Adil Najam
Pakistan Day is a day of celebration. But it is also a day of reflection on what we have been through and what lies ahead of us.
In this, the second in our series of special posts to mark Pakistan Day 2009, we want to focus on what lies ahead in terms of the biggest threats to Pakistan’s future. In the next post in this series we intend to focus more on the opportunities.
It is an understatement to say that Pakistan is floating through an especially precarious time in its precarious history. Indeed, Pakistan is passing through a defining time.
There is no dearth of threats facing Pakistan. But in this special ATP Poll for Pakistan Day we would like you to think ahead and respond to the question: “What, in your opinion, is the single biggest and most important threat facing Pakistan?” THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
Our ATP Poll gives you eight major options to choose from. If you think there are others that are even bigger, do let us know. Also, please comment on which of these is the most important one for you, and why? If, by any chance, you have suggestions on what to do about these threats do please share your views. That, after all, is the most important question of them all. THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
“The list is missing a very important option, especially given the focus during the past three years: inaccessibility to justice. It sounds cliche, but accessibility to justice is usually the primary determinant of a society’s failure or success.” Well said Eidee man. Also, “bad governance” and Incompetent politicians” should have been one catagory.
“According to some, the rate of poverty has reportedly gone up from about 24 percent to nearly 38 percent during the past three years. However, others argue that the actual rate of poverty in the country is higher, since they dispute the earlier official claim of poverty having been brought down to around 24 percent by the previous government.
Conversely, Pakistan’s defence spending, clubbed with administrative expenditure, has reached the alarming figure of 10 percent of GDP.
Poverty in the rural areas, where a majority of the populace still resides, is directly linked with higher levels of landlessness. Yet there has been minimal land reform since independence. Our economic planners have also remained unable to adequately increase the income of its rural citizens through alternative measures, even during periods of GDP growth.”
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20093\17 \story_17-3-2009_pg3_3
Rage and Violence:
“Forget militants, terrorists, psychopaths or hardened criminals. What we are talking about here are otherwise ordinary people who suddenly succumb to inexplicable rage, sometimes with fatal results. Fists come into play when a few sharp words may suffice. .. When mouths can’t be fed, when bosses are brutes, when the environment is poisoned, when there is no electricity for hours on end and no water for days, ordinary people can sometimes lose their senses completely. Violent reactions to frustration and privation cannot be justified of course. But we must ask ourselves what we have become and where we are going.”
http://dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20L ibrary/dawn/news/pakistan/rage-and-violence-hs
Pakistan, ranked 139 on Human Development Index: http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/
Pakistan, ranked 61 on World hunger Index. To put it in perspective, Pakistan is only 5 ranks better than India and twice as hungry as the poorest Latin American country Bolivia and hungrier than Congo. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7670229.stm
This might put in perspective, why some think that “extremism” is not “the number 1 issue” to an average person living in harsh conditions especially if considered in exclusion of other issues such as not being able to feed one’s kids, or that “extremism” may be an effect and not the cause of all ills.
I think the single biggest long-term existential threat to the nation-state of Pakistan emanates from India.
Before explaining why, first let me state categorically that I am neither an Indophobe and nor a GHQ apologist, in fact I admire the secular democratic and culturally rich credentials of India and at the same time abhor recurrent military intervention in national affairs of Pakistan. I also know that in the present era of relative Indian success it is politically incorrect to say it, but I feel compelled to say so because I honestly believe in it.
Independent United Pakistan’s boundaries were bigger than those of United India. The departing Chief of British Army in India said that independent Pakistan would need as big a standing army as that of India to secure its vast frontiers, an assessment which turned out to be true unfortunately (Source: The State of Martial Rule: The Origins of Pakistan’s Political Economy of Defense ). The blood bath of Partition and the belligerence of the narrow minded Indian leadership strengthened the fear in the infant psyche of Pakistani establishment as well as awam. The instinctive urge to defend against a huge opponent who was hell bend upon avenging the humiliation of a thousand year of subjugation and rule, resulted in creation of the disproportionally large Pakistan Army.
Pakistan’s infatuation with the west and her joining SEATO and CENTO was more out of the same desperate survival instinct than any ideological fervor.
The creation of the frankensteinian monster of freelance religious extremists the so called Jihadis, must also be viewed in the same background.
Lastly, creation of Bangla Desh would not have been possible, despite our demeaning hatred and prodigious incompetency, without the covert intrigue and the overt invasion of the then East Pakistan by India.
I haven’t checked the pol yet but I’m gonna put in words what I feel. Taliban and democracy should be our priorities for the moment, in the same order. In the long run, education and democracy will help us make a tolerant society where rule of law persists. In my opinion Mr Shamim’s argument is not very educated one. His priorities are not right. Examples he gave are either wrong or irrelevent.
Great poll. Most important and very pertinent choices. These are the questions that Pakistan and Pakistanis really need to think about and do something about.
