The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entire India and especially its media is surprised that despite 48 Hours of declaration of emergency the people of Pakistan have not come out on roads against military regime in appreciable numbers.

Rather on the contrary only the lawyers have shown some resistance to emergency, which any way does not matter as even if lawyers boycott courts or if are put in jail, the justice delivery system still can go on without much difficulty (as has been experienced in India also during prolonged strikes of lawyers. Rather when Judges / Magistrate heard the parties directly without advocates during lawyer's strike / absence then the cases got decided fast and in more numbers). Therefore at least for few months lawyer's absence from the courts in Pakistan also is not going to make any noticeable difference in day-to-day life of Pakistan.

But the main problem to emergency / military rule is coming from USA and its western & democratic allies who are unnecessarily pressurizing to establish absolute democracy (republic) in Pakistan without realizing that there is no democratic culture in this part of the world as is evident from the following: -

(i)- When Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in 1975 and put all its opponents in jail no body came out to oppose it in any appreciable manner.

(ii)- In Bangladesh there is no worthwhile opposition to military rule.

(iii)- In Sri Lanka it is has been armed struggle for independence by Tamils and no struggle for democracy.

(iv)- In Nepal it was armed struggle by Maoist for capturing power and not for democracy.

(v)- In Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi (having her government in exile in India) has already passed one and half decade of her life in house arrest without any hope of democracy in the country specially entirely on the support of its people.

(vi)- In China also armed struggle under the leadership of Mao did not usher in democracy.

Then why USA and its western & democratic allies are unnecessarily harassing Pakistan (old and tested ally of USA) to establish absolute democracy (republic), especially when they know that democracy cannot be given by military in charity?

Of course USA and its western & democratic allies are expected to spread human values in areas under their influence. But it can more fruitfully be done (as given below) by propagating human rights than absolute democracy (republic), especially in this region where most of the people are still denied their basic human rights of livelihood (due to mass unemployment), medical facilities, education, sanitation, house etc.: -

(1)- Program (as being taken up in India), The National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (NREGP) should be launched in all the districts of Pakistan where both the willing spouses shall be employed for 300 working days by Government of Pakistan.

(2)- This NREGP should be utilized to create assets for the State of Pakistan.

(3)- For mobilizing huge funds for NREGP from Taxes etc., the private sector should be allowed to attract as much foreign capital in Pakistan as possible for expanding productive capacity of Pakistan, preferably in primary than in secondary market (only control from Government should be on FDI / FII for keeping the identity of the beneficiary persons either in Pakistan or in the countries of these investors, so that terrorists and other undesirable elements do not get benefit of such liberal investment policy).

(4)- USA and its western & democratic allies can help in mobilizing this huge foreign capital inflow in Pakistan.

(5)- A mechanism should be developed at UN where citizens of Pakistan may secure their human rights ultimately through UN in case these are denied to them by the State of Pakistan (this facility can be extended later on, also to the citizens of other member States of UN).

(6)- Instead of absolute democracy (republic), the diarchy may be tried in Pakistan where head of the State, the President (supported by armed forces) will take care of martial affairs and assent to legislation of the country where as civilians may elect their Prime Minister, Chief Ministers etc who along with their cabinet colleagues and other people's representatives shall take care of civilian affairs of Pakistan.

(7)- In order to avoid coups by any military officer for replacing martial President, even institutionalizing the office of President through support of armed forces can also be considered after some time when Pakistan once returns to normalcy.

Hem Raj Jain

New Delhi.