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Snakes and Ladders

In keeping with speculation in the media, Javed Jabbar ultimately quit the Federal ladder, resigning also as Advisor to the Chief Executive (CE) on National Affairs. In a surprising move, Shafqat Jamote, the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, also departed, albeit for different reasons. Rumours of an internecine battle for media turf had been fanned assiduously by those with motivated interest. One feels Javed Jabbar was not slotted properly, his genius of speaking should still be used by the CE to articulate the government’s viewpoint at the higher levels in world capitals. He would have been more than useful as a Foreign Minister, however since one strongly believes Shaukat Aziz would be much more potent in that role, as an Ambassador-at-Large with the rank of Federal Minister. Javed Jabbar could be a trouble-shooter extraordinary whenever and wherever Pervez Musharraf feels Pakistan’s basic message was not getting across to those who mattered or that Indian propaganda needed to be countered where it mattered. Shafqat Jamote acted rather hastily, one feels he could have exercised greater patience.

When the CE asked the Federal Interior Minister in the last cabinet meeting as to what action was being contemplated against those giving “anti-Pakistan statements”, indulging in “character assassination of the Pakistan Army”, etc, reading between the lines (it tires the eyes less) was most interesting. The Interior Minister’s reply was not reported, but what someone else “volunteered” on an issue unconnected to his domain figured very prominently in the media. Was it an indicator about the next domino to fall? The “volunteer” may literally be “gunning” (and that may be an appropriate pun) for Moinuddin Haider’s job. Some people are so predictable, it is amazing. Like a jigsaw puzzle coming together, things have started to fall in place.. The unscrupulous make their services indispensable to whomsoever they serve by fabricating “dossiers” containing conspiracies being “planned” by the man’s “enemies”. Since every man is human, this stoking the fears of the person at the top is one sure-fire method of maintaining their usefulness to that person. As if on cue, one of this man’s known “hit men”, a retired intelligence operative, notorious for having been reported by the Afghan Mujhahideen for gun-running in Gidri Forest (near Chagai) at the start of the Afghan war and who was sacked from his cover post in Dubai by the Army Chief on a complaint by the Pakistan Ambassador in UAE (and was posted to Burma directly so as to protect him) surfaced in Karachi to “investigate” the activities of the “known enemies of the Chief”, so he told those he contacted. That all this may be a vested figment of imagination of a perverted mind (and soul) does not matter, any fiction can be suitably tailored to accomplish the ultimate aim. Schoolchildren can be very cruel in giving such nicknames as are suitable to the person’s character, what inference does one draw about any man’s character if he has been named “Cobra” by his classmates. The snake may shed its skin, the character will remain the same. Unfortunately when placed near a position of power this can be very lethal, particularly to those in power. One may well ask, in the midst of a national crisis, what is more important, personal vendettas or the national agenda? If the CE continues to permit such people near the helm of affairs, the future is predictable. Some people thrive only in strife, by creating misunderstandings based on invented facts. Thankfully Pervez Musharraf is neither naive or gullible as others may like him to be, otherwise he would be sitting where Ziauddin Butt is, is it a mere coincidence or is it the compulsions of the seat they occupy that intelligence Chiefs invariably indulge in intrigue as a matter of routine? Thankfully Mahmud has kept things professional, he must go further and not allow his Dets to be used as logistics bases for private “Dirty Tricks” operations. His predecessor Ziauddin Butt succeeded in poisoning Nawaz Sharif’s ears against his own boss Pervez Musharraf, albeit with dire consequences, both for himself and his mentor.

What is more perturbing is that those who operate behind the scenes are tolerated despite their known weaknesses. The Chief is an ardent fan of Richard Nixon, he himself showed a quote to Arif Nizami from Nixon’s book “Leaders”, “A leader’s most precious resource is his time. If he squanders it on the non-essentials, he will fail. Among his most important choices are those in which he selects what he will do himself and what he will leave to others and also those in which he selects the people to whom he will delegate. The leader has to be able to get good people, and also to get rid of those who for whatever reason do not work out. Firing people can be one of the most difficult tasks a leader faces but also one of the most essential. The easy cases are those where the subordinate is venal or disloyal. The tougher ones are those in which he is loyal, dedicated, but incompetent — or where there simply is someone else available who would be better. That is when the leader has to steel himself to put public responsibility ahead of personal, feelings.” Unquote

The most important facet of good governance is the ability of those in power to stay above individual preferences or dislikes in any fray, domestic or public. Reliance should only be placed on credible reports from colleagues and subordinates of known integrity, certainly not those having a personal angle in airing such a report. While addressing people publicly, speaking to smaller audiences privately or even individually, the Chief Executive comes across extremely well, as a man who means what he says, that he is open to ideas and/or suggestions, even criticism if the criticism is well-founded. With this he has declared an open season on himself, people normally take it on themselves to proffer advice on a range of matters, it is for his staff first, and then himself, to sift through to ascertain fact from fiction remembering that vested interest in Pakistan (and one daresays all over the world in varying degrees) have made it a habit to invent stories to suit their ambitions and/or free themselves of troublesome priests (to paraphrase that attributed to Henry the Second in “Becket”)? Some suggestions may well not be to the Chief’s liking, what he has to watch out for are reports/suggestions by people with self-motivation, of dual (and even triple) characters. The country’s best interests are only served when the CE looks only at macro-policy issues rather than be overwhelmed by the machinations of those who have climbed to various levels on the back of falsely created controversies. Unfortunately in Pakistan as in most places of the world, rhetoric means much more than substance, perception rules over reality, personality has a dominant driving force. Real-life has many extraneous compulsions but in the pursuit of good governance the nation’s best interests must come before any other, particularly in choosing the right people to help lead the nation through the present crises. I quote Field Marshal Slim twice from his book “Unofficial History”, “Do not take counsel of your fears” and “it pays to be bold”, unquote.

Pervez Musharraf has been targeted by a very vicious smear campaign simply because he is the head of the Pakistan Army and that is the real object of hatred being disseminated by those who want nothing but to dismember Pakistan. To deflect the force of that hatred he has to reach out to all good men (and women) to help him shield Pakistan, to those who love Pakistan more than themselves. He has to shake himself loose from the clutches of petty people, those who hold their own interests for more superior to the nation, from those who operate from the shadows because they cannot dare come out of their holes in the stark light of day. This country can only fight back successfully when we are united both within and outside of government. For Pakistan there is no room for pessimism, we can only think positive. To that end we don’t need to look back at the past, we have no need to import the Moin Qureshis of the world to help us out but rather we must depend upon those who believe in this country and can deliver not only because they live in it but are prepared to die for it.

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