Some Taliban apologizers and conspiracy theory people want to see everything connected to outsiders because they do not want to take the blame for our own mistakes. specially with religious extremes which is real problem in Taliban. That is real challenge we have to face and do something about.
Again, good work ATP for this very good and timely survey and forcing people not to make excuses about how things are “connected” or how everything bad is being done by outside forces.
Usmam
I am sorry but anyone who thinks that corruption is not a problem either has no clue about things or is purposely trying to distract people
People like Shahzad and Usman are just apologists for Raliban types trying to confuse what us clear to everyone…. The only real threat to Pakistan and to Islam are the mulahs are Taliban murderers.
I agree somewhat with Shahzad Shameem below, who has said that the biggest threat to Pakistan is the Pakistani himself. We have beaten our conscience into submission such that we violate everyday laws with impunity. e.g., littering, breaking traffic signals, bribing govt. officials, tax evasion, etc.
Another dangerous trend being encouraged by some people is that defying of state institutions is good for its own sake. E.g, Nawaz Sharif’s public rants and abusive language against the Supreme Court verdict that went against him is an example in this regard. Not accepting the Supreme Court verdict is one thing - publicly instigating civil disobedience can only further destabilize an already fractitious society.
Two things can bring back order into Pakistani society: One, reawakening of conscience at the individual’s level, and second, dispensation of justice. However, reawakening of conscience/personal responsibility comes first and dispensation of justice flows from it.
By the way, religious extremism and violence, USA and the west’s interference in our affairs, ethnic and provincial tensions and to a lesser extent, military intervention in politics, corruption and bad governance are NOT PROBLEMS but are SYMPTOMS of ECONOMIC AND RESOURCE CHALLENGES.
However, it can be argued that all these things are interrelated.
I request Dr. Najam to formulate his polls more carefully in the future so as to differentiate between symptoms and root causes/problems more effectively.
Once bitten, twice shy. I believe that the biggest threat to Pakistan is the rift between its provinces. In a federation like Pakistan, justice must be done when it comes to provinces like Balochistan. I must tell you that we are underestimating the depth of alienation plaguing the Balochi speaking parts of Baluchistan. Just division of resources between the federal components based not only on population but also on the need for development will give rise to a strong Pakistan. No amount of defence spending can keep a country safe if the own people are not happy with their fortunes.
http://real-politique.blogspot.com
Adil Bhahi, you have asked the most sensitive question, In my view is the biggest THREAT to PAKISTAN is the Pakistani itself.
Every one knows that slow and steadily our conscience, inner soul, Khuddi, self respect, culture being given sleeping pills/destroying in many ways especially in the name of Entertainment Media believe it or not.
Look at the History whenever the Khuddi/inner soul was being let to sleep or kept aside, then the centuries of Ruling, while governing million of miles area, having mountains of Treasurers, with millions of population couldn’t stop the downfall of the Muslims.
So have to keep awakened and awake the KHUDDI of our Generation (for which Allama Iqbal has been trying and telling through out his life), otherwise many many obsitcles, problems and troubles are waiting in line (GOD forbid).
In the beginning the thirteen years of training (611-624) A.D, at Mecca made the Sahaba Karams that much perfect and obedient, when in next 10 years at Madina shareef almost all laws of Quraan, revealed by Hazrat Jibraeel, obeyed insistently at once.
So here we have to wake up the KHUDDI/self conscience/inner soul as soon as possible. Then you won’ be afraid of anyone, any culture, any army or from any ISM.
We have seen:-
The most Literate the Country is Sri Lanka=condition in front of you.
The most advance Country of Europe =Every fourth child does not know his father name.
(once only Electricity gone in New York, everyone knows what happened)
The most well mannered nation considered of U.K=and the Kashmir issue is product of it.
America advising and concerned about Atomic weapons=is the only country who Used atomic bombs.
In America they are spending 1000$ per month., on their dogs=and millions innocent killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan…
In India from generation to generation lives in Big pipes etc.,..=but still spending billion of dollars on War Weapons annually.
So biggest THREAT not only to Pakistan is Pakistani whose khuddi been trying to made sleep, materialistic slow and steadily through media, rather I should say biggest
THREAT to HUMANITY is the Human being by himself until and unless the inner soul is awaken.
We have to arrange, manage our Syllabus of our Schools, Madarass, Universities according to teaching of Quraan Majeed in which Allah the almighty emphasis many times in the Exploration of the Universe for the benefit of the Humanity, with keeping in view positive thinking, self respect of others and full fill responsibilities given to us in our fields of life.
Beside this dramas/stage shows/newspapers/magzines and T.V programs should be organised in this regard.
As Allah the almighty emphasis many times in the Quaan, about Exploration of the Universe for the benefit of the Humanity, with keeping in view positive thinking, self respect of others and full fill responsibilities given to us in our fields of life.