This is no joke
April 21, 2001
The government's reaction to the Supreme Court's earth-shaking judgement over-turning in the sternest language, Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari's conviction by what is now pronounced to be a biased bench of the Lahore High Court, is puerile to say the least. Exactly on the day that the judgement was splashed in the newspapers there was the ever present "government spokesman" mouthing off mindlessly, yet again: "Benazir Bhutto forgets her previous stance, but the people of Pakistan have a sharp memory. She opted for self-exile just to avoid appearance before courts (sic) to prove herself innocent of all charges of corruption and misuse of power. Perhaps she has no regards (sic) for the judiciary and she has always made efforts to politicise criminal cases and portrayed herself as innocent in the eyes of common man (sic)." This 'rebuttal' appeared exactly opposite the banner headline: "SGS case judge biased: SC".
The spokesman, by issuing this ill-timed and ill-worded statement has himself done the job that was Benazir's to do. For the Supreme Court's harsh words about the convicting bench prove every little point to Benazir's advantage. Yes, her case was "politicised" by the interference of Saifur Rehman and by the judge inappropriately demanding and getting, a diplomatic passport issued to himself and his wife; and yes, now that the Supreme Court has set aside the convictions, the perceptions in the minds of the people who do have 'sharp' memories are that she is, indeed, innocent! Necklace (or, variously, according to our press: neckless, neckles, neklace, and, believe it, NICOLAS!!), or no necklace. But surely, our spokesmen and those who approve their output live in this country too, surely they interact with their compatriots too. Why then must the government blinker itself to such an extent that it puts its name to such thoughtless nonsense, which damages it in no small measure, showing that it is completely out of touch with reality.
No sirs, it is no joke, this judgement of the Honourable Supreme Court. It must be taken most seriously by the government, which must not allow it's legal experts to put spins upon it and give 'Sab Accha' reports. The whole game of what the public thinks is right or what it thinks is wrong is based on perceptions, not facts, whatever they may, or may not, be. The perception surely is that while one set of politicians from the smaller provinces are hounded mercilessly: one hanged after a trial, which these 22 years later is the subject of much debate, and another openly targeted by the Establishment (as publicly admitted by Generals Hamid Gul and Asad Durrani) through bribing her opponents with government moneys to destabilise her governments and water down her electoral victories; the other set from the Punjab is let off. That is the perception, like it or not. Nicolas or no nicolas.
It is obvious now, as it was when Saifur Rehman was ruling the Accountability roost, that the not-too-bright and very grabby Nawaz Sharif, in his haste to become the undisputed Lord and Master of all he surveyed, had instructed his flunkeys to use hook or crook to get Benazir convicted immediately if not sooner. In so doing he quite foolishly, not only exposed the Lahore (Punjabi, please note) judiciary to the severe censure of it's own Senior Brothers, he has also put paid to all the Accountability hype generated by his government, and which was, quite needlessly, pursued by this one too. Which could, as it was counselled by many, have re-opened the cases and investigated them in a fair manner, making sure that others charged with great wrongdoing, such as the stalwarts of the 'Like-minded' were put through the wringer too. Then and only then would a conviction stand legal, and public, scrutiny.
But what should the government do now? What should it do now, when it has demonstrably protected some people while going after others? While NAB is daily coming out with more and more references against Benazir and Asif, the government would do well to apply its mind earnestly to the "P" word: Perception. How will the populace perceive Benazir's further hounding? Badly, is the quick answer, if she is the only one who is going to be held accountable. However, there is a way out even now. It is still not too late to haul up the others too. The government still has time to convince the people that it has no favourites, for which the imperative is that it be fair, and be seen to be fair, to all. The list is long, but a military government, which still has over a year allowed by the Supreme Court can do it. Indeed, why can the government not set up a permanent Accountability, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (as has been suggested by many political leaders) made up of respected people - from amongst judges, politicians, civil servants, academics, businessmen, journalists, the armed forces, and agriculturists. For surely there are men and women of honour in all these professions.
This will also help in paving the way for the way out of the imbroglio. The intent is clear, there is no point going over it again and again. More importantly, many people in the country, I among their number, have no problem with it. Surely, General Musharraf is a better man than General Zia, Mr GIK, Sardar Farooq, and the present incumbent of the Big House on the Hill put together and multiplied by five. The question is how he should ascend the Hill and tenant the Big House? What should the modus operandi be? Should the General continue with the 'Like-minded' - one wishes they would get a better name for themselves - who have proved that they are not as hot as the CE's advisors thought they were? Should he start afresh on the accountability angle and haul up all those against whom there are old-standing allegations of corruption and wrongdoing, a large swathe of whom are to be found in the ranks of the 'Like-minded'? Should he initiate a dialogue with the other political forces in the country, the most powerful of which is the Peoples Party, and in a spirit of give and take strike a deal acceptable to all?
Whilst the most attractive option, according to the General's advisors, is to continue with the 'Like-minded', replacing Mian Azhar with Ilahi Baksh Soomro for the Prime Ministerial slot, and such-like engineering, let me once again caution the government that this will hardly do it any credit. No, the best way out is the National Commission. Let that Commission go through the allegations, impose reparations and penalties, and let those who are deemed fit to re-enter public life, do so with honour and dignity. Let the Commission bring us together, help us bury that part of our past that is insalubrious, and make a better Pakistan for our children and theirs.
The author is a former press attache and was press secretary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto