NEIGHBOUR Myanmar Crimes

www.southasia.com.pk December 2018

INSIDE Pakistan Jinnah’s Vision India Open Denial SRI LANKA Rajapaksa Returns

SAUDI ARABIA Murder in Consulate

Ad 12 Jinnah’s Pakistan Jinnah's vision of Pakistan has been greatly distorted over the years. It can only be achieved if the nation reverts to the Quaid's original ideals of a progressive Pakistan.

Contents 14 Where is Jinnah’s Pakistan? The Pakistani nation is still groping in the dark.

Islamabad The Austerity Reality 30 Not much cost-cutting is visible. New Delhi Kabul The Stalemate The West is again talking to 34 the Taliban. 29Open Denial India is going the extreme road. Thimphu Lessons of Democracy 37 There is something wrong with Bhutan’s democratic system. 33 Dhaka Next Battle The people of Bangladesh are tired with the battle of the begums.

4 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 REGULAR FEATURES Editor’s Mail 8 On Record 9 Briefs 10 FORUM 12 COVER STORY Where is Jinnah’s Pakistan? 14 Towards Jinnah’s Ideals 15 Interview: Liaquat H. Merchant 17 Empowerment of Women 20 Quest for Jinnah’s Pakistan 21 Vision to Reality 23 A Progressive State 24 Jinnah’s Nation Today 25 REGION New Delhi Shifting Focus 28 42 New Delhi International Open Denial 29 After the Murder There is turmoil in Saudi Arabia Islamabad after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. The Austerity Reality 30 Islamabad The New Economic Era 31 Dhaka Next Battle 33 Kabul The Stalemate 34 Colombo Tale of Two Prime Ministers 36 Thimphu 47 Lessons of Democracy 37 Neighbour Malé More Than A Refugee At a Deceptive Crossroads 38 Crisis INTERNATIONAL Myanmar faces a crisis that After the Murder 42 refuses to go away. Another Betrayal 43 NEIGHBOUR Unity in Fragments 46 More Than A Refugee Crisis 47 OPINION There is no ‘Other’ Side 49 FEATURES 55 Islamabad Lahore & Pursuit of Healthcare 52 New Delhi Islamabad Another Smog! The Worker’s Plight 53 The Punjab in both India Lahore & New Delhi and Pakistan is bracing Another Smog! 55 for a smog spell. Ranchi Ayushman Bharat 56 Dhaka Autocratic Democracy 58 Kathmandu Kathmandu Migrant Manpower 59 Migrant Manpower BOOK REVIEW Labour export accounts A Calibrated Blend 61 59 for a good part of Nepal’s SAARC roundup 62 foreign earnings.

SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 5

COMMENT

South Asia Moves On

olitical developments in South Asia seem to be at their peak. In the last few DECEMBER 2018 Vol.22 Issue 12 months the region has witnessed a smooth transition of democracy in such Pcountries as Nepal and Pakistan, where new governments have emerged through the peaceful holding of elections in February and July, respectively. Countries PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF like Bhutan and the Maldives successfully held their general elections in October. Syed Jawaid Iqbal New government setups have come into place in these countries in the pursuit of EDITOR national development and progress. Javed Ansari Other South Asian nations like Bangladesh and India will elect their new governments in December and May. In Sri Lanka, the prorogation of the National ASSISTANT EDITORS Parliament, coupled with the sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wikremesinghe and the Faizan Usmani appointment of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place, has led to a Syeda Areeba Rasheed political crisis. The future of the Sri Lankan government, led by President Maithripala CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sirisena seems to be in the balance. Nepal was the first South Asian country to hold S. G. Jilanee elections in 2018 and the re-emergence of veteran politician K.P. Sharma Oli as the country's Prime Minister has so far been taken as a positive development to carry the CONTRIBUTORS nation forward. Oli is the first Prime Minister in the political history of Nepal who has A Rauf K Khattak – Aneela Shahzad – Azhar Ali been elected twice under the newly adopted Constitution. Dr. Arshad Syed Karim – Dr. Imran Khalid – Dr. Moonis Ahmar In July this year, Pakistan made a major stride in terms of democratic transition Dr. Muhammad Ali Ehsan – Dr. Sadaf Khan – Hira Fatima by holding its general elections for the third time on the trot. Despite its 100-days Imran Jan – Inamullah Marwat – M. Shaiq Usmani track record, it would be quite early to decide about the performance of the newly- Meriam Sabih – Mirza Aqeel Baig – Muhammad Hanif elected government headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former cricket star. Munawar Mahar – Nadya Chishty-Mujahid In any event, the government seems to be trying its best to take the country out of its Prof. S. Shafiqur Rehman – S. G. Jilanee – S.R.H. Hashmi Shabana Mahfooz – Syed Adnan Athar Bukhari – Syed Jawaid Iqbal deep crises, particularly on the economic front and has also initiated many welfare Syed Kamran Hashmi – Syeda Maham Rasheed programmes to provide much-needed relief to the deprived masses. Despite suffering through an endless war between the Taliban and the U.S.-led GRAPHICS & LAYOUT Afghan forces, Afghanistan has just made a leap forward by successfully holding Kamran Ghulam Nabi elections in October for the lower house of parliament and district councils. Through Haroon Rasheed the parliamentary elections in Afghanistan were already three years overdue, an Riaz Masih impressive voter turnout in the recent polls reflects the country’s desire to emerge Business Unit Head as a politically stable and democratic nation, free from terror, insecurity and all the Syed Ovais Akhtar other socio-economic evils that fail Afghanistan again and again. MARKETING & SALES The smallest country in South Asia, Bhutan took another step forward when it Shiraz Khanji went to the polls in September and October and elected a new party ‘Druk Nyamrup CIRCULATION & COORDINATOR Tshogpa’ or the ‘Social Democrat Party’ to head the national government until 2022. Aqam-ud-Din Khan In October, a major political development took place in the Maldives when its people voted out the former president Abdullah Yameen, owing to his dictatorial approach EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE throughout his Presidential term. The archipelago is now back on the democratic 20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II path and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the new President of the Maldives, is all-set to Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24 pursue his political agenda to turn the country into a modern state. Fax: 92-21-35313832 Bangladesh is also ready to hold general elections on December 30. Politics Website: www.southasia.com.pk in Bangladesh have been polarised between the two major political parties: the Email: [email protected] Bangladesh National Party (BNP), headed by Begum Khalida Zia and the Awami League, led by Begum Hasina Wajid, who is also the current Prime Minister. Hasina’s MIDDLE EAST rule is fraught with severe irregularities and she has relentlessly been pursuing a REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE political vendetta against her major opponents, particularly the BNP and the Jamaat-e- Pirana Advertising JLT Islami, to the extent of rendering them non-existent in the forthcoming parliamentary PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, elections. Despite the fact that the Awami League has an edge in a one-sided political Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE match, it would not be a mean achievement for the Bangladeshi people to exercise Phone: +97-14- 4508309 Fax: +97-14-3688487 their electoral power to help democracy get a foothold and be even more effective Email: [email protected] for the general public. In India, general elections are to be held in April or May next year to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha. This will give the Indian people another opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights and to choose a leadership to steer the country towards growth and development. SouthAsia is published every month As a whole, the current period can be described as the most crucial era for South by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of Asia, wherein new governments are being formed and a new leadership is emerging JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. through democratic means, thus offering the poverty-ridden region of more than and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. 1.5 billion people another opportunity to learn from its mistakes and become a Views expressed by the contributors are prosperous and developed part of the world. not necessarily shared by the editors.

Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine was re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal Editor in Chief EDITOR’S MAIL

The credit must go to the Homegrown Chief Justice of Pakistan, Hungry in Asia Water Crisis Mian Saqib Nisar who rose to the occasion and took According to the latest notice of the imminent report by the Food and water crisis. It is high time Agriculture Organisation for the Pakistan government (FAO), nearly half a billion to address the issue on a people in Asia don’t have war-footing. sufficient means to feed themselves. Housing the to Yameen’s authoritarian Syeda Bushra Saeed, largest population of the style of governance that Karachi, Pakistan. hungry and the starved, resulted in whipping up Asia can be referred to as a political chaos and law sheer example of dichotomy and order disruptions in a Clueless since the region seems country that is supposed poised to become a global Congress to be a traveller’s paradise. power, giving less regard I hope the Maldives will India is heading towards to the lives of its people be able to revive its ailing parliamentary polls in April bereft of food, clean water tourism sector under the next year but the Congress and the rest of the basic new government and the Party has yet to get its act amenities of life. Faring country will see significant together. The Party’s president as miserably poor in most improvements in the rest Rahul Gandhi is trying every socio-economic indicators, of the socio-economic trick in the book to win the the future of this region measurements, such as per Lok Sabha 2019 elections, hangs in the balance since capita income, education, but the leadership is still its leadership lacks vision employment, transportation, clueless about the possible and is unable to provide for etc. nominee for the premiership the people. Piling up stacks This is with reference if the Congress gets the of arms and ammunition in to last month’s cover story majority, which is not likely the name of security, most Aisha Razi, on the emerging water to happen. A political party Asian countries have simply Dhaka, Bangladesh. crisis in Pakistan. Let me failed to take care of their first congratulate your people. editorial staff for bringing One Nation, out a comprehensive story Ivanhoe S. Ardiente, One Election on such a burning issue Manila, Philippines. that affects millions of A few months ago, Indian people and needs solutions Prime Minister Narendra without delay. To me, Back to Modi forwarded the idea Pakistan’s water crisis is Democracy of holding simultaneous more of a mismanagement elections in the country. issue of available resources It seems the Maldives is Summarised as the ‘one than of scarcity. Previous back on the democratic nation, one election,’ governments badly neg- that is unable to finalise the path. Ibrahim Mohamed his idea could not gain lected the water sector and prime ministerial candidate Solih has won the country’s acceptance in the political did not pay any heed to cannot be trusted to decide parliamentary elections with circle as many people the long-term development the fortune of nearly 1.4 a clear majority and has viewed the suggestion out of water resources and billion people who make become the new President. of the question because of infrastructure. On the one up one-sixth of the world's This is a big development its practical difficulties. I hand, the construction of population. Time is running for the archipelago that think Modi’s proposal must new dams could not come out for the Congress and it needs strong leadership be considered sincerely to fruition owing to political must be a matter of worry to take the country on the because holding elections reasons, while groundwater for a formidable political path of modernisation and at a regular interval tends to resources were not fully force that once enjoyed the good governance. Under be a cost-intensive exercise exploited on the other. To premium status of being the the government of former which a poor country like make matters worse, no King’s Party in India. president Abdullah Yameen, India can ill afford. As rightly steps were also taken to the country could not achieve suggested by Modiji, holding mitigate the wastage of Saeed Ahmed Malik, the progress it was aiming both national and state freshwater resources either. New Delhi, India. for. That was mostly owing elections simultaneously

8 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 ON RECORSLUGD

“Pakistan has “Taking a U-turn been a most loyal to reach one’s ally of the United objective is the States, but hallmark of great the US ditches leadership.” Pakistan when Imran Khan, it is politically convenient and Prime Minister of favours Pakistan’s enemy, India.” Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan

“We believe in “There’s no doubt peace and are Unending Fiscal Crisis the election will be committed to free and neutral. it, but it will not Before assuming power, one of the major We are not here to happen at the cost promises in the election manifesto of the Pakistan rig votes.” of the self-respect Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was related to the restoration Sheikh Hasina and unity of the of the national economy. Having spent more Wajid, country.” than 100 days in power, however, the PTI-led Prime Minister of Bangladesh Narendra Modi, government has yet to deliver on the economic Prime Minister of India front. The government has miserably failed to address the core issues that impinge on the country’s economic progress, wanting a well- thought-of policy that could lead the country “It is my duty and “The undeclared towards sustainable financial and economic the responsibil- war between growth. The Ministry of Finance is resorting to ity to create the Afghanistan and makeshift arrangements and is exploring all situation for the Pakistan must avenues available, but on a trial and error basis. 15 million voters end.” This speaks volumes of the ineptness of the leaders in this country Ashraf Ghani, who feel no harm in justifying their failures on a to choose their President of public forum. Pakistan’s fiscal crisis is at its peak at members to the Parliament through Afghanistan the moment, with almost no sign of improvement a free and fair election.” in sight. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka Anjum Mehar, “Our Multan, Pakistan. commitments are targeted toward “It is imperative improving the lives that the new of the people of administration Bhutan under the delivers on the broad theme of promises made ‘Narrowing the Gap.’” during the elec- Dr Lotay Tshering, tion.” Prime Minister-elect of Bhutan Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President-elect of the Maldives

“I have never used a computer.’” Yoshitaka “We expect Sakurada, support from the Cybersecurity countries that Minister of Japan are friends with Nepal to achieve the objective of prosperity.” “The huge amount will minimise the exorbitant election expenditure and it K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal of money could will also be easier for the Indian Election Commission to have been spent conduct, manage and supervise the parliamentary polls on building homes taking place throughout the country at one time. All major “No matter who wins and schools in political parties in India should take into account the idea the election, people India rather than of holding simultaneous elections. will lose.” holding a Formula Professor Serajul One race in this poor country.” Shrikumar Rajeev, Islam Choudhury, Lewis Hamilton, Gurdaspur, India. Bangladeshi writer Formula One world champion

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 9 BRIEFS

INDIA Statue of Unity he ‘Statue of Unity,’ the Ttallest statue in the world, has been officially inaugurated in Gujarat state in India. Depicting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India, the towering sculpture is 182-metres high and is four times the size of New York PAKISTAN City's Statue of Liberty. Designed by Ram V E-governance Sutar and created by U.S.-based Michael he Pakistan government has launched ‘Pakistan Graves Architecture Citizens’ Portal,’ an online complaint-registration and Design, the ‘Statue Tplatform. Accessible through mobile phones and of Unity’ is almost 50 the internet, the portal allows citizens to send their storeys tall, measuring complaints to concerned government departments to get 240 metres with its their problems resolved within a maximum 10-day period. three-level base. The Citizens can also upload pictures, videos and audio files colossal monument is in support of their complaints to ensure timely action. clad in bronze and is Overseas Pakistanis can also file their complaints through made from scrap metal the portal that links about 3760 federal and provincial collected from around departments. Aimed at establishing responsive governance the country. based on ICT, the Citizens' Portal is the first of its kind initiative launched in Pakistan. INDIA PAKISTAN Mission to Moon he Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the ‘Geosynchronous Satellite TLaunch Vehicle MarkIII (GSLV Mk III).’ The heaviest launch vehicle made in India,’ the GSLV MkIII will be used for the launch of Chandrayaan-II moon mission in 2019. The ISRO has also launched the GSAT29, an advanced communication satellite that will enhance India’s capacity to meet its communication needs. The GSAT29 tends to be the heaviest satellite to take off from Indian soil. With these two successes, the launcher has successfully joined the ranks of the PSLV and GSLV.

Lahore to Kashgar onnecting Lahore with the Chinese city of Kashgar in the Xinjiang province, the luxury ‘Lahore-Kashgar CBus Service’ has been launched. Aimed at boosting tourism and accessibility between both countries, the initiative is a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion connectivity project between China and Pakistan. The bus will run four days a week – Saturday to Tuesday - from Lahore and Tuesday through Friday from Kashgar. The route has five stops and it takes around 36 hours to travel from Lahore to Xinjiang. A one-way fare costs Rs. 13,000 and a round-trip ticket costs Rs. 23,000.

10 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 SLUG

BANGLADESH NEPAL Coding for Children International ibraries Unlimited, a U.K.-based community owned charity, has Cricket League launched a computer coding training programme in Munshiganj, La district in central Bangladesh. Teaching schoolchildren computer he International Cricket Council (ICC) coding for free, the training initiative is funded by the Bill & Melinda has approved the Everest Premier Gates Foundation and is delivered by the British Council in partnership TLeague (EPL) 2018, Nepal’s Twenty20 with the Bangladesh Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Libraries Unlimited aims cricket tournament. The EPL will be held from to modernize libraries and improve overall public access to information December 8 to December 22 at the Tribhuvan and knowledge in the country. The initiative is a part of a long-term University Stadium in Kathmandu. It is the first programme which involves the introduction of coding educational ever city-based franchise Twenty20 tournament resources available in public libraries of Bangladesh. in the sports history of Nepal. Many international cricketers will participate in the cricket league. Among the leading names are Zimbabwean Test player Sikandar Raza, Hong Kong skipper Babar Hayat, UAE Cricket captain Rohan Mustafa, English wicketkeeper-batsman John Simpson, United Arab Emirates fast-bowler Muhammad Naveed and many others.

SRI Lanka Top Country for Travel he world’s largest travel guidebook publisher, Lonely Planet The Maldives has named Sri Lanka as the ‘Best Country to Visit in 2019.’ T Improved transport links and world-class accommodation Largest School facilities, coupled with an increasing number of economic and cultural activities, were cited as the reason Sri Lanka was chosen he Ministry of Education of the Maldives for the top spot in the guidebook publisher’s annual ‘Best in Travel has opened ‘Huravee School,' the 2019’ awards. Since the end of the 26-year civil war, tourist visits to Tcountry’s largest school of primary Sri Lanka have increased. In 2009, some 447,890 tourists visited the and secondary education. Established in island while around 2.1 million people visited the country in 2018, Neighbourhood 1 of Hulhumale Island, the according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. seven-storey school features three blocks and 53 classrooms, out of which two have been assigned to children with special needs. Named after Sultan al-Ghazi al-Hassan Izzuddin al-Huravee, the Maldives’ founding father, the school can accommodate around 1,700 students. Prior to the development of Huravee School, a project of MVR 132 million, the largest school in the Maldives was 'Rehendhi School' which is also located in Hulhumale.

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 11 FORUM

Ticking Population Bomb Dr. Mehtab Karim, an expert demographer and Vice Chancellor of the Malir University of Science & Technology, warns of the dangers Pakistan is likely to face if its population growth is not arrested.

r. Mehtab Karim, planning process in Vice Chancellor, Pakistan was based on DMalir University a faulty framework and of Science & Technology the population explosion (MUST) gave a talk on may become a threat ‘Is the Population Bomb to the very existence of Ticking?’ on November the nation as there will 11, 2018 in Karachi. The be 342 million people in event was organized Pakistan by 2050. by Society for Global Dr. Karim says Moderation (SGM) at demographers have CMC. been trying to get the Dr. Karim received attention of policy his Doctorate degree makers since there was in Demography from a dire need for Pakistan Cornell University, USA. to slow its population He said that South Asia, growth. He says with over one-fourth of Pakistan's population the world’s population, was growing by around was the poorest region after the fertility levels in the 1970s. two per cent a year. He talks about the Sub-Saharan region but due to high Pakistan’s population growth rate youth bulge in Pakistan’s population population growth rate during the is one of the highest among most and says that some 64 per cent of the second half of the 20th century, it Muslim-majority countries largely due 200 million-plus people were under had suffered from a high infant child to the government’s policy, till the 30. He says economic gains were still mortality rate, a low level of literacy mid-90s, of not having an aggressive not just around the corner yet. The (particularly among women) and family planning programme. While employed youth had to be given jobs, endemic poverty. explaining persistently high fertility in but Pakistan also needs to arrest the Pakistan is confronted with one developing countries in the 1960s, Dr. ticking population bomb. If it was not of the highest population growth Karim is of the view that most social diffused, says Dr. Mehtab, economic rates in Asia, with the exception of scientists and demographers from the prosperity will always be an elusive Afghanistan. The country’s planners West as well as South Asia believed dream for Pakistan. have yet to realize that widespread that fertility was generally embedded Earlier at the Talk session, Syed poverty in the country, deteriorating in cultural and religious factors, which Jawaid Iqbal, Chairman, Society for civic amenities, poor health conditions, encouraged families to have too many Global Moderation (SGM) introduced increasing crimes in cities, pollution or children. the Guest Speaker. In his remarks, water shortages for farming as well as He says that India and Pakistan Jawaid Iqbal urged the government for household consumption, all have had previously shown concern for and parliamentarians to introduce their roots in the rapid population their high population growth and had legislation requiring every family growth. launched family planning programs in to have not more than two or 3 Can Pakistan overcome its the early 1960s, but the current lower children. After the Talk, Jawaid Iqbal multiple problems, where the average rate of contraceptive use in South also conducted a Question-Answer number of children born per woman Asia was due to the missing element session. Besides many other events, exceeds five in rural areas and the of proper family planning. Dr. Mehtab SGM has organized similar Talks by urban slums? The comparative says Pakistan’s family planning Mr. Najmuddin Shaikh, former Foreign rates per woman is 1.9 in Iran, two programme had greatly suffered due to Secretary of Pakistan and Senator in Turkey, 2.2 in Indonesia and 2.5 changed strategies because of lack of Raza Rabbani, former Chairman, in Bangladesh, which all had similar political commitment. The population Senate of Pakistan.

