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The contenders
Dr A Q Khan
Monday, May 06, 2013
From Print Edition
Random thoughts
Election campaigning is in full swing. Each party/leader is trying to outwit the other, even indulging in outright lies. Let us have a look at the main contenders.
First of all Imran Khan and his PTI. Many people, especially the young generation, had, and still have, great expectations about him, but his attacks on other leaders and his use of foul language has done him a lot of harm. All his salvos are aimed at Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif and they have become personal attacks. It is unfortunate that, rather than refinement with time, he has started using very uncivilised language, giving them indecent titles and even using such words as jackals.
Some readers have drawn his attention to this uncivilised behaviour and expressed their views in newspapers. For example, one Mr Hasham bin Masood, in a letter to The News (April 29), politely advised Imran Khan to desist from this bad habit, pointing out that such behaviour is tarnishing his image. He also advised him to desist from the blame game as people expect better things from him.
We have heard Imran using similar unacceptable and uncivilised words against Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Imran seems to be projecting himself as the next prime minister and tries to give the impression as if he has already won the elections but is just waiting to take the oath of office. One does not get the impression of a statesman from his speeches and he has never dealt with any national issues seriously. Every speech revolves around a cricket ball and wickets, and beating a horse that died 21 years ago. If he did get beyond this, it was only to deal with patwaris and thanedars(SHO).
Rather than wasting time in attacking other political leaders, he would do better to suggest solutions to the problems the country is facing. He should learn techniques of public speaking from Obama. It was a treat to hear him speak. You never hear him saying a word against Bush or the former government and he was always highly civilised in debates with Mitt Romney. What I am afraid of (and I sincerely hope I am wrong) is that Imran will turn out to be as dictatorial as Nawaz and Zardari. 20 years of association with not-so-well educated and subservient players seem to have left a lasting mark on his character.
It seems that the PPP is not seriously contesting this election thanks to its past disastrous performance. They were first shouting themselves hoarse against the trial of the graves but are now not at all ashamed of selling their dead. One sees nothing but old clips of Bhutto and Benazir and hear the slogan: The Bhuttos are alive. If that is the case, then all their past mourning has been merely for public consumption.
All the country gained from their rule is corruption, the plunder of national wealth, maladministration and the total destruction of industries due to loadshedding of gas and electricity. They seem to have adopted a policy of quietly going into opposition, waiting until the people get disgruntled with the new rulers and then coming back as martyrs and saviours on sympathy votes. They know that public memory is short. Their past criminal activities will soon be forgotten and then they will be able to once again buy votes on the basis of the departed Bhuttos.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has concentrated mainly on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and will probably win a sizeable number of seats there. He talks against drone attacks and the west, but is suspected of actually being rather friendly towards them. Replying to the attacks made by Imran Khan, he has retaliated by calling him an agent of the Jews. It is deplorable that our political leaders should indulge in such distasteful personal attacks on each other.
The MQM and the ANP are reaping what they sowed. They have been more loyal than the king. The MQM ruled for almost a decade and the ANP has been part and parcel of the government for the past five years. The PPP, the MQM and the ANP had the whole state machinery at their disposal police, Rangers, intelligence agencies were all under their control, yet they didnt do anything for the betterment of the people and the law and order situation. Now they are feeling sorry for themselves and shouting against the Taliban and their sympathisers.
Whatever success the PML-N achieves in the next elections will be due to the hard work and achievements of Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Against all odds (opposition by the centre, loadshedding, etc), he managed to deliver on his promises. Pervaiz has been blaming him just for the sake of finding fault. As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, I have given my views a number of times before.
In his article titled Nawaz has a lot to learn (The News, April 29), former ambassador Asif Ezdi has given an analysis of Nawaz Sharifs capabilities and calibre. He has pointed out that, despite a long-term at the helm of affairs, Nawaz Sharif has not learnt anything and doesnt seem to be capable of learning from past experiences. He is surrounded by sycophants; yes-men who were responsible for his earlier misfortunes and will lead him down the same alley again. His past record is a clear indication of his dictatorial mindset and his tendency to seeking confrontation with all institutions and individuals.
Nawaz Sharifs governments were dismissed twice; he attacked the Supreme Court, quarrelled with Mr Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Gen Asif Nawaz and Gen Musharraf. His appointing Musharraf as COAS by bypassing Gen Ali Kuli Khan (a very competent professional) was unforgivable and cost him dearly. All this casts a dark shadow on his capabilities.
Nawaz Sharif also boasts about turning Pakistan into a nuclear power. When my colleagues and I were making those bombs, Mian Sahib was melting scrap in a foundry. A sizeable number of weapons were ready in the early eighties and I had notified Gen Zia in writing that we could detonate at a weeks notice. Mian Sahib only had to take the decision to do the actual tests in May 1998. He should have the courtesy to give credit where credit is due those working day and night to turn this underdeveloped, backward country into a nuclear and missile power.
Mr Ezdis concluding remark reflects the true picture: Nawaz Sharif has a lot to learn and a lot to unlearn. In an interview with M Malik of Dunya TV, he failed to give unambiguous answers to the questions of drone attacks and Zardaris future role. People should be prepared for unpleasant surprises if Mian Sahib ascends the throne again in Islamabad.
