders rule the country’s politics in the they are only lusting for power to fulfil their even after the birth of Pakistan, opposed name of democracy. interests. its existence and questioned the need for The PML-N staunchly follows its own For all intents and purposes, democ- the country’s existence. The element of dynastic politics comprising brothers, sons racy has been put on the backburner. Poli- power was always enshrined in consolidat- and daughters and is like a middle eastern tics in Pakistan is the domain of a few rich ing and defending the state. sheikhdom rather than a party devoted to families and they continue to thrive in the After Pakistan became a reality, the po- democracy. Imran Khan’s Tehreek-i-Insaaf name of democracy. litical discourse moved around power and was one ray of hope but it has also become not democracy. The struggle for power a part of the status quo. Imran still wrongly The writer is a civil servant, always ruled politics. It was this rage for believes his PTI is the third political party based in Quetta. He free- power that brought about an amputation in a bi-partisan Pakistan, altogether forget- lances on national issues of the country. This also brought to the ting that with the exception of his own self, and can be reached at Ja- surface the political ineptness of the politi- PTI is now composed of people who were [email protected] cians. earlier either in the PML(N), PML(Q), APML

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 33 Region

Hopes and Hurdles

n i gala If Imran Khan does not deliver on the nation’s hopes, there a

B is nobody else on the horizon.

time for many in Pakistan with a real urge and incompetence. By Imran Jan to cast their vote. The prices of everyday commodities teve Jobs in his 2007 com- We all felt that we could make a dif- started soaring. Forget about how Imran mencement speech at Stanford ference and that we were no children of Khan is promoting Pakistan’s image glob- said that getting fired from Ap- a lesser God. The hope rejuvenated us all ally as this is a peace-loving nation. What S ple, a company he had created, and gave us a purpose to exercise an im- the average Pakistani poor man needs is was the best thing that had ever happened portant element of our citizenship. It ener- to him. It had left him devastated at that gized our patriotism. Sadly, however, the moment but as time passed, he worked feelings of those days seem like a distant hard to start all over again. Jobs said that past. The disillusionment came in phases his pride of being the world’s top entre- because we quickly bought the idea preneur was replaced with the lightness of that the troubling times were an in- being a beginner again. Jobs pointed this heritance from the thieves of the out as a mindset of being “less sure about past. Many of us rationalized everything”. And that was the key to the every move that Imran Khan future iconic success of his career. approved of, including the in- Imran Khan’s promise and rhetoric clusion of Aamir Liaquat in the gave people a hope unheard of in Pakistan party. We remained quiet even in recent memory. However, ever since he when this despicable con artist came to power, the net result has been was made a party member. more difficulties for the poor than before. Furthermore, unrealistic claims The struggle to make ends meet is a real were made, such as the 100-day one and it only became nightmarish under agenda, which did more harm than the PTI rule. The problem is that the PTI is good to the credibility of the PTI. still in campaign mode, while the rest of us Raising the bar sounds nice and, have moved on. Words such as mafia and if I may add, one gets a kick out of corrupt thugs are still heard even when the it too, but meeting those raised expec- topic is the soaring prices of wheat and tations with tangible outcomes is what sugar. the PTI gave the least thought to. In any The movie Shawshank Redemption business, whether selling something or has Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman running a country, the easiest part is the arguing about having hope. Morgan ar- noise-making (promotion) but the hard- gues that hope is a dangerous thing, while est part is the logistics to ensure Robbins tells him how hope is the best of that the deliverables match things. In my humble view, both the char- the noise. What PTI acters are right. Hope can ruin people as did, it seems, was to well as run them. PTI gave us a hope we give its most energy had not seen in decades in Pakistan and to the noise and some of the younger Pakistanis had not the least attention seen it in Pakistani politics at all. I was to the logistics. born in Pakistan during a dictatorship. Once the rubber Then came the magical chair styled de- met the road, PTI mocracy of the 90s, followed by another missed no op- dictatorship. That is when I became eligi- portunity to viv- ble to vote but there was no real ballot in idly display sheer sight. Khan, running in 2018, was the first inexperience

34 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region

lower prices of food for his survival be- Now, PTI is at a crossroads. It can happen, then the fallout would be enor- cause he has a meagre and static sal- either continue with business as usual mous. Imran Khan resurrected our dead ary. All politics is local they say. Shaukat and keep talking about never sparing the hopes. A murder of these hopes again Yousafzai, a founding member of the PTI, thieves of the past (although they have would leave us absolutely devastated. said that people should use yogurt instead been cut loose) or it could do what Steve Many of us expected nothing when the of tomato if they cannot af- Jobs did - shirking off the PPP was elected in 2008 and the PMLN ford to buy the latter, an es- campaign mode and get- in 2013. But we sure expected a lot this sential ingredient of every- If the PTI ting down to the nitty gritty time around. day meals in Pakistan. Had of the problem at hand. If Imran Khan doesn’t deliver, there is imbecility and senseless- fails, the They could also stop act- nobody on the horizon that the Pakistanis ness been crimes, Shaukat fallout ing like they know how to can look up and attach their hopes to. Yousafzai would be behind fix everything by sending Even more alarmingly, we may not want bars. A few nuts a day will would be their ridiculous members to have any hopes again, just to avoid the go a long way against some to talk shows for acts of disappointment. That could be more dan- of PTI’s nuts. The charm enormous. ridiculousness. Many of us gerous than an invading army. and glamour of the leader is who have been made to not going to pay the bills of smell the coffee due to the The writer is a political those who are at the receiving end of this PTI’s continuous fiascos are not going to analyst. He can be reached inflation. Likewise, no economic mumbo continue to rationalize that the mess is a at [email protected]. jumbo spewed by Hammad Azhar will making of the previous regimes. If the PTI Twitter @Imran_Jan. translate into relief for the poor. fails, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t A Question of d slamaba I Ideology The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is a constitutional body that advises the legislature whether or not a certain law is repugnant to Islam.

By Shahrukh Mehboob

he present social instability and political unrest in the Muslim world reminds one of the 17th and 18th Tcentury Europe when there was a long-standing battle between the Catho- lics and Protestants which destroyed their socio-political fabric. To get out of the so- cio-political chaos, they separated religion from the state. However, there is, theoreti- cally speaking, a visible difference between Christianity and Islam. The latter provides comprehensive social and political ideals, while the former lacks it. Despite the clear message conveyed by Islam of brotherhood, unity and disci- pline, Muslims have been factionalized and fragmented into different sects. They have

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 35 Region

their own identities and rigid sets of beliefs tion speaks of the appointment of persons which is damaging the roots of the Mus- as members who are either well versed in lim identity and brotherhood altogether. To the “Knowledge of the principles and phi- cater to this complex and horrific dilemma, losophy of Islam as enunciated in the Holy there is a dire need for constitutional re- Quran and Sunnah,” or “Understanding of forms in the Muslim states. the economic, political, legal or administra- To carry out such principal reforms, tive problems of Pakistan.” there has always been a need for an ac- Significantly the use of the word “per- claimed constitutional body/institution/ son” denotes that such persons neither council but none of the Muslim thinkers need not be Muslims nor even citizens of have drawn the comprehensive structure Pakistan. Article 260(1) of the Constitu- of that body concerning power politics of tion defines a person as “anybody politic the present era. In the case of Pakistan, or corporal”. The president of Pakistan we have the name of the Council of Islamic has the power to appoint a CII compris- Ideology. ing eight to 20 members. These mem- Religion has played a conspicuous role bers would necessarily have to have one in Pakistan. According to the Constitution woman amongst them. The requirement of of Pakistan of 1973, Islam has been de- individuals engaged in Islamic research or clared the state religion. The Islamic way instruction is 1/3rd of the total body. This of life was to be promoted, including zakat, Dr. Qibla Ayaz, Chairman, CII. means that 2/3rds of the body could be awqaf and mosques. For the past 73 years, lends to its Constitution. The law demands derived from men and women who were Pakistan is facing religious discrimination the CII be disbanded. Not that the previous experts in law, economics, science, busi- and fanaticism in the form of blasphemy government hasn’t tried. Men as liberal and ness, etc. laws, child abuse, women protection is- illiberal as former Prime Minister Nawaz The recent verdict on Junaid Hafeez sues, etc. To iron out such complications, Sharif, General Pervez Musharraf and for- in a case of blasphemy, child abuse and an important Islamic provision declared mer President Asif Ali Zardari have toyed non-implementation of Islamic injunctions, that the President would appoint within with the idea of slapping the CII down but are the aftermath of CII failures. The Con- ninety days of the commencement of the no one succeeded. The law ministry made stitution has thus sought to balance the re- Constitution a Council of Islamic Ideology a convincing case as late as in 2010 that, quirements of modernity with religion and to make recommendations to the Parlia- post-final report, the CII was over the hill. create a truly ijtihad body that would help ment for bringing the existing laws into But the council wailed back like a step- modernize the law of Islam according to conformity with the injunctions of Islam and child cut out of the will, screaming that the the times we live in, but unfortunately, we as to the stages by which such measures same Article 230 implied permanent sta- have failed to enhance and adapt Islamic should be brought into effect. The Council tus for it. It was needed, quivered the CII, injunctions in the light of the Quran and was also to compile in a suitable form the in deciding what was right for Pakistanis. Sunnah. This was keeping in line with Al- guidance of Parliament and the Provincial As a hideous child marriage bill makes it lama Iqbal’s lectures on Reconstruction of Assemblies, such as injunction of Islam through Iraq’s parliament, days from being Religious Thought in Islam. The CII was not that could be given legislative effect. Article drafted into law, it doesn’t take much to supposed to be a body of religious priests 230 of the Constitution reads: “The Council guess what the CII may one day be capa- with a divine mission. Perhaps, most im- of Islamic Ideology shall submit its final re- ble of, if left to its own devices. Mohammad portantly, Article 227(3) bars the CII from port within seven years of its appointment Ali Jinnah said “Pakistan is not going to be recommending anything that affects the and shall submit an annual interim report a theocratic state, to be ruled by priests status of non-Muslims as equal citizens and Parliament, after considering the re- with a divine mission.” of Pakistan. Keeping in view the present port, shall enact laws in respect thereof There is merit in this recommendation national and international socio-cultural within two years of the final report.” because the CII was never supposed to and religio-political trends, the government Considering that the existing Constitu- be a permanent body. It was supposed to of Pakistan should review the purpose, tion came into force in 1973, the CII man- give its final report within seven years of its scope, and powers of the CII, including the aged to come up with a ‘final report’ by appointment. That final report was repre- qualification for its members. 1996, a casual 16 years too late. Be that sented in December 1996 and, as such, as it may, that means the CII has fulfilled there is no constitutional imperative to con- The writer is an Attor- its mandate and should go home now. The tinue with the body anymore. The makers ney at Law. He can be fact that it has managed an ugly afterlife for of the constitution, to their credit, did not reached at shahrukhme- decades shows both the weakness of the envisage the CII to be a council of ulema or [email protected] state and the lack of attention this republic religious priests. Article 228 of the constitu-

36 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region

Leading by Force

Dhaka The CAA has had a negative impact on the Bangladesh-India diplomatic relationship though the leaderships in both countries may deny the fact.

in India. Such accusations are important for East Pakistan during the partition of India in By Sabria Chowdhury Balland the BJP in order to justify its systematic and 1947, yet another bone of contention has ‘A leader leads by example, not by force.’ indiscriminate torture and killing of Muslims been created between the two countries. - The Art of War by Sun Tzu, 5th. century BC in India. Bangladesh rightfully demands that India Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League should provide proof of its claims, which, lo- heikh Hasina has long ben ac- party have caught on to the BJP’s tricks and gistically, will be an extremely tedious task. cused of sacrificing her country’s stated that the Bangladesh government will This is not to say that illegal border crossings interests and well-being to India. look into the matter. Although their undis- into Bangladesh are not taking place on a SThis is not only the viewpoint of puted allegiance has been to India, the CAA daily basis. her political critics but there is a widespread, has hit many sensitive nerves. Another point The CAA provided for the first time a pic- general consensus among the majority of causing unease within the Awami League, ture of “trouble in paradise” between the two Bangladeshis. It is a well-known fact that a point vastly echoed among the Bangla- neighbouring countries when three Bangla- anti-India sentiments run deep in a sizeable deshis, is the possible exodus of mainly deshi ministers postponed their official visits portion of Bangladesh’s population. Recent- Muslim migrants fleeing persecution in India, to India. Granted, in October 2019, Sheikh ly, the murder of Abrar Fahad, an engineer- particularly from the state of Assam. Bang- Hasina and Narinder Modi had signed seven ing student at the Bangladesh University of ladesh is still in a state of limbo having ac- “treaties” (a meaningless term when utilized Engineering and Technology by the ruling cepted nearly one million Rohingya refugees for the Bangladesh-India relationship as party’s student wing has triggered country- from Myanmar and cannot possibly envision these documents are treaties in name only, wide protests by students, academics and taking any more refugees from India or any- tilting heavily in favour of India), the CAA pro- the public. where else. Although India’s claims are that vides a break from the delusion for Hasina, Unmistakably, Sheikh Hasina’s obvious these are originally Bangladeshis who fled who has begun to see clearly that all is not allegiance to India over Bangladesh, be it in trade or water sharing or in any number of a myriad of other factors, has fuelled ques- tions about her closeness to India. It is extremely important to mention here that as an authoritarian leader, Sheikh Hasina, is in power due to her alliance with India and not because of the mandate of the people, but she has never cared for public opinion. India’s Citizenship Amendment Act seemsto have altered the ball game. The CAA, launched in 2019, amended 1955 law, by providing a path to citizenship to illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian minorities who have fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December of 2014. India’s ruling party, the BJP, being a xenophobic party whose fundamental doc- trine is to obliterate the Muslims, has made sweeping derogatory statements and sug- gestions that Hindus in Bangladesh have been systematically and sufficiently tortured and now they seek refuge as illegal migrants

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 37 Region

well in this political romance, something the as the Prime Minister are profoundly em- people of Bangladesh has known for quite bedded in India. India was, is and will always sometime. be the priority over Bangladesh for Sheikh Enter China. It has invested $38 billion Hasina. However, the CAA seemed to have in Bangladesh and has supplied the Bang- left Hasina dumfounded, searching for her ladesh Navy with submarines. In competing words when she declared publicly that she with China's investment, India rapidly pro- cannot understand “why India did this.” vided a $500 million line of credit in order for Moving forward, the BJP will hopefully be re- the Bangladesh Army to garded with distrust by upgrade its defence sys- India was, the Bangladesh lead- tems and hardware, no ership, if that is not too doubt a means to further is and will much to hope for. its control over Bangla- Had there been desh's military complex. always be the leadership in Bangla- Sheikh Hasina seems desh which genuinely to come out as the win- priority over worked towards the ner in this chess game, good of its people, the being able to continue Bangladesh for strategic geopolitical the rhetoric of how well positioning of Bang- the economy does under Sheikh Hasina. ladesh could have her rule, but the nation been much better uti- of Bangladesh is not a lized internationally to winner. Anti-India, anti-Sheikh Hasina and benefit Bangladesh and not her neighbour, anti-Awami League sentiments are at an all completely against the will of the majority of time high and had it not been for the fear its people, who have been dragged into a factor of a ruthless, dictatorial regime, better political game of relinquishing sovereignty, a organization and leadership of all opposing game they had never signed up for. groups, there would have been a revolution Unfortunately, the dream the freedom to oust the oppression and corruption a long fighters of the liberation war in 1971 had time ago. has not yet attained fruition. To this day, There has not been a peep out of Sheikh Bangladesh is oppressed by an authoritar- Hasina or her party members against the in- ian regime, which has stripped individual humane treatment of Muslims in India by the freedoms of every kind, benefitting the top BJP. The status quo of their extreme power 1% Awami League cronies and a leader who and control takes precedence over morality leads by force, not by example. but that cannot be good news among the si- lent Bangladeshi public, approximately 91% The writer is a teacher, politi- of whom are Muslims. cal columnist and member Despite a temporary glitch in the Bang- of the US Democratic Party. ladesh-India romance and the appearance She can be reached at of a diplomatic thaw, the roots of the Awami [email protected] League and Sheikh Hasina’s very position

38 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region

nd u Remote Control China and the USA are competing for influence over Nepal. The reality is that Nepal is China’s neighbour while the US is athma

K located thousands of miles away.

By S.G. Jilanee

riendly relations between China and Nepal are only natural. With a 1,414 kilometre common border, it Fcould not be otherwise. China is the largest source of Foreign Direct Invest- ment in Nepal. It is also the second largest source of foreign tourists coming to Nepal. Nonetheless, Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s recent visit to Nepal - the first visit by a Chinese president to the country in more than two decades - underscores Beijing’s increasing interest in South Asia as a strategic hub for defence and transit projects. During the visit, China and Nepal signed twenty agreements on subjects ranging from connectivity to security. Most of the agreements, including Nepal’s support to R. Pompeo at the State Department. as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, which the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and rail In the meeting, Foreign Minister Gyawali aims to use political, economic, diplomatic, and road connectivity between China and highlighted the priorities of the Government military, and other means to co-opt China’s Nepal, would further reinforce mutual ties. of Nepal in line with its goal to graduate neighbouring countries, including India and Through these agreements, Beijing prom- from Least Developed Country (LDC) sta- Nepal, to contain China’s rise. ised around $500 million in economic tus at an early date and become a middle- In fact, since 1951, the United States grants to Nepal. Furthermore, China reaf- income country by 2030. has provided more than $791 million in bi- firmed its commitment to build the Trans- The two sides exchanged views on lateral economic assistance to Nepal. In re- Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity enhancing political relationship through ex- cent years, annual bilateral U.S. economic Network, which includes linking China to change of visits and the ways and means assistance through the U.S. Agency for In- Kathmandu through the Himalayan railway. for promoting economic cooperation be- ternational Development (USAID) has aver- Under these agreements, Beijing prom- tween the two countries, with particular fo- aged $40 million. USAID supports agricul- ised around $500 million in economic grants cus on trade, investment and development ture, health, family planning, environmental to Nepal. Moreover, China reaffirmed its assistance . protection, democratization, governance, commitment to build the Trans-Himalayan Gyawali and Pompeo also underlined and hydropower development efforts in Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, the importance of early implementation Nepal. USAID had also supported Nepal’s which includes linking China to Kathmandu of the Millennium Challenge Corporation peace process, as well as its preparation through the Himalayan railways. Compact to realize the benefit it offers. for Constituent Assembly elections. The However, the growing intimacy be- As part of the program, the United States United States also contributes to interna- tween the two Asian neighbours has has already extended a grant assistance of tional institutions and private voluntary or- caused gripes to the United States, half the $500 million for strengthening Nepal’s en- ganizations working in Nepal. To date, U.S. world away. It therefore agreed to take its ergy and transport network. contributions to multilateral organizations seven-decade long bilateral ties with Nepal, Notably, the visit of the Nepali foreign working in Nepal approach an additional to the next level during a meeting between minister to the United States comes at a $725 million, including humanitarian assis- visiting Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar time when the United States is willing to es- tance. The US Peace Corps was also ac- Gyawali and US Secretary of State Michael tablish a ‘strategic partnership’ with Nepal tive in Nepal through the years, but termi-

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 39 Region

Even though India treats Nepal as its hinterland, it does not invest in Nepal’s development.

nated its operations there in 2006 due to rising No Direction security concerns. In an effort to address the increasingly abul K The Afghanistan Papers offer vivid details and strained bilateral relationship between Wash- sometimes shocking assessments but few ington and Kathmandu, a senior US official was surprising insights. sent to Nepal in February 2019 on a diplomatic mission. Joseph H Felter, the US deputy assis- By Meriam Sabih tant secretary of defence for South and South- east Asia, who is the most senior US official fter a three year legal battle, on December 9, the Washington Post released to visit the Himalayan nation since President documents comprising over 400 interviews known as the “Afghanistan Donald Trump was elected, told a gathering of Papers”. The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Re- selected Nepali journalists in Kathmandu that Aconstruction was formed by the United States Congress to provide much “from the defence perspective, Nepal is an im- needed oversight into mistakes made or “lessons learned” during the eighteen years portant US security partner with an important of America’s longest war. role to play in regional stability.” The Washington Post’s inquiry to gain access to the documents started with a But his specious explanation of US foreign tip that Micheal Flynn had given in an interview about the war in Afghanistan. The policy in Asia did little to soothe suspicions Flynn interview raised questions on enabling corruption, ineffectiveness of policies, in Kathmandu. Nepal’s geographic position a “positivity bias”, lack of understanding of the Afghan people, and the distrust the means it is sandwiched between Asian giants Afghans had towards the US military which had made their work more difficult. De- China and India. Even though India treats Ne- spite this, each commander who left Afghanistan stated that they had accomplished pal as its hinterland, it does not invest in Ne- their mission of “defeating the enemy and protecting the population” only for the next pal’s development. battalion to take over and realize that things were in as bad a shape on the ground China, on the other hand treats Nepal as as they always were. an important neighbour and pours assistance The findings in the “Afghanistan Papers” show that the truth was withheld from for its ambitious projects, as indicated by the the American people and they were deliberately fed disinformation. The documents Chinese president’s visit to Nepal and signing released by the Washington Post also state that large amounts of the aide given was of 20 agreements. misused and there was no clear indication of what the strategy or objectives to fight But, it is the United States that tries to the war in Afghanistan were and whether goals were attainable or not. In many cases muddy the waters and disturb the tranquility of the American troops did not even know who their enemy was. the region by its intrusive policies, due to its The main objectives in Afghanistan to disperse Al-Qaeda and diminish the Taliban rivalry with China. The reality is that Nepal is, were achieved early on. Since 2002 the United States has spent over $2 trillion of geographically, within China’s sphere of influ- the taxpayer’s money. Much of this has never made it either to the government of Af- ence. The United States should reconcile with ghanistan or its people. An op-ed in the Washington Post on December 11 titled, “The this reality, instead of trying to tilt the balance United States’ fatal flaw in Afghanistan? Excluding Afghans” states that, “...as early as by the use of aggressive methods. 2008, an Oxfam analysis of aid distribution in Afghanistan highlighted endemic exploi- tation within the American aid industry itself, with two-thirds of aid received bypassing The writer is a senior political the Afghan government and people completely.” More development and increased analyst and former editor of trust would have resulted had that money been used to benefit the Afghan people SouthAsia. He can be reached rather than go towards disproportionately hefty salaries of contractors. at [email protected] The United States has been in talks with the Taliban, even while the democratical- ly-elected government of Afghanistan remains excluded. Will such negotiations prove helpful to the Afghan people for a long term cease-fire and the American masses in

40 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Region

reaching overall “success” in the war in Af- that the United States negotiate the peace States should take the will of the Afghan peo- ghanistan? Can the war be deemed success- deal with Pakistan rather than the Taliban, ple into account and not compromise on the ful if the United States allows the Taliban back insinuating that the support is officially com- positive steps taken on democracy, women’s into a power-sharing scenario? ing from Islamabad. Has Pakistan been part rights, and education. Such advances should Blame for a reemergence of the Taliban of the obstacle to peace? Or has the United not be taken back. It would only create the is often placed on Pakistan. A complaint oft States used Pakistan as an excuse for its in- same atmosphere which gave rise to the repeated in the Afghanistan Papers is that, effective policies as well? Also, is the current support of terror in the first place. “Pakistan was continuing to enable the Tali- Trump administration making the problem Over 2,300 American troops have given ban…” Included in Lessons Learned project, worse by giving more importance to the mili- the ultimate sacrifice of their lives since the is an interview with an unnamed Pakistani of- tary than the civilian government just as they war started and over 8,000 Afghan civilians ficial in New York who denies supporting the are bypassing the Afghan government to ne- have been killed just this past year. The focus Taliban and has stressed that Pakistan’s civil- gotiate with the Taliban? must be on the security of the Afghan people ian government wants a “managed transition” Understanding the needs of the popula- too along with that of the United States and even if it makes reconciliation with the Taliban tions of both Afghanistan and Pakistan would the international community. more difficult. be a better strategy for peace. Development and strengthening the insti- The Pakistani official has said they too Some of the problems cited other than tutions are vital for a more prosperous and wanted to know whether certain elements the external support for the Taliban, was the peaceful region and better policies. While in the ISI were supporting the Taliban. If so, loss of focus on Afghanistan as attention President Trump may want to leave Afghani- there seems to be a clear disconnect be- was diverted to other areas of conflict. At the stan in a hurry in time for the next elections, tween the government policies and the intel- same time, others have pointed out there are as the Afghanistan Papers suggest, if the ligence apparatus or perhaps rogue compo- some notable successes too. There are more lessons are to be learned and not ignored, nents that the United States was referring to. children in school and women now are seen the US must not leave Afghanistan and the The Pakistani official went on to encourage in prominent positions in government and region only for it to become a bigger mess. the disarmament of the Taliban and denied various other sectors in Afghanistan. That For Al-Qaeda not to reemerge, a deeper support for them. could change if the Taliban are allowed back and better understanding, clearer goals, and In an interview, a former White House into power. better trust between the Afghan people and official had in 2015 stated that the “Obama How would the Taliban returning to pow- the United States is necessary, along with a administration thought that Pakistan would er be better for the national security of the strong Afghan government. eventually ‘see the light.’” The Kerry-Lugar United States? The Taliban are factioned and Bill was supposed to oversee civilian rule over not a unified entity. This is seen when parts of The author is a columnist and former the military and to monitor its funds. After its the Taliban negotiating with the US declare a contributor to Al-Jazeera expiry, it was not renewed as Prime Minister temporary cease-fire only and do not want to America. She has a Masters Nawaz Sharif stressed increasing trade with have it translated on the ground. degree in Political Science America and not relying on aid. What would it mean for the US to win the and can be reached at Still, Senators such as Lindsey Graham war? Internal Afghan negotiations and peace [email protected] have sarcastically stated it would be better within are a part of the answer. The United or twitter @meriamsabih Future Imperfect

abul Twenty years on, Afghanistan is still far from peace though K the U.S. is getting nowhere on the battlefield and their only hope is the peace talks with the Taliban.