12 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 SOUTHASIA DECEMBER 2018 COVER STORY

PG 14 PG 15 PG 17 Where is Jinnah’s Towards Jinnah’s INTERVIEW Pakistan? IDEALS An exclusive interview with Liaquat H. Merchant S.I., Pakistan went off-track quite Pakistan needs structural changes the grand nephew of Quaid-e- early and all because the leader in its administrative set-up to Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. himself died soon after the become a more viable state. country’s independence. By Syed Jawaid Iqbal By M. Shaiq Usmani

PG 20 PG 21 PG 23 Empowerment of Quest for Jinnah’s VISION TO Reality Women Pakistan Pakistan was Jinnah’s cherished Jinnah visualized a Pakistan of Pakistan has strayed far from the dream but his successors have emancipated women who would vision of Jinnah’s Pakistan. turned it into a nightmare. work side by side with men. By S.R.H. Hashmi By S. G. Jilanee By Dr. Moonis Ahmar

PG 24 PG 25 A PROGRESSIVE STATE Jinnah’s nation The Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of Today Pakistan was a state governed The minorities were to live under Islamic principles imbibing peacefully in the Pakistan Jinnah progressive democratic norms. founded. By Dr. Arshad Syed Karim By Syed Kamran Hashmi COVER STORY

innah was a unique and enigmatic personality unlike any other leader Jprominent during the Independence movement in British India in the first half of the twentieth century. He became the leader of a section of the population of British India i.e. the Muslims, with whom culturally he differed in every conceivable way. His dress, mannerism, principles, language and sense of integrity were all poles apart from his compatriots. Nehru too, was different but he had intellectual pretensions, which he used to justify his differences but Jinnah did not have even these. Jinnah wrote no books and never sermonized. He was simply a brilliant lawyer, enamoured by the British way of life and imbued with unquestionable integrity and with a sense of purpose and of course an indomitable will. Thus his ideas about Pakistan that he proposed to create almost single-handedly could not but reflect his personality, which was privately castigated by most conservative leaders of the Muslims at that time. Even though Jinnah never penned down his ideas which could guide the new nation, these nevertheless devolved from various excerpts from his addresses to various forums before and after Partition and, for the lack of a better Where is word, came to be referred to collectively as “Jinnah’s Pakistan”. This was more so when, in the period following his Jinnah’s death, the nation moved away from those principles due to religious and cultural compulsions and inherent lack of integrity of the ruling classes. Pakistan? The phrase “Jinnah’s Pakistan" thus over a period of time has acquired the The nation that Jinnah created went off-track quite early in its status of a “buzzword”. Everybody uses it to describe “the ultimate” and the existence and all because the leader himself died soon after ‘final objective” and yet no one really the country’s independence and the democratic values he had knows what it entails. It is used in our envisaged could never take root. country more as a stick to beat others with than as any particular expression of By M. Shaiq Usmani a desire to attain the ultimate objective pronounced by the Founder. Ironically, every institution in our country freely democracy from the very beginning, is our history, Jinnah has been made out to uses it to describe their ultimate objective “The Executive”. This institution governs be, from a liberal westernized individual but, in fact, each institution determines the country and thus is responsible for believing in liberal ideas about the its own parameters of it, depending building the image of the country and treatment of minorities and the affairs upon the prevailing thinking current at setting down the path that the country is of the state at one time to protagonist the time. Then, there is the of-quoted and to take, which over a period of time, has of an Islamic state deeply imbued with overriding motto of Jinnah, i.e. “Unity, veered from the centre to centre right- Islamic values of an almost theocratic Faith and Discipline”. That too, has to left-to centre left- to right and then state. This trend and the variation been interfered with and has undergone now to centre right. The motto of Jinnah was also reflected in the governance change to reflect the current thinking too, has not been spared this confusion by the executive. Whereas to reflect prevalent in the respective Institutions. and has been disfigured through Jinnah’s vision the state was initially It would be interesting to see in what interchanging “unity” and ‘faith” in the organised so as to eventually emerge as way the “Jinnah’s Pakistan” concept and order of priority and thus from Unity, a democracy of the Westminster model, the motto governing it has impacted Faith and Discipline it has become Faith, it later lurched to successive autocratic various institutions in Pakistan over Unity and Discipline as is emblazoned and demagogic regimes and then to a period of time since the country’s on a hill on the expressway from old culturally oppressive, unjust and self- creation. Islamabad airport to Islamabad city and serving governments which Jinnah could The first and the dominant institution also in all official publications. have never envisioned. in our country in view of absence of true Accordingly, during the course of The parliament too, in our country,

14 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 has suffered a similar identity crisis. consisting of unelected members, time no senior officer of the armed Jinnah favoured a parliamentary form adopted the Basic Principles Committee forces attained any prominence nor of government where the parliament Report, the very basis and philosophy could any such officer ever attempt to was to be supreme and where members of which was contrary to the principles cross the firmly drawn line. The culture of parliament would have complete that Jinnah expounded and thus Pakistan of the armed forces then was liberal freedom of speech. However, as time was launched on the course which and non-confrontationist yet ironically went by the parliament in our country has completely altered Jinnah's legal enough even the armed forces today lurched from a controlled parliament philosophy that was instrumental to its harp about Jinnah’s Pakistan when towards a consultative council of being brought into existence. their present-day ethos and culture is various autocrats to being an assembly This is depicted most poignantly certainly not anywhere close to what of courtiers of dynastic carpetbaggers by the portrait of Jinnah that adorns Jinnah envisaged. to an acrimonious and agitationist every court room in the country from In the final analysis, it can be said powerhouse, incapable of performing its which stares out an uncomfortable that all our institutions over the last primary task of legislation for the welfare Jinnah dressed in a sherwani and Jinnah seventy years have moved away from of the people. Yet, all the time the houses cap looking holier than thou while the vision of Jinnah, thereby leading to of parliament have been dominated by the common law so much favoured the difficulties that we face to-day but no Jinnah’s massive portrait and lip service by Jinnah is being adulterated by one is ready to admit it and yet everyone is paid to the slogan of ushering in incongruous laws that only serve to continues to pay lip service to it. The Jinnah’s Pakistan when, as an antithesis destabilize society by engendering need of the hour is to seize Jinnah’s to Jinnah’s motto, only disunity, lack of violence born of prejudices. motto of Unity, Faith and Discipline in faith and indiscipline prevails and the Finally the armed forces. Jinnah its original form and not its adulterated phrase “Jinnah’s Pakistan” invariably has always had a soft corner for the navy. version and dispel confrontation, shun come to be used by the political parties Thus while he was alive, like the British parochialism and ethnic and sectarian across the board to criticise and defame armed forces, the navy, not the army, divides and unite and discipline the the party in opposition. was the senior service and Jinnah would nation and strengthen and galvanise it The judiciary too, has not lagged not have had it otherwise. This was not with faith so that we can move forward behind in mutilating Jinnah’s vision because Jinnah wanted to follow the in the world and begin to be respected even though since Jinnah was a lawyer British example but because Jinnah again. It is indeed a monumental task himself, the legal system and courts sincerely did not want to see Pakistan and only the parliament can do it by of law were very close to his heart. rise as a regional militaristic and jingoist making requisite laws and the executive Jinnah essentially was a believer in the power embroiled in constant skirmishes by implementing them common law traditions where each had on the borders but as a maritime power impartially. his say and justice was to be meted out with a global reach. If then this vision fairly and swiftly but surely. The law of Jinnah had permeated, Pakistan’s The writer is a former prevailing according to Jinnah had to be history would have been different. chief justice of the Sindh devoid of any influences or prejudices Nevertheless, Jinnah was a firm believer High Court. He can be based on religious leanings. Yet, within in the subordination of the armed forces reached at contactus@ a few years of his death, the parliament, to the civil government and during his usmaniandiqbal.com.pk Towards Jinnah’s Ideals

Pakistan needs structural changes in its administrative set-up to become a more viable state. It can then meet the needs of the people in a more forceful manner.

By Syed Jawaid Iqbal

akistan is currently going through to do with the business of the state”. a state of flux and there are all In Jinnah’s view, all people living Pkinds of theories about the future within the state’s boundaries were of the country. Every government that equal members of a new nation, has come to power has spoken about which was being formed on the basis the need for Jinnah’s Pakistan to be of common citizenship. He staunchly restored but no concrete steps have believed that Pakistan would not be been taken in this direction. Jinnah a theocracy. In fact, the country was envisioned Pakistan as a democratic given the name ‘Islamic Republic of polity and, as he said in his speech of Pakistan’ on March 23, 1956 when it August 11, 1947, religion had “nothing became a republic.

SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 15 COVER STORY

Will Pakistan survive? It surely where bigger administrative units Local governments have been found will – but only if a concrete strategy is have been broken into smaller ones to to be more forthcoming in this respect devised to infuse the spirit of Jinnah’s bring the provincial machinery closer though the whole local government thinking into the people who matter. to the people and make dispensation apparatus has been messed up in recent This is a long drawn process that must of administrative services easier and years and the current local government be initiated now and allowed to seep more effective. set-ups are exploited by rulers for their into the national ethos. Many recipes India, which is also a federal own political exigencies. have been tried in the past, without republic, comprises 29 states and However, the need for local much success. seven union territories today, each unit government and the fact that the system Given his frail health, the founder having its own elected government is closer to the people gives all the more of the nation did not have a chance for local administration. In line with credence to the proposition that large to visualise the problems that Pakistan popular sentiment as well as practical provincial bureaucracies should now would face in the future. But most political experience so far, it would make way for smaller administrative successive rulers and governments also be appropriate to decide whether units so that the people have access have dismally failed in their task of Pakistan needs a parliamentary form of to better governance. Perhaps this is nation-building. government or a presidential system. the only way that we can save Jinnah’s The Objectives Resolution, The feudal system and mindset Pakistan from disintegrating. which was proposed by the then plague Pakistani society though the To improve the lot of the Pakistanis prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan in world has moved on. Having more and to secure the country’s future, the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan administrative units (states) would there are two aspects that must be on March 12, 1949, proclaimed serve to water down the power of the immediately addressed. The Chief that Pakistan would be a federation feudals as their fiefdoms would be cut Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar and the federating units would be down to size. This would also make has rightly alerted the nation to the autonomous. those urban bigwigs who strut around looming water shortage the country However, the administrative with all their power paraphernalia is facing and would become a full- set-up of the country has become to sport a lesser ‘feudal’ mentality. fledged crisis at the turn of the decade. obsolete as it is based on a single The feudal mindset could be further He has constantly been underscoring federal territory and four large and ‘watered down’ if the parliament’s the need for new dams and a fund has cumbersome provinces governed term is reduced from five to four years. even been started at a national level from provincial capitals. There is Elections every four years would instil to acquire money from Pakistanis a lack of communication between greater democratic norms. living in the country and overseas. the provincial capital and the rest of There should also be a separation It is commendable that the people the province. This distance prevents between those who are elected to have responded in good measure but the administration from dispensing the national and ‘state’ assemblies building dams is a herculean task and equitable justice, protection and and those allotted various ministerial more endeavours must be made to take administrative services to all citizens portfolios. Those elected to parliament up this task on an emergency basis. of the province. Experience has shown would only be responsible for The other crisis that Pakistan faces that Pakistan, spread over an area legislation and for looking after aspects and the Chief Justice has drawn the of 877, 406 square kilometres and of national significance. They would nation’s attention to this issue as well consisting of over 200 million people, not be in the run to become ministers is the population explosion. It needs cannot be administered in this manner for the perks and privileges. to be realised that while Pakistan is anymore. Anyone could be appointed a a struggling developing nation, it is To maintain law and order more minister based on merit and thorough also the world’s 6th largest in terms efficiently and to protect the life and knowledge of the ministry he or she of population and its population is property of the citizens, a viable is chosen for. This way, we would increasing at 2 percent a year. This solution could be that the country is not have another ’elected’ education needs to be immediately arrested if divided into at least 20 administrative minister educated only up to class Pakistan is to develop on sound lines. units – or states – and Pakistan 6. In Balochistan, until recently, the The government’s approach in both be renamed as ‘United Pakistan’. entire pro-government assembly had respects is highly commendable and it However, further proposals for a new cabinet portfolios. is gratifying that while Prime Minister name of the country could be invited A new provision in the laws Imran Khan and his colleagues realise from the public at an appropriate of the Election Commission – that the acuteness of the issues, they are also time. Functioning as a federation, an individual who is elected either willing to take concrete measures to Pakistan would be justified in giving to the national or ‘state’ assembly address the problems. They have been itself a new name along the lines of cannot qualify to be a federal or state in government for just over 3 months the former UAR or the present UAE, minister – would greatly serve to while the issues faced by Pakistan are UK or the USA. reduce corruption. A minister would vast and serious. Imran Khan must be The states should be demarcated have to be a real expert of the field given time to duly address these issues strictly on administrative lines and that his ministry covers. Furthermore, and put Pakistan back on track. It is no consideration should be given he would have to rescind his/her seat only through such an approach that to linguistic or ethnic divisions. in the legislature in order to become Pakistan can move nearer to the vision Each state should have its own state a minister. of its founder. capital, governor and chief minister Surveys and studies conducted in and a state assembly under the Pakistan in previous years have clearly The writer is the President constitution of Pakistan (which should shown that the people of the country do and Editor in Chief of be accordingly amended) supported not find provincial governments, and SouthAsia. He can be by an administrative structure. There those who run them, to be reasonably reached at jawaid@ are many examples around the world responsive in solving their problems. southasia.com.pk

16 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 ‘Jinnah believed in the supremacy of the Constitution.’ An exclusive interview with Liaquat H. Merchant S.I., the grand nephew of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He is the President of the Jinnah Society, Founder and Managing Trustee of the Jinnah Foundation, Executive Trustee of Quaid-e-Azam Aligarh Education Trust and Administrator of the Estate of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

How are you related to Muhammad Anthology, which were published Ali Jinnah? Please tell us a little about between 1999 and 2018. yourself. Any anecdotes from that period I am related to Jinnah as I am that you can share? the grandson of his sister Mariam Jinnah was born in Karachi in an Bai Abedin Peerbhoy who lived near Ismaili family. His father Jinnah Poonja Jinnah’s house in Malabar Hill in and his mother were both Ismailis. Bombay. I also had the honour and Thus the entire family of Jinnah and his privilege of training and working with brothers Ahmed, Bande Ali (who died my maternal uncle Akbar A. Peerbhoy, at a very early age) and sisters Rehmat son of Mariam Peerbyhoy, as an Bai, Mariam Bai, Shirin Bai and Fatima advocate for five years. He played a were born Ismaili. However, as his very important part in my education, sisters grew up and responsibility up-bringing and training as a lawyer. for settling them rested with Jinnah, I saw in him an image of Jinnah with he gave Rehmat Bai in marriage the same personality and principles, to Cassimbhoy Jamal, a Sunni, in including private honour and public Calcutta and Mariam Bai was given in integrity. marriage to Abedin Peerbhoy, also a Mariam Bai and my mother Sunni, in Bombay. Shirin Bai was given Sherbanoo, daughter of Mariam Bai, in marriage to Jafferbhoy, an Ismaili would tell us about family anecdotes while Fatima did not marry. Ahmed involving Jinnah, including visits to his Jinnah was married to a Swiss lady and residence on Malabar Hill in Bombay. had one child called Fatima. How do you remember him? Fatima was Jinnah’s youngest sister I was a young boy of six when and his favourite. She devoted her I met Jinnah for the last time at his whole life to her brother and lived residence in Malabar Hill with my with him until he died. The other sister grandmother Mariam Bai and my for whom Jinnah had great affection mother Sherbanoo, along with the was Mariam Bai and he visited her other grandchildren of Mariam Bai. I Liaquat H. Merchant quite regularly. Rehmat Bai was away do not recall earlier visits. My memory in Calcutta while Shirin Bai generally is obviously hazy but the image of the eminent aspects of Jinnah’s stayed away but was sent by the family Jinnah as a tall, immaculately dressed personality? to Pakistan along with her son Akbar man walking on a polished wooden Jinnah’s personality, personal Jafferbhoy after Fatima Jinnah suddenly floor who shook hands with all Mariam traits, principles, ideals and vision passed away. Bai’s grandchildren, still lingers in my for Pakistan are spread all over his After the marriage of his two mind and may have perhaps become speeches and statements which are in sisters, Jinnah left the Ismaili faith and stronger and more clear over the years the public domain but Professor Sharif subsequent events established that he while I remained deeply involved in Al Mujahid, the eminent historian and and Fatima proclaimed themselves writing about Jinnah and publishing scholar, worked with me and we have to be plain and simple Muslims with several books on him. The beautiful been able to document various aspects no sectarian faith or belief in any sect and imposing house with furnishings of Jinnah’s life and career as the most of Islam. Jinnah believed in God, the and wooden polished floors on which outstanding personality of the Indo- Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and we as children slipped is still in Pakistan sub-continent over the past the Quran as a divine revelation. my mind and also how we came to hundred years. The eminent aspects Some incidents during Jinnah’s life attention when Jinnah walked in and of Jinnah’s personality are beautifully emerged in the case which was heard spoke gently to all of us. recorded in writing and in photographs by the High Court of Sindh in Karachi What are your impressions of in four separate editions of the Jinnah involving the estate left behind by

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Fatima Jinnah and a Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh in Karachi Jinnah’s ideology was based upon his beliefs held that both Jinnah and Fatima were neither Shia nor Sunni and that they that the Constitution of Pakistan would be only believed in the Quran and the Holy Prophet (PBUH). democratic in nature and include the essential Are there any words of the Quaid that still ring in your mind? principles of Islam. Jinnah has made so many important statements but the following has When you see what Jinnah stood (vii) Promote the principles of unity, impacted me the most: for and you then compare his ideology faith and discipline in Pakistan. “The Constitution of Pakistan with what has happened in Pakistan What are your memories of has yet to be framed by the Pakistan from 1947 onwards up to date, it Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah? Constituent Assembly. I do not know becomes obvious that Jinnah’s vision In addition to my deep respect what the ultimate shape of this for Pakistan has not been achieved. and gratitude to my parents, my constitution is going to be, but I am Just as Bhutto created awareness maternal Uncle Akbar Peerbhoy, the sure that it will be of a democratic type, among the labour class of their rights next person whom I hold in very high embodying the essential principles of in Pakistan, Imran Khan has created regard is my grand-aunt Fatima Jinnah, Islam. Today, they are as applicable in awareness among the middle classes the lady with an abundance of charm actual life as they were 1,300 years in Pakistan on the issue of prevailing and a magnetic personality who was ago. Islam and its idealism have taught corruption which undoubtedly needs responsible for my migration from us democracy. It has taught equality of to be eradicated wherever it exists Bombay to Karachi. men, justice and fair play to everybody. but without creating any serious I do not recall meeting Fatima We are the inheritors of these glorious polarization and conflict between Jinnah when I met Jinnah for the last traditions… as framers of the future political parties which would obviously time at his residence in Malabar Hill constitution of Pakistan.” not be beneficial to Pakistan and may in 1947 but I did have the honour and -Broadcast to the people of the well open up avenues for a different privilege of meeting Fatima Jinnah USA, February 1948. form of governance. during my visits to Pakistan between What are the main features of Lack of good governance has always 1964 and 1967. Jinnah’s ideology? been a central theme of discussion at My first meeting with her in 1964 The main features of Jinnah’s all levels and perhaps this stems from was full of trepidation as I waited ideology revolved around the need a series of factors since independence anxiously in my sofa chair for her to for creation of a separate homeland and cannot be solely attributed to come into the big hall at Mohatta Palace. for the Muslims of the sub-continent political parties and the bureaucracy. After exchanging brief greetings, she where they could achieve political What steps must be taken shot a question to me, “When are you and economic independence as well to propagate Jinnah’s vision for coming to settle in Pakistan. Why are as safely practice and propagate their Pakistan? you wasting time in India?” I explained religious faith and beliefs. This passion (i) Jinnah’s principles, ideals and to her that I was undergoing training as led to Jinnah giving a retort to Mahatma vision for Pakistan must be taught an advocate with Akbar Peerbhoy after Gandhi in 1943-44 after the Gandhi- at the senior level at all schools, my graduation in Law in Bombay and Jinnah talks in Bombay, stating, inter colleges and universities. would soon make up my mind about alia, that the Muslims were a nation by (ii) Books like “Quotes from the Pakistan. themselves according to any definition Quaid” should form part of After that, the meeting turned or test of a nation. the curriculum at schools and pleasant and interesting. I was told Jinnah’s ideology was based upon colleges. by my elder sister Rohina Peerbhoy his beliefs that the Constitution of (iii) Elocution, declamation and who was married to Abbas Peerbhoy, Pakistan would be democratic in nature debates between students on the grandson of Jinnah’s sister Mariam and include the essential principles of the merits of Jinnah’s principles, Bai, that Fatima Jinnah often inquired Islam, such as honesty, integrity, fair ideals and vision for Pakistan with her about my mother Sherbanoo play, justice, human rights, women’s must be encouraged in the light Habib Hussain and about me and my rights, equal protection of minorities, of prevailing circumstances in the younger sister Moonira Aziz Kassam, equal opportunities, freedom of country. who now lives in the UK with her speech, expression, religious tolerance, (iv) Political and social leadership husband and daughter. Fatima Jinnah submission to the rule of law and at all levels should actively wanted all her sister’s grandchildren loyalty to the State of Pakistan whose propagate Jinnah’s vision for who had achieved higher education duty could be to protect the lives, Pakistan. to come to Pakistan as she saw ample property and liberty of its citizens. (v) Establish the rule of law and opportunity for them. He believed in the supremacy of the ensuring the principle of “due Fatima Jinnah used to visit my sister Constitution, a Parliament which process”. Let no man be punished Rohina Peerbhoy and Abbas Peerbhoy would be sovereign and a judiciary or deprived of his life or liberty every week and had close family ties which would be independent and a based on allegations until they with Abbas Peerbhoy and his mother bureaucracy which would serve the are proved before a court of Sherbanoo who was Rehmat Bai's nation and citizens who would have competent jurisdiction and the daughter. equal rights and opportunity at all principle of due process of law is I was deeply impressed by Fatima levels in the State of Pakistan. strictly followed. Jinnah and will never forget her Do you feel that Jinnah’s vision (vi) Promote education and religious magnetic personality and her clear and for Pakistan has been distorted by tolerance among the people of crisp speech. Before she passed away in subsequent leaders of the country? Pakistan. 1967, she prepared letters of reference

18 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 From left to right: Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Dina Wadia. for me to Late Hasan A. Shaikh, a very executive producer Professor Akbar The fourth edition of the anthology prominent lawyer in Karachi and A. A. Ahmad and Christopher Lee, who will be ready for launch and circulation Zari, also a prominent lawyer, asking played the role of Jinnah. I was also after December 15, 2018. them to take me into their chambers in involved in defending a Constitutional In addition to this, the Jinnah the practice of law when I migrated to Petition filed against the producer and Society produced the M. A. Jinnah Pakistan, but unfortunately she passed directors of the film along with late CD Rom but could not establish the away a few months before I made the Sharifuddin Pirzada. The High Court “Jinnah Resource Centre” or a Jinnah final move of migrating to Pakistan. dismissed the Petition while holding Scholarship at Oxford or a Jinnah Chair Fatima Jinnah was quite social and that a film was an expression of thought at Karachi University due to financial maintained close contacts with the and ideas, just like the freedom of constraints. The lack of government family in Pakistan, particularly Rohina speech and expression and the film support is a sad story which I prefer Peerbhoy, Abbas Peerbhoy, Sherbanoo Jinnah went on to completion. not to go into at present. Peerbhoy and my two cousins Zehra The Jinnah Society organized the The Jinnah Society decided to Chandoo and Gulshan Chandoo, who premiere of the film at the Governor’s give one Jinnah Award each year to a are also the grandchildren of Mariam House in Karachi which was attended Pakistani or foreign citizen who had Bai. She visited Jinnah Mausoleum by approximately 2,500 guests rendered outstanding services to the every week on Thursday until she who were invited free of charge. Lt. country and in this category awards passed away. Gen. (R) Moinuddin Haider, then have been conferred on Abdul Sattar I cannot part with this discussion Governor of Sindh, made available Edhi, Hakeem Mohammad Saeed, without remembering Jinnah’s the Governor’s House for this function Graham Layton, Ruth Pfau, Dr. Ishrat daughter Dina Wadia who I had the while Sadruddin Hashwani provided Husain, Akhtar Hameed Khan, Air pleasure and honour of meeting in dinner and refreshments to all the Marshal Asghar Khan, Ahmed Ali New York and in Karachi. She too guests free of charge as his part of Khan, Prof. Adeeb Rizvi, Ibn Abdur was a remarkably intelligent and the contribution, both of which were Rahman, Imran Khan and Ardeshir well-spoken lady with a powerful highly appreciated. Cowasjee. personality very similar to Jinnah and From the platform of Jinnah The future activities of the Jinnah Fatima Jinnah. Dina Wadia has now Society, I produced the first edition Society will continue for “Propagating passed away and her family lives in of “The Jinnah Anthology” in 1999 the Principles, Ideals and Vision Bombay. concurrently with the premiere of the of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali What are the major activities of film Jinnah and the function to launch Jinnah” as a nation-building exercise the Jinnah Society and how much the first edition of the Jinnah Anthology in Pakistan and to promote the have you achieved? was held at Flag Staff House with great development of leadership at all Jinnah Society was established pomp and dignity. levels in the role model of Jinnah, by me in 1997 with active help and The second edition of “The Jinnah the essential principles being private support of like-minded citizens of Anthology” was launched at the honour and public integrity. Pakistan. Our first project was to Pakistan High Commission in London, extend financial and other support where the slogan of “Jinnah’s Pakistan” Liaquat Merchant is Barrister-at-Law, to the film “Jinnah” and I started this was first raised while the third edition Advocate High Court and Supreme with an invitation to the entire cast was launched at the Oxford University Court of Pakistan and the former and crew of the film, including the Press Auditorium in Karachi. Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan.

