Why Zardari understands Pakistan's problems better than Imran Khan - Aakar Patel

[zardarifan]

In his short but magnificent speech of August 11, 1947, the Quaid-i-Azam begins by instructing his government to settle the chaos of Partition. He ends by revealing his beautiful, humane side, telling us he sees people without noticing their religion.

In the middle, he lists Pakistan’s problems. According to him, these are three: corruption, black marketing and nepotism (Jinnah uses the quaint term ‘jobbery’). Was he correct in assuming these were Pakistan’s problems? This question is important because Imran Khan also believes that Pakistan’s problems are the same. Corruption is his primary theme and he ended his Karachi jalsa by promising his supporters never to succumb to chamchagiri. If he were asked to name a third problem, he would likely say loss of Pakistan’s sovereignty. As a Pathan, he feels loss of honour in fighting America’s war and in asking for aid.

To return to Jinnah’s list, were these Pakistan’s real problems? No.Pakistan’s breaking up, 25 years after being formed, was not because of corruption. The decades of military rule and the rise of the jihadis are not because of nepotism. Pakistan’s economic condition is not the doing of black marketeers.

What are the problems then? To the outsider, it appears there is only one. The orientation of the Pakistani state is wrong. And it isn’t aligned correctly because of its ideology, whose prenatal trait is more pronounced each passing decade. This flaw produced the state’s resolve to defy India at all costs and the subsequent dominance of the army, which has led to the emasculation of its political parties and made politics irrelevant. The successful penetration of this ideology has resulted in the population’s rejection of its own ancient culture. Indians are as corrupt as Pakistanis, as nepotistic and as poor. Most Indians don’t like their politicians. However, they don’t have a crisis of the state and no need for a saviour like Imran. Why? Simple. India’s secular constitution is accepted by all its parties, right, centre and left. Even the BJP insists on secularism.

India has one of the world’s most bigoted societies, true. But it has outstanding laws and a constitution as good as if not better than any in Europe. The state is aligned correctly, the orientation is right. In such conditions, progress is possible and despair is held at bay.

The equality of human beings is not something we should waste time debating in 2012. It can be argued that some articles in Pakistan’s constitution are in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Specifically, the second amendment (which apostatises Ahmadis), Article 41-2 (which excludes non-Muslims from being a president) and Article 91-3 (excludes non-Muslims from being eligible to be elected prime minister). Article 227 permanently keeps Pakistan unstable because its power to strike down anything interpreted as un-Islamic is open-ended.

As an example, we have before us the Supreme Court’s opinion this week that Prime Minister Gilani may not be a good enough Muslim to hold office. Absolute purity of their faith is something that seems to be the exclusive concern of Pakistanis.

Imran defines a welfare state as one that gives free medical treatment, free education, free justice and unemployment benefits, as in Europe. He doesn’t seem to understand that Europe’s progress is the result of its secularism. The individual’s religion is irrelevant. This equality is the basis of their welfare state. Change cannot come to Pakistan without reorienting its state, its army and its culture.

This is Pakistan’s only real problem. It’s settling down can come only from a change in ideology, not a change of governments. Building an ‘Islami falahi riyasat’, even by well-meaning saviours, is likely to cause more confusion.

In that sense, Zardari is a better leader than Imran because he understands the problem. He wants to normalise the state, soften its ideology.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s army and media vetoed his no-first use and open trade policies with India. Now its courts are working on getting him out.
It’s possible that Imran Khan will take power in Pakistan. At the Mazar-i-Quaid, he promised to finish Jinnah’s work.

So long as he tilts at the old windmills of corruption and nepotism, not understanding that the problem really lies elsewhere, his messianic fervour will come to nothing.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2012.

[xecutioner]

now a middle finger to all of ya . no immunity for this finger to president

[xecutioner]

trust me Allah se dua hai k is zardari ka haal qaddafi se bhi bura ho. Allah al haq hai aur inshaAllah we will see this very soon.

[wez4all]

@Aakar Patel mind ur own ******* business.

[wadaich]

where have u been for so long....... Many fellows were missing u..... ..... Someone else might have replaced u in most "disliked" position.

[hesham]

trust me Allah se dua hai k is zardari ka haal qaddafi se bhi bura ho. Allah al haq hai aur inshaAllah we will see this very soon.

why you compairing zardari with qaddafi. qaddafi died for his country no matter what kind of person he was. did you think zardari can die for country?