produced evidence of bin Laden’s master- of fatigue. Their grit and morale remains By S.G. Jilanee minding the incident. The Taliban asked for unshaken. They also have the advantage t was on October 7, 2001 that the evidence of bin Laden’s involvement in the of fighting on their own turf, whereas the United States invaded Afghanistan. 9/11 incident to consider the US request. American troops are fighting thousands of The action was code-named, “Opera- The war has dragged on ever since. Even miles away from home. I tion Enduring Freedom,” following the after 20 years there is no clear indica- Meanwhile, “since 2001, more than 9/11 tragedy, when the Taliban govern- tion of peace being within reach. Ousted 775,000 U.S. troops have been deployed ment in Afghanistan refused its demand to from power, the Taliban have been fight- to Afghanistan, many repeatedly. Of those, expel Osama bin Laden, unless the U.S. ing all the way without betraying any sign 2,300 died there and 20,589 were wound-

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 41 Region

ed in action,” according to US Defence elected president. And it is vitally neces- Department figures. During the same pe- Even after 20 years sary for enduring peace that it is satisfac- riod, “the Defence Department, State De- torily thrashed out. partment and U.S. Agency for International there is no clear No doubt, the Taliban have learned Development have spent or appropriated their lesson a very hard way. Therefore, if between $934 billion and $978 billion, for indication of peace they come to power again, there will be the war in Afghanistan. That is the tally to no more destruction of the Buddha statue. date. The figures, both of casualties and being within reach. They know that, being an extremist gov- expenses, would pile up if the conflict goes ernment, they were recognized by only on. three countries, - Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Clearly, this is America’s longest war Not content with whining at home, and the UAE - in the past. To be accept- and a purposeless one, as well. The US Ghani took his dirty linen to Davos, to able worldwide, they will have to reform, is keen to withdraw. Negotiations and the wash and hang it at the World Economic which will include holding elections and peace movement intensified in 2018 amid Forum to dry under the Swiss sun. He empowering women. talks between the Taliban and the United contradicted Pakistan Prime Minister Im- Meanwhile, as the talks between the States, whose 20,000 soldiers maintain a ran Khan’s statement to reporters the Taliban and the U.S. progress, cynics are presence within the country to support the previous day, that the Haqqani Network, asking questions. They doubt if a dura- Afghan government. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy for reconciliation in Afghanistan has said the peace talks have reached an “important stage” amid a renewed push to reach an agreement with the Taliban to end the war that has been raging in the country for al- most 20 years. Khalilzad called his two-day trip to Ka- bul, “productive”, where he met President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, former President, Hamid Karzai, women’s rights activists and other political leaders and “discussed efforts to achieve reduced violence and pave the way to in- tra-Afghan negotiations.” A Taliban official in Doha, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that a ceasefire in Afghanistan will come in place when an agreement is signed, refer- which the United States has designated ble countrywide cease-fire would result in ring to the deal being discussed between as a terrorist group, had no activities or case of an agreement in Doha. They even the US and the Taliban. bases in Pakistan, and called the de- question if the Taliban leadership is in full According to Taliban officials, their nial “un-helpful.” Instead, he stressed the control of all their fighting factions and ruling council has agreed to a temporary need to “engage in a constructive engage- foot soldiers. Yet another question is, how ceasefire in Afghanistan, providing a win- ment where the special relations between sincere is the Taliban leadership about an dow in which a peace agreement with the the Taliban and Pakistan end. It is good for intra-Afghan dialogue and how far will they United States can be signed. both countries and it is good for the region go in accepting the demands of the gov- But the Taliban negotiate with the Unit- and the world.” ernment, civil society, and women? ed States in Doha. They do not talk with However, since the peace talks in A satisfactory answer to these ques- Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan president, whom Doha, between the Taliban and the US tions holds the key to lasting peace in war- they dismiss as an American stooge, an seem to be progressing well, a few of torn Afghanistan. abomination not worthy of notice. Frustrat- questions arise about the future of the ed, Ghani takes it out on Pakistan, whin- country. Who, for instance, will rule after The writer is a senior ing, for example, that Pakistan continued a deal is struck between the U.S. and political analyst and former to give sanctuary to an insurgent group Taliban? Ashraf Ghani will be certainly out. editor of SouthAsia. He that helps the Taliban in its war against Ka- Who will take his place? That is an impor- can be reached at ghu- bul and the United States. tant question, given the fact that he is an [email protected]

42 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 InternatNeighbourional

Imperial Greatness Iran has a grand strategy to make its place in the Middle East. It is using various Tehran strategies to expand its remit in the region.

By Maj. Gen. Inam Ul Haque (Retd)

he Middle East has always been in the news for understandable reasons being a battleground T among Arabs, Iranians, Europe- ans, American and Israelis. It comprises the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia), the Anatolian Headland (Turkey) and the Irani- an Plateau (Iran). These regions converge on the Syria-Iraq territory, historically the “Fertile Crescent” that is inherently unsta- ble. The Saudis lack the ability to cover the entire Middle East. Turkey is working to re- claim the ‘Turkish Middle East’. Iran only has a clearly articulated strategic vision and ambition, rooted in its history, geog- raphy and revolution. The US,as a result, stays interested. A nation’s Grand Strategy is the “pur- poseful employment” of all elements of national power in a given and foreseeable regional and international environment. its intelligence capabilities, ballistic mis- fence, the CIA, Congress and the Capitol Traditionally - though arguably - its focus siles and cyber potential; and Iran’s pursuit Hill. It seemingly wants regional stabiliza- remains on the military effects of nation- of nuclear technology. The US response tion through controlled chaos; however, al policy; however, it has an overlapping emphasizes regional alliances, support- whether it controls chaos or chaos con- interface with foreign, media, economic ing reform, retaining necessary military trols the US is another discussion. And and internal policies. Its modernist under- presence, enhancing allies’ capabilities in its commitment to protect its allies also standing implies firm political ownership counterterrorism and counterinsurgency remains inconsistent. and military support. and effective missile defence. During the recent stand-off between The constituents of the US grand Despite the cited impressive theoreti- the US and Iran, the US government’s strategy include defending the homeland, cal framework, today America has no real messaging was confused and inconsist- maintaining global balance of power, in- grand strategy. It only has a patchwork of ent; with Maj. Gen. Suleimani’s killing ini- vesting in democracy, good governance doctrines and operational strategies, lega- tially portrayed to avert “imminent threats” and human rights, pursuit of rogue actors, cies from the Cold War; incompatible with to four embassies by Iranian proxies under defending liberalism and countering the US national goals, national power and the Maj. Gen Suleimani; changing to retribu- global jihadist threat. The 2017 National changing nature of global threats and op- tion for his past actions and finally it being Security Strategy (NSS) document out- portunities. None of the emerging chal- instigated by footage of Iranian-backed lines four areas of NSS, namely protection lenges like global warming, cyber warfare, siege on the American embassy in Bagh- of the American people, homeland and artificial intelligence, quantum computing dad. When experts and foreign govern- way of life; promoting American prosper- and energy security can be fought using ments cannot figure out US goals, priori- ity; preserving peace through strength; the military. ties, red lines and possible compromise and advancing American influence. For Additionally, America under Trump points and there are mixed signals, it is the Middle East, NSS focuses – besides has become an indecisive, reluctant and dangerous because the adversary frames other threats - on Iranian expansion and irate power with wider disconnects be- its response upon such messaging. There influence; Iranian military threat, especially tween the Departments of State and De- could be serious chances of miscalcula-

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 43 Neighbour

tion and ensuing conflict spiralling out of accommodating or challenging Turkey, the Houthis, provided them with funds, control. avoiding infringing upon Russian interests ballistic-missiles technology, UAVs and The US also miscalculated its allies’ and, most importantly, forcing the US/ Eu- explosive-laden remote controlled boats, reaction to the killing. The Israeli response rope to abandon the region. This involves skewing the war against the Saudi coali- was calibrated. Most nations called for unbearable expense in blood and treas- tion. Iran deploys cyber capabilities effec- quick de-escalation. Saudi Arabia and the ure. Economic compression, after pro- tively, providing cyber tools and training to UAE dialled down tensions with Iran. Eu- longed sanctions, has shrunk the Iranian proxies. rope was consistent against escalation. economy by 3.9 %; it is likely to shrink by Iran avoids direct and extended con- US media and Congress spoke clearly another 6 % this year. Oil exports were flict with superior powers, preferring to against another unnecessary war, with down by 50% and inflation has soared by use unconventional forces and proxies to Congress passing a resolution to rein in 31% in 2018. Food is costlier by up to 60 avoid higher casualties. Therefore, Iran’s President Trump. %. The cumulative effect has been strikes brinkmanship after the killing of Maj. Gen. In sum, US strategy, if any, backfired and protests. Suleimani was more bluster and less sub- with the Iraqi parliament asking for a US Tehran’s war with Iraq that cost more stance. Otherwise, Iran risks over-exten- withdrawal, the anti-Iran coalition frag- than a million casualties (over 300,000 fa- sion and long-term sustenance problems. mented, pressure lifted off ISIS, Iran en- talities) and US $645 billion has shaped Iran’s force projection is also suspect, couraged down the nuclear path and US Iran’s military thought. Iran responds to given its sectarian colouring and intrusive prestige injured for not honouring agree- regional challenges through an “offensive nature, leading to Iran’s relative isolation. ments. A grand strategy that curtails op- and defencive strategy”, involving layered Its brilliant tactics and operational strategy tions is bad and when that happens, jittery Iranian air defenders shoot at passenger planes, adding sorrow to the crisis. Iran, on the other hand, to this day re- mains under the aura of its imperial great- ness of the Achaemenid, Sassanid and Safavid rule despite contemporary geo- strategic weaknesses. The battle between the Arabs and ajam or faaris (Persia) con- tinues to this day. Iran has vied for direct land access to the economically and mili- tarily important, Mediterranean Sea. Maj. Gen. Qasem Suleimani had strategized to attain this goal, hence Iran’s involvement in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq in establishing what is called a “Shia Crescent”. Iran’s grand strategy, therefore, can be articulated as domination of an area up to the Mediterranean, by championing Shia defence, manipulation of geography and need to flow from a coherent grand strat- Islam and exporting Irani influence through asymmetric responses involving atypical egy, which it lacks. Therefore, the future hard and soft power, comprising alliances, combination of conventional and revolu- Middle East would see a conflict pattern militant proxies and cultural encroach- tionary forces, emphasizing ballistic-mis- involving rocket/ missile attacks, assas- ments. Militant clients have remained the sile programs to match its ambition with sinations, escalatory rhetoric and an ul- main pillar of Iran’s grand strategy since limited resources. Iran provocatively retali- timate moving away from the brink. Iran the revolution. This approach has helped ates against the US allies having econom- would avoid open hostilities and preserve Iran against Western domination besides ic relationships with Iran to make them feel its proxies at all costs. The US would con- enabling it to export its religo-political the pain. It impounded British and Japa- tinue its dominance and respond in kind worldview; extending its military reach and nese sea vessels, launched attacks in the and manner. And the Middle East would power; reducing political costs of its for- Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and on Saudi oil fa- need another Lawrence of Arabia. eign adventures and bolstering its regional cilities in 2019. allies and proxies. Demonstrating unwelcome influence, The writer covers global af- However, projecting influence beyond Iran consolidated gains in Iraq by 2011. fairs and political sociology. its Mediterranean springboard requires In Syria, it has successfully reduced the He can be reached at tay- neutralizing Israel, defeating Saudi Arabia/ Bashar-Al-Asad regime to a subservi- [email protected]. His the GCC, nullifying Jordanian opposition, ent client. In Yemen, Iran has advised twitter handle is @20_inam

44 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 lifetInternatime achiionalever

Khalid Awan Wired for Success Khalid Awan is SouthAsia’s Lifetime Achiever this month.