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women in Pakistan be transformed into reality and what are the impediments in Empowerment of this regard? Despite the fragile position of women in Pakistan in terms of social, economic and political empowerment, Pakistan Women was proud to have the first woman Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, in the Jinnah visualized a Pakistan of emancipated women Muslim world. Woman social workers like Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan, the who would work side by side with men to build a modern wife and widow of Pakistan’s first Prime Pakistan. Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and women educationalists, politicians, traders and By Dr. Moonis Ahmar in the armed services, also dispelled the notion about the disempowerment of women in Pakistan. Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, the sister of the founder of Pakistan, also played a leading role in the country’s politics. Three factors shattered the Quaid’s vision for an egalitarian society in which women and minorities would live peacefully and would have equal status. First, the family laws introduced during the regime of President Ayub Khan were in favour and in the interest of women because these ensured women’s right of inheritance and the right of a man to re-marry with the permission of his first wife. But such steps failed to bring any qualitative change in the lives of Pakistani women as they remained captives of male chauvinism. Second, Pakistan is still a tribal and feudal society where democracy, political pluralism, enlightenment and emancipation of women have remained a distant dream. In a society where women feel highly insecure because of orthodox customs like Karo Kari and misuse of the Hudood here are two powers in the welfare Islamic state was shattered Ordinance, the socio-cultural status of world; one is the sword and when the country, particularly after its women has remained subservient to “Tthe other is the pen. There is disintegration in 1971, was penetrated men. a great competition and rivalry between by the hardliner religious groups. Even, Hundreds of women have been made the two. There is a third power stronger Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a perceived liberal victims of chauvinistic customs and have than both, that of the women.” and progressive, who assumed power lost their lives but neither the state nor “No nation can rise to the height of after the December 1971 war, in the society were able to save them. Some glory unless your women are side by remaining part of Pakistan, failed to human rights organizations do play a side with you.” neutralize elements who wanted to positive role as far as the emancipation “No struggle can ever succeed impose their own brand of Islam. of women in Pakistan is concerned but, without women participating side by It is not only in Pakistan where to a large extent, one can see the pathetic side with men.” issues related to the empowerment and situation of non-elite class women who – Quotations of Quaid-e-Azam emancipation of women is an issue, but experience not only the brutality of male Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the status and it is a common predicament of women chauvinism but also male exploitation on role of women in almost the whole of the Muslim the basis of religion. And, surely, religion world. Pakistan is the second largest has been used by vested interest groups The afore-stated quotes of Quaid- Muslim country after Indonesia and to disempower and exploit women. e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, reflect Jinnah’s vision for the equal status of Third, Jinnah’s vision for an enlightened how progressive and enlightened he women should have been transformed Pakistan where women would be secure was. Unfortunately, after his death, into a reality but sadly, the country failed and would get equal treatment vis-à-vis Pakistan drifted into a vicious cycle to become a role model for women, at men, remains unaccomplished because of extremism, intolerance, violence, least in the Muslim world. of the mindset of not only the male militancy, radicalization and terrorism. What are the issues faced by women population but also females who are Women, who constitute 50 percent in Pakistan and why even 71 years in positions either as mothers, wives or of the population of Pakistan, can after the creation of Pakistan, one can mothers-in-law. They are as unjust as play a meaningful role for human and see exploitation and discrimination of some of the males in denying women social development of the country, women? How can Jinnah’s vision for an their legitimate rights. but Jinnah’s vision of a modern and emancipated and empowered role of Paradoxically, issues faced by the

20 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 Muslims which should have been resolved was the first religion which granted Supreme Court of Pakistan on October a long time ago are still lingering. A rights to women during the days when 31, 2018? The verdict acquitted the fundamental issue concerns the status of ignorance was rampant and women Christian woman Aasia Bibi from charges women. Ultra-conservative and dogmatic lacked fundamental freedom. Then why of blasphemy. The Supreme Court’s Muslims who still have their following is it that Islam is wrongly interpreted as decision to overrule the earlier verdict of in conservative segments of society, anti-women? Islamic history for the last the Lahore High Court which awarded are a major impediment as far as the one thousand years reveals the bitter the woman a death penalty also depicts emancipation of women is concerned. truth that the religion of Islam has been the manner in which people belonging to The issues are: whether women should hijacked by a bunch of so-called narrow- the minority population are subjected to have a right to education? Should women minded clergy who have given a totally violence and discrimination. have freedom to work and go out of their wrong description of Islam. Innovation, Jinnah’s Pakistan is certainly not house unaccompanied by their close invention, creativity and pursuit of what he had visualized. Since the relatives? knowledge, which were the hallmarks of passing of the ‘Objectives Resolution’ Furthermore, if one goes to a mosque the early Islamic civilization diminished by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan and listens to the Friday sermon, it is with the passage of time. in 1949, there is a greater penetration mostly devoted to things like: Women There is no quick fix solution to deal of hard-line and extremist Islamists must remain at home and take care of with issues which wrongly interpret in the state and society of Pakistan. their husbands, children and family. They Islam as being biased against women. It This has led to the degeneration of the must remain in Hijab and should not is only through early social learning and country. The women of Pakistan should be independent or get proper education ‘ijtehad’ that the Muslims can emancipate take a stand and play a leading role in or choose a profession of their choice. themselves from those who have, over reversing the process of retrogression Exploitation, subjugation, discrimination the past one thousand years, hijacked and degeneration and launch a proactive and domination against women don’t Islam and made it retrogressive to the movement to emancipate themselves end with the mindsets of the religious extent that the knowledge gap between from the clutches of backwardness and conservative segments of society. Even the Muslims and the West has continued orthodoxy. Certainly, no nation can go educated males and females in Pakistan to widen and cannot be easily bridged. far in the 21st century unless its women favour undue restrictions on the rights Unless, Muslims adopt the path of play a leading role in the process of of women. They are the ones who excel reasoning, rationality and reform, there is development and modernization. in hypocrisy and opportunism and do no way they can deal with contradictions Pakistani women must wake up and not conceal their bias against those which have engulfed them for centuries. fight against the endless exploitation, women who want to liberate themselves Certainly, as a result of the hijacking of suppression and discrimination from the clutches of suppression and Islam by retrogressive and backward perpetrated against them. discrimination. segments of the clergy, women have It is often argued that since Pakistan borne the brunt of ‘fatwas’ and sermons The writer is a Meritorious was created in the name of Islam, there against the emancipation of women from Professor of International is no scope for freedom to be given the clutches of dogmatism. Who can Relations at the University of to women to live their own lives. But forget the violence unleashed by extremist Karachi. He can be reached is Islam anti-women? In fact, Islam religious groups against the verdict of the at [email protected]

hat sort of Pakistan Quaid- Quest for Jinnah’s e-Azam wanted was clearly Wdescribed by him in his 11th August, 1947 speech. He said: ‘…the first duty of a government is Pakistan to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of Pakistan has strayed far from the vision of Jinnah’s Pakistan its subjects are fully protected by the but, after initial hiccups, it looks like there is light at the end State. of the tunnel. ‘You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to By S.R.H. Hashmi your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.’ Also, during a Muslim League session, in response to a question about the slogan ‘Pakistan ka matlab kya, laillaha illallah !” (implying Islam as the dominant factor in all spheres in Pakistan), the Quaid-e-Azam said, "Neither I nor the working committee of the Muslim League have ever passed any such resolution.” It must be made very clear here

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that the Quaid meant no against Mohtarma Fatima disrespect to Islam but Jinnah and the people of merely re-affirmed the point Karachi. He also squandered that religion was strictly a national wealth on the matter between man and luxury of building a new God and had nothing to capital in Islamabad instead do with the business of the of spending that money on state. more productive projects. We all know that the He launched the Kashmir Quaid initially worked with operation, foolishly believing the Congress Party, looking that India will not cross the for independence for international border and left undivided India. However, Lahore poorly defended. he later realized that as a Ayub's worst crime minority in an overwhelming was setting the tradition of Hindu-majority undivided military takeovers which India, Muslims were unlikely never let democracy flourish to be treated as equals and and firm up in Pakistan. Gen. given their due share in Ziaul Haq proved no less government and it was then damaging as he introduced that he quit Congress. and encouraged religious Being a man of principle, extremism and fanaticism he could not even dream of which, apart from doing subjecting the minorities in Pakistan irreparable damage, Pakistan to the treatment spoiled the country’s that he had feared receiving relations with its neighbours from the Hindu majority in and gave it a bad name undivided India. worldwide. Gen. Pervez Unfortunately, when Musharraf legitimized the we compare how Quaid corrupt Sharifs and Zardari had visualized Pakistan and and launched the Kargil how it has actually shaped Today’s Pakistan is almost the operation, which proved to up, we find that not only be futile and damaging. have we deviated from the Civilian governments course charted by him, exact opposite of what the have also not exactly been a but have embarked on an blessing for Pakistan. The two opposite path as proved by Quaid had envisaged. decades of 'uninterrupted the following facts: democratic rule' by Zardari Quaid-e-Azam wanted and the Sharifs have abolition of bribery, corruption, religion, sect, ethnicity, etc. given Pakistan nothing but massive nepotism and abuse of authority Today's Pakistan is almost the corruption and bad governance and whereas actually we see all this exact opposite of what the Quaid had has made the system more dictatorial 'flourishing' in Pakistan, with high envisaged. than democratic. government officials - even a president As against India, which was lucky Just at the time when all seemed and former prime ministers - being to have sincere, founding leaders last to be lost, God Almighty has given tried and/or sentenced on these long enough to put the country on a Pakistan another chance in the shape charges. firm foundation of democracy, Pakistan of a leader like Imran Khan. Having Quaid-e-Azam had mentioned just lost the real power behind the country, only the experience of running a small two Muslim sects - Sunnis and Shias, Quaid-e-Azam, soon after partition. In province, his government suffered - but we now have dozens who refuse another four years, Liaquat Ali Khan from initial hiccups but is settling in. even to pray in others' mosques and was assassinated. Then the power- It has a good team, well-knit reform go to any length to undermine other hungry, West Pakistani bureaucrats programmes, the help of friendly Muslims and even kill them. took over. With the connivance of countries and blessings of God We frequently hear of Pakistani the military, the over-ambitious army Almighty. Let us hope it puts Pakistan Muslims subjecting Hindus and commander-in-chief General Ayub back on the path to progress and Christians to utmost brutality, like Khan - who sat in the cabinet as a fulfils the Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of abduction, forced conversion and defence minister - started his own dirty Pakistan, despite the fact that reversing marriage with minor Hindu girls, games. He did not take long to grab extremism and fanaticism will take a Christians implicated in false cases and power himself. lot of time and effort. whole localities burned down merely While Ayub did bring in a bit of on accusation of blasphemy and yet, stability and prosperity, he did so at a The writer is a free-lance one minorities, like the Ahmadis are colossal cost to the nation. Through contributor with a keen not given due recognition despite mistreatment of the Bengali majority, interest in regional, South their dedication and commitment to it was he who sowed the seeds for the Asian and international Pakistan. We have failed to develop breaking away of East Pakistan and affairs. He can be as a nation and are divided in various formation of Banladesh. Together with reached at hashmi_srh@ groups and sub-groups on the basis of his son, Gohar Ayub, he conspired hotmail.com

22 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 drawn the contours and laid the solid foundations for a peaceful and just Vision to Reality society, practicing the finest principles of Islam and had left it to his successors to build the edifice. But they disfigured Pakistan was Jinnah’s cherished dream but his successors it so callously that if today he were to see the country he founded, he would have gradually turned it into a nightmare though there is not be able to recognize it. some hope in sight now. What would he say after finding Pakistan in the FATF grey list, for By S. G. Jilanee instance? Or, being internationally denounced as the breeding ground for terrorists? akistan was the result of energy and resources, of which he Evidence suggests that Jinnah’s Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s tireless needed every ounce, to build Pakistan. health was shattered as he struggled Pstruggle. The country was, Jinnah was a lawyer of repute. with tuberculosis and the initiative had therefore, as close to his heart as an He knew Roman law and Islamic passed from his hands to the “dud coins offspring. He dreamed of Pakistan as an jurisprudence. He was aware of in his pocket.” It were those elements, egalitarian, just and peaceful society. the subtle differences between the not Jinnah, who initiated a hawkish In his historic speech of August 11, Roman law, which is the foundation policy towards India, as evident 1947, which is hailed as the charter of of justice in the West, and Islamic from the fact that he never delivered freedom for the minority communities law. Because, Islam offers the best any incendiary speech against the living in Pakistan, he exhorted them model of dispensation of justice, he neighbouring country. It was not to feel free to go to their places of envisaged Pakistan as being based on Jinnah, but his successors who, drunk worship. It was none of the business Islamic justice that would assure a just with hubris, adopted the senseless of the state, he said, to interfere in the and prosperous society in which not policy of perpetual rivalry and enmity religious affairs of the people. only human rights but the rights of all with India. There was not the faintest suggestion sections of society, including women, Jinnah lived for barely a year after of belligerence against anyone in his labour, et al., would be guaranteed. independence, - 13 months to be statements. Jinnah never vented any His dream country would be based precise. Then the baton passed to the ire against India. He never designated on the rule of law that would promote parvenus. Even during the last few India as an enemy of Pakistan. Nor did a tolerant society where everyone months of his life, the poor soul had he ever talk of war with India. Why would be free to do what they wanted lost effective control over the state’s Liaquat Ali Khan waved a clenched to do within their sphere. But, bigotry, affairs and his reckless aides had started fist at India and why others made it an fanaticism and violence would have no calling the shots. article of faith to fight war after war space in it. There could be proscribed For instance, as a reputed with India despite suffering defeat after parties, yet no Ahmadi would be constitutional lawyer, Quaid-e-Azam defeat is, therefore, a mystery. killed. Nor, would there be any private could not have approved of the hare- Jinnah had achieved his goal. Now religious militias like jund, sipah, brained idea of accepting the accession he was set to build his dream country. lashkar or jaish sanctified by linking of the Junagadh State to Pakistan, with Hostility towards any country was out them with holy names. which it was not connected by land. of his mind, because, such negative Jinnah did not live long enough Nor, as a law-abiding person, would pursuits would squander away the to build his dream state. Yet, he had he have endorsed the mad idea of

SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 23 COVER STORY

dispatching tribal bandits from Pakistan into Kashmir to capture its capital. A change began to set in soon after A Progressive Jinnah had passed away as his successors began to deviate from his policies. The first such instance was to overturn his decision State to make Karachi the capital of Pakistan. Similarly, his other dreams were set to naught. Pakistan was plunged into political The Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of Pakistan was a state chaos. Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime governed under Islamic principles imbibing progressive minister was assassinated in 1951, barely democratic principles. four years after the country’s birth. Later, Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, By Dr. Arshad Syed Karim was peremptorily dismissed. Jinnah’s dream of a peaceful and tolerant society received its first shock with riots against the Ahmadis in 1951 that were so serious that Martial Law had to be promulgated in Lahore. There was a mushroom growth of sectarian outfits and armed militias, falling at one another’s throats. Jinnah contemplated rule of law. But the country plunged repeatedly into martial law. Injustice and political aggrandizement reached such levels that ultimately, East Pakistan broke away and the Pakistan that Jinnah had achieved with his life blood was reduced to barely half its original size. The El Dorado Jinnah had contemplated witnessed the hanging of one prime minister and the lifetime disqualification of another, burgeoning corruption, an uaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a charismatic personality intolerant society, denial of rights leading with a visionary and a realistic approach. Like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, to a simmering insurgency and military Qbeing a realistic and cautious person, he first tried to be friends with action in Balochistan, terrorism galore, a the Hindus but later better understood the Hindu mindset and that the Hindu crushing debt burden, etc. majority would enslave the Muslim minority. He saw through Hindu attitude Jinnah’s followers have fought three which was clearly reflected in the Nehru Report, a new draft constitution wars with India and have been defeated prepared by the Hindu politicians; it had totally ignored the Lucknow Pact. every time. One of them was a total rout. Worrying about the fate of Muslims in India under the Hindu majority, But, gushing with adrenaline, they are Quaid-e-Azam desired to seek an independent homeland for the Muslims. ready, almost itching, to fight again. This could happen through the partition of British India by creating the new Justice and the rule of law was nearest nation of Pakistan. Defining Muslims as a nation, he had said that “we are to the Quaid’s heart. Yet, the treatment a nation with our own individual culture and civilization, language and meted out by the state to the people of literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values Balochistan has been a blatant negation and proportion, legal laws and norms, customs and calendar, history and of his cherished desire. Like the people of traditions, aptitudes and ambitions, in short, we have our own unique outlook a conquered territory, they were denied of life. By all cannons of international law, we are a nation.” their rights as citizens of Pakistan for Right from the beginning with the inception of Pakistan, a debate began 62 years, until 2009, when, for the first whether Pakistan was to be an Islamic state or secular state in the view of the time, the state launched a “package” and Quaid. The Quaid had visionary thoughts on this issue. He believed that the brazenly called it, “Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e- new nation of Pakistan was a combination of multi-culturalism combined Balochistan” (Beginning of the Rights of with religion, caste, creed, sect and regionalism. It was a state of not only Balochistan). a Muslim majority but also a nation for the Muslim community to live The use of the term “aghaz” is, in independently under an Islamic value-system and value-orientation. For that itself, a brazen admission by the rulers purpose Pakistan was to maintain itself as an Islamic state and also respect that they had callously deviated from the the minority with equal rights and social justice. To him, an Islamic State was path Jinnah had chalked out. not a theocratic state. It was a state of Islamic belief based on humanitarian Yet, hope, howsoever forlorn, lingers values with security, welfare and prosperity for all its citizens with equality, that the tide would turn and the country self respect and social justice. would fulfill the dream of its The Quaid wanted to see Pakistan as an Islamic State which, to him, founder. followed the principle of equality and prosperity for mankind. He did not wish to see Pakistan as a secular state combining Islamic ideology with other The writer is a senior political religious value-systems in its laws and jurisprudence. analyst and former editor of He was clear in his vision and thought about the new nation and saw it as SouthAsia. He can be reached a progressive and democratic modern political society with active dynamic at [email protected] elements. Such a political society cannot be considered a secular state but a