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com
The contenders - Dr A Q Khan
Dr A Q Khan
Monday, May 06, 2013
From Print Edition
Random thoughts
Election campaigning is in full swing. Each party/leader is trying to outwit the other, even indulging in outright lies. Let us have a look at the main contenders.
First of all Imran Khan and his PTI. Many people, especially the young generation, had, and still have, great expectations about him, but his attacks on other leaders and his use of foul language has done him a lot of harm. All his salvos are aimed at Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif and they have become personal attacks. It is unfortunate that, rather than refinement with time, he has started using very uncivilised language, giving them indecent titles and even using such words as jackals.
Some readers have drawn his attention to this uncivilised behaviour and expressed their views in newspapers. For example, one Mr Hasham bin Masood, in a letter to The News (April 29), politely advised Imran Khan to desist from this bad habit, pointing out that such behaviour is tarnishing his image. He also advised him to desist from the blame game as people expect better things from him.
We have heard Imran using similar unacceptable and uncivilised words against Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Imran seems to be projecting himself as the next prime minister and tries to give the impression as if he has already won the elections but is just waiting to take the oath of office. One does not get the impression of a statesman from his speeches and he has never dealt with any national issues seriously. Every speech revolves around a cricket ball and wickets, and beating a horse that died 21 years ago. If he did get beyond this, it was only to deal with patwaris and thanedars(SHO).
Rather than wasting time in attacking other political leaders, he would do better to suggest solutions to the problems the country is facing. He should learn techniques of public speaking from Obama. It was a treat to hear him speak. You never hear him saying a word against Bush or the former government and he was always highly civilised in debates with Mitt Romney. What I am afraid of (and I sincerely hope I am wrong) is that Imran will turn out to be as dictatorial as Nawaz and Zardari. 20 years of association with not-so-well educated and subservient players seem to have left a lasting mark on his character.
It seems that the PPP is not seriously contesting this election thanks to its past disastrous performance. They were first shouting themselves hoarse against the trial of the graves but are now not at all ashamed of selling their dead. One sees nothing but old clips of Bhutto and Benazir and hear the slogan: The Bhuttos are alive. If that is the case, then all their past mourning has been merely for public consumption.
All the country gained from their rule is corruption, the plunder of national wealth, maladministration and the total destruction of industries due to loadshedding of gas and electricity. They seem to have adopted a policy of quietly going into opposition, waiting until the people get disgruntled with the new rulers and then coming back as martyrs and saviours on sympathy votes. They know that public memory is short. Their past criminal activities will soon be forgotten and then they will be able to once again buy votes on the basis of the departed Bhuttos.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has concentrated mainly on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and will probably win a sizeable number of seats there. He talks against drone attacks and the west, but is suspected of actually being rather friendly towards them. Replying to the attacks made by Imran Khan, he has retaliated by calling him an agent of the Jews. It is deplorable that our political leaders should indulge in such distasteful personal attacks on each other.
The MQM and the ANP are reaping what they sowed. They have been more loyal than the king. The MQM ruled for almost a decade and the ANP has been part and parcel of the government for the past five years. The PPP, the MQM and the ANP had the whole state machinery at their disposal police, Rangers, intelligence agencies were all under their control, yet they didnt do anything for the betterment of the people and the law and order situation. Now they are feeling sorry for themselves and shouting against the Taliban and their sympathisers.
Whatever success the PML-N achieves in the next elections will be due to the hard work and achievements of Mian Shahbaz Sharif. Against all odds (opposition by the centre, loadshedding, etc), he managed to deliver on his promises. Pervaiz has been blaming him just for the sake of finding fault. As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, I have given my views a number of times before.
In his article titled Nawaz has a lot to learn (The News, April 29), former ambassador Asif Ezdi has given an analysis of Nawaz Sharifs capabilities and calibre. He has pointed out that, despite a long-term at the helm of affairs, Nawaz Sharif has not learnt anything and doesnt seem to be capable of learning from past experiences. He is surrounded by sycophants; yes-men who were responsible for his earlier misfortunes and will lead him down the same alley again. His past record is a clear indication of his dictatorial mindset and his tendency to seeking confrontation with all institutions and individuals.
Nawaz Sharifs governments were dismissed twice; he attacked the Supreme Court, quarrelled with Mr Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Gen Asif Nawaz and Gen Musharraf. His appointing Musharraf as COAS by bypassing Gen Ali Kuli Khan (a very competent professional) was unforgivable and cost him dearly. All this casts a dark shadow on his capabilities.
Nawaz Sharif also boasts about turning Pakistan into a nuclear power. When my colleagues and I were making those bombs, Mian Sahib was melting scrap in a foundry. A sizeable number of weapons were ready in the early eighties and I had notified Gen Zia in writing that we could detonate at a weeks notice. Mian Sahib only had to take the decision to do the actual tests in May 1998. He should have the courtesy to give credit where credit is due those working day and night to turn this underdeveloped, backward country into a nuclear and missile power.
Mr Ezdis concluding remark reflects the true picture: Nawaz Sharif has a lot to learn and a lot to unlearn. In an interview with M Malik of Dunya TV, he failed to give unambiguous answers to the questions of drone attacks and Zardaris future role. People should be prepared for unpleasant surprises if Mian Sahib ascends the throne again in Islamabad.
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com
The contenders - Dr A Q Khan