halid Nawaz Awan, the Chairman of TCS Holdings Limited, has been described as a self- effacing, soft-spoken, courteous, cultivated and self-confident man who is always respectful to others. He is said to be driven by visions of Kinnovation and is striving to ensure excellence. He is an authentic organizational leader who does not need to be loud and domineering to be dynamic and effective. He initially supported his elder brother, the late Brigadier Sadiq Awan who, after retirement from the Pakistan Army, decided to explore the entirely new sector of private courier services in Pakistan. Under him, Khalid Awan evolved into a pioneer in his own right. Bringing into play the fraternal attributes of courage and a will for adventure, Khalid traversed new frontiers in order to develop as a pace-setting market leader.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 45 lifetime achiever

After assumption of major source of inspiration and leadership responsibilities at TCS, well-being for him and the family. and after the TCS name became She too invests considerable synonymous with courier services voluntary time and effort in in Pakistan, Khalid Awan took on multiple aspects of public benefit. the responsibility to encourage Through thick and thin, through the development of fellow team- better and through worse, Sadia members in the company at is that proverbial woman one all levels, from the counter staff finds behind every great man. at service centres, through the Her faith in her man has been mid-level in various wings to the explicit and she has backed him top rungs of management. His Khalid Awan Sadia Awan to the hilt. He has listened to purpose was to make TCS a truly The fact that the saga of TCS has become her and she has shared with him merit-based institution. The Octara part of the a case study in the curriculum of the Harvard words of caution when the bravado of the group symbolized his keen interest in human Business School is as much a testament entrepreneur may have carried him away. He resource development and in continually to the novelty and the distinction of the firm has relied on Sadia’s bedrock support and she building the capacity of his people. as it is an apt recognition of Khalid Awan’s has anchored his transition from secure and Khalid Awan participated actively in this extraordinary capabilities. Few other Pakistani familiar waters, or skies in his case, to taking historic transition by playing a lead role in enterprises and few Pakistani corporate the plunge into uncharted territory. The couple this drama of creative disruption. His integrity leaders have been similarly honoured. This shares a keen interest in art, culture and of values and his core character of honour makes Khalid’s fellow citizens doubly proud. literature. Their aesthetic, subtly-toned home enabled him to steer the organization forward Though the laudable success of the firm is in Karachi mirrors elegance and refined taste. with strength and stability, both through the specific to its sector, the principles applied, It is a pleasure to know them both. testing times of eroding official opposition as the process followed, the strategy evolved Together they have brought into the world well as through the phases in which big and and adapted, become an ample reservoir for and raised three children, all now grown-ups small risks were taken to innovate, to market study and learning by those many who pursue and prospering. Taimur, the eldest, is the and to deliver new services. MBA degrees or those who want to achieve philosopher in the family and a published In the present times, when there is progress in business against big odds. poet in his own right. Daughter Saira is a high- a profusion of courier services, when Dividing his time between Toronto, Dubai achieving global citizen who, having made a competition also offers lower prices, when the and Karachi, Khalid Awan has not segmented home for her husband and two children, now cost does matter to many customers, TCS his principles or his productivity. He has made has an active role in TCS. She is a formidable has retained the advantage that executive who has assumed goes to every first entrant but hands-on the reins of TCS as has also substantially expanded its Vice Chairperson. She is a and diversified its services --- be corporate lawyer, having done they the company’s own aircraft, her MA in Law from Cambridge or dozens of tempting options to University. She earlier did her send gifts and greetings --- all the Bachelors from Yale. while declining to reduce prices, The third offspring, Qasim, and yet keeping and building is fully integrated into TCS market-share. Khalid Awan is as a Director and focuses on obviously convinced that the e-commerce and the dynamics customer is always willing to pay of supply chain. The Awans Taimur Saira Qasim the price that guarantees quality, consider TCS as their fourth child speed, reliability and courtesy. a valuable contribution to the promotion of and say they are proud of the way it has turned This is the reason why TCS has become improved trade and cultural relations between out. the backbone of Pakistan’s logistics industry Canada and Pakistan and between the UAE TCS was born in 1983 - 35 years ago. and it is a position that continues to be and his home country. His devotion to CSR A fledgling organization with meagre working maintained because it is a tight ship. TCS’s activities, his care and concern for the under- capital, it needed a breakthrough. Khalid recalls success is based on concrete and proven privileged, his deep commitment to the cause a very interesting opportunity in 1985 when the experience that it has acquired over the years of advancing education in Pakistan, his abiding Banking Council of Pakistan (at that time the 5 as it has navigated uncharted waters and interest in the country’s welfare and progress major banks were nationalized and were under devised the best possible methods to meet reflect a worthy and distinctive individual. the Ministry of Finance) invited TCS and also all customer needs. Khalid’s charming wife Sadia is clearly a the other Pakistani courier companies to bid

46 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 lifetime achiever

for a government courier contract. Adapting to the At that time, the Pakistan Post Office manually delivered cheques to the national 6500 bank branch network but the problem Challenge of Change was that on an average it took some three Khalid Awan, Chairman TCS Holdings, speaks to weeks to make that delivery. The Pakistan Post SouthAsia in this exclusive interview: Office delivery system functioned very poorly in those days and, consequently, created a huge How did you reach this point of success? What is your strategy for the future of inefficiency in the banking system and was not The world is seeing unprecedented the company? conducive to the way in which business was technological advancements that have There has been no question from conducted. The Ministry of Finance wanted brought about dramatic changes across the very beginning that we have needed to reduce the delivery time substantially by society, culture and business. There are to transform our services as per market privatizing this service. more new promises and new opportunities needs. At the end of the day, we want coming up which will help companies to simplify the lives of our customers. like TCS take the upward trajectory. We One of our main focuses has been Khalid Awan has a are recalibrating to meet the demands of the acquisition and grooming of the deep connection our customers. We are aware of the risk right talent. Additionally, now we have with Pakistan. He aversion, limitations of the right talent and introduced new methods in our logistics gaps in measuring impact. We are engaged mix so that our customer’s journey comes across as in upskilling our workforce and hiring becomes much more dynamic. TCS principled and managers who can create a compelling Hazir is a case in point. It enables us optimistic, but vision for TCS as a brand. to go beyond the simplified ways of I have always focused on the most delivering courier services and embracing a person with a innovative options available, based on every single touch point regarding our business acumen, efficiency, streamlining and the necessary customer’s needs. discipline, self- technology. I always pay attention to just how my brand, that is TCS, can adapt to What are the biggest challenges you deprecating humour, new technology and implement it for the have faced? kindness and benefit of our customers. I always focus on how to improve humility. or how to provide better services to our How would you describe your leadership customers. It is a challenge to find more approach? effective and efficient ways to serve This was a big ask and the Ministry invited I bring to the table special business customers. I think this is very important. all the courier companies in Pakistan to bid acumen as well as a mission for the role of Another big challenge for me is that for the contract. At the first high level meeting the business in the newly emerging realities. our business is growing very fast and I find where all the banks were represented, the I believe TCS as an express logistics this often impacting our internal company government tender terms were disclosed. The company is playing an important role in the culture. But I am very clear that I will not government was asking for a delivery time of development fabric of the country but my let such business growth influence our 72 hours (reduced from 3 weeks), a meagre dream is to make it a global brand. I am relationships with our customers and I will Rs. 8 per parcel delivery (the same as they were sure the leadership skills I bring to TCS help see to it that our company culture adapts paying the Post Office) and one week to come to create a quality workplace. to the challenge of change. up with the proposal. One could say that, in courier terms, it was a Mission Impossible! After the expiry of the week, the committee reconvened to consider the tenders and there was only one offer on the table - TCS. This was a make or break contract and Khalid and his team made it into an outstanding success and a turning point for TCS. Khalid and his people’s ability to always look at the big picture and take up the biggest challenges propelled TCS into one of the most successful international private businesses of Pakistan. Having come this far riding the crest,

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 47 Internatlifetime achionaliever

Khalid Awan is of the view that investments It reaches out to the in Pakistan will reach an unprecedented level grassroots of the country’s in the coming years with the progression economy through its existing and of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor newly developing e-commerce services (CPEC) projects and it is now a challenge for which touch the lives of ordinary people and feels that any new player desiring to join TCS the country to leverage this opportunity to the contribute to their productivity. should bring in enough equity to share the fullest. Khalid Awan says that TCS systems platform. Khalid Awan says Pakistan should have are also integrated not only with national The moving spirit behind the success of a measured response and link its advantages customs but will soon be connected with TCS is certainly Khalid Awan and he has many with other infrastructure development projects global customs authorities through the newly unmatchable qualities, like patience, honesty, to bring more investment into the country. introduced TIR system to which Pakistan has empathy and business acumen and is always He is confident that the country’s logistics recently been admitted by the World Road steadfast, which is evident in the way he sticks industry is fully capable of meeting challenging Transport Organisation. He says TCS is a TIR to his decisions and commitments. He is also opportunities offered by CPEC projects. licensee and would be utilizing TIR procedures very polite and upright and does not lose He reiterates that TCS is Pakistan’s largest for connecting international trucking from control even when he is angry. He has the fear courier and logistics company that offers a Pakistan to Iran and Turkey. of God deep in his heart. Besides being a good large infrastructure of its own, comprising TCS has also entered into an agreement human being, he is also an ideal husband and sorting facilities, warehousing and an air hub with UPS – a global brand that is recognized a devoted father. He believes in teamwork and at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. worldwide for its reliable document and parcel is always careful about others’ feelings. The hub is served by TCS’s delivery services. This is an exciting new As a true strategist, his planning skills own fleet of vehicles, development for Pakistan since UPS is the help him stay well ahead of the game. He is trucks and aircraft and world’s largest express carrier and package still young at heart and wants to do the best is integrated with state- delivery company and TCS is Pakistan’s most but he is proud that his children have taken up of-the-art information recognized courier, logistics and e-commerce important responsibilities in the company and and control system provider. are carrying the business forward. He is a man serving over 120 million As a UPS Authorized Service Contractor, of good intentions and expects everyone to customers a year. TCS now offers international Express services have a similar approach. within Pakistan as well. This comes at a very As a Pakistani, Khalid Awan has a deep opportune time as supply chain efficiencies in connection with Pakistan. He comes across the country and around the world are becoming as principled and optimistic, but a person critical to global business,. Now Pakistan’s with a business acumen, discipline, self- exporters can take advantage of effective and deprecating humour, kindness and humility. cost efficient international shipping and offer The one thing that stands out is his ability to world class supply chain solutions developed nurture relationships. by UPS for the manufacturing, retail and He has no ego and does not consider age healthcare industries which are now available or social status when he meets people; he in Pakistan through TCS. is the first one to say hello and to extend his In its journey of over 3 decades, TCS has hand for a firm handshake. He is a thorough acquired the status of a pioneering platform gentleman and a mentor for his friends. He is that has moved forward with the ebb and flow a person who is always open to sharing new of customer needs both at the individual and ideas and strongly believes in total teamwork. corporate level. This is in fact a rich experience His professional competence is absolutely that no other company in Pakistan has been unquestionable and he has demonstrated able to achieve so far. Now it is Khalid Awan’s this very vividly time and again. He truly is a desire that other players too should join the great corporate leader – the person who singly group and become a part of the success of represents Pakistan’s courier and logistics this proven business model. He, however, sector.

48 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 International

Selling Bullets Arms sales is a crucial dimension that is used by big powers, such as the USA, to establish their hegemony around the world. t on Washing

By Syed Zubair Ahmed

.S. arms sales and defence trade play a key role as a tool of both foreign policy and economic se- Ucurity. The policy has assumed the highest importance for the U.S. and arms sales have become an important means for it to maintain supremacy as a global arms sup- plier. To this end, the United States takes into consideration the political, military, economic, arms control, and human rights conditions in making decisions on providing arms to any nation. The prospects for constantly expand- ing U.S. market share of the global arms in- dustry and reaping profits have amplified well beyond Cold War frontiers. This serves as a across the world. its economic performance or has it faced a catalyst to intensifying global weapons trade, President Trump is actively engaged in blowback and there is a destabilizing impact heightening the risk of conflict and instigating increasing the number of arms deals inces- on a variety of regions across the world. When new wars. santly being offered and has authorized and the brief history of U.S. arms sales policy is Global arms trade is worth almost $100 sharply intensified defence exports. Trump discussed in a particular context, it "almost bn a year, with the U.S. increasingly dominant set $78 billion in major conventional weapons always overshadows the impact of sanctions in the world arms market. The United States sales in 2018, the U.S. share representing 31 in determining the political outcome.” History has been among the top five largest arms percent in the global arms market. Between indicates that arms sales can lead to a host sellers from 2014 to 2018. Leading arms 2002 and 2018, the United States has sold of unintended and harmful consequences for exporting countries include Russia, France, more than $560 billion worth of major con- the United States and for those who are buy- Germany and China, representing 75% of the ventional weapons to 168 nations. ing the weapons and where the weapons are total volume of arms exports in 2014-18. The It is particularly disheartening that the strategically deployed. flow of arms surged by 87% specifically to United States has been actively engaged and Indeed there is no real debate involving the Middle Eastern nations for the period be- has a complete tilt in the offensive business Washington and discussing the wisdom of tween 2009–13 and 2014–18. Flow of arms of global arms dealings. The world is mov- exporting vast quantities of weapons around has seen a conspicuous reduction to all other ing towards wars and unbridled arms sales the world. The debate can instigate the op- regions. which are heading towards a day of reck- portunity to investigate the profound role Arms sales have overwhelmingly become, oning and is a determinant of the role it has weapons sales have played in supporting in- more than ever before, a crucial dimension of played in shaping the world. Whether it hurts ternational terrorism, promoting the conflict, American foreign policy and economic con- the moral image of a nation or the doctrine and/or eroding human right obligations. On siderations inevitably play a dominant role in of the cold war era (1945-1989), the military the negative side, can the security benefits motivating weapons trade. U.S. presidents threat to the West is considerably reduced. of arms sales be defended or the economic see them as a foreign policy tool, and arms However, the real problem lies in the fact that implications of weapon sales on the economy control in the developing regions of the world the arms trade, prevention of an uncontrolled be determined? have risen to the top of the congressional arms race and arms control are not being Arms sales have frequently been worth- agenda. In his first year, President Trump considered. while and a major boon to the American lined up US-Saudi Arabian weapons deal The real question that should be asked is economy. Weapon sales are an essential worth more than $110 billion. The Administra- that what role should arms sales play in Ameri- part, a crucial tool of U.S. foreign policy. They tion notified Congress of 157 sale deals worth can foreign policy? Have the arms sales made inevitably generate significant diplomatic flex- more than $84 billion to 42 other countries the U.S. safer, more secure and strengthened ibility, used as a means to maintain alliances

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 49 International

and partnerships, promise leverage to recipi- weapons to almost any nation engaged in The United States needs to re-evaluate its ent countries and promote strategic stability. deadly conflicts, and even with disastrous arms sales policy and improve its risk assess- Regrettably, there are numerous instanc- human rights violations. Still, the U.S. gov- ment process. It must impose bans on sales es where American weapons end up being ernment has been willing to sell almost any to countries where the risk of damaging con- used against U.S. national interests such as weapon to those who are seeking them irre- sequences is potentially high. The U.S. must regional stability or the prevention of war. U.S. spective of the potential security threats. Un- find ways to conduct foreign policy in those weapons ended up in the hands of ISIS and der these circumstances, it is hard to predict circumstances where arms sales have been other terrorist groups and widespread dispos- where the arms would end up and where they common tactics for achieving its strategic ob- al of weapons in the black market. Oppres- will ultimately be used. jectives - such as when the United States ne- sive governments around the world flagrantly Since 1976, with the passage of the gotiates to gain access to military bases under use deadly weapons and perpetrate violence Arms Export Control Act, the legislation has a new security deal, strengthens an alliance or against citizens, commit crimes of murder, envisaged a framework and required that the seeks to boost counter-terror cooperation or torture, unjust imprisonment and enslave- executive should review its criteria for evaluat- support in the war on terrorism. ment of their own people. ing the risk associated with arms exports that The arms sales process requires revision Allies, in turn, have access to more so- may have damaging effects on international in order to ensure that weapons sales are phisticated weaponry without having to invest stability and human rights. In effect, the law thoroughly and objectively b scrutinized and in the defence industries and technological takes very little decisive action to curb arms provided more extensive congressional par- developments that may contribute to greater sales. The U.S. State Department vets only ticipation to streamline the review process. market competition. Ultimately more money training and some equipment. It neither gaug- There must be compelling reasons for provid- flows into American companies, provides es the weapons sales and nor does it care if ing weapons to any nation in the context of them a competitive advantage and offers em- the recipient is violating human rights. world peace, harmony, and tranquility. ployment to the skilled American workforce. Wedged between a powerful and ag- Broadly speaking, American arms sales gressive defence industry lobby and relative The writer is a freelance have helped to shore up authoritarian gov- weaknesses of the legislative powers, though contributor and follows ernments, prompted totalitarian adventurism, the U.S. Congress has the authority to cancel national and international escalated arms races and hostilities, and pro- arms deals but it has never successfully ob- issues of public interest. He liferated existing or new conflicts. structed any arms sale on the basis of human can be reached at syedzu- Historically, the United States has sold rights concerns. [email protected] Opportunities Lost In response to calls from every corner of the world, there is a need

Madrid for urgent and ambitious climate action.

By Prof. S. Shafiq-ur Rehman

he success of the July 1972 Stockholm Conference on Hu- man Environment was indeed a T landmark achievement for hu- manity because it kicked off a new era of environmental protection and conservation at the state level, a major shift from purely economy-centric to more humane and environment-centric state policies. For the first time in world history, government and state leaders from 113 countries put their thoughts together for nearly two weeks at the UN level to identify and prioritize en- vironmental issues and find solutions. The Stockholm Declaration identified 26 prin- ciples and advised the member states to

50 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 International

implement them within their territorial ju- same reasons that delayed the implemen- turned into some kind of opportunity for risdiction. tation of the Kyoto Protocol for eight years. countries to negotiate loopholes.” This In 1983, the UN Secretary General, However, six years later in Dec. 2015, the indicates the gist of dillydallying tactics Javier Peres de Cuellar, invited Norwegian Paris Agreement was finally adopted by all adopted by various delegates. The UN Prime Minister Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland parties in COP21, that came into force in Secretary General Antonio Guterres has to chair the World Commission on Environ- November 2016. The treaty was further also openly expressed his disappointment ment and Development, popularly known strengthened during COP24 held in Kato- on the outcomes and termed them a lost as the Brundtland Commission. The Com- wice, Poland, in December 2018. opportunity. He asked the participants mission was mandated to identify envi- With this in the backdrop, a world of “Do we really want to be remembered as ronmental concerns such as population over seven billion people continues to get the generation that buried its head in the growth, global warming, deforestation, repeatedly battered by disasters with ever- sand?” species loss and toxic waste and to devel- increasing intensity. These include heat- Apart from organizational matters, the op a model for sustainable development. waves, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, agenda of the 25th Conference of Parties The World Commission on Environment flash rains, GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst (CoP) included review of reports from sub- and Development was dissolved in 1987 Floods), rapid glacial melting, floods, sea sidiary bodies for scientific, technological after it published its report “Our Common level rise, species extinction and food inse- advice and implementation, reports from Future” that emphasized the need and im- curity and they have all proven to be linked parties to UNFCCC, reports from the Ad- portance of “Sustainable Development” at to climate change. The world was yearn- aptation Committee, matters related to the global level. ing to hear good news from Madrid, where finances, transfer of technology, capacity- Recommendations of the Brundtland COP25 was held in December 2019. building, least developed countries, gen- Commission were placed before the par- The global community was anticipating der and climate change and proposals to ticipants from 172 countries at the Rio a unanimous and stronger international amend articles 4, 7 and 18 of the conven- Earth Summit in 1992. The accomplish- commitment on emission control within tion. ments of the Rio Summit include not only the timelines identified in the historic Paris In the final analysis, it becomes very ‘Agenda 21’, a model for sustainable de- Agreement of 2015. clear that the delay in enforcement of the velopment in the 21st century but also Since 1998, global warming has mani- Kyoto Protocol for eight long years, the achieving global agreement on the United fested itself through an upward surge in failure of COP15 at Copenhagen in Dec. Nations Framework Convention on Cli- the mean annual global temperature over 2009, and COP25 at Madrid in Dec. 2019, mate Change (UNFCCC) as well as Con- land and sea. The hottest years on record show complete unanimity on the science vention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The have been experienced non-stop from of climate change and its consequences convention came into force in March 1994 2013 through 2019. The latest figures sug- but shy away from climate action. It seems with the objective to stabilize greenhouse gest 2019 is the new second hottest year so true that “we are living on this planet as gas emissions at a level that would prevent after 2016. This steady increase in heat in- if we had another one to go to”. Should dangerous human-induced interference tensity is proportional to the increase in at- this rift continue for just a few more years, with the climate system. mospheric concentration of CO2 gas that the world would turn into a very uncom- Regular sessions of the COP to the UN- has increased from 300 to 411 ppm, es- fortable place to live for humans, especially FCCC are held annually to manage their af- tablishing an undeniable link between car- citizens of the most vulnerable nations and fairs, frame policy guidelines, and consider bon emissions, heat intensity and natural age groups. Notwithstanding any difficulty international protocols and agreements for disasters. In 2019 alone, extreme weather in reaching the ultimate global consensus implementation. In December 1997, dur- events have cost the world more than US$ on climate action, the UN Secretary Gen- ing the COP3, held in Kyoto, Japan, the 100 billion worth of damage but the total eral, along with millions of climate activists, Kyoto Protocol was adopted, which binds economic losses during the last two dec- would struggle even harder to make the its Parties to reduce emission targets. ades go up to US$ 3 trillion. dream come true before the planet Earth is However, intense political lobbying against Contrary to public aspirations, howev- reduced to a place that is habitable only by the Kyoto protocol by the US, China, Rus- er, the outcomes of the 2019 UN Climate the rich, technologically resourceful people sian Federation, etc., delayed its enforce- Change Conference are disappointing. and nations. ment till Feb. 16, 2005, indicating severe Millions of climate activists, scientists, and disagreement between member states on workers in organizations across the world The writer is former Chairman, Depart- controlling emissions. are completely bewildered at the indiffer- ment of Environmental Sci- The COP15 held in Copenhagen, Den- ence shown by a small group of rich na- ences, University of Pesha- mark, in Dec. 2009 with participation from tions to human suffering and economic war. He can be reached 196 countries, turned out be a fruitless ex- losses during the last two decades. In at [email protected] ercise as it failed to reach consensus about the words of Greta Thunberg, the young a binding international agreement for the climate activist, “the COP seems to have

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 51 Opinion The Other Truth March is a month of jubilation for the Bengalis and the Indians while it brings sadness to Pakistan. However, there is still a body of facts that lies undiscovered so far.

By Nikhat Sattar tured and dead were published in the In- According to reports, thousands of Urdu- dian and Western press as evidence of the speaking men, women and children were he Romans used the 15th of army’s brutality. No one realised that most killed mainly in Chittagong, Jessore, Khulna March to mark the division of the were not dressed in the traditional Bengali (where 20,000 jute mill workers and their month into two. Shakespeare attire. The stories of the dead and raped families were killed on 10th March 1972) Tused it as the date for an ominous Bengalis simply don’t meet the demands of and Dacca. announcement of Julius Caesar’s death. simple arithmetic. As Zia Khan writes, this A book that looks at 1971 relatively neu- For many of us in Bangladesh, Pakistan and meant that “in 250 days a little over two divi- trally is the ground breaking “Dead Reck- India, this date changes into 26th March sions of the Pakistan Army, while confront- oning” by Sarmila Bose, first published in when the fight for East Pakistan began for- ing twenty divisions of the Indian Army and 2011. Bose, a Bengali Hindu Oxford schol- mally, ending in the defeat of the Pakistani rebels from within its own formations, killed ar, decided to conduct research, after she army almost nine months later, on Decem- 12,000 Bengali civilians and raped about read “War and Secession: Pakistan, India ber 16. This means celebrations for many in 1,000 women every day!” Incidents of rape and the Creation of Bangladesh” (1991), by the erstwhile eastern arm of Pakistan; non- did occur. The question is of the scale of Richard Sisson and Leo Rose. Until then, chalance or sorrow in Pakistan, depend- the crime, who the perpetrators were and of she had read accounts of the “victory” by ing on the level of awareness, and a sense the total silence of non-Bengali women who the “victorious”, in which the Indian attitude of self-righteous victory in India. Together, these dates encapsulate a terrible story of breakup and fratricide that came before and after. Despite the active role of Bengalis in the creation of Pakistan, they and their language had never been granted recognition equal to that of Urdu or Punjabi. Resentment had simmered ever since the language riots in Dacca in 1952. In the 60s, alleged sedition conspiracies by Mujib ur Rahman, the re- fusal of Bhutto and Yayha Khan to pass on the reins of the country to the former after his election win and the seething anger over negligence of the affectees of the devastat- ing cyclone in 1970 led to increased agita- tion and turmoil in East Pakistan. On March 25, 1971, the Pakistan armed forces took over control, a wrong decision at all times were raped. No one has ever mentioned the was wildly triumphant, Bangladesh present- for political problems. The next day, an in- missing latter whose loved ones kept trying ed itself as the victim and Pakistan, project- dependent Bangladesh was announced on to find them after 1971. Perhaps the reason ed as the villainous perpetrator, was either the radio by Zia ur Rahman (and not Sheikh is that the former were alive to tell their sto- silent or bitter. The Pakistanis who had lived Mujib, as claimed by the BD government). ries: the latter were all killed. their humdrum, ordinary lives in East Paki- The discourse on the creation of Bang- Only a few books describe what hap- stan and were either dead or had migrated ladesh has been heavily dominated by pened to the non Bengalis who had made to the truncated Pakistan, were conspicu- narratives of killings, torture and rape by East Pakistan their home. These include Dr. ous by their absence. the Pakistan army. Many Westerners have Junaid Ahmed’s “Creation of Bangladesh- Bose spoke with people in Dacca, Khul- written articles and books and Bangladesh Myths Exploded”; General Kamal Matinud- na, Chittagong and other places in Bang- has made claims of three million killed and din’s “Tragedy of Errors” and Brig. Karrar ladesh and army personnel in Islamabad, 200,000 rapes. Photographs of those tor- Ali Agha’s “Witness to Carnage 1971”. Lahore and Karachi. Previously, she had