24 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 progressive Islamic political society that Second, he said, “Who am I to give cares for the welfare of its citizens based Quaid-e-Azam did not you a constitution? The Prophet (PBUH) on modernity and change. and Islam had given us a constitution The Quaid had clearly defined wish to see Pakistan 1300 years ago. We have to simply the concept of the Islamic state in the follow and implement it, and based on it following words: as a secular state. we have to establish in our state Islam’s “There is a special feature of the Islamic great system of governance.” state which must not be overlooked. Neither of these two statements The obedience is due to God and God Islamic state was not the synonym for of the Quaid imply that Pakistan is a alone, which takes practical shape in the a theocratic state, but a state in which secular state. A secular state is defined observance of the Quranic principles and the Muslim majority would live under as a state in which religion does not commands in Islam, obedience is due an Islamic value-system and follow an play any role in governmental activities, neither to a king, nor to a parliament, Islamic value-orientation. decisions or even participation. The nor to any other organization. It is the The Quaid further looked for Islamic Quaid in his first statement left the Quranic provisions which determine the value-orientation under the teachings of minorities free to perform their religious limits of our freedom and restrictions the Holy Quran and Sunnah. In his view, activities and he did not say that the in political and social spheres. In other the minority would enjoy equal rights non-Muslims were allowed to intervene words, the Islamic state is an agency for and social justice in the newly-founded in religious/political matters of the state. enforcement of the Quranic principles Islamic State of Pakistan. However, In his second statement, he was clear and its functions.” Pakistan was not officially declared an that the state would have a great system This implies that the Quaid-e-Azam Islamic state in its first constitution which of governance given by Islam through did not want either a Westernized came in 1956. The Constitution of 1962 the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam. Moreover, democratic state nor a theocratic state. inserted the term “Islamic Republic of he also kept saying of Pakistan as an He was clear in his political vision of a Pakistan” through an amendment. It was Islamic State by which he meant a state state system which could function for the 1973 Constitution which included governed under Islamic principles with humanitarian welfare under an Islamic the Objectives Resolution of 1949 as progressive democratic elements, which value-system based on the Sharia and preamble. But this did not officially adopt means a moderate political society the Ummah. the term ‘theocratic’ either in theory or under the Islamic value-system and After the inception of Pakistan, practice for the political society. value-orientation. the country was run under the There are two significant statements Government of India Act, 1935 with of the Quaid related to his vision of a The writer was a professor and Chairman some amendments. It was not officially state system as a political society. of the Department of Political clarified whether Pakistan was to be a First, he held that, “You are free; you Science at the University theocratic or secular state. However, are free to go to your temples. You are of Karachi. He was also the Quaid had stated at several places free to go to your mosques or to any a Fulbright Distinguished after independence that he wanted the other places of worship in this State of Professor at the New York new nation-state to be a progressive Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, State University. He can be and democratic political society and caste or creed — that has nothing to do reached at drarshadkarim@ an Islamic state. His concept of the with the business of the state.” yahoo.com

id Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah envision Pakistan to be a theocratic state? Or did he dream Jinnah’s Nation Dof a nation where minorities possessed equal rights, a secular country in which the government did not interfere in the matters Today of faith? People on both sides of the aisle quote parts of his speeches to support their points of view, a sign that means each side Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted the minorities to live has unearthed enough evidence in Jinnah’s peacefully in the Pakistan he founded. His dreams have words to put forward its objective. been dashed to the ground by succeeding governments. After listening to the arguments, it seems as pessimistic as it may sound - the By Syed Kamran Hashmi controversy will never get resolved. Over time, it too will go down in history the same way as the conflict between Shia and Sunni Islam, both of whom claim to carry the historical evidence to prove their rectitude, each alluding to the Quran and Hadith for further reinforcement. One reason for the inability of the secular-vs-theocratic Pakistan dispute to be concluded is Mr. Jinnah himself. He did not write a book to explain his opinions. People therefore rely upon his public speeches, official drafts, written correspondences and a lot of hearsay to understand where he stood on contentious issues (like this one) which now are left

SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 25 COVER STORY

open for interpretation. We know, words system. name of culture, at times in the name of can be taken out of context, inserted in The findings of the Hunter ‘motherland,’ and at times in the name of inappropriate places to provide a new Commission in 1882 just a few years later, correcting historical records. We know context or rearranged to alter an existing also raised similar concerns. It pointed how and why the Muslim names of Indian context. Put another way, if beauty resides towards two important issues pertaining cities are being changed to their so-called in the eyes of the beholder, the ‘true to today’s situation. First, it mentioned ‘original’ forms. In the last few years, meaning’ of a historical record nestles in the ‘inadequate facilities’ available for circumstances have deteriorated so much the convictions of its interpreter. Had Mr. the education of females; and second, it that it has almost become impossible for Jinnah formerly penned down his thoughts, recommended ‘special attention should the Muslims of India to slaughter a cow one can argue, these speculations could be paid towards education among without the fear of being slaughtered have been avoided. Or we might have Muslims.’ themselves by a zealot mob. been ‘interpreting’ his book today! With regards to representation in the The same way Pakistan also has failed I decided against delving into his government, it was subsequently noted to learn the very lesson it should have words some time ago. Instead I focused that for every 23 Hindu sub-engineers, learnt from its own sufferings: pay special on the circumstances that compelled there was only one Muslim employed at attention to the rights of its minorities. the Muslim minority of India to stand up that position. Similar population-based Quite audaciously, Pakistanis lament the for its rights, concentrating on how the discrepancies existed in the departments poor state of Indian Muslims and want Muslim leadership, Mr. Jinnah included, of finance, law and education as well. India to show more tolerance towards perceived the future of the followers of Unfortunately, the same disparity exists its minorities, but they themselves have Islam in the sub-continent. This question till today in India with almost the same built Pakistan to be the most dangerous helped me answer not only the veracity of intensity. According to the 2006 report by place in the world for its Qadiyani, the ideology of Pakistan but also provided the Sachar commission, though Muslims Hindu or Christian citizens. Why did the economic motives behind it. constitute 15% of the total population, Pakistan not take effective measures to The process of realization about their presence in the federal government secure the rights of every religious group the grim future of the Muslims living as stands at around 5%, their literacy rate instead of becoming the homeground an underprivileged, underrepresented falls below the national average and their for the most intolerant Sunni outfits? It and marginalized minority in combined land ownership trails behind too. is a long story of betrayal, U-turns, and India might have started after the What does it mean? To me, it is clear religious bigotry which (for me) sits on war of Independence. Within twenty that India did not learn the lesson from the ashes of Muhammad Ali’s Jinnah’s years of 1857, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, history even when it was divided and dream of a peaceful country to safeguard by establishing the Aligarh Muslim further divided into three parts. Despite a persecuted minority. University, encouraged Muslims to obtain its claims of being the largest democracy modern education and become a part of in the world and being a secular state, The writer is a US-based the governmental infrastructure instead of it is sliding down the path of extremism freelance columnist. criticizing it as an outsider. His formula where an insecure majority keeps on He can be reached at was simple: to maneuver the system in marginalizing its minorities - at times skamranhashmi@gmail. your favour, you have to be present in the in the name of religion, at times in the com

26 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 SOUTHASIA DecEMBER 2018 REGION

PG 28 PG 29 PG 30 NEW DELHI NEW DELHI ISLAMABAD Shifting Focus Open Denial The Austerity Reality By Muhammad Hanif By Syed Adnan Athar Bukhari By A Rauf K Khattak

PG 31 PG 33 PG 34 ISlamabad DHAKA KABUL The New Economic Era Next Battle The Stalemate By Munawar Mahar By Dr. Imran Khalid By Meriam Sabih

Strategic Rethink Quest for an Identity Quest for an Identity

PG 36 PG 37 PG 38 COLOMBO THIMPHU MALÉ Tale of Two Prime Lessons of Democracy At a Deceptive Crossroads Ministers By Dr. Muhammad Ali Ehsan By S. G. Jilanee By Mirza Aqeel Baig REGION

the militaries of BIMSTEC member states in September 2018 (Nepal and Thailand declined to participate). India’s efforts to undermine the SAARC by presenting the BIMSTEC as an alternative are not succeeding. While Nepal flatly refused to attend the military drill, in the long run Bangladesh and Sri Lanka may also not jump onto the bandwagon with India to fail the SAARC and isolate Pakistan. Nepal is also more inclined towards China to balance India’s pressures as in the recent past, India had imposed a blockade on Nepal, having reservations about Nepal’s new constitution. NEW DELHI There are many reasons why BIMSTEC cannot be an alternative to SAARC. Because of Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace with India and South Asia’s economic integration through Shifting Focus the SAARC platform, all smaller states desire that Pakistan should play its role BIMSTEC is promoted as an alternative to SAARC but no in the SAARC. Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka will not accept India’s likely South Asian grouping has thus far succeeded in alleviating hegemony in BIMSTEC as well. Nepal is the poverty that confronts this important region. strongly in favour of reviving the SAARC, as its Prime Minister stated in his address By Muhammad Hanif to the Fourth Summit of BIMSTEC held in August and said BIMSTEC cannot be an alternative to SAARC. IMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative been only four summits. This means that Along with Nepal and Pakistan, for Multi-Sectoral Technical and the organization is short of the resources Afghanistan and the Maldives will also BEconomic Cooperation) was and capacity to achieve its objectives. push for reviving SAARC, as these are established in 1997 and comprises In 21 years, hardly any agreements not members of BIMSTEC. Sri Lanka and seven member states, five from South have been signed. The agreement on Bangladesh would also like to revive Asia, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, establishing a free trade area (FTA) is still SAARC. Unlike SAARC, BIMSTEC would Nepal, and Sri Lanka and two from under discussion. require to build capacity to achieve its Southeast Asia - Myanmar and Thailand. At the SAARC summits and meetings, objectives, as the Foreign Minister of The latter, along with India, took the for many years, India has endeavoured Bangladesh, AH Mahmood Ali has said. lead in establishing BIMSTEC. The main to dominate its smaller neighbours to He is of the opinion that a lot is yet to be objective of BIMSTEC is technological establish its hegemony. As only Pakistan done to make BIMSTEC a result-oriented and economic cooperation among the was capable to resist India’s hegemony organization. member states along the coast of the Bay in South Asia and other SAARC members BIMSTEC has also been compromised of Bengal. gained moral strength from Pakistan to by the creation of other groupings The South Asian Association for resist India’s pressures, India tried to like BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was use the SAARC to isolate Pakistan in the Myanmar), BBIN (Bhutan, Bangladesh, established much earlier - in 1985. region. But, India did not succeed in India, Nepal), and IMT (India, Myanmar, It has eight member states, namely, this as all other SAARC member states Thailand), etc. BIMSTEC does not have Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, did not collaborate. Therefore, the Modi the capacity to act as an alternative to India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan government started undermining SAARC SAARC and other South Asian countries and Sri Lanka. Like BIMSTEC, SAARC’s and presenting BIMSTEC as an alternative. will not agree to undermining SAARC. objectives are also to help accelerate the That is why India invited members of the It would be more logical for both socio-economic development of member BIMSTEC to a BRICS outreach forum in organizations to complement each other. states. Cooperation is based on sovereign Goa in 2016. It would be more prudent for India to equality. The decisions of SAARC are Since India declined to attend the 19th take interest in SAARC to make it vibrant based on unanimity. Since 1985, SAARC SAARC summit being held in Pakistan and so that it can achieve its objectives. To has held 18 summits. As a regional forum, also pressurized Afghanistan, Bhutan and make SAARC a success story, India needs SAARC has signed many agreements, Bangladesh to not attend the summit, the to build good relations with all SAARC including creation of a chamber of event had to be postponed. In fact, it was member states, including Pakistan, by commerce and industry, issuance of a an effort by India to fail the SAARC just resolving the Kashmir issue and other visa exemption scheme and the SAARC to isolate Pakistan in South Asia. Since interstate disputes. Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). SAARC then, India has refused to attend the 19th has the capacity to achieve its objectives SAARC summit again in 2017 and now The writer is a former colonel. He was a and it has a much better international in 2018. research fellow at the Islamabad Policy reputation than BIMSTEC. The Modi government is also pushing Research Institute (IPRI) and senior Since its inception, BIMSTEC has BIMSTEC to transform it as a strategic research fellow at the Strategic Vision remained inactive. Its first summit was and defence-oriented organization. India Institute (SVI), Islamabad. He can be held in 2004 and since then, there have organized a weeklong anti-terror drill of reached at [email protected]

28 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 NEW DELHI

transfer to the non-nuclear weapon states for military purposes. It does not check vertical proliferation, i.e. the Open Denial enhancement of nuclear weapons and fissile material by the recognized five nuclear weapon states. India is a recognized nuclear state but it continues to remain Third, India did not sign the NPT a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) as it might have banned the way of and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) because of its own India getting a nuclear weapon. As a reasons. sovereign state, it rejected the treaty and opened its pathway to nuclear technology, first in 1974 and again in By Syed Adnan Athar Bukhari 1998. Fourth, the NPT has an inherent flaw of making divisions of not only ndia, a non-NPT nuclear weapon 1950s and early 1960s. However, when nuclear haves and have-nots but also state, professes to be a staunch the NPT was finalized, it legalized the creates division for the International Isupporter of the non-proliferation possession of nuclear weapons by five Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime. However, it has defied the states including the US, the Soviet system between nuclear weapons non-proliferation and arms control Union (now Russia), France, Great states and non-nuclear weapons states. arrangements including the Nuclear Britain and China. The treaty stated that There are two sets of safeguards. One Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the countries which detonated nuclear is the Comprehensive Safeguards for Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) weapons before January 1, 1967 would Non-nuclear Weapons States and the because of various reasons. This article be considered as legitimate nuclear second is the Voluntary Safeguards for tries to answer why India did not sign weapon states and all other states Nuclear Weapon States. Though, India the NPT and the CTBT. would be considered non-nuclear received special arrangements under The Nuclear Non-proliferationTreaty weapon states. All non-nuclear weapon the IAEA safeguards system after the (NPT) is considered a cornerstone of the states were asked not to build and get Indo-US nuclear deal of 2008 yet it nuclear non-proliferation regime. It was nuclear weapons or related technology used this flaw as an argument to reject signed in 1968 and came into force in for military purposes from the nuclear the NPT. 1970 with three-pronged objectives of weapons states. India looks at the NPT The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as discriminatory treaty that created (CTBT) is an important non-proliferation promotion of nuclear technology for a divide between nuclear haves and treaty with 183 signatories and 164 peaceful purposes and disarmament. have-nots. ratifications. It aims at banning all sorts However, India never signed the NPT Second, India has remained a of nuclear tests in all environments. because of four major reasons. proponent of general and complete It bans the qualitative improvement First, India rejects the NPT because disarmament. It criticizes the treaty of nuclear weapons development by of the inherent discriminatory nature of because there is no fixed timeframe the nuclear weapon states and also the treaty. It was one of the countries of the disarmament clause. India was aims at horizontal non-proliferation. which called for general and complete reluctant to sign the Treaty because it The treaty was opened for signature disarmament in the formative phase of aimed at horizontal non-proliferation on September 24, 1996. However, it the Non-Proliferation Regime in the which aims at limiting technology could not be enforced even after more

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India rejects the NPT ISLAMABAD because of the inherent discriminatory nature of The Austerity the treaty. Reality than two decades due to its entry into force clause i.e. Article XIV which requires ratification of 44 states. There are eight It’s the bureaucrat versus the politician, no matter countries which have not ratified the treaty which government is in power. Prime Minister Imran yet - China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Khan’s task force on possible austerity measures in Korea, Pakistan and the United States. India was one of those countries which the bureaucracy could face the same wall that similar floated and supported the idea of CTBT. attempts have been confronted with in the past. Jawaharlal Nehru supported the cause of a nuclear test ban and called for a By A Rauf K Khattak “standstill” agreement in 1954. Likewise, India also co-sponsored the call for a test ban treaty in 1993. However, when the treaty was opened for signature, India denied signing the treaty, claiming that it did not serve the purpose of disarmament. India stated on June 20, 1996 that that the treaty “is not conceived as a measure towards universal nuclear disarmament... (India) cannot subscribe to it in its present form.” On September 10, 1996, Ambassador Arundhati Ghose stated in Geneva that India would “never sign this unequal Treaty, not now, nor later.” Another explanation for India’s rejection of the CTBT can be taken from realist school in which security imperatives very government since partition has been establishing a commission are necessary to take into account. The or a task force to reform civil service in Pakistan. There have been Indian threat perception from Pakistan, Ethirty-eight major attempts at reforms of the civil service in the last and China drove it to open the way of seventy years. Surprisingly, not a single attempt has emerged in public view nuclear testing. India therefore, rejected for reform of the armed forces. the CTBT and used the option of nuclear On September 5, 2018 the Prime Minister established a Task Force of testing in May, 1998. eighteen members under his adviser Dr. Ishrat Hussein on ‘Austerity and India’s position on rejecting the CTBT Institutional Reforms’. Ishrat Hussain worked as a senior executive at the on grounds of disarmament weakened in World Bank. He was a public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centre the 1998 nuclear tests. To manage this, it in Washington DC., Governor State Bank of Pakistan and Dean and Director pledged itself to a unilateral moratorium of the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi. He was also chairman on nuclear testing. However, it did not of the National Commission on Government Reforms (NCGR) set up by bind itself to this moratorium under treaty- President Musharraf. He prepared a comprehensive report on the reform bound obligation. of the civil service, restructuring of the government and re-engineering of Post-1998, India’s stance to reject business processes. It will be interesting to see how much his ideas have CTBT has been grounded on a series of changed since producing NCGR or will they be rehashed and old wine reciprocal activities from the nuclear presented in a new bottle? weapon states, including refraining from The Terms of Reference given to the Task Force are: to determine the conducting future tests under the guise size and composition and staffing of the federal government, appropriate of safety purposes and precluding all numbers of ministries, divisions, provincial and local governments, attached horizontal and vertical proliferation. These departments, autonomous bodies etc., clearly defining their functions and conditions do not hold solid ground. If responsibilities in light of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. India claims to be a responsible nuclear The Task Force will suggest an appropriate hierarchical organizations, i.e. weapon state and supporter of the Non- tiering within each ministry and division and departments in the provinces proliferation Regime, it must sign and ratify for expeditious delivery of government services and the relationship the CTBT to strengthen the regime. between the attached departments, autonomous bodies, etc. within the ministry/provincial departments. The objective is to simplify the rules The writer is a lecturer at the Department and business processes to improve efficiency and clarity of responsibility, of International Relations at the Bahauddin including measures to introduce e-government; to review the recurrent Zakariya University, Multan. He can be public expenditure of the federal and provincial governments and identify reached at [email protected] areas where financial savings can be effected without loss of efficiency or

30 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 intended results. at the TOR, the emphasis is on austerity governments, not one, in his career. His The current basic pay scales will but the wish of the government is to prayers is, “Lord help me be careful of be reviewed by the Task Force, such improve efficiency of the system. It the toes I step on today as he may be as allowances and other perks. It will is like squaring the circle. Yes, the connected to the legs that are connected recommend measures for rationalization government would like to have value for to the backside that I might have to kiss of compensation packages admissible to money but money has to be ploughed tomorrow.” A respected scholar once the public servants that can attract talent into the system and not squeezed out compared a bureaucrat to a fish in a and skilled manpower and at the same of it. An austere government is low on giant reef. The fish has to survive jagged time bring savings in expenditures. It will performance. ridges and hungry predators and the scrutinize non-wage public expenditure The outcome of the Task Force need bureaucrat too must “find a supportive such as office space, equipment, etc, not be pre-judged. There will be enough ecological niche.” of various public entities with a view time to pass judgment when the report A politician, on the other hand, he to consolidate and improve utilization comes out. However, keeping in view has many hands, always has his eyes and review allocation mechanism the current performance of the PTI on the next election. He is ambivalent of the public sector development government, it can be safely said that and confused. At one time he is mindful program for the purpose of minimizing it is not a revolutionary government. of the stars that he promised to his fragmentation and eliminate cost over- With a small majority in the parliament voters and, at another, his vulnerability runs, ensuring timely completion of and a little less than a dozen ministers – will he get another chance as the projects to maximize benefits. from allied parties in the cabinet who stars are much above his reach? Why The job entrusted to the Task Force may not be sharing the PM’s vision, not make hey while there may not be has vast scope and will stretch to the it will be difficult for the PM to make another chance? He starts looking for abilities of its members. Considering the hard decisions. That is already evident a collaborative official. When he fails fact that the bureaucracy is one of the from the fiasco of transfer of the District to enlist a supporter, he calls it the most entrenched and powerful groups Police Officer from Vehari, the botched bureaucrats’ perfidy. A politician is in in government that has usually managed attempt to transfer the IGP of Punjab and a hurry. He wants quick decisions and to stymie meaningful change, will the the resignation in disgust of the much quick actions as the clock is ticking. A PTI government be able to bring in an eulogized point man of the PM to bring bureaucrat is in no hurry. He quotes efficient bureaucracy capable of helping about police reforms in Punjab, a police laws and rules which are difficult to the government implement its policy afflicted province. There have been circumvent. Laws and rules must be agenda without bias? many other U-turns in a short period. quoted as they are meant for just such The efforts put in by government Taking representative examples, a purpose. after government in Pakistan to reform though there are many variations, there is the bureaucracy and rationalize its contradiction at the heart of approaches The writer is former civil servant and structures, Pakistan should have been of a bureaucrat and a politician while was a minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. the best run country in the world. conducting government business. He can be reached at raufkkhattak@ Unfortunately, it is not. Looking closely A bureaucrat has to deal with many gmail.com

rguably, the end of the Cold ISLAMABAD War ushered in an era of geo- Aeconomics that continues to shape the current world order, reshaping the contours of inter-state conflicts The New in the 21st century. To gain profound insights into the dynamics and drivers of geo-economics, it is pertinent to untangle the term geo-economics that lacks any agreed-upon definition. Most Economic Era commonly, it is defined as the use of economic muscle to materialise foreign The world is shifting from an era of geopolitics based on policy objectives. conventional military might to geo-economics – where national Some people reverse the definition, interests are fought with markets, currencies and commerce, highlighting the use of geopolitical means to secure economic ends. rather than with missiles, submarines and drones. Where is Broadly speaking, it is the interplay of Pakistan in all this? economy, geopolitics and geo-strategy. The roots of the term dates back to By Munawar Mahar the 1990s, owing its popularity to Edward Luttwak. He was an American economist who in his seminal article argued that the preponderance of military power was being diluted by the rise of economic power in the post-Cold War world. Since then, economic interdependence and interconnectedness has incentivised the use of economic power in international relations. Geo-economic instruments such as economic sanctions, trade

