A snapshot of where we are
From the Blog PkColumnist.com: A snapshot of where we are - They are not even sparing the Hajis. It must take a peculiar kind of courage for a Muslim to fleece pilgrims to Mecca. But that is what our minister and ministry bureaucrats have allegedly done. Reports from Islamabad are that they are not the only ones with their hands buried deep in the till. Despite relentless media scrutiny and serious injunctions by the Supreme Court, the game of loot and plunder is in full flow. The consensus among the spectators is that most of the politicos holding moneymaking positions are in a hurry. They are working on the assumption that time is short and this is their last chance. It is sad to say, but according to many the new slogan of the party is not "Jeeay Bhutto" but "Luttoo tey phuttoo" (take the money and run). One well known minister allegedly not only takes a cut on stuff being bought with Pakistani funds. He has also asked the Americans to give him a percentage on the material they are providing with their taxpayer money. The power sector has become so notorious that international donor agencies not only know all the deals, they can even pinpoint who the front men are and how much was received. Other ministers and ministries are not far behind. Nothing illustrates this more than the National Insurance Corporation scam in which the corporation has been bankrupted with impunity. The beneficiary obviously was not just its "transplanted from Dubai" head. The money had to flow upwards. There was much talk a few weeks ago about the army leadership having drawn a line on corruption. The New York Times reported in great detail how Gen Kayani and the corps commanders have conveyed their misgivings to the government and asked for cleanup. Going beyond whether this should happen in a democracy or not, the assumption behind this story was that, with the most powerful institution in the country asking for action, heads will roll. The evidence six weeks later is that very little has happened. Ministers and corporation heads with filthy reputations continue to be where they are, and loot and plunder allegedly goes on. On the face of it, the strongest factor in the Pakistani power equation has also failed to check the marauders. It is interesting that, as the news of the army leadership's ultimatum to the government started to circulate, stories of corruption by generals during the Musharraf period hit the airwaves. What they are alleged to have done is horrendous. Borrowing billions from the banks to invest in the stock market or giving away millions to private power companies shows that they did not fear any kind of accountability. It is good that Gen Kayani has ordered an inquiry, although doubts have been raised whether he could do this, considering that NLC is effectively a civil institution. Those raising this matter miss an important point. Any action against senior military officers in the past has been resisted by the army. If the army leadership is now going ahead with an inquiry, it reflects a changed mindset and should be welcomed. Actually, this particular inquiry and its outcome present both a challenge and an opportunity to the army. It's a challenge because senior officers are like a closed family club and it is hard to punish one of its members for wrongdoing. It is an opportunity because anything that the army leadership says on corruption will be weighed against its own actions within its ranks. If Gen Kayani can demonstrate that he has shown zero tolerance for corruption within, his words will have greater resonance. This is an important factor because, as it is, with the threat of military takeover receding, the traction that the military has with civil authorities is bound to go down over time. The Zardari-led PPP government has often been compliant because it feared the army, and this fear stemmed from possibilities of direct or indirect intervention. Now, on both counts, this fear is beginning to lessen. It is obvious that the army neither can nor wants to impose another martial law. Neither is the desire there nor do the ground realities, both domestic and foreign, permit it. Indirect intervention has only two routes: through the courts or the numbers game in the parliament. This too has become complicated. The Supreme Court is on the backfoot for a number of reasons; not least among them that it does not have the same support in the lawyers' community as it used to. The numbers game in the parliament is a complex affair and, more importantly, to what end? Who will replace the current setup? No other party is in a position to muster a majority, and even if a patchwork is put together, it cannot last. The only other option is a midterm election if events lead to a hung parliament. What will this election bring? Either the same combination, or perhaps a dominant position for the PML-N. Would this outcome be more palatable to the army. Or, our principle partners, the Americans? Again, the conventional wisdom is that the army is not too fond of Mr Nawaz Sharif. His past record shows that he has difficulty accepting army interference in domestic affairs. And, ever since his return from exile, he has consistently taken a strong pro-democracy/anti-army-intervention line. This probably has not endeared him to the military. The Americans too are wary of Nawaz Sharif. He is no supporter of Al-Qaeda or terrorism, but that is not the impression that the Americans carry. They see him as a potential adversary, should he come into power. Their role in our domestic affairs may not be as much as it is made out to be, but why should they push for a midterm election, knowing that the beneficiary could be Nawaz Sharif. This effectively means that the possibility of a midterm election is off the table. And with the Supreme Court seemingly quiet, any possibility of an indirect intervention through the aegis of the army can be ruled out. What this means is that, like it or not, we are going to be stuck with this lot for at least two more years, and even beyond. There is only one other danger for the regime: a serious economic collapse. If this happens, then all other presumptions mentioned above would become inoperative. The situation is pretty bad now, what with the huge budget deficit necessitating a borrowing by the government from the State Bank of nearly three billion a day. If the IMF programme collapses, and with it other multilateral and bilateral assistance, the doomsday would be upon us. A default on debt repayments would put the currency in a free fall, with huge consequences. Inflation is already backbreaking and will skyrocket. This makes the reformed general sales tax critical, as well as an increase in power tariff. Only then would the IMF be satisfied. Are we up to it? Or are we still counting on Americans to bail us out in the end. What if they don't? . Read Full Post
Live with Khalid Butt 25 November 2010
From the Blog pkpolitics - > Live with Khalid Butt 25 November 2010 pkpolitics.com — Watch Today's episode of Live with Khalid Butt. . Read Full Post
Nokia X7-00 Spotted In a Video
From the Blog SizzledCore - > Nokia X7-00 Spotted In a Video sizzledcore.com — An unannounced Nokia smartphone has just popped up on the web in a leaked video and is being said to be the Nokia X7, though we're not sure as it doesn't say anywhere on the device that this is the real deal. Nokia X7-00 has been captured on video and shows a very sleek body,... . Read Full Post
Guide to Enable AirPrint on Windows
From the Blog ijafri - > Guide to Enable AirPrint on Windows ijafri.com — "AirPrinting is the way by which an iOS user can wirelessly print any document/objects. AirPrinting was enabled on iOS 4.2.1″ As you may all know, AirPrint works only for MAC and only supports some of the HP printers. But, however, there is a new application, called "AirPrint... . Read Full Post
0 comments :
Post a Comment