52 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Feature

enormous sympathy for the Bengalis and she had intended to fill in the gaps only because she found “so many incomplete stories”. She ended up being surprised: she still sympathised Homecoming with all who had suffered, but “who they were had changed substantially.” They included vari- Karachi Now that the PSL T20 cricket tournament is being ous groups of Bengalis, including those who held entirely in Pakistan, it would do a world of good had sided with West Pakistan, as well as non if more home-based venues were developed for local Bengalis, who had been subjected to “appalling crowds to enjoy the game. atrocities” committed by Bengalis and Indians. There are many instances which she relates, By Taha Kehar showing how false descriptions, distortions or missing facts hide the role played by Indian he Pakistan Super League (PSL) has entered its much-awaited fifth season. and nationalist forces in committing brutalities Unlike previous editions of the cricket extravaganza, all 34 matches of the T20 against non Bengalis. league, which began on February 20 and will conclude on March 22, are being Bose has been accused by Indians and Tplayed in Pakistan. ultra-nationalist Bengalis of bias, using a wrong By relocating the matches of the tournament to Multan, Lahore, Karachi and Raw- methodology and prejudice in support of the alpindi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinforced the belief that international Test Pakistan army. The book is banned in Bang- cricket is witnessing a revival in the country. In December 2019, Pakistan’s Test cricket ladesh. Very few are interested in listening to drought ended after a long hiatus of 10 years when Sri Lanka played Test matches in views on the tragedy, other than the one which Karachi and Rawalpindi during a 16-day tour. This was a major turning point since Pa- paints Pakistan as the only criminal. kistan hadn’t hosted a Test series on home soil since 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket Both Bangladesh and India continue to be team was attacked in Lahore. What’s more, the resumption of Test matches served as in a state of denial of their respective actions welcome proof that Pakistan’s security concerns were a thing of the past. towards non-Bengalis. Pakistanis either be- Cricket has always remained the cynosure of controversy in Pakistan following the lieve the usual accounts or ignore the mistakes spot-fixing scandal of 2010 that culminated in copious professional bans and court bat- made by their government and army. The three tles. In addition, the Pakistan cricket team’s arbitrary performance on the pitch and the countries have rewritten history to suit their complacency of the cricket bureaucracy did little to save the game. individual narrative, with a common casualty, Under these circumstances, the PSL emerged as a much-needed morale-booster the truth. Also, if the three neighbours do not that was geared to helping the country’s cricketing sphere rise from the morass of me- change their violent stance towards political is- diocrity it found itself in. The first season of the tournament inspired skeptical reactions sues within their boundaries, they are perpetu- from cricket fans and former players. At the time, analysts believed that the cricket ating the bloodbaths of 1947 and 1971. carnival was a little more than a hastily arranged T20 project – a thinly-veiled gimmick It is time for Pakistan and Bangladesh to that would expose the alleged incompetence and machinations of the PCB. A series of understand that there is another truth to the questions were raised over the PCB’s ability to host a cricket tournament in the UAE. one that has been told, accept their respective Furthermore, the fact that the initiative was shelved twice before for “logistical and mistakes, recognise the crimes both their peo- security concerns” led many cricket aficionados to cast doubt on the league’s viability. ple, non-state actors and soldiers committed, Despite this tepid response, the organizers repeatedly assured their detractors that the apologise to each other and begin a process PSL would reap dividends for Pakistan cricket by enabling players to strengthen their for acceptance and reconciliation to try and performance on an international footing. bring a closure to the cold war that is affecting Now in its fifth edition, the PSL has burgeoned into a global event and the league peace and harmony in the region. This can be has drawn international players from South Africa, New Zealand, England, Zimbabwe, the beginning of a peace building process that Australia and the West Indies. It now boasts six teams as opposed to its original five continues to elude our several generations. franchises, attracts leading sponsors and international broadcasters, and offers cricket- starved fans with an opportunity to fulfill their passion for the game. The writer is a development professional, This year, the organizers have succeeded in hosting the entire cricket extravaganza researcher, translator and columnist with an on home turf – an impressive yet difficult achievement. During the previous seasons interest in religion and socio-political issues. of the tournament, a few matches were held in stadiums across Pakistan and drew She has translated various much larger crowds than the PSL matches held in the UAE. As a result, sports analysts writings including Dr. Khalid vociferously declared that the long-term survival of the T20 league was contingent on Masud’s seminal biography its homecoming. of the Prophet Mohammed The PCB has measured up to these expectations and persuaded Western play- (SWS). She can be reached ers to visit Pakistan for the tournament. This shows that the Board is committed to at [email protected] ensuring the commercial viability of the league. According to some estimates, the PCB

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 53 had to fork out $50,000 every day to rent in 2020 may be construed as an attempt be easily forgotten. We must remember that stadiums in the UAE for the tournament and to tread uncharted territory. But an arbitrary the PSL doesn’t just bear the onus of reviv- pay an exorbitant amount of money for the selection of venues cannot help the league ing cricket in the country, but also has a re- teams to stay at hotels in the UAE. More of- improve its reputation as a Pakistan-specific sponsibility to ensure that ethical standards ten than not, these matches didn’t generate brand. At its core, the PSL needs to develop are upheld. At this stage, the PCB needs to much revenue as only a few dozen people a stronger brand identity and accordingly de- guarantee that any mishaps and scandals attended them. By entirely relocating the termine ways in which it can be honed. The will attract a severe penalty. tournament to Pakistan, the Board will pos- organizers should also consider building on Over time, the league has been criti- sibly earn more through ticket sales. its existing franchises and drawing on talent cized for the erratic performance of players. In the past, the T20 league has acted as from those rural backwaters that have so far Though the teams boast a varied range of the great leveler and encouraged teams from been overlooked. bowlers and competent batsmen, their per- purportedly ‘underdog cities’ like Quetta and Months before the fifth edition of the T20 formance needs to be improved through Multan. However, when the PSL gradually league commenced, observers predicted consistent training. Among other reasons, shifted the venue of some of its matches to that this year’s viewership was likely to ex- the performance deficit can also be attribut- Pakistan, its focus remained on the major ceed 70 million. Although this is a promis- ed to the PCB’s inability to address the need cities of the country. In its second season, ing statistic, a concerted effort needs to be for clear and consistent policy initiatives that the T20 league organized the final between made to ensure local fans are exposed to a can save cricket from the clutches of me- the Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi at viewing experience that is beyond par. Dur- diocrity. Now that the PCB has relocated Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. In a similar vein, ing previous editions, PSL matches were pri- the PSL matches to the major cities of the Lahore hosted two PSL matches in 2018 marily broadcast on local sport channels that country, it should concentrate its energies on while the final was held in Karachi. During the don’t always offer a high-definition format. setting up more cricket academies to foster previous season, Karachi’s National Stadium Pakistan also needs more trained sports talent. Without cohesive institutions that can was the venue for all the eight PSL matches commentators to enhance the viewing expe- train prospective players, the T20 league can held on home soil. rience through their insights and knowledga- never facilitate the revival of cricket in a ho- While the country’s fraught security dy- ble feedback. listic sense. namics may have dictated the choice of PSL matches have shied away from venue in previous editions, matches must controversies. The 2017 ‘fixing’ scam that The writer is a journalist also be held in other cities of the country if involved four T20 players significantly be- and author. He analyses the T20 League is to emerge as a brand that smirched its reputation. Given Pakistan’s international issues and truly represents Pakistan. The decision to checkered history of match-fixing allega- can be reached at ta- host PSL matches in Multan and Rawalpindi tions and malpractices, this incident cannot [email protected] The Virus is Coming Back Political transition and mass misinformation campaigns

Peshawar have contributed to growing polio rates in Pakistan.

By Asma Nisar health of millions of children. These countries tional Institute of Health, 104 new polio cas- include Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. es were reported in 2019 compared to only hanks to the global polio eradication According to the World Health Organization, twelve in 2018. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa program initiated in 1988, the number every child is at the risk of polio in the pres- (KPK) province of Pakistan leads the num- Tof reported polio cases has reduced ence of a single polio infected child in the ber of reported polio cases with 75 cases by 99%, globally. Regions like the Americas, world. The report further laments that the in the province. Other provinces follow - 6 the western Pacific, Europe and South East failure of the global polio eradication pro- in Punjab, 16 in Sindh and 7 in Balochistan. Asia have long been declared polio-free. gram in the virus-prone states can result in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kash- However, there are a few unfortunate coun- 200,000 new cases every year globally. mir region data has showed no new cases of tries where the polio virus still haunts the According to a recent report by the Na- polio in 2019. In spite of Pakistan’s substan-

54 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Feature

tial progress since 2014, an inde- community needs, it was declared pendent monitoring board which polio-free in 2014. Their policy en- supervises polio eradication pro- sured that no cases were ignored grams worldwide has recently and no child was missed by vac- declared Pakistan’s polio eradica- cinators. Similarly, Bangladesh tion program as a ‘disaster’ and, was declared polio-free in 2016 with the present data, it is clear despite the overwhelming chal- that there is something seriously lenges it faced in the aftermath of wrong with the program. separation from Pakistan. It was Pakistan’s endeavours to able to achieve the goal because eliminate the endemic face mul- its government was committed to tiple impediments, including cul- eradicating the disease and suc- tural taboos, security concerns, cessfully developing a strategy abrupt political transitions, volatile which included community aware- borders, and false propaganda ness through youth involvement, about the polio vaccine such as routine immunization, sanitary re- myths of a Western conspiracy to forms to interrupt the faecal-oral sterilize the Muslims. route of virus transmission and According to the experts other micro-planning techniques. monitoring the polio program in Pakistan, groups has further complicated the course Community engagement and national culture is one of the biggest hurdles in the of eradication of the endemic. Lately, par- dialogue are the only way to untie this Gor- eradication of polio in the country. The trend ents in the rural areas of Pakistan have been dian knot. The government should devise a of establishing illegal settlements without found using false ‘pinky marks’ to deny po- strategy that includes women and young- prior planning further adds to the spread lio vaccination. There is a false notion that sters in the polio eradication program to of the polio endemic. Settlements lacking the vaccine under use in Pakistan is manu- convince parents about the effectiveness of basic sanitation and drinking water facilities factured by the western countries who are the vaccine. In addition, the Muslim clergy increase the probability of spread of polio. plotting to sterilize Muslims to decrease their should be taken on board to motivate par- There are hundreds of slums in Karachi - the population. Also, a number of people have ents to immunize their children. In the past, largest metropolitan city in Pakistan where been sharing misleading material about the the late Maulana Sami ul Haq, a prominent drains are full of raw sewage. Similarly, the polio vaccine, including a former bureaucrat Islamic scholar, gave a religious ruling, ap- virus has been isolated from sewage of other known for his conservative approach, who proving the battle against polio. This helped urban centres. In addition, the conventional has written and shared anti-vaccine views, in encouraging people to immunize their mindset of the masses, especially in the ru- impacting a huge fragment of conservative children. At present, Pakistan is under the ral areas, raises doubts about the nature of Pakistanis. dire need of another successful engagement polio vaccines and hence the spread of polio The lack of quality vaccine and poor like this to break the taboo created by the across the country. training of the eradication team has resulted fanatics against the national polio drive. Similarly, the worsening law and order in the mishandling of polio vaccine hence re- After the change of government in Pa- situation and spread of terrorism has badly sulting in increasing refusals from the com- kistan in 2018, the head of state Arif Alvi, affected Pakistan’s polio eradication pro- munity. In addition, the poor renumeration of hoped that the state would be polio-free gramme. As per conservative estimates, the vaccinators also negatively affects the the next year. However, due to propagan- around 70 officials related with the polio otherwise imperative polio eradication pro- da, over-politicization of the polio drive and eradication programme have been killed in gram in Pakistan. cultural taboos, such hope seems to be a Pakistan in the past 7 years. In addition to Pakistan should learn its lessons about distant dream. However, designing a proac- this, the abrupt political transitions and un- the eradication of polio from its immediate tive polio eradication policy linking multiple expected reshuffling of the civil bureaucracy neighbouring countries India and Bangla- groups together and effective accountability results in the negligence of tasks related to desh who have successfully kicked out the of the program can pave the way for the re- polio eradication and result in the prioritiza- disease in 2014. They were able to achieve alization of the dream of polio eradication in tion of political tasks. This hasty reshuffling this status because their leaders did not re- Pakistan. of the bureaucracy leads to mismanage- sort to gimmicks. They seriously engaged ment and there is a blame game among the with the health issue and analysed available The writer is an Islamabad- members of the program. data to devise a strategy suitable for their based freelance contribu- Misinformation and false propaganda communities. In 2009, India was reported to tor and a socio-economic against polio vaccination currently being have 60% of global polio cases, but with an analyst. She can be reached spread by traditionalists and ultra-religious inclusive programme tailored according to its at [email protected]