[ealtaf]

Such a "CHAWAL" article, he is not welcome here....

[humair]

What the writer failed to research and understand is the fact that Islamic Falahi Riyasat's model is far better than those of Europe, yes religion has been used to exploit in Pakistan but that shouldn't put leaders like Imran Khan off in realising its glory. What Imran Khan said at Mazar-e-Quaid was the best way forward, it only depends whether masses in Pakistan are ready to understand this for the sake of their coming generations...

[mrcritic]

EXPRESS TRIBUNE GUYS THAT MOST Propogan-dist paper in Pakistan. It also has so many articles on homosexuality in Pakistan..

[indigo]

Writer don't know about Islam either or don't know its value among Pakistanis...

[MuslimPak]

Completely agreed

they are a pakistani wing of NYtimes and their agenda is complete representative of washington's plan for Pakistan. So many articles on homosexuality, against sacrificing animals on Eid-ul-Adha, on hijaab, on the ideology of Pakistan , any thing related to the roots of pakistan and this newspaper is their to target it.

And now it is consistently publishing articles on democracy, save zardari save the world, veena malik is true representative of Pakistan, hussain haqqani a true patriot, and other disgusting stuff...

EXPRESS TRIBUNE GUYS THAT MOST Propogan-dist paper in Pakistan. It also has so many articles on homosexuality in Pakistan..

[hamzabaloch]

One comment on article was:

So we no CNG, Electricity because our country is not secular

[Arbkhan]

in his short but magnificent speech of august 11, 1947, the quaid-i-azam begins by instructing his government to settle the chaos of partition. He ends by revealing his beautiful, humane side, telling us he sees people without noticing their religion.

in the middle, he lists pakistan’s problems. According to him, these are three: Corruption, black marketing and nepotism (jinnah uses the quaint term ‘jobbery’). Was he correct in assuming these were pakistan’s problems? This question is important because imran khan also believes that pakistan’s problems are the same. Corruption is his primary theme and he ended his karachi jalsa by promising his supporters never to succumb to chamchagiri. If he were asked to name a third problem, he would likely say loss of pakistan’s sovereignty. As a pathan, he feels loss of honour in fighting america’s war and in asking for aid.

to return to jinnah’s list, were these pakistan’s real problems? No.pakistan’s breaking up, 25 years after being formed, was not because of corruption. The decades of military rule and the rise of the jihadis are not because of nepotism. Pakistan’s economic condition is not the doing of black marketeers.

what are the problems then? To the outsider, it appears there is only one. The orientation of the pakistani state is wrong. And it isn’t aligned correctly because of its ideology, whose prenatal trait is more pronounced each passing decade. This flaw produced the state’s resolve to defy india at all costs and the subsequent dominance of the army, which has led to the emasculation of its political parties and made politics irrelevant. The successful penetration of this ideology has resulted in the population’s rejection of its own ancient culture. Indians are as corrupt as pakistanis, as nepotistic and as poor. Most indians don’t like their politicians. However, they don’t have a crisis of the state and no need for a saviour like imran. Why? Simple. India’s secular constitution is accepted by all its parties, right, centre and left. Even the bjp insists on secularism.

india has one of the world’s most bigoted societies, true. But it has outstanding laws and a constitution as good as if not better than any in europe. The state is aligned correctly, the orientation is right. In such conditions, progress is possible and despair is held at bay.

the equality of human beings is not something we should waste time debating in 2012. It can be argued that some articles in pakistan’s constitution are in violation of the universal declaration of human rights. Specifically, the second amendment (which apostatises ahmadis), article 41-2 (which excludes non-muslims from being a president) and article 91-3 (excludes non-muslims from being eligible to be elected prime minister). Article 227 permanently keeps pakistan unstable because its power to strike down anything interpreted as un-islamic is open-ended.

as an example, we have before us the supreme court’s opinion this week that prime minister gilani may not be a good enough muslim to hold office. Absolute purity of their faith is something that seems to be the exclusive concern of pakistanis.

imran defines a welfare state as one that gives free medical treatment, free education, free justice and unemployment benefits, as in europe. He doesn’t seem to understand that europe’s progress is the result of its secularism. The individual’s religion is irrelevant. This equality is the basis of their welfare state. Change cannot come to pakistan without reorienting its state, its army and its culture.