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policy, investment policy, monetary desperate quest for cash indicate the policy and strategic commodity of Pakistan appears to fact that Pakistan’s economy is in free energy, have come to be appreciated as fall. The stellar economic performance better alternatives to military means. be at the receiving of Bangladesh ought to be an eye- Geo-economics as a foreign policy opener for Pakistan’s policy planners tool and an analytical framework end in this era of geo- who are content with non-stop stop- continue to evolve. The economic economics. gap quick fixes for the country’s centre of gravity is shifting away from economic woes rather than launching the West to the East, spearheaded by structural reforms to modernize and China that is at the forefront of the rationalize the economy in tune world order, driven by geo-economic state actors and relatively borderless with the dynamics and drivers of the imperatives. Currently, the unfolding transnational relations. 21st century. In 2017, Bangladesh trade war between the USA and China With its perennial economic overtook Pakistan in terms of GDP per is a glaring manifestation of warfare by fragility, Pakistan is unable to position person. Compared to Pakistan’s $1470, means of geo-economic tools. With itself on the geo-economic map of the Bangladesh’s GDP per capita stood at its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative world. The poor economic profile of $1538 during the last fiscal year. In (BRI), Beijing has emerged as the the country constrains its capability comparison to industry share of 20% leading proponent and practitioner to conduct power politics through in Pakistan’s GDP, industry accounted of geo-economics in the world. The economic means as successfully for around 6-7% of its GDP at the time BRICS bank and the China-led Asian employed by India in the pursuit of of its birth in 1971. Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) its strategic objectives in Afghanistan. Industry now contributes 29% are the major constituents of the geo- India is the largest regional donor for the of Bangladesh’s GDP. The younger economic architecture of international war-ravaged country. In stark contrast, nation’s exports were a whopping relations. Pakistan lacks economic muscle to $34.02 billion during 2017, while The American economic match India’s economic power that Pakistan’s exports during the same year preponderance reflected by the lends its arch rival an unprecedented stagnated at $21.938 billion. The total dominance of the US dollar in the global clout leveraged to shield New volume of Bangladesh’s ready-made international financial market, the IMF Delhi against any international criticism garments exports is far greater than and World Bank provide Washington for its relentless gross human rights that of Pakistan which is palpably ill- with formidable geo-economic tools to violations in Kashmir or its hegemonic equipped to meet the demands of the influence the behaviour of other states. behaviour in South Asia. The Western geo-economic era that has caught the For instance, the US sanctions on Iran, appeasement of New Delhi is also country unprepared. However, CPEC North Korea and Russia, are a few guided by its commercial interests stands out as the only ray of hope, glaring examples of geo-economics in in India’s huge middle-class market promising to enhance Pakistan’s’ action. Back in 2014, in response to the and the multi-billion dollar weapons economic profile and soft power. Russian annexation of Crimea, America market that offers a financial bonanza The game-changing initiative seeks responded by slapping sanctions on for the European and American arms to put Pakistan on the geo-economic Moscow. Despite its militaristic rhetoric manufacturers who are falling over each map of the world by reviving its and rambling, the Trump administration other to seal lucrative weapons deals moribund economy and integrating prioritizes economic security as with India - a large arms importer. the country into the global supply national security. This is illustrated Needless to say that today’s chain. Undoubtedly, a robust economy by the 2017 US National Security dominant economies are knowledge- is vital for self-reliance that, in turn, is Strategy. Moreover, as demonstrated based, investing heavily in human critical to ensure state security against by Moscow’s cutting off energy supply resource development and cutting- external threats to territorial integrity to the Western Europe in 2008, the edge technologies. With an anaemic and human security against internal energy super power Russia leverages its economy addicted to periodic financial challenges to national cohesion and energy resources for power projection. injections by the IMF and World Bank, internal stability. Venezuela’s petro-dollar diplomacy low-tech labour-intensive industry, In sum, the strategic community under Hugo Chavez in addition lack of research and development of Pakistan cannot further the foreign to Saudi and Qatari chequebook and underdeveloped human capital, policy objectives with a 20th century diplomacy are quintessential cases of Pakistan appears to be at the receiving mindset and methods that need to geo-economics. end in this era of geo-economics. be shelved in favour of developing More recently, Riyadh and its allies A recent report of the State Bank of economic means and muscle critical to resorted to economic strangulation Pakistan is very instructive in gauging achieving geopolitical and geostrategic of a defiant Qatar, challenging the Pakistan’s economic standing. The SBP goals in the region and beyond. The regional supremacy of Saudi Arabia. has put the size of Pakistan’s economy country needs to gain economic vitality Thus, the dynamics and drivers of at $313.13 billion at the end of June and vigour to survive the rigours of the interstate conflict are undergoing 2018. The country is supposed to touch new era where economic power has change dictated by the prohibitive cost at least a 7% growth mark to put itself come to be recognized and deployed of military confrontation in the nuclear on the road to economic recovery. as the preferred offensive and defensive age. Geo-economics comes handy as Ratings agencies, Moody’s and Fitch power projection tool and foreign it does not entail military means to seem downbeat about the country’s policy instrument. conduct power politics for the pursuit of growth rate while the World Bank has strategic aims. A look back at the Cold also projected that the growth rate The writer is a PhD scholar at the War reveals that the era of geopolitics would decline to 5% down the road in National University of Modern was characterised by hegemonic states FY18. Languages (NUML), Islamabad. He can and bipolarity whereas today’s age of Tellingly, the country’s economic be reached at mahar.munawar2017@ geo-economics is personified by non- indicators and the new government’s outlook.com

32 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 DHAKA Next Battle The general elections in Bangladesh are again expected to be a two-horse race though some smaller parties have also made inroads.

By Dr. Imran Khalid

he evolution of politics in serious concerns that the election will polite talk by Sheikh Hasina in public, Bangladesh has been quite erratic not be free and fair. Therefore, it has her government is literally bent upon Tsince its inception in 1971. There been demanding for the induction squeezing the BNP to the limits before have been 10 general elections in the of a caretaker setup to supervise the the next elections. Hasina’s father country ever since and each time they election process. On the other hand, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the have triggered different textural changes the ruling Awami League has outrightly country to independence in 1971, was to the whole political fabric there. rejected this demand by the opposition murdered along with most of his family The political scene in Bangladesh has for a caretaker government ahead of in 1975. But, whenever in power, oscillated between democracy, military the election as “unconstitutional". The Sheikh Hasina has always appeared to dictatorship and an ugly amalgam of opposition’s fear is very genuine and has be extremely vindictive not just towards both: from single party rule to blatant gained further currency after witnessing her arch political rival, Khaleda Zia and military dictatorship, from extremely a massive crackdown against the her party, but also towards an ever- chaotic protests to a very peaceful workers and office-bearers of Khaleda growing list of perceived adversaries. electoral exercise, from mild military Zia’s Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Despite many evolutionary turns rule to dictatorship of elected brats. As per the claims of the BNP leaders, and twists in Bangladesh politics, what Each election has produced something the Awami League has conspired has been constant over the last two new and further added more twists to to squeeze the BNP supporters in decades is the bitter rivalry between the the already febrile and charged political unending litigations by initiating almost two most powerful feMalé politicians, atmosphere in which questions about 90,000 lawsuits against it - entrapping Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the leader of who actually controls this country have more than 2.5 million BNP workers the Awami League and current Prime popped up more vigorously. The same and supporters in a legal maze. The Minister and Khaleda Zia, a two-time is being expected in the forthcoming intensity of this one-sided crackdown former prime minister and head of the national elections. The Bangladesh can be gauged from the fact that, in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Election Commission announced in month of September, more than 4,500 Another unique feature of the electoral November that the election will take supporters and workers of the BNP were game in Bangladesh is the inverse place on December 30 despite the sent to jails on fabricated charges. relationship between fair elections and imprisonment of the leader of the main Khaleda Zia herself is entangled voter turnout. Whenever elections were opposition party and the banning of in 34 different cases; her son Tarique, “fair”, voter turnout was very strong its chief partner, Jamaat-e-Islami. As the BNP’s acting chairman, who lives and whenever the election process expected, this announcement has in exile in London, is also sentenced was not even-handed, the majority exuberantly charged the political to life imprisonment at home over a of voters preferred to stay at home. In atmosphere. 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister simple words, low turnout means low The opposition has expressed Sheikh Hasina. Irrespective of the credibility. The Awami League, which

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came to power in 2009 after a landslide With little respite in its ripping down taught some tough lessons to Khaleda over the BNP-led Islamist alliance, all logistics of the opposition’s election Zia and her followers. Their absence has accumulated fat and has become campaign, Prime Minister Sheikh from parliament facilitated the Awami bossy after being in power for so long. Hasina herself invited the leaders of the League to deeply infiltrate the powerful It seems fully committed to grabbing a Jatiya Oikya Front for talks, promising instruments of state and to blackmail third consecutive five-year term at any to consider favourably their demands the BNP loyalists in the powerful cost. This fierce determination of the for guaranteeing fair elections. But business community. They have also Awami League to retain the corridors despite such initiatives from Sheikh chopped down the infrastructure of the of power has dramatically changed the Hasina, there is little likelihood of any BNP hierarchy. political atmosphere. reconciliation between the two sides Despite long persecution at the In 2014, Hasina Wajed on the Oikya’s demands, which include hands of the Awami League, the BNP comfortably led her party’s success ending the trials and imprisonment still retains a strong grass-roots following in a highly controversial election that of her political opponents, including and, by all accounts, has the potential was boycotted by the BNP and other Khaleda Zia, dissolving the parliament to stage a comeback in a big way on opposition parties over allegations of and forming a neutral caretaker a sympathy vote. The exceedingly pre-poll rigging. This time, the BNP is in government during the election period aggressive tactics of the Awami League no mood to repeat its mistake of leaving and ensuring security for and oversight are expected to backfire in some of the the ground open for the Awami League. of the elections. important constituencies and there is One major change in the BNP strategy is The Awami League has shown some every likelihood of a fierce contest on to divorce its long-standing ally, the far- leniency as far as political prisoners are election day. At the same time, there right Jamaat-e-Islami, and instead join concerned and has reduced the size of are fears about the possibility of pre- a coalition of smaller, secular parties the government to an election-period election riots in some sensitive areas. to form a broad opposition group, the skeleton administration. But it will not The Awami League is also banking Jatiya Oikya Front, with the 82-year- go beyond this. The Oikya Front has on support from its smaller political old Kamal Hossain, a widely-respected made it clear that it will further intensify partners to offset the mounting pressure constitutional lawyer, as its figurehead. street protests if its key demands are of growing popularity of the Jatiya October saw another little surprise not met, yet it is quite obvious that Oikya Front. when the otherwise ruthless Awami they will not flirt with the idea of League suddenly turned sweet and put provoking a clampdown or resorting The writer is a freelance columnist and some brakes on its ruthless hounding to a boycott. The sour experience of can be reached at ikhalid99@yahoo. of the opposition, particularly the BNP. abstaining from the parliament has com

he war on terror in Afghanistan KABUL has become America’s longest Twar with no apparent end in sight. Pakistan and the US are both central to an eventual peace in Afghanistan. However, the Trump administration The Stalemate has been unable to achieve and align its various interests in the war-torn The Afghan government is its own worst enemy. Afghans region. Though Pakistan believes it has consistently offered to do what it can now turn towards the Taliban to provide basic services. to nudge along an Afghan dialogue The Taliban have begun to capitalize on this advantage by and peace process, the US believes attempting to build an alternative governance structure. the country is the reason for the Afghanistan stalemate. The Pentagon has cancelled 300 By Meriam Sabih million in military aid to Pakistan, accusing it of not taking action against terrorists. At the same time, it seeks Pakistan’s help in influencing the Taliban for peace talks. But Pakistan denies it has the same influence over the Taliban that it previously enjoyed. Since June 2014 it has been taking action against Taliban forces inside its borders, fighting its own domestic war against terror rather successfully. Terrorism has been reduced significantly but the country still faces periodic terror attacks. The second deadliest one in its history claimed 151 lives at an election rally on July 13 this year. On Election Day, 29 persons were killed in a suicide blast at a polling station in Quetta. Entering the 18th year of war, is

34 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 it fair to put the blame of failures in Afghanistan solely on Pakistan? Some 14.5 percent of Afghanistan is still under rebel control. 29.1 percent contested as being neither controlled by the government or the rebels. Are these not safe havens inside Afghanistan itself? And only 56.3 of the country is controlled by the government, although they haven’t been able to keep a hold on urban centres such as Ghazni. Why has the Taliban stayed on and shown staying power despite US bombings and an increase of troops on the ground? And should there be direct negotiations with those who resort to terror? The US has come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to the war and believes they must talk directly to the Taliban but details of recent talks with the Taliban who have refused to address the mistrust which dampens because promises made by the civilian talk to the Afghan government were relations on both sides. They agreed government are not taken seriously kept a secret from Afghan officials. on certain principles. Pakistan agreed if the perception remains that the This has brought further distrust by the to support the Afghan-led and Afghan- military is asserting its own agenda. Afghan government against the US, as owned peace and reconciliation Supremacy of the civilian government direct talks excluding Afghan officials process. Both countries agreed to will help Pakistan to be taken more can further weaken the government’s deny use of their territory against those seriously. The new government in authority. Although the Taliban posing a threat for anti-state activity Pakistan is said to be on the same page agreed to talks with the US, they have against either of the two countries and with the military. But Prime Minister also targeted the first parliamentary take action against “irreconcilable Imran Khan is seen as being soft on elections held in Afghanistan in eight elements”. The two countries also the Taliban and a harsh critic of the US years as, “an American project from agreed to avoid public blame games war on terror. start to finish” and threatened Afghans which they argue make it harder for Ultimately it is in the interest of the not to participate. An American general them to work together. Both countries US, Pakistan and Afghanistan to work narrowly escaped a terror attack would form cooperation mechanisms together. It is now more important which assassinated three top Afghan to implement the principles agreed than ever that Prime Minister Imran leaders days before the parliamentary upon, including cooperation from Khan continue diplomatic relations elections. intelligence and security. Both agreed exactly from where former Prime Afghans are increasingly frustrated that a political solution, not a military Minister Khaqan Abbasi left off. Unlike as they have seen a 39% increase in one, was ultimately needed. The plan Pakistan’s previous administration, violence this year. More needs to be has been supported by both the United Khan has made some disappointing done to stop the Taliban from gaining States and China. remarks regarding the Taliban in the ground. It is important that the US Afghanistan and the US often past which earned him the nickname and Pakistan normalize relations accuse Pakistan of being about a lot of Taliban Khan. He even justified Taliban in order to work together. The US talk and little action whereas Pakistan attacks, calling it a legitimate Jihad. wants Pakistan to stop cross-border believes it is not being appreciated for Such words are detrimental to peace movement and help curb violence its efforts. There are other incentives and should be revoked. The mistrust in in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan which can help Pakistan become Afghanistan is not only aimed towards is working on a 12 ft. high fence to a more eager partner in peace and Pakistan, but also at the US and vice secure its borders equipped with high Afghanistan and Pakistan should versa. The increase in terror attacks efficiency surveillance equipment to strengthen their economic ties. seems to be a clear indication that the monitor movement due to US pressure Pakistan also wants respect for the Taliban will not see any side as their but the Afghan government objected Durand line. They want Afghanistan friends as both are outsiders to the to the move because of its dispute over to do more to get rid of the Pakistan Afghan people. It also won’t negotiate the Durand line. Taliban of safe havens inside their with the Afghan government. Blame for In a big step it has also merged borders. They want more sensitivity for mistakes in this long stalemate should the FATA tribal area with the KPK Pakistan’s concern for its own security be accepted by all sides in order province. Pakistan has also showed an as well. The Taliban wants foreign to move forward rather than public initiative to improve relations directly forces to go and realizes this will not shaming and perhaps direct talks with with the government of Afghanistan. happen with force. Pakistan does not the Taliban, especially if it excludes The two countries recently agreed to want the US forces to abruptly leave. the Afghan government, should be re- a bilateral joint action plan for peace. They want to know whether the US evaluated. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan will maintain some form of a long-term for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) was presence in Afghanistan for stability. The author is a freelance journalist and agreed on by former Prime Minister Though Pakistan may say the right has written for Al-Jazeera America. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and President things and may have taken positive She can be reached at meriam.sabih@ Ghani. Abbasi had visited Kabul to steps forward, it is still distrusted gmail.com

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COLOMBO them made it difficult to get along peacefully and amicably. President Sirisena expressed his dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s performance on many occasions. Tale of Two Specifically, the Prime Minister’s economic reforms were held in suspicion and were disapproved. The relationships between the two Prime Ministers key position holders of coalition government had been consistently Mahinda Rajapaksa has returned to govern Sri Lanka as its marred with irresolvable tensions. Wickremesinghe’s government came new Prime Minister. He is not a popular politician anymore and under scathing criticism last year many people in Sri Lanka do not accept his return. when it handed over operations of Humbontota port to China in a 99- By Mirza Aqeel Baig year lease. The then-opposition leader Rajapakse criticized Wickremesinghe’s decision and considered it as a bid by Wickremesinghe to privatize national assets. Wickremesinghe maintained that the deal was pivotal for the country to avoid defaulting on debts which were accumulated during Rajapaksa’s presidency. The situation aggravated when President Sirisena accused Wickremesinghe of hatching a plot to get him assassinated. Obviously, the charge was repeatedly denied by Wickremesinghe. The conflict was so intensified that Sirisena decided to sack his coalition partner. On the other side, it is impossible to ignore a pro-China Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka’s politics. He has ruled the country from 2005 to 2015 and enjoys the image of a protagonist and strongman in the mall South Asian nations streets in all corners of the country eyes of the Sinhalese majority mainly have been victims of political to voice their support or outrage over because he overcame a decades-old Sinstability over the years and the political reshuffle. The protests civil war fought between the Sinhalese the trend seems to persist. It seems have increasingly become violent. and the Tamil rebels. He is seen as a that now it is Sri Lanka’s turn to face Rajapaksa has twice failed to win a ruthless authoritarian by his critics. yet another political turmoil after vote of confidence in the parliament Snap elections are in his favour, Maldives this year. On October 26, after a fierce brawl between but they have been ruled out by the the President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena lawmakers. President Sirisena refused Supreme Court. On the other hand, in a surprise move sacked the Prime to accept this because it was contrary as Rajapaksa has failed to win a vote Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, with to his advice. He insisted on an all- of confidence, Wickremesinghe has whom he had formed a coalition party meeting to hold a third vote proved his majority in the parliament. government after 2015 elections. Mr. on a no-confidence motion against Now there are two men, each of whom Wickremesinghe has been replaced by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. is claiming to be the prime minister of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. This meeting ended without reaching the country. Ranil Wickremesinghe refused to step a solution, which has resulted in The political turmoil has started to down and insisted that he was the worsening the political turmoil in Sri show its impact on the economy. The legitimate Prime Minister. Lanka. budget-announcement for 2019 has President Sirisena, realizing that There are three main characters already been delayed; new projects Wickremasinghe still enjoys a majority in the political turmoil: President and issuance of huge funds for ongoing in the parliament, immediately Maithripala Sirisena, discarded Prime projects is on a halt. Repayment of $1 suspended the parliament for three Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and billion loans scheduled in coming weeks. The decision came only after the strongman of Sri Lankan politics, January is subject to parliamentary the Supreme Court’s verdict against Mahinda Rajapaksa. approval. If the current political fiasco his early announcement to dissolve Sirisena and Wickremesinghe continues, it has the seeds to lead the the parliament and to uphold snap formed a coalition to defeat Rajapaksa country towards a greater economic elections in January. As a result, in the 2015 elections and successfully crisis. a political crisis has erupted and formed a government despite the fact China’s growing interest in South supporters of both Rajapaksa and that both are ideological antagonists. Asia has been a matter of concern Wickremesinghe have taken to the The ideological conflict between for New Delhi. China has long-term

36 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 Ranil Wickremesinghe has proved his majority in the parliament. strategic relations with Pakistan and has already penetrated in countries like Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This scenario constrains India’s desire to Thimphu impose itself as a regional power. People see Rajapaksa’s return to power as a resounding strategic victory for China whereas India prefers Wickeremesinghe. India has been a Lessons of significant player with longstanding interests in Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa is striving to handle this situation tactfully. He has recently stated that Democracy the Indians were his relatives and the Chinese were his friends. Interestingly, contrary to popular perception, Bhutan is a newly-wrought democracy that is moving Wickremesinghe was the one who through its teething stages and is learning the importance handed over Hambantota Port to a of keeping healthy bilateral ties with all countries. Chinese company and Rajapaksa promised to review the terms and By Dr. Muhammad Ali Ehsan conditions of the Hambantota lease to China provided that he became the Prime Minister. hen the absolute monarchy ended in Bhutan in 2008, the world was Though India has shown a cautious not sure about the democratic path that this new democratic Himalayan reaction to the recent events in Sri Wkingdom would take. How would the country deal with the challenges Lanka, New Delhi has desperately of democratic governance and how able and worthy would be the choice that been struggling to stop growing people would make to elect the new government? These were some of the Chinese influence not only in Sri questions that the world waited to see. But given the results of the three elections Lanka but in all of South Asia. India held so far – the latest held on October 18, 2018 they speak for themselves and enjoys strong historical, geographical, depict the leverage and freedom that the people of Bhutan exercise to choose diplomatic, cultural, political and their government. In all three elections, a new party has been chosen to lead the socioeconomic ties with Sri Lanka. It government. The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party won 30 of the 47 national has been Sri Lanka’s foremost partner assembly seats this time according to the results announced by Bhutan’s election in investment, trade and security. commission. The result is encouraging for the party because it was formed only Beijing has been successful in entering in 2013. The 800,000 people of Bhutan have trusted a party that promised the a new phase of a multidimensional people “nation building”. The electioneering slogan was important as the country strategic and socioeconomic cordial battles with foreign debt, mostly owed to India. People voted the party into power relationship with Sri Lanka but cracks to seek better standards of living and reduction in the unemployment levels as can be witnessed in the historical ties well as poverty reduction. Bhutan needs to invest in the construction of more between India and Sri Lanka. power plants to be able to increase the capacity of its power generation and The cordiality was intense during increase the supply of electricity to neighbouring India. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure. Rajapaksa DNT leader Lotay Tshering is a urology surgeon and, at the relatively young had also opened the main port of age of 50, he is expected to lead the economic resurgence of the young nation. the country to Chinese naval forces The primary round of the election that was held in September had resulted in when he was president, which added the defeat of the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering fuel to fire in India. India has been a Tobgay. The new leader is expected to address the two major problems that significant player with longstanding Bhutan faces – rising external debts (despite a growth of 7.5% in 2017) and high interests in Sri Lanka. It is good to unemployment. see that despite the crisis, both the A total of 305,408 voters exercised their right to vote out of the total registered camps in Sri Lanka seem determined voter strength of 438,663. The ruling People's Democratic Party of the former to uphold the country’s sovereignty by Prime Minister came third in the first round of voting, unexpectedly failing to maintaining a balance between the advance to the second round. The second round was a contest between the two giants of the region. Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT) and the unrepresented Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), which received the most votes in the first round. The writer is an Assistant Professor of In a marked display of political maturity the winning party’s leader Dr Lotay Economics at IoBM, Karachi. He can be Tshering not only thanked all the voters who voted his party to power but also reached at [email protected] reached out to the other political parties and said that he was looking forward

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to sitting with them in the next few weeks to take their suggestions for a road map for MALÉ vision 2045. On the other hand, the DPT President also spoke to Dr Lotay, conveying that he accepted the results of the elections and termed democracy as being all about the choice of the people. This is a very At a Deceptive good beginning for the infant democracy of Bhutan where the results of the elections are not being contested or doubted. This augurs very well for the future of democracy in the country. Crossroads The Prime Minister of India called Bhutan’s newly-elected Prime Minister and conveyed The new government of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has to his good wishes. According to press reports, the Indian PM told his counterpart that perform a delicate balancing act and demonstrate how “India attaches the highest priority to further it will steer clear of being seen as both pro-India and strengthening unique ties of friendship and pro-China. cooperation with Bhutan, which are based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, By S. G. Jilanee goodwill and mutual understanding.” Recalling the ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations of diplomatic relations between n September 23, the Maldives went to the polls. The contest was the two countries, Prime Minister Modi between President Abdullah Yameen’s ruling Progressive Party reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to Oand a united opposition led by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a senior work with the new government in its national lawmaker from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), in which Solih efforts for socio-economic transformation, beat Yameen, winning 58 percent of the vote. based on the priorities and interests of the The Economist reported the event aptly as, “sun, sea, sand and people and the government of Bhutan. Prime surprise.” But the surprise was not only that Yameen was defeated. The Minister Modi extended an invitation to Dr. bigger surprise was that he conceded without a whimper, because, it was Tshering to visit India. The Indian Prime the same Yameen, who looked like being on the verge of losing power last Minister’s call emphasizes that India views time and “declared a state of emergency.“ He had dismissed the police Bhutan as its key neighbour, specially when chief, rejected a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners and seen in the context of the ugly incident that locked up two of the court justices who had issued the order. During occurred on Bhutan’s Doklam Plateau where the current election, as well, prominent leaders of the opposition mostly the Chinese and Indian forces were engaged in a military standoff after China had moved in road construction and road building material to the area. Bhutan is considered as a buffer state between India and China and its geo-political and geo-strategic importance is well-understood both by India and China. It must be remembered that in 2013, the Indians cut the fuel subsidy of Bhutan which was seen by many as a warning by India to Bhutan that there would be consequences if it established links with China. But China continues to show its interest in the tiny kingdom and the Chinese ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui visited Bhutan a few days before the elections. As it grows and develops into a democracy, Bhutan will understand that by keeping close ties with India it can reach out to other countries besides developing its own independent foreign policy. The more new parties get elected and form governments, the more independence and leverage they will enjoy by cutting out and moving away from the politics of status quo – all in line and with a will to bring about a meaningful and positive difference in the lives of people of Bhutan.