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 55 Female Diversity

Understanding the Need How Corporate Giants Influence Friendly Policies for Female Work Force in Pakistan

By Sidra Khan

s Pakistan gets ready to celebrate this decade’s first Women’s Day, many questions linger in the Anation’s mind – how much have we progressed since over the past year? Where are we lacking? Why is gender equality still a struggle? How much more do we need to do in order to get to a place where gender disparity is not something we need to worry about? As a Pakistani working woman, I belong to quite a few minorities and almost always seem to be on the opposite side of the tipping scale. I take the liberty of saying that we are not there yet. Strictly speaking as a professional, we haven’t reached the point where female employees leave their jobs as soon as they get married On May 24, 2017, the Pakistan Parliament don’t have to worry about and have children. The fact passed the Companies Act requiring losing their jobs over wanting of the matter is that in this women’s representation on public company to avail maternity leave or not day and age, there is as boards in keeping with SECP requirements. getting the same salary raise high a turnover of men in the This is a welcome step in the right direction and promotion just because workplace as women. In fact, and will encourage larger representation of they ‘might get married soon’ economic circumstances women on these boards. However, the post- and ‘may want to leave their as well as higher levels of act performance of organizations leaves job thereafter’. A big part of education are seeing more much to be desired. In the larger scheme the battle against gender and more women entering of things, women are also being inducted in disparity in the corporate the corporate sector in corporate boards as part of diversity drives sector is dispelling such Pakistan. The real challenge and good corporate governance. However, biased notions. still remains of climbing the numbers are still dismal. A news report Perhaps one of the Seema Jaffer, Bond Advertising up the corporate ladder to in Business Recorder says that only 21 out most pertinent aspects, when starting positions of higher management,” Bond of 559 (a mere 4%) companies listed on a sensitive debate such as this, is to Advertising CEO Seema Jaffer says, pointing the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) have a analyse whether we are headed in the right towards the changing trends despite the woman director on their boards. Research direction. Knowing that we are, certainly misconceptions. shows that businesses with women on provides unmitigated hope their boards perform and makes the struggle better and deliver for gender emancipation An essential component in eliminating higher returns than bearable. In this regard a beliefs that are holding women back in the those with an all- huge responsibility lies on male composition. multinational companies corporate sector is to set actual examples Moreover, businesses in Pakistan to set the right with women directors precedent for the small and that go against such ideas and replace the are also associated medium-sized enterprises fear of prejudice in working women with with improved to follow. “Employers are decision-making and wary of a high turnover with inspiration and motivation. lower corruption. women as they feel women An essential

56 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Female Diversity

component in eliminating ensure that they are Ahmed explains the need for companies beliefs that are holding Research shows gender-neutral and, to move with the times is extreme, now more women back in the that businesses with in fact, in certain than ever, since “young people are extremely corporate sector is to areas, have gone the aware of the softer side of companies - are set actual examples that women on their extra mile to make companies ethical, are they gender-friendly, go against such ideas themselves attractive do they have and replace the fear of boards perform for [potential] women environmental prejudice in working better and deliver [employees],” values?” women with inspiration explains Nausheen Hence, a and motivation. Policies higher returns than Ahmad, General multi-national that are friendly to working Counsel, Company company, in mothers play a huge part those with an all- Secretary and today’s time, in doing so. “The Nestlé male composition. Head Of Corporate can’t possibly Maternity Protection Communication and stay on top of Policy is a comprehensive Public Affairs, ICI its game unless coverage granting all women a minimum of Pakistan Limited. This is the reason many it has practices 6 months maternity leave. In fact, expectant global brands, like Unilever, Engro, Khaadi, in place that mothers are also entitled to take reasonable etc. have an exemplary daycare center at the deal with real Nausheen Ahmad, ICI Pakistan time off for medical checkups during normal premises. They have ultimately positioned issues of the current times and satisfy the working hours for antenatal care,” said themselves not only as progressive need of the hour. In keeping with its corporate Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs, organizations but also ones that are able to social responsibility, ICI Pakistan also works Nestlé Pakistan. attract more female employees and ensure towards empowering women. “Under our He said that Nestlé also has day that they retain them in the long run. Thus, diversity and inclusion head, we have set care centres across Pakistan in most of such policies give them an enviable edge quotas for hiring of women, especially in its facilities with nursing rooms available. over others that do not offer the same our manufacturing plants, because we don’t Flexible work arrangement services. have too many women [there]. [We are also] is also an option available But the debate is not offering scholarships at top tier universities for working mothers. about having policies in place in order to enable women who are not “All these factors that help the employers to from a privileged background and who do are the reasons many hop on a trend wagon to not have access to top quality education,” women choose not to appear relevant – it is about Ahmed says, adding, “We also have in place give up their careers even being humane in practice and an internship program for women from after becoming mothers actually caring about employee less-privileged backgrounds who would at Nestlé Pakistan,” welfare. “ICI, for example, does otherwise not qualify for internship in large Ahmad said, highlighting not have a daycare center. corporates. Under this program we also how these policies help One of the reasons is that our provide training. We ran one in Karachi and support women at Nestlé, head offices are located on our recently, we ran one for female engineers in offering them the right Waqar Ahmad, Nestlé Pakistan factory premises. Therefore, Khewra.” opportunities to succeed in the workplace in there is certain apprehension in place It is initiatives like these that will line with UN Sustainable Development Goals that it may not be the most appropriate encourage small and medium-sized (SDGs). environment for children. But because we enterprises to join in, in providing a safe and On careful consideration, one would know how important these facilities are, we welcoming environment for our female work notice that the benefits of providing a have balanced it [the absence of daycare] force. I leave you, the reader and the agent welcoming work environment are two-fold out by offering four months maternity leave of change, with these simple yet effective for the companies. “For most corporate instead of three months. Secondly, we have words by Malala Yousafzai: “I raise my [entities] there is a very strong understanding offered a work-from-home option [for new voice – not so I can shout, but so that those that in order to be successful you have to mothers] and we also give our employees, without a voice can be heard. We cannot hire the best possible talent, and when men and women, the option that even succeed when half of us are held back.” you are talking about the best possible though there isn’t a daycare center here, if talent, you do not discriminate based on their children want to come to work (with The writer is a journalist and gender because it’s a fact that almost 50% their parents), they are welcome,” Ahmed public relations associate of business graduates are women. That sheds light on some of the practices at ICI in the corporate sector. essentially means that all the corporate Pakistan that, she is confident, enable them She can be reached at giants have had to review their policies to to retain female talent in the company. [email protected]

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 57 Tribute

Well Played, Waqar Hassan!

In his own words, Waqar Hassan deemed at home, and first to score two half-centuries By Faizan Usmani himself very lucky as he belonged to a cricket in a home Test [Dhaka, 1954-55], first century t was Friday, September 28, 2018, about side which had such great names as Abdul partnership with Hanif Mohammad against 10 a.m., when I and my colleague entered Hafeez Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz Ah- India in Bombay in 1952-53, first double-cen- a very large but simple office painted off- mad, Khan Muhammad, Hanif Muhammad, tury partnership with Imtiaz Ahmed in Lahore Iwhite with a hint of beige. Sitting in a clas- Aleem Uddin and many others. Despite the in 1955-56.” sic, tall, high backed wooden chair, the oc- fact that that was the beginning of Pakistan Waqar also served as a national selector, togenarian gentleman, who was as simple as cricket, according to Waqar Hassan, the pe- in spells during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. his ambience, welcomed us with a beaming riod can be referred to as the golden period in Though he came into the limelight as a smile and with a loud ‘Good Morning.’ That the country’s sports history. The players were specialist right-handed batsman, Waqar Has- warm salutation by Waqar Hassan, Pakistan’s very passionate about keeping the country’s san proved to be as a genuine all-rounder in former Test cricketer and the pioneer of Na- flag flying high through their utmost dedica- the world of business. He shifted from Lahore tional Foods, aptly set the mood for the one- tion and hard work and they are still known for to Karachi in 1954 after being offered a job on-one interview with Slogan Magazine for its living up to the spirit of the gentlemen’s game, with the Public Works Department. By the forthcoming October 2018 issue. staying away from any kind of commercialism early 1960s, he launched a textile machinery Time goes by very quickly as now, in Feb- or other evils. business and, in 1970, he co-launched Na- ruary 2020, after almost one year and five “It was my memorable performance tional Foods in partnership with Abdul Ma- months since our one and only meeting with against India which brought me overnight jeed. him, we are writing about the same person fame since I was the top scorer from Paki- The reason, as he explained, was finan- but this time to pay tribute to the late Waqar stan in that series which we unluckily lost by a cial. “I had lost my regular place in the Test Hassan. close margin. At that time we all played clean team but my main reason for quitting cricket In a first-class career that spanned about cricket, won many Test matches and compet- after the 1959-60 season was financial,” he 18 years, Waqar Hassan, a middle-order right- ed at an equal level with those of the already said. “I opted out at the age of 27 to establish handed batsman, played for the Pakistan established sides of the world,” he said. my business. I had seen the likes of Amir Elahi cricket team from 1952 to 1959. A key mem- Waqar Hassan recounted in an interview and Wazir Ali living not-so-happy lives in their ber of Pakistan’s inaugural Test team, Hassan with The Cricket Monthly in November 2012, later years.” proved himself a consistent performer during “It gives me immense satisfaction to have On February 10, Waqar Hassan died in his 8-year international Test career, touring and achieved many firsts for Pakistan: first to score Karachi at the age of 87, bringing an end to playing against all the leading cricket-playing a half-century in each innings of a Test against a star-studded career both in cricket and in countries of the period - Australia, England, India in 1952-53, first Test half-century in Eng- the business world. Well played, Waqar Has- India and the West Indies. land at Lord’s in 1954, first Test half-century san!

Abdul Hafeez Kardar Fazal Mahmood Hanif Muhammad Imtiaz Ahmed Waqar Hassan

58 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Around Town

New York Fashion Week

ashion design house Sania Maskatiya is on the up. It showcased its Resort F2020 collection at the New York Fash- ion Week at the Pier 59 Studios, as part of The Council of Aspiring American Fashion Design- ers’ (CAAFD). This marked the third consecutive year for Sania Maskatiya, the first and only Paki- stani designer and design house, to officially participate in New York Fashion Week. Sania Maskatiya was selected and invited by CAAFD for the 2020 edition. The fashion house show- cased at NYFW S/S 19 in 2018 and NYW F/W 19 in 2019. CAAFD is known for its rigor- ous review process in choosing design- ers to showcase their work at NYFW. Sania Maskatiya continues to proudly represent Pakistan’s fashion industry. Sania’s collec- tion featured mono- chrome outfits with a white palette with emphasis on sleek cuts and designs. Symphonic with what is both com- fortable and chic, Resort 2020 epito- mized Sania Maskatiya’s signature femininity hues and fine craftsmanship. The design in both versatility and verve. Featuring breezy house has some of the best craftsmen hand-woven fabrics, delicately cut and lay- in Pakistan, coming from generations of ered, embroidered with geometric and pasto- artisans who have specialized and per- ral motifs, the white-on-white collection had a fected the craft. The brand is known for fanciful energy. The collection boasted silhou- including rich textiles, fabric design and ettes from fairy tale to avant-garde, making embroidery. Sania Maskatiya has quickly the SM Resort 2020 woman really classic and become Pakistan’s most lauded designer always à la mode. and most prized fashion export. The Sania Maskatiya brand is best known The collection is available at the San- for its specialised, versatile prints, textile de- ia Maskatiya Karachi flagship store for signs based on pure textures, exceptional preview and pre-order.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 59 Reviews Book Fighting Shadows