this is pakistan’s only real problem. It’s settling down can come only from a change in ideology, not a change of governments. Building an ‘islami falahi riyasat’, even by well-meaning saviours, is likely to cause more confusion.

in that sense, zardari is a better leader than imran because he understands the problem. He wants to normalise the state, soften its ideology.
unfortunately, pakistan’s army and media vetoed his no-first use and open trade policies with india. Now its courts are working on getting him out.
it’s possible that imran khan will take power in pakistan. At the mazar-i-quaid, he promised to finish jinnah’s work.

so long as he tilts at the old windmills of corruption and nepotism, not understanding that the problem really lies elsewhere, his messianic fervour will come to nothing.
published in the express tribune, january 15^th, 2012.

the answer to the article is ." obviously who created the problems understands them better "

[desicad]

Writer don't know about Islam either or don't know its value among Pakistanis...

He doesn't have to.....
he has clearly put forth his views and you don't have to agree......

[indigo]

He doesn't have to.....
he has clearly put forth his views and you don't have to agree......

I agree with him 90%, but he is underestimating Imran Khan...

Imran Khan seems to knows when boundary of religion finishes and when comes secularism begin....

Imran defines a welfare state as one that gives free medical treatment, free education, free justice and unemployment benefits, as in Europe. He doesn’t seem to understand that Europe’s progress is the result of its secularism. The individual’s religion is irrelevant. This equality is the basis of their welfare state. Change cannot come to Pakistan without reorienting its state, its army and its culture.

[Zoaib]

The writer should read IK's book to get a better understanding of what he is aiming for in Pakistan, if he wants to understand the concept of an Islamic Welfare State. It is about going back to the founding fathers' idea of Pakistan, namely Quaid's and Iqbal's vision as understood in its totality rather than bits and pieces taken from one or two speeches which some people use to justify that Quaid wanted a "secular" country. It is about steering clear from the stereotypes and labels and focusing on the commonalities such as the welfare aspect of an Islamic state or the concept of rule of law and accountability with which hardly anyone would have any disagreement. For other contentious matters, things could be decided as the society evolves gradually but only in a democratic manner by taking the society along, rather than the forced Islamization we saw in Zia's time.

[Tutor]

agreeing on what?
If you go in india and tell them your ideology, religion and culture is wrong, they will give you a slap on your face, same goes to west, even after being so called secular people.

How does he know what is good for us and what is bad for us? I'm sure if in case we agree with them the next thing the whole india going to say is that 'why live saperate, remove the borders and be the part of greater india'so very typical of indians. Its shocking that they can't think of anything else beyond that.

If you love zardari so much I request you please please please take him to india and make him rule you, he will be Bhagwan's blessing for you, and will definitely make india a super power faster than what you can dream of.
Amazing to see how zardari is so popular in america and india, I think if he stands in elections in paksitan, america, and india, he will definitely be winner in america and india.

I agree with him 90%, but he is underestimating Imran Khan...

Imran Khan seems to knows when boundary of religion finishes and when comes secularism begin....

[umer]

Lol Lagta hai haqqani Kai paisay Bol rahay hain. Just ignore him guys it's not even worth reading .

[Khallas]

Ajb baatein hain baahi - App ki shayad aqal kam nahin karti ya phir app bhi PPP k baqi fauj ki tarhan ek chapar kanatiya ho.

Pehlay abb Zardari aur gaali k awaraa ***** main faraaq karo aur usay prove karo, usk bad agay koi aur baat karo.

[indigo]

agreeing on what?
If you go in india and tell them your ideology, religion and culture is wrong, they will give you a slap on your face, same goes to west, even after being so called secular people.

How does he know what is good for us and what is bad for us? I'm sure if in case we agree with them the next thing the whole india going to say is that 'why live saperate, remove the borders and be the part of greater india'so very typical of indians. Its shocking that they can't think of anything else beyond that.

If you love zardari so much I request you please please please take him to india and make him rule you, he will be Bhagwan's blessing for you, and will definitely make india a super power faster than what you can dream of.
Amazing to see how zardari is so popular in america and india, I think if he stands in elections in paksitan, america, and india, he will definitely be winner in america and india.

Clear your problem with his nationality, religion or article...?

His 3/4 article is based on learned facts...

1/4 Is his analysis.... (opinion)

Shouldn't I agree on his facts and half analysis???

What he is saying is thinking of half jurno in Pak!