The writer is a member of the faculty of Contemporary Studies at NDU, Islamabad. He can be reached at muhammadaliehsan1@ hotmail.com

38 SOUTHASIA • DecEMBER 2018 remained in jail or in exile. To garner votes, the government showered voters One of the visible changes associated with with goodies, such as waiving rent fines and reducing prison sentences. Besides, Solih’s government would be the end to the the police even raided the opposition alliance’s headquarters the day before anti-India sentiment. the vote. Yameen was also accused of forcing employees of state-owned companies being debated by political analysts The new government will have to to vote for his party, filling the election is whether the Maldives will turn into balance its economic and strategic commission with loyalists, arresting a battleground for a proxy standoff interests between India and China. opposition leaders and canceling voter between India and China. Yameen was seen as particularly registrations. And yet, when the results Yameen had a cozy relationship close to China and betrayed an anti-India came in he lost, securing only 42% of with China, which has been his staunch tilt. During his time in office, the China- the vote. supporter in spite of his crackdown on Maldives economic and investment Yameen came to power after dissent. In February this year, China sent relations grew at a fast pace. elections in 2013. Since then, he ruled a naval force “to anchor off the coast Of course, the new government the country like an autocrat, exercising of Malé”, after Yameen sent troops to in Malé will want to renegotiate the absolute power. He jailed his political storm the Supreme Court. projects that China is engaged in rivals, including his half-brother, He visited China in 2017 and signed because many believe that China has Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, - who led a Free Trade Agreement with his hosts. pulled the Maldives into a “debt trap.” the country for 30 years until it became Moreover, a number of infrastructure India, which has traditionally played a democracy in 2008 - and Mohammed projects in the Maldives are being an influential role in the Maldives, Nasheed, the first democratically- developed with Chinese financial help has been perplexed by the recent elected president. and expertise. developments in the run-up to the The election results are expected to But in developing relations with elections. New Delhi had supported introduce some changes, both internally China, Yameen ignored the Maldives' the government of President Gayoom, and externally. Internally, political close neighbour and old ally, India. to the point of squashing an attempted prisoners are being released. Externally, He also cancelled the construction of coup against him in 1988 by sending the changes could be significant, with the international airport by an Indian Indian troops. But under Yameen, the the Maldives having to play an active company and handed it over to China. country was slipping out of India’s role in the maintenance of peace, Now, with the upset, some change orbit, supporting China’s Belt and Road security, and stability in the entire in the old order should be expected. Initiative and moving closer to China. Indian Ocean neighborhood. India greeted Solih’s victory with glee. However, while there may be However, the question currently In all likelihood he might return the some cancellations and renegotiation courtesy by reviewing all contracts of China-funded projects by the with the Chinese and restore the status newly elected government, China’s quo ante with India. But that is easier influence in Malé is unlikely to abate said than done, because that would be significantly because there is simply no an unwise act. Contracts between two one else to replace China. Though India countries are not mere scraps of paper. may not like it, it does not have the A country’s foreign policy must not be capacity. Moreover, India’s credibility hostage to domestic political rivalry. has suffered because New Delhi was Moreover, Yameen’s defeat is not unable or unwilling to take any concrete likely to affect China’s influence. The action despite repeated pleas from the Maldives, which is included in China’s opposition parties for its support. India Belt and Road Initiative, has received has a hard job ahead in overcoming about $2 billion in Chinese loans, these difficulties. which neither the US nor India would Nonetheless, the situation presents be inclined to substitute. a challenge for Solih’s acumen as a Though some sources suggested statesman. He will have to perform a that the defeat of Yameen is bad news balancing act dexterously, between for China and good for India, but that is India and China, maintaining friendly a superficial notion. The factual position relations with both and not annoying is that while there may be some minor either. Solih needs to face the reality setbacks for China with the new leader, that while India’s importance to the the reality is that Malé cannot cut China Maldives, as its close neighbour, lose because of Beijing’s economic cannot be denied, the hefty economic capacity to deliver what Malé needs. assistance offered by China cannot be For all the goodwill that India may ignored too. enjoy in the Maldives, under the new The country has been aptly leadership, the fact remains that New described as being at a “crossroads.” Delhi lacks the material capacity to How the new president steers it through offset China. remains to be seen. One of the visible changes associated with Solih’s government would be the The writer is a senior political analyst end to the anti-India sentiment that and former editor of SouthAsia. He can prevailed during Yameen’s presidency. be reached at [email protected]

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SOUTHASIA DECEMBER 2018 INTERNATIONAL

PG 44 PG 42 PG 43 RIYADH WASHINGTON After the Murder Another Betrayal By Aneela Shahzad By Imran Jan international

to refrain from his protection, which RIYADH apparently they declined. Khashoggi’s Muslim Brotherhood inclination was not a secret. In his youth he had thought of them as more democratic than the monarchies of the Middle East, but later he denied being part of After the the Muslim Brotherhood. In fact, the Saudis always had good ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and welcomed its members being persecuted in Egypt, Murder Iraq, and Syria – until Erdogan’s coming to power and the Arab Spring, after While there is little chance that MBS will directly be charged which they saw the Muslim Brotherhood for Khashoggi’s murder, this is a turning point for the Saudis as a real threat, that could put an end to their monarchic dictatorship through in a fast-changing geo-economic world. another people’s revolution. Khashoggi’s friendship with Turkey By Aneela Shahzad was thus scornful for the Saudis and they started calling him an ‘Islamist’ – t was painful for me several years and in the Middle East. the same Islamist Riyadh wanted bans ago when several friends were After Hariri’s forced resignation on in the Qatar crisis. ‘Iarrested. I said nothing. I didn’t stunt in Dec. 2017, Jamal wrote, ‘As But there was more. According to want to lose my job or my freedom. I if we Arabs need another crisis in our his friend Asiem El Difraoui, Khashoggi worried about my family. shattered world… The impulsivity of knew a lot about the ‘corruption, ‘I have made a different choice now. MBS has been a consistent theme — possible connections to extremism and I have left my home, my family and my from the war in Yemen to the wave the internal disputes and wrongdoing job, and I am raising my voice.’ of arrests of critics, royals and senior of the royal house'. The Sunday Express - Jamal Khashoggi, Sept. 18, 2017 officials accused of corruption. The even claimed that Khashoggi was going severity of Saudi Arabia’s action against to receive ‘documentary evidence‘ on On Oct 2, Jamal entered the Saudi Lebanon mirrors in the blockade of Saudi Arabia’s use of chemical weapons consulate in Istanbul and never came Qatar in June — abrupt, with no room in Yemen. And the way Jamal was out again. No conclusive evidence of his for negotiation’. getting fearless in his writings against death has come out, but the Saudis have The truth is that, in addition to the Royals, perhaps there was fear that eventually admitted that the journalist Khashoggi being widely read, especially he might become a big inconvenience had in fact died in the consulate after in the West, which made image-making in the near future. MBS simply did not a fight. Turkish presidential advisor for the Kingdom and the Prince quite like to be inconvenienced. Yasin Aktay has said he believes Jamal difficult, he also had many royal secrets Muhammad bin Salman became Khashoggi's body was dissolved in acid in his heart, owing to his close relations crown prince only in 2017. In this little after being cut up… to vaporize it. with many royals and other Middle time, the Saudis impetuously escalated Khashoggi, former manager and Eastern key-players. Ever since his exile, bombings over starving Yemen, were editor of Al-Arab News Channel and the Saudis were becoming increasingly daggers drawn with Qatar, arrested a editor of Saudi newspaper Al Watan, nervous of him. whole bunch of Royals and put them went on self-exile to the US in Sept. Before Khashoggi’s death, MBS’ in a hotel with impunity and had Hariri 2017, associating himself with the phone call to US’s Jared Kushner and recite his resignation speech on Saudi Washington Post. Sharply critical of John Bolton, in which he allegedly TV, literally under gunpoint. Such Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman reminded them that Khashoggi had been dauntlessness encouraged the belief and the King, he widely wrote of the a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, that Khashoggi’s planned murder must Kingdom’s misdoings in the country shows that the Prince wanted the US have been just a minor occurrence in a

42 SOUTHASIA • December 2018 bigger scheme of things. MBS would not have taken it as a serious WASHINGTON offence, certainly not as serious as to have cost him cherished allies like the US and the EU or his Vision 2030. MBS’s Vision 2030 is an ambitious plan of constructing mega- Another Betrayal cities, industries, medical and recreational hubs and new high-speed rail links – a Is the white man rising from a deep slumber to discover modern, industrial economy generating millions of jobs. But none of this can be that he must now invent more weapons to fight against achieved without external technological new dangers to his lands? cooperation and billion-dollar deals with the world’s leading contractors, nor without By Imran Jan appropriating huge sums of Saudi money lying dormant in the US treasury and other European banks. So far, the first reaction of Western institutions to the gory news of the premeditated murder has been quite impulsive. First, several dignitaries and CEOs, including the US Treasury Secretary, French and Dutch finance ministers, the IMF Chief, CEOs of J.P. Morgan, Blackstone, Standard Chartered, Credit Suisse and Uber, all boycotted Riyadh’s Future Investment Initiative. A few days later, the EU did its bid too as it voted for a measure to ‘urge’ member countries to ban the sale of weapons and surveillance technology to Saudi Arabia. Still, so much of conscience-show off just for a journalist, did not really add up. Spain's prime minister has said that his government would fulfil past arms sales contracts with Saudi Arabia despite his "dismay" over the "terrible murder". Theresa May also snubbed the opposition’s call to end weapons sales to upremacy in one form or the other existed before the advent the Saudis, saying that "the procedures we of nation states, created by the Treaty of Westphalia. Civilising follow are among the strictest in the world". Sthe people around the world was “The White Man’s Burden”. The US will also not want to backtrack from Deeply rooted in racism is the belief that the white man is superior to the Saudis, their only faithful ally in the other races and therefore should rule over them. In the contemporary Middle East, which has never tried to harm world, we are witnessing the same phenomenon mostly in the form of their friend Israel. While there is little chance national identities. White races in industrialised world believe that they that MBS will directly be charged for this are superior compared to other races and nationalities and therefore murder, this is a turning point for the Saudis oppose the mingling of races as well as the settlement of foreign races in a fast-changing geo-economic world, in their homelands. The nation-state is one of the explosive entities where the new US sanctions seem more a dividing humanity and creating war. They are artificial entities held portrayal of the country’s weaknesses than together by armies, political leaders and a propaganda campaign a deterrence of its targets. As world-players tailored to control the domestic enemy - the citizens. pull their threads on the Saudis, the latter The story of modern white supremacy cannot be understood too can reassess their friends and foes and without understanding the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system in may decide to forsake the US-camp as sour the United States. It kept the external exchange rates of member states grapes, after all. controlled by tying currency to gold. Bretton Woods was in place in the Adding to the climax, Turkey’s President United States from roughly between 1950 and the early 1970s. During Tayyip Erdogan has gone another step this time, there was unprecedented egalitarian economic growth. The ahead. He has shared the recordings of the people on the lowest quantile did handsomely well financially. tapes from the murder-scene with the Saudi Following the Nixon shock, the Bretton Woods system came King, Trump, Merkel, Macron and May. Will to an end. The restrictions that the system placed on finance were they now demand justice for Khashoggi, or dismantled. Finance was freed, speculation boomed. Pretty much will they use this opportunity to intimidate the entire economy became financialised because the power of the the Saudis to bend to their interests? Or, economy shifted from manufacturing to financial institutions. Banks, would they all be content in simply being insurance companies and other financial institutions became extremely accomplices as they all share the burden of powerful in this new fictional economy. the truth now? Capital started flowing everywhere. Wages stagnated for people. Instead of the benefit going to the general population, a few pockets The writer is a geopolitical analyst started bulging. Rich corporations started looking beyond borders to with interest in history, philosophy and maximise profits and reduce costs. The term ‘globalisation’ was coined, anthropology. She can be reached at aneela. people in many countries believed rich corporations coming to their [email protected] land, giving them jobs and benefits. Nothing could be further from

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the truth. The primary purpose of all back home. The more the crony and and rhetoric in French society. The this was to find cheap labour and selfish capitalism spread its tentacles Identitarian movement, which began exploit resources. Globalisation is a around the world, the more jobless as a youth movement, originated in propaganda term, as Noam Chomsky young men it created. It was thought- France. The movement is part of the rightly argues. provoking that most of the migrants counter-jihad movement as well as The rise of the neoliberal arriving at Western borders, seeking a part of the global alt-right. Many economic policy paved the way for refuge, asylum or work were from of its adherents firmly espouse the western corporations to go around countries where the devastation was ‘white genocide conspiracy theory’, the world in search of business caused by the very Western society. which basically says that policies and resources and pay almost Put differently, the very countries such as immigration, abortion, racial nothing to the indigenous people that opposed migration from various integration, etc. in predominantly by cutting deals with the leader countries including Syria, Libya, Iraq, white countries or ‘white-founded of the country. The satrapy (ruled Afghanistan, and so forth with varying countries’ are to deliberately weaken areas) was provided with all sorts of degrees, were the ones that created the white people by dismantling support and wealth for the western war, devastation, hopelessness and their collective power and by turning corporations to continue to loot poverty in these hapless countries. them into a minority. Leaders and their wealth, thereby depriving the The West is responsible for members of Al Qaeda also believe locals of any benefits reaped from compelling these people to escape that the west it out to aim at them their resources. So-called ‘business hunger and imminent death and and fight against Islam. Sadly, both friendly’ legislation in the resource- knock on the unwelcoming doors of are wrong and, even more sadly, both rich countries was made possible by Western society. have large number of adherents. opportunist ‘business friendly’ local Some of the asylum-seekers and The Alternative Help Association legislators whose coffers were filled. refugees were taken in but the rest (AHA) is the German offshoot of the Many of the Middle Eastern were shut out. Many more drowned Identitarians. On the surface, their countries, for example, had strongmen or died of suffocation, hunger and mission seems noble. They have sort who were propped by the West for human traffickers’ mercilessness. The of plagiarised Bush’s war on terror. extracting oil. Western companies lucky ones become headlines shining To stop terror, American forces go to in cahoots with their political the human rights credentials of the terrorists’ countries and hideouts leadership and intelligence agencies Western leaders. This was just like a and kill them there instead of letting went to horrible lengths to ensure a broad breasted white turkey which is them reach America. AHA wants to continuous and cheap flow of oil. pardoned by the US President every pre-emptively stop the migration Assassinations, coups, kidnappings, year shortly before Thanksgiving, by helping people in their home invasions, aerial bombardments, which is when the President and countries. A better way would be covert operations and black ops millions of Americans kill and eat for these citizens of western society were one of the nefarious activities turkeys. But the pardoned one is to ask their governments to stop of the West’s endless actions to gain remembered, its pictures taken, and creating the swamp abroad so that access to oil. cheered at by the crowd. people don’t have to flee hunger and Stagnated economies, jobless- Religion and country - two very death. Truth be told, AHA is a benign- ness, despair, hopelessness and beautiful things yet abused by politics sounding mission deeply rooted in lost faith in their unrepresentative in such a ghastly manner that their racism, fear and hatred. governments prompted people in powder keg aspects are unnerving A website by the name GAB those countries to seek alternative and limitless. Politics have for ages appeared as an alternative to sources of income. Rich Western found the answer to its troubles in Twitter. It has been described as nations became a migrants’ magnet. religion and nationalism. Marine Le “extremist friendly”, encouraging Heading west became one of the Pen didn’t win the election in France Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and most lucrative options for young men but she has successfully resurrected, alt-right membership. One of its to earn a living and help their families if you will, the hate-driven mindset most followed users include Richard Spencer, the president of the National Policy Institute, a white supremacist think tank. With new startups of hatred popping up, the pioneer of this lunacy namely, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) wouldn’t want to be left behind. French President Emmanuel Macron forcefully rebuked the rising nationalism sweeping across Europe and North America and called it a “betrayal of nationalism”. Macron warned that nationalistic and racist tendencies are nothing but “old demons coming back to wreak chaos and death.” Is Macron on the right pth?

The writer is a political analyst. He can be reached at imran.jan@ gmail.com

44 SOUTHASIA • December 2018 SOUTHASIA DECEMBER 2018 NEIGHBOURS

PG 46 PG 47 JEDDAH NAYPYIDAW Unity in Fragments More than A Refugee By Syed Kamran Hashmi Crisis By S.R.H. Hashmi

SOUTHASIA • December 2018 45 NEIGHBOUR

both united to enforce divine morality JEDDAH on their female subjects. The question we must ask ourselves about renaissance is whose re- emergence should we be praying for? Unity in In case of Iran it may mean a revival of the Safavid Empire, even a Seljuk Sultanate may work for them although it was mostly Sunni. Turkey, may want Fragments to restore the Ottomans. Iraq may hope that the seat of Abbasid Caliphate holds the main focus. Syria may want to go Is there room for an Islamic Renaissance as a new social back to the time of Umayyads. For phenomenon? Would it be important for the future of the Saud Arabia, the birthplace and resting place of the Prophet Mohammad Muslim civilization and have a serious impact on the world in (PBUH), trumps any other location. For general? Egypt, the Fatimids and the Mamluks mean more than anything. By Syed Kamran Hashmi As ironical as it may sound, if everyone’s prayers are heard and all get a piece of their renaissance, what aught in every madrassah and not to be interrogated or frisked, as it would happen next? A massive war exhorted in every private school, happens now, but to be offered special from Malaysia to Morocco, killing TIslamic renaissance is the most protocol. How can we not buy such millions. Muslims have always proved sought-after objective of the Muslims: dreams in our impressionable ages? I their mettle in ruthlessly exterminating the dream of an empire stretching admit that when growing up, I used to fellow Muslims throughout history. from Malaysia to Morocco (minimum) entertain myself with similar visions. I Look at today’s world. You will not ruled by a pious Caliph; an empire so thought of the day when I would show be disappointed: Yemen, Afghanistan, powerful in the United Nations that my passport to the airline staff, they Somalia, Iraq and Syria. both Russia and the United States would see the colour of the booklet Why did I leave Pakistan out of this fear its retaliation; a place so peaceful and serve me so reverentially. race? After all, we are the only Muslim that people flock in herds to obtain its The dream of an Islamic renaissance country with nuclear weapons. I was citizenship, irrespective of their creed; is not limited to Pakistan. By the Grace not sure who should Pakistanis be an egalitarian society comprising of the Almighty, almost every Muslim rooting for? Mughals? But they came devout Muslims offering volunteer country shares the same fantasy. And from central Asia as invaders. Mamluks work and creating a just community. just like Pakistanis, besides monotheism of the Delhi Sultanate? They were In fact, besides cricket and and misogynism, if anything can unite outsiders originating from central Asia admiration for Indian movies and Muslims - from Shia to Sunni, from as well. Should it be the Ghouris, then? choreography, if anything can unite Iran to Saudi Arabia and from black They belonged to the Afghanistan-Iran Pakistanis, it is their common craving to white - it is the concept of Islamic area. for the revival of an ideal Muslim revival. For example, have you noticed It seems history is suggesting Caliphate, the kingdom of God, the that Iran objects to every political move Pakistan may not deserve the top spot realm of peace. They dream of the by Saudi Arabia but never protests after all and would just have to stay day when people holding the green against degrading and subjugating content as a sidekick of Turkey, Iran, Pakistani passport are pulled aside, their women? On that ‘ideal,’ they are Egypt, Syria, Iraq or Saudi Arabia. Is that