By Dr. Ahmed Saeed Minhas doxical situation typified in the line ‘Either you are with us, or with them’. The country ighting Shadows’ describes how had no choice but to side with the global al- Pakistan became embroiled in the liance against terrorism. It had to dump the ‘Fglobal war on terror, what price it Afghan Mujahedeen whom it had trained and paid during the course of fighting it and what employed during the Jihad against the USSR. the Pakistan Army did for rehabilitation of the The Pakistan-trained Mujahedeen then war-torn western border areas. turned against it and infiltrated into its set- Samrez Salik has created the context tled areas through unguarded borders. This with phrases like turbulence and resilience. is when Pakistan started paying the price in Book Title : Fighting Shadows He attributes ‘turbulence’ to the political, terms of loss of lives and propertiy emanating Author : Muhammad Samrez Salik domestic and international environment to from terrorism. It can be said then that while Publisher : National Defence University which Pakistan was subjected since its in- the Americans totally destroyed Afghanistan Pages : 226 ception and uses ‘resilience’ in terms of the in avenging the 9/11 attacks on New York Price: : Rs. 1500 country’s response to challenges with a re- and Washington, purportedly initiated by Al- ISBN : 0000000587556 solve to come out of those turbulent periods Qaeda, Pakistan also suffered tremendously successfully. in terms of thousands of military and civilian aged, the Pakistan Army and the government In the first chapter, ‘A Future Foretold’, he lives lost and a huge dent to its economy, but undertook the task of winning the hearts and prepares the stage for readers to understand managed to survive as a nation despite all its minds of the local population. This included the kind of strategic environment in which Pa- internal misfortunes of loot and corruption. the de-radicalization of society, rehabilitation kistan was when 9/11 took place. He covers The chapter ‘Pakistan Meets the Chal- of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the background in terms of Pakistan’s geo- lenge’ encompasses the entire cycle of the social and economic development, such as strategic location that compelled it to fight war fought inside the country’s borders. Salik preparing extensive communication networks the hot part of the Cold War in the shape of identifies the threat, explaining the interna- to make access easy from farms to markets. the Afghan Jihad. Pakistan faced the roaring tional environment in which the US played a The extensive effort led by the Pakistan Army bear, the ‘USSR’, that eyed the warm waters double role. On behest of the Indians, the US made the war-torn areas peaceful by increas- of the Indian Ocean. Though it sided with the hierarchy, while fighting against the Afghan ing their economic stakes. US but Pakistan was abandoned by America Tehreek-e-Taliban, nurtured the Pakistan The chapter ‘Resilient Pakistan’ covers as soon as the USSR started being fragment- Tehreek-e-Taliban to weaken Pakistan from the hope for a shining future for Pakistan. Salik ed. The Americans just left the region without within. gives an optimistic picture of the Pakistani na- caring for rehabilitating it and this had lasting While elaborating on the long war on ter- tion’s resolve to face challenges boldly. When implications for Afghanistan which couldn’t ror, Salik has divided it into various periods. it comes to their identity, Pakistanis have rise up from the destruction of the American- He has underscored the valiant operations of proved their mettle. Not only do they resist the Soviet proxy war and is today a country hat the Pakistan Army, such as Rah-e-Nijaat and misguiding perceptions but also bounce back has been relegated to the dustbin by the rest Operation Rad-ul-Fassad, which were em- with more resilience. As a result of the suc- of the world. ployed along the border areas in Swat, North cessful culmination of the war on terror, CPEC The Afghan economy fell into the hands and South Waziristan, as well as against projects have also started delivering. of various war factions that resulted in a kind those terrorists who became embedded int The writer was Director General at the of civil war. The fragmented political and do- settled areas of Pakistan with the aim of tar- Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and mestic Afghani social fiber became a safe geting soft targets. While explaining the vari- Analysis (ISSRA) and National Defence Uni- haven for terrorists, including Al-Qaeda ele- ous battles fought by the Army, he uses maps versity (NDU), Islamabad. He retired as a ma- ments, that paved the way for destabilization and photographs extensively. jor general with vast experience in combatting in the region. Pakistan had traditional links In ‘Winning Hearts and Minds Cam- terrorism along Pakistan’s western borders. with Afghanistan and a long porous border paign’, the author acknowledges that while His hands-on experience to fight the uncon- which gave rise to many social evils such as the protracted war on terror was very difficult, ventional war qualifies him as the right man drugs and a weapons culture. the phase that followed the battle was even to dilate on the most complex war that the In ‘9/11 Redefines the World’, Salik de- more challenging. such as the rehabilitation Pakistan Army has fought. He is now pursu- scribes the return of the US in the region to of the war-affected areas. Since the area ing a PhD at the National Defence University avenge 9/11. Pakistan had to face a para- where the war was fought was badly dam- in Islamabad.

60 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 Reviews

Film Charlie’s Angels Rapid though Silly

By Syeda Maham Rasheed young and brilliant engineer who serves as the brains of the film. ne thinks of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ The plot starts with Elena who, after as a reboot of the previous helping to create Calisto, a computerised Charlie’s Angels films. How- Rubik’s Cube that can generate clean sus- Oever, the latest film is not a re- tainable energy, voices her concern to her boot but rather a continuation of the previ- boss Alexander Brok (Sam Cafling) about ous two films ‘Charlie’s Angels’ (2000) and the product’s dangerous potential to be She improves with every film she’s in. Sam ‘Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle’ (2003) and weaponised if it goes in the wrong hands. Claflin and Noah Centineo give memorable the original 70s TV series of the same name. She fears the worst as someone is plan- performances while Nat Faxon as Elena’s The theme of the latest film gives the mes- ning to steal it and sell it on the black mar- boss turns out fine. All the characters seem sage that women can do anything but they ket and that’s when she decides to contact to be having a good time delivering the bad are time and again demeaned by men. The the Townsend Agency. However, her meet- dialogues. film is made to look from a woman’s point ing with Jane and Bosley (Elizabeth Banks) The film is the first screenplay and sec- of view and that the concept of feminism doesn’t go well as a hired killer Hodak (Jon- ond film as director for Banks, a predomi- would have been celebrated and supported athan Tucker) opens fire at them. While Bos- nantly comic actor who has moved behind if it weren’t so terribly conceptualised. ley and Jane are at the coffee shop meeting the scenes. She is famous for having a well- ‘Charlie’s Angels’ is about a trio of fe- Elena, Sabina is keeping a watch at Hodak, designed wardrobe and production design male secret agents known as the ‘Angels’ who kills in broad daylight while showing off which is somewhat stylish but the pointless who work for the Townsend Agency that his tattoos, from the top of a building across international locations and unnecessary ac- hires spies, assassins and masterminds. the road. Soon they realise that there is a tion sequences makes it all worse. In ad- The agency is run by Charles Townsend traitor in the agency who keeps disclosing dition, it seems the Angels are like robots. who is never seen and can only be heard via their information and thus they have no one They get instructions from Bosley about the an intercom. The agency has now expand- but each other to trust to keep Calisto away villains’ whereabouts and then they mess ed internationally and with that the need for from the perpetrators and save the world things up while the villains escape. The kill- multiple ‘Bosleys’ take place all over the from massive destruction. ing of innocent people on their way to reach globe to guide these highly trained Angels. Out of the three female leads, one their target is a matter of concern for the ‘Bosley’ is the codename given to handlers thought Stewart would stand out, keeping in general public. all over the world who keep an eye on their view her vast acting career, but she comes ‘Charlie’s Angels’ overall serves as a squad of Angels. Patrick Stewart and Dji- out with some odd dialogue that does not rapid and silly creation and part of the prob- mon Hounsou play the multiple Bosleys but suit the character she plays or the energy lem is that Stewart is so much more famous the main one is Elizabeth Banks. she provides. Sometimes it feels as if she is than her co-stars, even though she is not Written and directed by Elizabeth talking to the camera. However, the new- well-cast. Similarly, at one point, the film Banks, the opening scene of the film shows comers Balinska and Scott are solid enough hints on Jane’s past as an MI6 agent but a blond-wigged Sabina (Kristen Stewart) in bringing in the right amount of energy to quickly wraps that up to return to the main telling a shady businessman that women the screen. Balinska is a surprise as she storyline. Though the film gives its charac- can do anything over dinner. She ends up gets most of the major action beats and per- ters time to connect and interact as strong, tying the man in knots without his knowl- forms them gracefully while Scott, fresh from loyal women looking out for each other, but edge. The fact that men can be flexible her role in ‘Aladdin’, is effective as a trainee it all goes in vain. The film fails to promote gives these Angels an advantage over them. engineer who knows her craft well. the idea of women working together and ‘Charlie’s Angels’ tells the story about three Jonathan Tucker as the villain plays a lacks in satisfying the public, let alone its fe- girls, two of whom (Sabina and Ella Balinska menacing exception who is on a mission male audience. as Jane) are already part of the agency while to stop the Angels from exposing whatever With a running time of 118 minutes, the the third (Naomi Scott as Elena) is a recruit. plan they had in mind. Patrick Stewart is a film is rated PG-13 for excessive violence, Sabina is a bad-girl New York heiress while fine Bosley while Banks gives out the right absurd language and some suggestive ma- Jane is a former MI6 agent and Elena is the notes of mischief and mystery as Bosley. terial.

SOUTHASIA • March 2020 61 Reviews Film

Bad Boys for Life same personality with inclusion of comedy. They play off each other in their scenes to- gether. Elite Team Fights Actors like Jacob Scipio and Kate del Castillo have done excellent work with their roles. While Scipio is intense and has a very Vicious Drug Cartel physically threatening demeanour in almost all his scenes, Castillo does wonders with By Muhammad Ali Khan down high-profile criminals. AMMO is led her tough role that could be easily ruined by Mike’s ex-girlfriend Rita Secada (Paola if given to the wrong actor. Her character et seventeen years later, the film Nuñez), a striking and tough woman, and really balances a fine line of mysticism and ‘Bad Boys for Life’ is the third her special squad Kelly (Vanessa Hudg- realism. Joe Pantoliano delivers some fine instalment in the Bad Boys fran- moments as a wise guy police Captain How- Schise where Will Smith (Mike ard who lands in trouble due to the reckless- Lowrey) and Martin Lawrence (Marcus Bur- ness of his best cops. Vanessa Hudgens as nette) play roles as the violent Miami narcot- Kelly gives her best, Alexander Ludwig as ics detectives who are now more mindful of Dorn tries his luck as an intelligent hacker how much collateral damage they could do. and Charles Melton as Rafe represents a Just like the first ‘Bad Boys’, this film is full of new breed of Bad Boy. Though Paola Nuñez action-filled adventure and involves a cold- as Rita and her squad do a fine job, these blooded assassin and a cunning villainess. newcomers have not been properly utilised. Directed by the Belgian duo Adil El Arbi They could have done way better. and Billal Fallah, the film starts with Mike and Screenwriters Chris Bremner, Peter Marcus, who are old-time buddies, discuss- Craig and Joe Carnahan clearly know where ing their future plans. While Marcus thinks they want ‘Bad Boys for Life’ to go dramati- he should retire from the force as he now cally. There were surprising moments with has a new grandchild and wants to enjoy the perfect amount of humour that later his future, sitting in the lounge with his fam- takes a rough turn. The film not only bal- ily watching television, Mike doesn’t wish to ances comedy and drama but is often funny change and turn in his badge as he wants to and dramatic. In one scene, Mike tells Mar- ride out his career until the very end. cus about a love affair he once had which Mike soon becomes the target of the scarred him for life. The scene, through film’s villain, Isabel Aretas (Kate de Castillo), Mike’s view, was supposed to be emotional the wife of the Mexican cartel kingpin Benito but Marcus’s response to it is so unexpect- who dies serving his term in prison. Isabel edly foul that it creates the film’s best laughs. is frighteningly cold and escapes prison with ens), Dorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Rafe The screenwriters ace in keeping the tone the help of her son Armando Aretas (Jacob (Charles Melton), who teases Mike, calling of the film right as all the sequences are in Scipio). She sends her son to Miami to re- him grandpa. Mike soon finds a source and complete sync. The cinematographer Ro- cover his father’s money and gives him a forms an alliance with the new kids and a brecht Heyvaert also does some well-de- list of people to kill; they were involved in very reluctant Marcus following to unnerve signed shots and interesting lighting. Benito’s arrest. She tells him to kill the main the truth. Most things in the film are the same as man Mike at last so he can suffer but Ar- Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as the in the previous two films; people loved the mando goes after Mike first wounding him Miami detectives are solid in delivering a previous Bad Boys versions. The new one with a round of bullets; he later posts the powerful performance on screen. Both the has a lot more action, more blood and prob- video online. actors have a great camaraderie going and ably more drama which makes it a bigger hit. The two detective friends have no the genuine affection they have for each oth- The last action scenes deliver the required choice but to get back together in the game er gives the film an emotional touch. While pay off. The action climax is appropriately to crack this investigation. However, on Cap- Lawrence brings forth his comedic skills to over the top and explicitly character-driven. tain Howard’s (Joe Pantoliano) request, Mike the fore, the action scenes are left for Smith However, as the film comes to a satisfying teams up with the tech-driven Advanced Mi- to handle. Smith plays his role with a harder end, it leaves the door open for yet another ami Metro Operations (AMMO) that brings edge than before but Lawrence delivers the sequel.

62 SOUTHASIA • March 2020 AD