The threat to the federation and the foreign policy

Any federation stands on three pillars. Parliament, judiciary and army establishment. They are walking on a tight rope that needs perfect equilibrium. To maintain equilibrium without encroaching on each other's jurisdiction needs mutual respect that is needed to keep the federation intact but at the same time it is also essential not to be so independent to be unaware of each others. There should not be political divorce. In Pakistan it may sound difficult. Since out of the three the only established institution is armed forces. The other two have to go through a long process to root itself in the soil. They are on shaky grounds. Extreme care should be taken, not to allow the last two institutions to be politicised. It will lead to a disastrous consequences in case. Unfortunately the situation is not that easy in Pakistan, as we consider. Army has been in politics since the inception of the country. To extricate army from political process and make them more professional is not at easy task. It needs high degree of brinkmanship and political acumen, we lack both. We have seen the recent most disastrous results of the politicisation of the army. The loss of more than half the country is a matter of the past but the recent loopholes in our security should be considered seriously. The involvement of the army in politics is always at the cost of professionalism, needed for the security of the country. The three debacles by Egyptian army had the same reason behind. And now we are experiencing the same phenomenon. It has exposed the country to external and internal threats. Uncertainty and sensitivity in of the public about the survival of the state has increased. Unfortunately the Judiciary has chosen the same path. The civic societies regained their sovereignty after a long struggle. It was the judiciary itself to surrender its sovereignty. Day to day problems of the common man are piling up while judiciary is busy to solve the political problems. This judicial adventurism will take some time. The jurists have to digest the newly found liberty and to do its introspection and define its exact role. The parliament and the government has to take a long time to assert itself. It is a fledgling civilian government. The constitutional amendments will have a significant positive repercussions in future if allowed to blossom but needs time. Turkey is the latest example of such change. In the present circumstances the balance is heavily tilted towards the military establishment and the judiciary is at play in this breach. The public feel exposed to internal and external threats and at the same time there is no impartial and literally free judiciary to deliver justice judiciously and inexpensively. Both pillars are eroded by politicisation and have lost professionalism. The parliament and executive are squashed between the two. They need to cleansed and made functional without fear of the two giants. The apex courts have become army garrison. The core commanders are to fall in line at the command. Few politicians have added a fourth pillar, journalism. TV cafe have been established for evening discussions, for those who cannot get audience any where else. It is another mode to ridicule the politicians. It is an electronic parallel government and courts. They have superseded the actual courts in dispensation of the cases and giving verdicts. In this drop back we are faced with diplomatic isolation. The external policy is the reflection of the internal policy. Not only to reflect each other but to supplement each other. We don't have both. Scandaliesm is the corner stone of internal policy and double game of the external policies. The civil and military leadership is scared to admit that our relations with US is equally important as with China. They both are equally critical in its nature and sensitive, having long term political repercussions. The trade with India and improvement of other relations is of vital interest to Pakistan . I can't make any sense to put all the other issues in the freezer, till Kashmir problem is resolved or we capture Delhi and raise Pakistani flag on Lal Qilla. There is a terrible lack of realisation that we can be friends with both as for as it serves our national interests. The same could be applied to to the neighbours. Our foreign policy is based on surrendering one friend for the sake of the other and the nucleus is in delhi. There was a time that we were so close to Iran that we handed over the defence of Karachi to Iran during 71 war. To please the Saudi we put Iran on ice slab. Our foreign and domestic policies are bring run on sectarian basis. The sectarian policies in and abroad are eating up the security of the state like maggots. No one puts all the eggs in one basket. USSR never use to carry it's cosmonauts in one car after return from the space due to fear of an accident on the road and loosing both. It does not need high degree of intellectualism and statesmanship but simply needs common sense, though it is a rare sense. Should we go for confrontation with US till they apologise? It is beyond any comprehension that we could impose our parliamentary suggestions on another country? Our military and civil leadership both lack courage to explain to the public that we need American as much as they need. The civil government is looking towards military establishment and establishment is in a fix because they have played a big role in the radicalisation of the public. Apology is not really the core issue but it is the fear of the known. Have we framed our policy to put it on the table for discussions? Without framing the future relations we have confined our policy to sovereignty and apology. I honestly feel,it is an exercise to divert public opinion. We would have buried both, if it could serve the interest of the establishment The electronic mafia has blown out every thing out of proportion. They have passed the verdict on PM before the process is complete. Mian bothers have taken the responsibility to implement the decision of the court. Both are ridiculing the courts. But our courts take so motto actions in "special" circumstances. The army is tight lipped. Mian sahib is about to start long march on Islam Abad. Sindh and southern Punjab is ready to march on Lahore. I am afraid India may decide to march in Pakistan to settle the issue between north and south as we have no Abraham Lincoln to settle the issues.If Zardari is threat to democracy, Mian is threat to the federation. Once tried he can be trusted again.. Dr. Khurshid Alam London. 27/4/12