I blame all of Pakistan's problems on the corruption within the military.
Field Marshall Muhammed Ayub Khan / General Agha Yahya Khan takeover, economy prospers - all at the expense of East Pakistan.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq takes over, economy prospers - all at the expense of Siachin Glacier.
General Pervez Musharraf takes over, economy prospers - all at the expense of Federally Administred Tribal Areas.
After destroying Pakistan again and again, our military crawls back into their bunkers and lets the democratically elected politicians to take the stick.
Yeh kya mazakh hai?
Because the narrative sticks that no one is capable of saving Pakistan but them. Enforced not just by the military since the feudal have been part and participle with them. And to blame it all on the military is also incorrect circumspection. Ayub was not appointed Chief by the military but by Iskandar Mirza.. albeit he deceived his way into command. Iskandar mirza however, was generally an honest man even if his policies were incorrect. Because the Muslim league had been as such a collection of opportunistic men save a few.. it came to show right after partition.
Ayub's rule however, forever enslaved the military to the feudal concept of appointing peers and sycophantic toadies in high command as compared to meritorious people. The problem being, that the very people(who really don't know any better) who elect these feudal are also the same who call the Army back after the feudal rule. The Army who in all earnest are cultured from inception into regarding "
bloody civilians" as inept welcome the chance to do their "
patriotic" duty..but eventually the idea of an identifiable 3% symbol of the population calling the shots for the rest at every turn does not sit well with even the general simpletons who call themselves Pakistanis.. and then the cycle of handing power over to the other 3% who aren't easily that identifiable as a symbol starts again.
However, while there is little chance of changing the 3% in uniform in composition and culture.. regardless of meager increases in education and communication.. there is a chance of changing(or supplanting) the 3% of these civilian leadership heads.
As witnessed in the elections, this does not happen overnight.. but it does happen. Regardless of the cesspool that is the content of Pakistani media and "Tajziakaar" there is still enough accountability visible there to spur certain sections on. Hence even if it is a slow and tedious process it does take effect. Moreover, these changes also effect the military.. the Lt of today is not the Lt of the 90's. He has a FB account.. where he does browse pages.. and hears narratives from what's taught at Kakul and whats read elsewhere.
He too sees Hamid Mir on Capital talk and it does effect him in whatever way it may. He too does, at some point.. feel frustrated at Radio's that dont work in valleys and is more likely to give that feedback or let other's know.
Wajahat Khans program was not banned because it showed classified equipment.. it was banned because it showed certain frustrations and deficiencies with the equipment given.. it showed that regardless of whether you call them "Deemak" or whether they consider you "inept".. these people are more and more connected to the general population and a part and participle of it.
So they are also prone to the very same feelings of frustration.. and temptations that exist within the rest of the nation.
They too get frustrated by the game of shadows that plays out and secretly have their doubts. But something goes terribly wrong when they hit the three stars because they suddenly get completely disconnected from their roots. Some don't.. but a lot of them do(along with their families.. which is a phenomenon common to all Pakistanis). And that world, the mystery of it.. hidden behind walls that enshrine mansions and golf courses... with a motorcade housed within them along with constant electricity..is what invites the envy..and ire of those that work 9-5. Because to them, the Feudal is still someone you can at some point.. get someone angry on..at some point you can get that man to answer for his wrong doings or at least make him feel threatened at some point.
Here, are the proverbial gods among us..Olympians who seem to only answer to Zeus and no one else. This Olympus also has the upper hand on the other one and regularly boots the other one out.. among with other powers such as taking over any land it wishes(such as beautiful hilltops in Tourist areas...but then again.. the civvies are too inept and corrupt to be able to take care and enjoy it.)
Yet.. thanks to the British and some genuinely good officers(Thank the almighty that we have a volunteer Army) the system for one Olympus is still very intact for all its shortcomings and has checks and balances that(at least for the bottom to middle rung) works acceptably to de-thorn and de-lice its composition to ensure that some of the best do come out front and ensure that professionalism is maintained to an acceptable degree where it counts. Which is why you will still be more eager to invest in D.H.A than anywhere else(even though the idea of prime land being taken over would irk most people) and generally do feel a sense of comfort when the military takes over since(for a certain time anyway)..things seems to run as they should.
So within our two realms of the gods.. that *** the Margalla hills and one in Pindi.. are those that we cannot seem to change or make answer no matter who we vote for. After all, lets be fair.. we know that it matters little to the laborer in lalamusa whom he votes for as long as he gets his two rotis and sabzi.. and his pedestal room fan runs once in a while.. He cares little beyond that little circle of his apart from table talk and I for one would rather not have him given the right to vote. Those who do care, who think , who ponder(as pointed even in the Quran).. have the true assessment of stakes and appreciation of them. So unless these people go out and make informed, intelligent.. and non Bradrana decisions.. there is little chance for things to improve overnight...slow and steady...with increasing education is the only way.
Because even in 30% educated population.. there will always be the 10% parhe likhe jahil who are found in abundance voting on the basis of short term gains or for their uncle.. content with sending ten emails out and considering it halal work. There are those who only join an organization like SPD because its secure 45k package and house.. along with little actual work needed apart from signing files discussing pithy female forms while having a smoke in the tea breaks. So within these people and rest of the "Ghulam" class(A look at the history of the Arabic word Ghulam will reveal a lot the brilliance of what Islamic teachings on Slavery really are).. there is still a potential for change.. and that is to end the "Ghulami" to ignorance..that can be done through education AND exposure.
So do not lose hope yet, in democracy, the power of education ..and the Fauj.. Because part of the 55% turnout were some 5-600 k votes that came from the Military.. because they are not alien, not a different breed as much as we and they stress. They are a part of Pakistan and have as much to lose as the rest of us. They too have differing views.. and differing intellect...and differing levels of honesty and dedication. And they too get to feel loadshedding now almost as much as the salaried class does.
I joked with all of my friends whose fathers are in the military.. that you can tell Pakistan is in bad shape.. when the Staff car goes CNG.
