Pakistan celebrated its 70th Independence Day earlier this week. On the occasion, the Pakistani media took stock of the country’s achievements and failures in the last seven decades.
The edit/op-ed pages of leading newspapers published in-depth analysis tracking the trajectory that Pakistan followed after its birth as a Muslim homeland. One common thread which runs through most of these writings which have appeared in the past few days is a lamentation over the nation’s deviation from Jinnah’s idea of Pakistan.
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‘Pakistan Has Become Virtually a Beggar’
On the eve of Independence day, the largest-selling Urdu daily Jang published several articles on the subject. One of them, titled “Sattar saal baad” by Dr Safdar Mahmood, deals with Pakistan’s failure to emerge an economically powerful nation.
Read excerpts from Dr Safdar Mahmood’s article published in Jang below:
Seventy years is a long time in the life of a nation. China became independent two years after Pakistan and countries like Singapore, Korea and Malaysia began their journey of economic progress only three decades ago. But within no time they have left us far behind.
According to the author, till the time of Ayub Khan, Pakistan’s economic growth was considered a role model for third world countries.
“But in the past few decades, Pakistan has become virtually a beggar in the economic world and it has mortgaged its future in lieu of debts,” he claims.
The writer points out that the progress and development of nations depend on competent, far-sighted and honest leadership.
A leadership which lacks competence, vision, integrity and character cannot inspire a people and bring any major change in a country… Economic progress needs hard work, passion, discipline and an intense desire to reach the goal. Only a nation which has total faith in the integrity and character of its leader can have these virtues.Excerpts from Dr Safdar Mahmood’s article published in Jang
He argues that the principal reason for the success of the movement for Pakistan was Jinnah’s single-minded devotion to his cause and his honesty.
“The people trusted his leadership blindly because of this integrity… And the Quaed delivered whatever he promised. He sacrificed his health, life and gave away his hard-earned money for the nation,” he writes.
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In contrast, after the departure of Jinnah and his associates from the scene, politics and power became the means to loot wealth, promote corruption and nepotism. “This has resulted in the erosion of all moral values,” he writes.
‘The Dangers are Bigger Than Corruption’
Another article on the same page by seasoned journalist Najam Sethi warns of a deepening political and social crisis in Pakistan. Referring to the growing public agitation against corruption, he says the country is heading towards a much bigger instability.
The dangers are bigger than corruption. The Pakistan Spring triggered by the combined forces of judiciary, Army and Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf is leading to a deepening of the crisis which will have serious consequences. A horrifying future is awaiting us.Najam Sethi in an article in Jang
Quoting a three year old survey conducted by the British Council, Sethi writes that half of the country’s population comprises youth who are below 20 and 65 percent, who are below 30. He opines that by 2018, an additional 15 million youth – most whom are conservative, unemployed and angry – will achieve voting rights.
If on the prodding of unelected institutions, they decide to vote to power religious and ultra-right wing parties then no one can save the country from facing Middle East like violence, instability and civil war.Najam Sethi in an article in Jang
‘Instead of Getting Kashmir, We Lost Half of Pakistan’
An editorial published on 14 August by another popular Urdu daily Nawai Waqt points out that after the death of Jinnah, Ayub Khan imposed an autocratic military rule in Pakistan, taking advantage of the bitter rivalries among the political leaders.
In 70 years, the country had been under military rule for over 33 years. The failure of our foreign policy can be gauged from the fact that instead of getting Kashmir, we even lost half of Pakistan. Had our political leadership been true inheritors of Quaed-e-Azam then democracy would have thrived and the country would have progressed and prospered by utilising its resources.Editorial published in Nawai Waqt
The editorial further says that Pakistan was first weakened by the unholy alliance of opportunist politicians and the establishment which created political instability. Today, it has been further weakened by terrorism which is shaking the foundation of the country, the editorial reads. “Today we should really be concerned about the survival of democracy and security of the country,” the Nawai Waqt edit adds.
An op-ed article titled “Azadi ke sattar saal: ham ne kya khoya kya paya” in the same daily by Gen (Ret) Aslam Beg also paints a grim picture of the neighbouring country which he claims was weakened by frequent military rules.
In less than ten years of Pakistan’s creation, Ayub Khan seized power and made the US our masters. He later regretted his decision but the albatross remains stuck to our necks… He handed over power to Yahya Khan whose follies resulted in the dismemberment of the country.Gen (Ret) Aslam Beg in an article titled “Azadi ke sattar saal: ham ne kya khoya kya paya”
He then goes on to recall how another general Zia-ul Haque executed democratically elected prime minister Bhutto and how another military dictator Pervez Musharraf compromised with the security of the country.
“He not only brought terrorism in Pakistan by fighting the US war in Afghanistan but also opened a new front with that country,” he writes, adding that the judiciary, administration, some political and religious parties and the elite also became partners in this crime.
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Comparison With Bangladesh
An article in the Jang on 16 August says that many a times, Pakistan deviated from the path of progress and prosperity and followed the path of destruction and decline. “Our leadership led us to the brink of disaster. It seems our people do not have the acumen to distinguish between good and bad leadership,” writer Irfan Siddiqui claims.
Many countries attained freedom after Pakistan but they left it behind and today occupy front row seats among developed countries. Siddiqui then goes on to compare Pakistan with India and Bangladesh.
India and Pakistan achieved independence together while Bangladesh became independent much later. Indian rupee is ahead of our currency but now even Bangladeshi taka has surpassed Pakistani rupee. The volume of Bangladesh’s exports in just textile sector is equal to the entire export of Pakistan. Bangladesh’s towns and cities and its infrastructure are much better than ours.Writer Irfan Siddiqui in an article in Jang
Siddiqui however adds that there is no need to despair because Pakistan at 70 is still a young and resilient nation which has the capacity to recover and move ahead after suffering every setback.
Past Mistakes
A long editorial in the leading English daily Dawn, deals at length with political instability and militancy which have caused setbacks to the country’s progress.
Undeniably, the problems of today are rooted in the mistakes of the past. The rise of extremism and the spread of militancy are linked to the many wrong choices the country has made in its first seven decades of existence.Editorial published in Dawn
Dawn, which was founded by Jinnah and carries his picture on the masthead, recalls that Pakistan was nearly an impossible dream. “It became possible because of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. It is time the nation fulfilled Mr Jinnah’s dream of a more inclusive, more progressive, more peaceful and more successful Pakistan,” it concludes.
(The writer is the former editor of The Asian Age, Kolkata and a Urdu columnist.)
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