46 SOUTHASIA • December 2018 what we really mean by renaissance? I don’t get a clear response from my compatriots. Let us suppose we don’t, and we want to rule ourselves. In that case, we will have to build power over the Arabs, the Persians and the Turks combined. Although it is close to impossible, but even if we pull it off, we can call that ascent anything but renaissance since there is no revival of Pakistan’s eminence. It will be a solo flight. To give an example: have you ever heard anyone naming US progress as Irish Renaissance? Never, because America has clenched the highest position for the first time. Besides that, can you imagine a Pan Arab Islam that believes in either crushing by skepticism about other sects within army working under a predominantly or subduing every other religion, an your religion; it focuses then on hating Pakistani leadership? Anyone who has Islam that needs to prove and establish your own sub-sect, that leads to further interacted with the Arabs knows very its authenticity at all costs, that is not suspicion about your sub-sub sect well that Arab nationalism will never willing to co-exist with other creeds on and so on. To end that regression, the allow it to happen even after the Day equal basis. From a religion of peace, message of peace and coexistence has of Judgement, so to speak! in the hands of modern interpreters, it to be promoted within Islam, a task that Realizing these complications, I has ended up becoming a religion of is incompatible with renaissance. ask myself if the idea of Renaissance intolerance. And intolerance in any is valid at all? If not, why do we still form falls prey to infinite regression. The writer is a US-based freelance crave for it? The answer is rooted in It means you become skeptical about columnist. He can be reached at the type of Islam taught these days, an other religions first; this is followed [email protected]

he term Rohingya is commonly used to refer to the community of NAYPYIDAW TMuslims mainly concentrated in the Rakhine (Arakan) state in Myanmar. The Rohingya crisis can be traced back to the British rule. When departing, the More Than A British rulers left behind trouble spots. There are many examples such as the Israeli-Palestinian problem in Palestine, the Kashmir dispute in the Pakistan-India Refugee Crisis region and the Rohingya crisis in Burma, now Myanmar. During its rule in Burma starting The humanitarian crisis caused by escalating violence in 1824, the British government in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is causing suffering on a encouraged migration to Burma from catastrophic scale. The extreme violence and discrimination is Bengal and other parts of India in order to increase rice cultivation for the benefit creating a refugee situation the world could do without. of the empire. As a result, the Muslim population of Burma tripled in the 1871- By S.R.H. Hashmi 1911 period. Rakhine differs from the rest of Myanmar in that it has a substantial Muslim population whereas in the rest of Myanmar, Muslims are a small minority in this Buddhist majority country. In exchange for the promise of being given an autonomous state status, the Muslims of Rakhine sided with the British while the Buddhists supported the Japanese. However, after the Second World War, while the British did give the Rohingya Muslims some prestigious positions in the government, they reneged on their promise of giving them an autonomous state. This naturally created a rift between the majority

SOUTHASIA • December 2018 47 NEIGHBOUR

Buddhists and minority Rohingyas who Rohingya Muslims has been going on for nearly 400 “whole villages literally began to be treated as outsiders, even long, the Citizenship Act of 1982, which wiped off the map”, investigators said. traitors. stripped the Rohingyas of the citizenship They had noted a buildup of armed Things worsened for the Rohingyas of Myanmar, made it absolutely clear forces in Rakhine state in the months when on March 2, 1962, the military that the military junta had decided to get leading up to the 'clearance' operations led by General Ne Win took control of rid of them at all costs. and a sharpening of anti-Rohingya Burma through a coup and remained The UNHCR investigators and their rhetoric, also by civilian leaders. This in full control for the next fifty years. staff spent 15 months, interviewing 875 led to the obvious conclusion that the Even after that, it retains considerable witnesses and examining the conduct genocide was well-planned. control through the military-drafted of Myanmar’s military and other armed Some of those who tried to push Constitution which gives 25 percent groups, following years of reports of human rights issues told investigators of the parliamentary seats plus the all- human rights abuses. They recently they were “ignored, criticized, sidelined important ministries of Home, Border came up with a 440-page report in which or blocked in these efforts”, the report Affairs and Defence, to military officers. they described horrible acts and war said. That means that civilian leaders can crimes committed by the military against In these circumstances, even if make no change in the Constitution the defenceless Rohingya and called the the Myanmar government agreed, for without the military's consent. military operation a genocide. political point-scoring, to take back To make it worse, Aung San Suu Kyi, They reported women being tied by the million odd Rohingyas, it won't be who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize their hair or hands to trees and raped; long before the military junta started the for her long struggle for democracy, young children trying to flee burning massacre again. did not and does not feel averse to the houses being forced back inside, Knowing what fate awaits them in genocide of the Rohingya by the military, widespread use of torture with bamboo Myanmar, would it be humane to push whose role she supports and defends sticks, cigarettes and hot wax; and these persecuted, tortured and frightened at all forums. While there is strong landmines placed at the escape routes people back to Myanmar to go through criticism of the shameful conduct of the from villages, killing people as they fled all that again? Nobel Laureate, there is no real action the army crackdown. Perhaps the only satisfactory solution against her except that the Canadian The three-person panel said the to the problem is for the world to request government has stripped her of her Myanmar armed forces had developed the Bangladesh government to accept honorary Canadian citizenship. a “toxic command climate” in which about one million Rohingyas, not as The European Union is said to be widespread human rights abuses had refugees but as its citizens, since many sending a fact-finding delegation to become the norm. It called for the army of them would be of Bengali origin, Myanmar to assess the grave human to be brought under civilian oversight, anyway. But since Bangladesh lacks the rights violations there and decide stripped of its quota of parliamentary seats financial resources to absorb them, the whether to withdraw trade concessions and, if necessary, totally dissolved and rest of the world must help Bangladesh which allow Myanmar to export goods, rebuilt. The panel also called for senior generously in this noble task. That excluding weapons, tariff-free to the EU. Burmese military leaders, including the would be preferable to leaders making Powerful countries like China and commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, passionate speeches at various forums India, due to the strategic importance to be prosecuted for genocide, crimes like the UN, the OIC and the League of Myanmar, will help the Myanmar against humanity and war crimes. of Muslim Nations but doing nothing government neutralize the punch The panel was nearly six months to provide a permanent solution to the of 'punitive' measures and China, into its mission in August 2017 when problem and lessen the pain suffered by determined to establish its presence in some Rohingya militants attacked a the Rohingyas. Myanmar in a big way, may even veto series of police outposts with knives any UNSC resolution in this regard. That and small bombs, triggering army The writer is a free-lance contributor means, neither persuasion nor pressure “clearance operations” that forced with a keen interest in regional, will make the military-led Myanmar more than 700,000 Rohingyas to flee South Asian and international affairs. government mend its ways. to neighbouring Bangladesh. Satellite He can be reached at hashmi_srh@ While the persecution and worse of images included in the report showed hotmail.com

48 SOUTHASIA • December 2018 OPINION

There is no ‘Other’ Side Women’s emancipation is not making women equal to men! It is giving everybody, women and men, the possibility to choose their future, their jobs and their time.

By Shabana Mahfooz

hese days the #Metoo Movement why should a man be given preference and was applauded for the project. is a rage around the world. Most just because the other contestant is a One expected his job to be much more Twomen support the Movement woman? secure and progressive, so a resignation since it gives them the courage and So when the #Metoo Movement didn’t make sense. opportunity to open up on issues which aims to strengthen the status of women, The reason turned out to be simple, previously they were either embarrassed is it possible that there is another side to though disturbing. He had been asked or afraid to talk about. Sadly, the it? to report to an officer who was junior Movement is also being questioned “The term ‘other side’ implies to him – both at university and at work. by some skeptics, which makes the negativity, but there is no negative aspect The officer was a female and had limited women’s cause tougher. of empowering women,” says Tehmina expertise and knowledge. It was good to A detailed research paper titled Khan, a Pakistani-Canadian author. know that a woman had been appointed Historical Background of Women “While, it might be true, that some at a managerial position at a TV channel Empowerment traces the use of the women when empowered, use their – a domain largely monopolised by term ‘Women Empowerment’ to the power to hurt other women, it is also true men. One thought the appointment was 1980s. The paper argues that “half that certain men do the same. So should on merit and the person who resigned of humanity – women, has been we strip power from everyone? Should was just resorting to male egoism. There suffering from disability, discrimination, we render all human being helpless, in was more to the story. The female, it was injustice and inequality all over the order to prevent some individuals from reported, was ‘close’ to a top person at world for many centuries. The notion abusing power?” asks Tehmina Khan. the channel! of ‘biological difference’ is often used While surely, abuse of power by I was still ready to dismiss this as to justify discriminatory beliefs about some cannot justify limiting its use to an allegation, gossip, or call it a case women’s and men’s relative intelligence, certain individuals, there are others who of professional jealousy. But along with emotional behaviour or suitability to believe that women use the concept of common knowledge in the organisation certain jobs”. empowerment to actually overpower of ‘closeness’ between the mentioned The refusal to accept such other men and women. Surprisingly, such members, when there is no exact discriminatory beliefs supports the basic beliefs have been propagated by women portfolio of tasks assigned neither any idea of gender equality, which says as well. In the 70s, The Manipulated impressive history of moving through that a woman should not be denied a Man, a book published in the United the corporate ladder which would justify work opportunity just because she is a States became a bestseller. a position entailing major decisions, woman. If she possesses the required Myths about women manipulating much can’t be said in favour. qualification, merit and experience, and overpowering others through self- Many people say there is a possibility she should be given the opportunity. empowerment have been appropriately of power being misused by women when Springing from this is the concept of addressed in women’s literature. they fail to create a balance in their lives. gender parity. If a woman justifies a role Recently, one heard the startling “Have the women acquired substantial as well as a man, why should she be paid news of the resignation of a friend from maturity to handle odds that they may less? If there is a choice in moving up broadcast journalism. Having worked have to face at their workplace?” asks the corporate ladder between a man and at a prominent TV news channel, he Safia Saeed, a person at Lahore’s now a woman, when both qualify equally, had completed a much daunting task defunct Esena Foundation High School.

SOUTHASIA • December 2018 49 OPINION

“Women empowered before empowered themselves, but would attaining a certain level of maturity have weakened the system. This may get misled, because being means woman empowerment is not overambitious and unmindful about only self-empowerment. of their moral family values they A year ago Harvey Weinstein may unknowingly compromise was exposed as a sexual predator. their dignity as a woman. There Until then his treatment of women is every chance that with their was an open secret in Hollywood, personal empowerment, their “protected by an unspoken priorities may change that may assumption that in some situations lead to domestic conflicts,” Safia powerful men can set their own Saeed explains. rules”. The assumption has been Is mishandling or abuse of punctured now. Brett Kavanaugh power, unfair means to attain can be denied a seat on America’s that power and a possibility of highest court following a series of jeopardising domestic life by some, are men who feel that their role in accusations that he committed sexual enough evidence to prove an existence domestic life ends after providing for assaults decades ago as a student. If of the ‘other’ side? There are women the heir family. Has society accused women today had continued to follow who take advantage of their feminine men for preying female colleagues for rules from a man’s point of view, traits to rise up the corporate ladder. sexual gratification? Has there ever been there would not have been a suffrage There are female professionals who, in a debate except in feminist groups that movement, feminism, or debates on their ambition to succeed, leave their men overtake women in professional gender equality. personal lives and a lot of questions fields? For nearly a century, women have about their responsibilities at home. The truth is that men do not like been demanding equal rights in terms of There are women who are corrupted by to be questioned, while a woman has opportunities and remuneration, backed power and become an obstacle even for always been made to give explanations. by intelligence, emotional capability other women to move forward. Many women agree to answer as well and decision-making skills. However, There are also men who take as question myths and realities but other there is no ‘other’ side. advantage of their masculine traits to women succumb to a warped societal suppress and even exploit women on system, believing that it will remain The writer is a broadcast journalist and the sidelines of careers. There are so patriarchal and thus snatching of power freelance writer. She has keen interest many men who resort to unfair means by any means is fair. in issues concerning women, religion such as bribes, terrorism and nepotism If all the women in the world and foreign affairs. She can be to move up in corporate circles. There reached top positions, they would have contacted at [email protected]

50 SOUTHASIA • December 2018 SOUTHASIA DECEMBER 2018 FEATURES

PG 52 PG 53 PG 55 ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD LAHORE & NEW DELHI Pursuit of Healthcare The Worker’s Plight Another Smog! By Dr. Sadaf Khan By Hira Fatima By Prof. S. Shafiqur Rehman

PG 56 PG 58 PG 59 RANCHI DHAKA KATHMANDU Ayushman Bharat Autocratic Democracy Migrant Manpower By Azhar Ali By Inamullah Marwat By Syeda Maham Rasheed FEATURE

ISLAMABAD Pakistan has been facing a lot of challenges to fulfill its global commitment of achieving MDGs 4 and 5. Some of the factors that influenced Pursuit of the achievement of the country’s health targets include economic instability, political insecurity and certain natural disasters, including massive Healthcare earthquakes and floods. Despite the failure of MDGs, Pakistan is still committed to improving its national Pakistan faces many challenges on the road to achieving health status by adopting sustainable its Millennium Development Goals. Progress is marred by development goals (SDGs) and economic instability, political insecurity and natural disasters. working on its national development agenda. By Dr. Sadaf Khan There are various inter-linked risk factors that contribute to high maternal and infant mortality in the he Pakistan government despite the critical importance of country, such as low socio-economic had signed the Millennium maternal and child health sector and status, poverty, low birth spacing, TDevelopment Goals (MDG) expending the significant amount of early child marriage, malnutrition, programme of the United Nations in funds, Pakistan has failed to achieve lack of education, poor access to 2000 with the aim to improve the lives the targets of MDGs 4 and 5 within health care services and high fertility and health of Pakistani citizens with the set timeframe (2000-15). Pakistan rate. In addition, lack of trained health a target span of 15 years. Since then, had aimed to achieve to reduce the workers, poor health infrastructure Pakistan has focused on achieving the under-five mortality target to 52 (per and shortage of skilled birth attendants eight MDGs which were supposed 1000 live births) by 2015. The current also contribute to a high mortality rate to alleviate poverty, reduce illiteracy, rate of under-5 mortality is 74 deaths in the country. Urban-rural disparities lessen the burden of the diseases and per 1,000 live births. This places the and gender discrimination also add ensure environmental sustainability. country at the 22nd position in the to the poor maternal health of the Maternal and child health can be world for under-five mortality rates. country. taken as an important indicator of a Pakistan was off track in five out of The government, in partnership country’s socio-economic progress six indicators of child health and only with the private sector and NGOs and its population’s health status. achieved to successfully cut down should take actions to promote its Pakistan has adopted various indicators the proportion of children suffering maternal and child health status. This to measure its progress towards from diarrhea by 2015. Similarly the can be done through community- achieving the targets for reducing child targeted aim of reducing the maternal based health awareness programs to mortality (MDG 4) and improving mortality ratio from 276 to 140 per 100 raise the mother’s knowledge about maternal health (MDG 5). However, 000 live birth was not accomplished. common health issues, personal

52 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 support and education about the available antenatal health facilities. Additionally, ISLAMABAD strict actions should be taken to ensure the availability of emergency health care facilities in the country, particularly in remote areas. Woman empowerment and tackling the issue of malnutrition is the key The Worker’s for the improvement of health indicators. In Pakistan, lack of woman power to take decisions is one of the significant social barriers that hinders the improvement of Plight maternal and child health. Malnutrition is one of the critical A glittering metropolis rising from the desert has all the public health problems in Pakistan and a major contributor of child morbidity makings of a mirage and many heading to the Gulf states and mortality in the country. According work hard to keep it that way. to a recent demographic and health survey, 38% of under-five children in By Hira Fatima Pakistan are stunted, 7% wasted and 23% underweight. There are multiple akistan has well-established relationships with the Gulf states, factors that are associated with the high especially with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The burden of childhood malnutrition. The Pearliest workers migrated from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and the most common risk factors include the Gulf states in 1950s and 1960s. Pakistan has also helped these states household wealth index, low birth weight establish key institutions. of the child, mother’s nutritional and Saudi Arabia is a home to more than 2 million Pakistanis and it tops educational status, infectious diseases, the list of countries with more than $4.5 billion sent home by Pakistanis gender and geographical differences and every year. Expatriate Pakistanis play an important role in bolstering suboptimal feeding practices. Pakistan’s economy through foreign remittances. Multiple measures, including the In all Gulf countries, migrant workers constitute a large part of the complete immunization of children, population. In some countries migrant workers outnumber the local improvement of sanitation conditions and population. For example, the locals in Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE have better family planning initiatives, will help become minorities in their own countries. in reducing child mortality. The child’s The Gulf states have been employing a large number of workers nutritional status is strongly linked with from Asia – Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. These workers have been its mother’s nutritional and health status. involved in major projects in these countries. The labour situation in Emphasis should be given on improving these countries is almost the same. Factors that stand out in this regard the nutritional and reproductive health include: The workers are employed mostly by fraud and deception. status of young girls and pregnant and They are denied their basic labour rights such as minimum wages lactating women in order to improve and the right to hold strikes. The legality of their residency is tied to the outcome of child health. The targets the kafala system and workers are not given the right to transfer their aimed in the national development employment to another party. These workers also face difficulties in agenda are quite achievable through finding appropriate residences and the right to obtaining nationality is better policies. There is a dire need for denied to them, despite their having lived in these countries for long the placement of the national nutritional periods. These workers, whether male or female, are always vulnerable policy focusing on nutritional literacy to abuse and exploitation by both the local populations as well as the and better use of available resources at governments and are denied basic civil rights. national, provisional and district levels. The most crucial issue faced by migrant workers is the system of This can be achieved not only through awareness programs relevant to nutrition and healthcare, but also through certain interventional programs. These include the follow-up of adequate nutritional supplement and immunization coverage. Pakistan further needs to develop policies to improve its health infrastructure, girls’ education, nutrition and transport facilities and also to develop the health insurance system. A government sustained commitment is essential for improving the quality of mothers’ and children’s health in country.

The writer is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at DOW University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, with interest in infant and maternal nutrition. She can be reached at sudaf. [email protected]

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 53 FEATURE

kafala. This system ties the emigrant to Pakistani emigrants in the Gulf who so that the right to fair trial could be a single employer, usually a national are underpaid and often not paid on given to all defendants facing final of the host country. The system was time. Most of them are under huge verdicts in the Federal Supreme Court, initially envisaged to keep a check debts due to the fee they have already but without the right to appeal. on foreign labour and to entrust the paid to the recruitment agencies. In Domestic workers constitute the responsibility of the emigrants to the the Gulf countries, labour strikes are most vulnerable group of migrants citizens or the companies for whom illegal and if the workers resort to in Gulf states. These workers are they were working, but it proved to such strikes, they are arrested and not protected by any law. There is be an unnecessary restraint for the spend their lifetimes in jail without widespread exploitation and abuse workers. The Kafala system forbids being heard in any court of law. The of these workers. Ironically, domestic workers from changing their jobs UN Special Rapporteur on Human workers are excluded from the without the permission of the kafeel Rights of Migrants reported in 2014 category of labour in all six countries and if they do so, the employer has the that migrants in the Gulf states are that formerly formed the GCC. They right to cancel the work visa and even often considered a “property”, rather are denied the protection of labour have the person arrested. than human beings and are treated as laws, if there are any. However, in Bahrain and Qatar allow workers, such. June 2015, the Kuwaiti parliament under very strict conditions, to change Nationalization policies of most proposed a domestic workers law, their jobs without the employer’s Gulf states have severe consequences which was the Gulf’s first law that permission. Qatar and UAE demand on workers from Pakistan. Most of the particularly addressed the plight of an exit permission letter from the Gulf states are under severe pressure domestic workers. employer before the worker leaves to provide jobs to their nationals and The lack of job opportunities in the country. There was the famous to take immediate steps to alter the Pakistan compels much of the labour incident of a French footballer, Zahir demographic makeup. This has resulted force to find work abroad and earn Belounis in 2013, who was playing for in discrimination against foreign money. Most of those who go to the Qatar’s national football team. He was labour. In 2013, Kuwait introduced Gulf states are not well educated and denied an exit permit for almost two a law that segregates state-funded therefore, they are forced to do petty years because he had a legal dispute medical facilities for the nationals and jobs at very low wages. The Pakistan with the company. It is on account of the immigrants. This step taken by the government considers them a good the kafala system that workers cannot Kuwaiti government has been widely source to increase its foreign exchange contest abusive working conditions. condemned as they are against the reserves but is hardly engaged in Human Rights organizations all over International Human Rights law. improving their working situation. the world have been very vocal about The most crucial aspect of the It needs to engage actively with the the kafala system. The Gulf states are plight of migrant workers is arbitrary regimes in the Gulf states to end the often asked to abolish the system and detention and, in some cases, plight of its migrant workers. accord international labour rights to deportation. Workers in the Gulf states workers. are not given fundamental human The writer has an LLM in Public The migrant workers in the Gulf rights as well as rights of fair trial and International Law from the Queen region also face immense difficulties due process. In 2016, an amendment Mary University of London. She can in being paid on time. There are many was introduced in the law of the UAE be reached at [email protected]

54 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 LAHORE & NEW DELHI Another Smog!

It is the responsibility of the Indian government to control paddy stubble burning in its own territory through strict controls. It must facilitate its farmers to weed out the straws mechanically.

