This is the “reform season” in Pakistan which periodically descends on us. At present there is a lot of debate on the need to reform the army, because this time the army has gone too far and pushed its toe where it is causing great inconvenience to the greatest number, with the exception of the elites.
The degree of inconvenience is inclining people to suggest that these reforms should be immediate.
This is what a toe in the wrong place can do. But I believe that as the desirability of reforms in the army is conceded, some pre-conditions need to be met before this course can be realistically embarked upon. In my view these are:
a. That, first Pakistan should be in as stable a condition as possible before any far-reaching reforms can be attempted.
b. That a situation in which our people and our army may openly be battling against each other must be avoided at all costs, because once the first shot is fired, no one can predict where this contest will end. But one thing is certain and that is that we will then be in considerably poorer shape than we are now.
c. In order to avoid such an outcome there will have to be a price to pay, and we have to be prepared to pay that price. And if the price to pay is considerably lower than that of a smouldering Pakistan, good sense suggests that we take such an option at that point in time.
d. Even if Pakistan survives but Imran Khan does not, we will have lost the battle because he is the only identifiable leader of stature who enjoys the support of the vast majority of Pakistanis, has equal credibility in the army, and who has any deep commitment to the cause of Pakistan.
e. So, a Pakistan in a state from which it can more easily be salvaged, and a leader with the support of the greatest number, whom we can trust to give his best to this salvaging effort, are the essential conditions to lift us up and for us to get somewhere.
Given the above, any reforms we talk about can be put into effect only AFTER someone like Imran is in power. Before this happens, discussions regarding these reforms can be little more than intellectual exercises done to give us clarity of mind about what such reforms ought to be.
- The first task is the need for the contestants to break the contest, move back, and create space where reassurance to both can germinate and grow.
- If we need to promise immunity to certain people so that we can thereby avoid a cataclysm which can easily spiral out of control and become a death knell for our country, I think we should go down that path.
And I am very clear about the punishments that need to be meted out to all those who have betrayed the country. But these punishments too are much like reforms and can only be meted out AFTER power has changed hands. In the present situation the more we talk about punishments, the more the mules and the asses are apt to dig in their heels and become immovable. This will lead to further entrenchment on their part and deepen the struggle.
And in this struggle for power to change hands, how could one be willing to risk seeing the very country one wants salvaged, be burned to the ground and the only leader who inspires hope, being eliminated in the process?
THIS IS THE CENTRAL QUESTION. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE ONLY ONE IDENTIFIABLE ASSET. AND THAT IS THE COMPOSITE OF IK AND THE HUGE POPULAR SUPPORT HE ENJOYS.
This asset MUST be saved. And it cannot be saved if one of its constituent parts is taken away from the other.
If you want to chart a course which risks both the country and this leader, well it’s your choice. In my view any price to save the country and this leader is worth paying. We need any compromise which promises us breathing space. Once we are allowed to breathe, we will have a chance of expanding this to a living space.