By Prof. S. Shafiqur Rehman

or healthy life, the availability of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, field in October is pretty much a regular clean and fresh air is a basic need harvest their rice crop by mid-September phenomenon in most rice growing Fof every human being, albeit rarely mechanically by cutting the straw a states of India, air pollution levels and found in most mega cities of developing few inches above the ground. The crop recurrence of smog conditions have countries, thanks to the growing residue left in the fields is usually set spiked during recent years. Delhi has air pollution caused by the energy, alight in the month of October to save been experiencing smog almost every transport and industrial sectors. The time for tillage and sowing the next year over the last six years. The smog in list of undesirable impurities found in wheat crop. Thousands of farmers across November 2017 was particularly bad the air that harm human health is large India burn an estimated 23 million in terms of its effects being felt across and pervasive. Common air pollutants tonnes of paddy stubbles in fields that the border in Lahore and other cities of include certain gases such as ozone produce dense clouds of smoke and soot the Punjab, disrupting lives of everyone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur (black powdery carbon resulting from in areas affected by it and causing dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), incomplete burning of coal and wood) acute health problems for thousands of smoke, soot, volatile organic compounds resulting in acute and intense rise in air vulnerable persons. and fine dust particles having a diameter pollution across most parts of northern According to WHO, about 4.2 of 2.5 to 10 microns. A combination of India. Although technology is available million people die every year globally smoke, soot, volatile organic compounds to manage crop residue without burning from exposure to highly polluted and oxides of nitrogen in the presence and state governments have imposed a ambient air. The most vulnerable age of high relative humidity and sunlight, ban on burning but the poor economic groups are infants, young children and gives rise to a distressful and often deadly conditions of farmers do not allow them the elderly, besides people already atmospheric condition called smog. to make use of it, even if they are caught suffering from cardiac and respiratory Most major cities in South Asia, and fined for violating the ban. diseases as well as those who must stay the Middle East and Far East, have Since burning of paddy stubbles in the outdoors to earn their livelihood. Smog higher concentrations of is an ugly manifestation of suspended particulate air pollution and hence matter in ambient air more dangerous for as compared to the human lives as it increases permissible limits set by the risk for vulnerable age the WHO. The average groups and ailing persons, concentration of fine besides sharply reducing particles (PM 2.5) should visibility and thus mobility not exceed 25 micrograms of people because of road per cubic meter of air per accidents, delays in flights day and 10 micrograms and abrupt disruptions in per year. Similarly, coarse daily routines. particles (PM10) must The present- be less than 50 and 20 day international micrograms per cubic environmental agree- meter of air per day and ments are quite clear per year, respectively. about transboundary It is for this reason that pollution effects outside Beijing, Ahwaz, Ulan the territory of a country. Bator, Lahore, New Delhi, For instance, Principle Riyadh, Cairo, Dhaka, 21 of the Stockholm Moscow and Mexico City Declaration (1972), are considered the top 10 and Principle 2 of worst cities for smog. the Rio Declaration Following the (1992), reproduced traditional two crop here, underline the system in a year, farmers responsibility of states in the Indian states of to ensure that activities

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 55 FEATURE

RANCHI Ayushman Bharat The Indian government has launched a national health care scheme called Ayushman Bharat. It is designed to benefit the entire population but there are many barriers that could obstruct the success of the scheme.

By Azhar Ali

NASA satellite image of Oct. 27, 2018 show- he Indian government announced the flagship health care program, Ayushman Bharat, in February 2018. Ayushman, a word from ing clusters of red dots in areas where fires Sanskrit, means blessed with long life. The slogan intends to create are burning over one square km. T longer lives for the Indian people through better health care facilities. It was on September 23, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (PMJAY) from within their jurisdiction or control do not Jharkhand's capital Ranchi. The scheme is described as the world's largest cause damage to the environment of other government-funded healthcare programme, meant to provide Rs. 5 lakh states or areas beyond the limits of national insurance cover to 10 crore families. jurisdiction. As such, it is the responsibility of Ayushman Bharat has generated an intense debate on the scheme’s the Indian government to control the paddy ability to offer respite to India’s poor and vulnerable. The scheme’s stubble burning by implementing the ban performance may well depend on an oft-ignored ingredient in Indian more strictly and facilitating its farmers to policymaking: data. Going back to September 12, 1978, the world’s weed out the straws mechanically because leading health professionals and officials from 134 countries gathered on the adverse effects of Indian smog have been this date in Alma Ata and agreed on a single point agenda i.e. ‘Health felt in eastern parts of Pakistani Punjab and for All’ by 2000. However, this dream could not be realized. A new especially Lahore in November 2017. slogan ‘Universal Access to Healthcare’ came from WHO in later years. Principle 2 of the Rio Declaration (1992) The difference between both approaches and missions is evident. While says: “States have, in accordance with the former promised health for all, the latter promised health care for the Charter of the United Nations and the all, though this actually encouraged illness. It was a divergence from a principles of international law, the sovereign preventive to curative approach. right to exploit their own resources pursuant With extraordinary developments in the pharmaceutical industry, to their own environmental policies, and the more and more emphasis was made on secondary and tertiary treatment responsibility to ensure that activities within against primary health care. Countries around the globe started to devise their jurisdiction or control do not cause strategies to provide easy access to such facilities for their populations. damage to the environment of other states or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.” In this regard, the Government of Pakistan will be well within its legal rights to take up the issue with the Indian government to prevent Pakistan’s territory from the menace of Indian smog within mutually agreeable timelines and may even ask for compensation if it does not stop. Perhaps bilateral talks between both countries, not only on the issue of smog but other environmental concerns as well, may help both countries in ridding their people of these problems and making the subcontinent a safe and healthy place to live for both nations.

The writer is former Chairman, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar. He can be reached at srsyed55@ gmail.com

56 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 One matter which stood out was failure only limit is the maximum amount many such schemes around the of public health care systems, especially available per year per family which globe. Turkey, which implemented a in the developing countries. The private is Rs. 500,000/-. There would be successful transition in the health care sector moved quickly to cover this gap insurance company models and trust sector, gradually re-introduced partial and gained the trust of people who models which a state can opt for. The payment by beneficiaries after ten years started preferring private hospitals to central government’s share may vary of initiation and managed the change government facilities. Governments from 70% to 90%, depending on status well. India would certainly need to take recognized (or failed to recognize) that of each state. The scheme covers a similar steps. The current allocations in the public health system was declining wide range of expenses, including pre the Indian budget for the scheme are and they started to find ways to sponsor and post-surgery costs. too low, risking even a smooth take the treatment of their populations Aysuhman Bharat aims at covering off. These allocations seem like token through other available facilities. a hundred million families with 500 money to keep the schemes alive in This Scheme has two distinctive million beneficiaries, making it the annual budgets rather than making a components. The first aims at world’s largest government-funded real impact. The government should establishment of a hundred and fifty health care scheme. However, one have planned the scheme in phases. thousand ‘Health and Wellness Centres’ needs to ask if the Indian government In the first phase, Health and Wellness (HWCs) across India. The idea of would be able to sustain the Centres (HWCs) should have been establishing these centres is in line with scheme financially, technically and established and strengthened. Primary the ‘Health for All’ declaration made in institutionally. It already has a crippling level service could have certainly Alma Ata in 1978. It is also in line with public health care system. Private health reduced the number of patients the Jamkhed Comprehensive Health care providers, no matter how sincere requiring further expensive treatment. Project that has been run successfully they are, would be profit-making This would have also helped the in India in the past. It also echoes the organizations. India has launched government to concentrate on health WHO’s call ‘Return to Alma Ata’ made similar schemes earlier but with limited rather than treatment. in year 2008 on 30th anniversary of budgets and a limited scope. The success of this initiative relies on the original declaration. The centres Ayushman Bharat is more various factors. The government needs would be community-based and would complex and more inclusive. Though to plan upgradation of the existing be able to provide health tips, some it has the potential to become game infrastructure and development of new treatment and advice from practitioners changer, considering the existing facilities very rapidly to cater to the of recognized alternative medicines. socio-economic conditions, lack of large inflow of patients expected after The aim seems to assist the population infrastructure and human resources launch of the initiative. Availability at the primary stage to relieve pressure and financial constraints in India, it is must be ensured of human resources on secondary and tertiary health care hard to trust this scheme towards really at different levels, to monitor and limit facilities. bringing in change at a mega level. corruption and, most importantly, to The second and more vigorous Currently there is no premium to be maintain financial flow to keep the component of the scheme is related paid by the beneficiaries but tends to scheme thriving. If the government to a decrease in out of pocket negatively impact ownership of users. manages to address all these issues and expenses which account for half of Along with widespread corruption, as not just a few, its population would the expenditures made by the patients. was observed in previous schemes, enjoy ayushman. Every eligible family would be entitled Ayushman Bharat too has limited to treatment from all government and chances of success. The writer is a senior solid waste private service providers. There is no The most important constraint management specialist. He can be limit on the size of family or age. The would be financing that has hampered reached at [email protected]

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 57 FEATURE

DHAKA provided support, reflected the repressed frustration people harbour against the government. This was the first reflection of the government losing its democratic Autocratic credibility among the masses. One other interesting aspect in the wake of the protests on the part of the government was that it seemed to be shying away from acknowledging Democracy the intensity of the problem and kept trivializing the issue as one of the Bangladesh is a democratic nation but it appears that ministers said that such accidents democratic norms in the country are driven by autocratic happened in India but did not result in protests. Some government officials considerations. even tried to portray the protests as engineered leg-pulling on the part of the By Inamullah Marwat opposition to malign the credentials of the ruling party in face of the elections here were student protests be strengthened? in December. in Dhaka against poor In view of the overall unfolding of The indifference of the government Timplementation of road safety protesting students, it is a fact that the after some of its officials tried to resolve laws in the wake of the death of two ruling party, the Awami League, has not the complexity with over-simplified students. They died because buses were been receptive to genuine issues of the statements, made it face more music over-speeding. They lost control trying public. This has resulted in a lot of pent- as it added fuel to fire and protests to collect passengers. The government’s up frustration among the masses against received more support from the masses. heavy-handed approach to counter the government. The issue of poor This betrayed the overall approach of protests in the aftermath has, along implementation of road safety laws was the government which, when faced with many other lacunas, betrayed the not something that erupted after the with genuine issues, either tries to inability of the government to live up students died. It had existed for a long belittle its significance or pigeonholes to the democratic credentials it claims time and poor implementation of laws the incident as a smear campaign on under the façade of democracy. The has, so far, consumed many precious the part of the opposition against the overall unfolding of the protests and lives. government. It also reflected on how what happened thereafter brings out According to the Bangladesh the government, with its so-called claim some interesting aspects of democracy Passengers Welfare Association, road to uphold democracy in Bangladesh, is in Bangladesh and how the government accidents consume over 7000 lives more driven towards consolidating its promotes itself. It seems, at its core, it in Bangladesh last year. The protests politically myopic interests, like staying is averse to its democratic credentials. were basically fed by the indifference in power. In light of the students’ protests, an on the part of the government, plagued The protests highlighted the effort has been made to understand the with corruption and bribes, towards government’s indifference and myopic nature of democracy in Bangladesh and the genuine problems of the public vision to the issue showed there was its inability to deal with it. The question on which students took a stand. The a lack of regard for any democratic is how can democracy in Bangladesh way protests erupted and the masses credentials. Instead of paying heed to

58 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 the issue with diligence and patience, the government seemed to have lost its temper Kathmandu and was resorting to a heavy-handed approach in dealing with the issue. In its attempt to calm down protesters, especially students who had occupied all the roads, the government deployed huge numbers of Migrant police who resorted to violence and used teargas to clear the roads. Many among the media and human rights activists became prey to torture for covering the protest. Manpower Such means of telecommunication as the internet were sealed. The government, through its student wing, Bangladesh If there is one aspect of Nepal’s socio-economic Chhatra League (BCL), helped by the police, tried to disperse the protesters by force. The condition that touches the life of just about every government’s hawkish approach to silence citizen, it is migration. protesters did not follow democratic means and incurred criticism from human rights By Syeda Maham Rasheed activists in Bangladesh and from around the world. The protests, if seen through the eese migrate south in the winters every year. Though I love prism of democracy, reveals more than travelling but I am glad most of us don’t have to relocate ourselves just frustration of students against poor Gevery season. Throughout human history and prehistory, human implementation of traffic laws. It is a stand beings are known to have extensively migrated and it turns out that against corruption with which police at migration isn’t just for birds. Social scientists have explained various large is plagued and the menace of bribery reasons for this human relocation based on different theories, such as through which transport unions get away invasion, war, disease, lack of job and education opportunities, climate, with traffic law violations. The protests etc. In modern times, both voluntary migrations (within the country, were an attempt on the part of the public region or beyond) and involuntary migrations (including human trading to occupy the space which it had ceded to and racial cleansing) have taken place. Human migration has an important the government institutions under a social role in the process. Whatever the reason, it has affected various eras in contract but in which they found themselves history, changing the culture, religion, demography, economy and state at the wrong end. What they wanted were of both the place from where people leave and the place they settle in. their legitimate rights and wanted the so- This results at times in innovations and mutual benefits, and at others, in called democratic government to pay heed major sufferings and destruction. to their grievances instead of debasing their In the last few decades, a dramatic growth in migration has been significance. experienced by the people of Nepal. This has made considerable One takeaway from the protests is changes in the composition of the population. Nepal, which was once that democracy cannot be tamed and its known for farming, exporting herbs and tea leaves, now exports people beauty evolving nature must be respected. and has become a country that has transformed South Asia. Almost every Democracy, when faced with differences other household in Nepal has one person living abroad or someone of opinion, openly welcomes them and who has returned. Although, the migrants earn well but they also face tries to accommodate them. In South major risks. Some undergo depression when leaving for another place Asia especially, democracy has been and travelling to a city or country where they don’t speak the language inherited from colonizers but the essence or know anyone. Others face abuse, beatings and long working hours. of democracy is hardly kept intact and Those who are unable to tolerate the unavoidable hardships return undemocratic means are resorted to push vested interests. This stifles democratic growth and gives rise to an outflow of repressed frustration that is triggered by minor incidents and leads to major violent outbursts. It is hoped that those at the helm in Bangladesh will introspect about how to uphold democratic values in letter and spirit when faced with protests. Otherwise, the self -appointed custodians of democracy are likely to face even worse public outcries for negligence of critical issues and Bangladesh will always keep lagging behind in terms of achieving real democracy.

The writer holds M. Phil in International Relations and is a columnist based in Peshawar. He can be reached at uinam39@ gmail.com

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 59 FEATURE

home in plywood coffins. according to the Central Bureau of people were only allowed to travel to Migration is nothing new to Nepal. Statistics figures of 2011. This disturbs India. At that time, the Gulf was also The internal migration pattern from the the country’s socio-economic stability developing. This made the region hills and mountains to the Terai has led as the population of the elderly is appealing in terms of employment to a rapid rise in urbanisation. This is increasing but they remain deprived opportunities as there was shortage of the “The Great Turnabout” as authors of proper care and support from labour, and on the other hand Nepal’s Hrabvoszky and Miyan call the change. their families and the government. economy was also affected which The 1981 census in Nepal indicated a Consequently, they are suffering from provoked more people to migrate for pronounced shift from a mountain- physical and senile problems and work. rural to a plains-urban society. Along have to sustain the agriculture as well Unemployment is still a major the southern border of Nepal, Terai is as the number of active workers or issue in Nepal and the export of people a fertile agricultural area comprising youth is diminishing. People in the (including more low-skilled workers) 60% farmland while the population villages suffer from these issues. The to foreign countries is increasing, that is concentrated in the hills and old people are also burdened from the especially when the inhabitants see mountains is 60% of Nepal’s total sociological point of view as they must that the annual income is being population. This exceeds the carrying participate in every social gathering. doubled in a family with money sent by capacity of the land and motivates A large number of people leave their migrant family members and they people to shift to more cultivable areas country every day for employment in the upgrade financially. Foreign migration and move to the agricultural hub of absence of employment opportunities leads to increased remittances which the country. Migrants suffer difficulties at home. Nepal is a key supplier or reduced the poverty level in Nepal in finding affordable and because exporter of labour to countries in from 42% in 1996 to 25.16% in 2012. industrial growth is limited. This makes the Middle East, India and Malaysia. However, this is also a main cause of the land an economic asset. Political The way people perceive Nepal’s decline in fertility and leads to more leaders do not want to see the hills and migrants has profoundly shifted from frequent family breakups. mountain regions in Nepal abandoned 'global warriors' to 'global workers' Many people in Nepal admit that for the Terai as they feel these areas during the last few decades. The rate migrant labour has provided them represent the cultural heartland of the of population increase proportional with better living standards. For others country. The shift of more people from to the rate of unemployment has it has been disastrous as they have lost the hills tends to create ethnic tension triggered the need to find an enhanced their loved ones in the struggle to attain in Terai between the people of the hills livelihood; the total number of Nepal improved living standards. Shifting to and plains. Deforestation in the Terai is nationals working abroad exceeds one a new country and starting a life from also drastically reducing the country’s million. As more men than women scratch is never easy. Leaving behind timber resources and is increasing soil leave Nepal to work abroad, female everything and starting a new life takes erosion and flooding. migrant workers are in a minority a lot of effort and people are often left Due to spontaneous migration and are very much under-researched. on their own in an unacquainted land from rural areas to urban centres and The Nepal government prohibited surrounded by foreign faces. to such countries, such as India, the new registrations of female migrants Nepal has struggled with U.S., Germany, Japan, Canada, UAE for travelling to work in the Gulf insufficiency and strife despite its rich and Qatar results in old couples in countries in 1998 to ensure security cultural past. Democracy is only a rural villages being left behind as they against physical and sexual abuse. The recent phenomenon and the people are wish to remain attached to their land government lifted the ban in 2003 and starting to get a taste of the amenities in the latter part of their lives. female migrants are now allowed to and freedoms that most countries take The annual growth rate of old work abroad in organised sectors such for granted. population in Nepal was 3.39% from as hospitals, hotels and shops. 1991 to 2001. It now constitutes Migration from Nepal for foreign The writer is a free-lance contributor. 9.1% of the total population. Among employment began when democracy She can be reached at mahamrasheed@ them, 75.8% live in the rural area was restored in the country. Until then, hotmail.com

60 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 BOOK REVIEW A Calibrated Blend By Nadya Chishty-Mujahid

aw academics Zubair Abbasi case went in favour of a wife who filed and Shahbaz Cheema have for divorce based on her husband’s Lconsolidated myriad aspects of homosexuality, terming it a type of Pakistani family law in an eminently severe and extreme mental cruelty. useful volume that can serve equally Yet another fascinating case dealt well as a legal reference text as well with issues of biological surrogacy. as a student textbook depending on Abbasi and Cheema also note that its audience. Bracketed between an Shia jurisprudence is more gender- introduction and a conclusion, the sensitive than Sunni. Though their book’s content is divided into four text does not have the space to delve impressive are the sections on lesser main sections dealing with marriage, into this latter point from a historical known aspects of Islamic law (lesser children’s rights, property rights and perspective, it would no doubt make known to the general public that is) laws concerning non-Muslims or for an intriguing future study. such as Hiba (gift) and Waqf (Islamic those who live overseas. Since Abbasi and Cheema, are Trusts). The sections on wills and Since the text is generally dispassionate scholars of law, they inheritance are also substantial. straightforward and comprehensive, rarely offer their own stance. It is But nowhere is the finely-tuned stemming from years of research and refreshing to observe that while knowledge of the experts illustrated experience, perhaps the best way in concluding the text, they make note as comprehensively in the text as which to review it will simply be to of what they personally term the WPP on laws regarding non-Muslims, highlight its salient features. Abbasi (Women’s Protection Principle). They especially as they comment on and Cheema underscore that family imply that their studies reveal how cases such as where conversion law in the country is a complexly the system does its best to protect the from Christianity to Islam has altered calibrated blend of state legislation rights of women, even regardless of the very shape and complexion of and Quranic-based law that has class or background. In the text they marriage and divorce. Another point developed over the course of the past give as much consideration to cases that the writers feel particularly couple of centuries. Indeed a few of involving the rights of prostitutes who passionately about is the issue the cases which they cite date from as have contracted marriages, as they regarding the rights and inheritance far back as the nineteenth century. do to a little-known but fascinating of orphaned children and what they Naturally what is of paramount legal concept called Kafa’a, which ideally deserve to receive when it importance to the text is the Muslim indicates that a woman may divorce comes to the distribution of their Family Laws Ordinance (MFLO), a man who is not maintaining her deceased grandfather’s wealth and and the writers commence each adequately at the level of the class property. The Federal Shariat Court chapter by noting the topic under to which she is accustomed. They has not been terribly sympathetic consideration, be it divorce, dower, specifically cite that the three- concerning this matter in the past or inheritance, and then underscore talaq procedure has been generally although the authors hope this may it by means of case-law - how interpreted in order to favour the change. certain cases have panned out and wife and her rights to maintenance. Thus, in its own understated judgements passed down. Several Speaking of dower and dowry, the way, the book is extremely notable personalities are mentioned sections on these matters rank as progressive, though it never deviates throughout the book, including some of the finest in the book; equally from its main agenda, which is Asma Jehangir and Syed Mahmood, to comprehensively delineate all but I would like to make special note aspects of Pakistani family law, be of Justice Jamila Jahanoor Aslam, to they major or ostensibly minor. whom the authors refer on a number Book Title: Family Laws in They provide, as I have already of occasions, especially judgements Pakistan noted, a good introduction and regarding women and children. interesting conclusion, as well as The reason for this might actually Authors: Muhammad Zubair a much-needed glossary, excellent be very specific. One unique aspect Abbasi and Shahbaz bibliography, and sound index. of this book is that in spite of Islamic Ahmad Cheema But perhaps the greatest service law often favouring the male (for that they do for law in general and instance a man is entitled to no-fault Publisher: Oxford University academia in particular is that they divorce in Islam whenever he wishes, do full justice to describing the and hence obviously by association Press workings of a complex, hierarchical in Pakistan) the authors take pains to and age-old system while subtly note cases where judgements have Price: Rs. 850 noting from time to time how even often been given in favour of women, the strictest and most religious laws sometimes surprisingly. For example, ISBN: 9780199408689 are necessarily affected by humanity one is struck by how a Quetta-based and modernity.

SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018 61 SAARC roundup

Shaukat Aziz calls for continuous cooperation and knowledge-sharing among developing countries

he 4th meeting of the Astana Club, an international receiving end should make sure that it has a flexible policy political discussion forum, took place in Astana in framework to deal with the changing situation in global TKazakhstan on November 12 and 13. The theme of politics. this year’s meeting was ‘Toward a Greater Eurasia: How to In his address, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev Build a Common Future.” Headed by Kazakhstan President highlighted major risks to the world and stressed the need of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the plenary session of the forum was addressing the destructive confrontational spiral and twists in attended by leading world politicians, Nobel laureates, geo- global geo-economics and international politics. political experts and diplomats from different countries. The 4th Annual Astana Club meeting was hosted by the Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who was Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan also present on the occasion, highlighted the significance of – Elbasy and the Institute of World Economy and Policy. continuous cooperation and knowledge-sharing among the More than 50 speakers from 33 countries participated in the developing countries. He said in today’s world any sovereign meeting, including Austria, Afghanistan, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, country can change its policy to suit its objectives and there is Britain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Spain, China, Norway, Russia, nothing wrong with this approach. He said the country on the Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, USA, Sweden and Japan.

Leading companies, foreign missions and international organizations operating in any SAARC country are welcome to forward their social / official happenings to [email protected] for possible appearance in this section.

62 SOUTHASIA • DECEMBER 2018