It is feverish and flooded but Pakistan can yet thrive and about "good" generals

Why we are calling another general?

Mohsin Hamid, one of the most well known English novelist of PakistanIt is feverish and flooded but Pakistan can yet thrive wrote a very beautiful piece about Pakistan of today and I want to share it with you here. Read and feel better as well as educated.

I am reading a lot about pros and cons of "good" generals taking over Pakistan to cure it of all its diseases inflicted by "corrupt" politicians. I am also writing and contributing a lot in various blogs with my opinion. Two things that I will like to copy here which I wrote on our very own FASTIAN, samir butt's blog.

Mohsin Hamid

1. I think it is very irresponsible and idiotic of leaders of mainstream political parties to even think of inviting “patriotic” generals to cure Pakistan of all its diseases. One thing…I don’t think Ayyub, Zia or Musharraf were less patriotic than others and some “other” generals are more patriotic than these three gentlemen. Second thing…there is no politician “less” patriotic and “more” corrupt than any generals of our army and we know that too.
The problem lies in the fact that we as Pakistanis have spent around 63 years under authoritarian and hierarchical governments rather than true democratic governments. The governments were always authoritarian in Pakistan whether military or civilian. The solution to overcome these authoritarian regimes is not to impose another military supervised doctrine but to let the democracy move forward. We should trust the collective judgment of 180 million people of Pakistan. With the passage of time, democracy will start taking care of itself…and NO…I don’t agree with you that we don’t have that much time….Nations HAVE that much time always…

2. Which army has transformed the democracy of India???? And by the way do you really think there is no corrupt politician or ghundas or criminals in Indian politics? Which army transformed the democracy of America? And by the way don’t tell me there are no interest groups and mafia and corruption in USA? Did army transform the democracy of France? And by the way don’t tell me that president of France Sarkozy is not taking kickbacks? Which army transformed the democracy of Italy? And don’t tell me Mr. Berlusconi is all neat and clean like milk? Why is it so that only in PAKISTAN, we always invite army to root out the corruption of politicians? The army comes, we deliver sweets, the generals plunder even more for decades, and they can’t prove a things against these CORRUPT politicians and then the generals leave with the same politicians again responsible for handling the rot they left behind? Zaradari or no Zardari, the question is not of him but of democracy. Shall we Pakistanis never learn and lives in our so called castles of high morality? I again say, let the democracy correct itself.

Extension of COAS Pakistan Army

As the fate may have it, my first serious blog post had to do with Pakistan army, an institution, we as a nation have come to both love and loathe. Despite having no doubt about the professional commitment of our chief of army staff, general Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, I doubt his job extension is going to do any good to our national affairs. Contrary to what media is saying, I don't see any strategic advantage achieved during our own two years old war on terror. True that we have gained ground but nothing more than that. And that too with a heavy count of casualties both martyred and injured. And our country is still smoldering from suicide bombings and killings. Baluchistan is still burning with fingers being raised about the role of army and intelligence agencies unfortunately. And above all, sectarian violence has again started to raise its ugly head in Pakistan. I am afraid no one can dare to ask these questions from either our beloved elected government or or heroic COAS.

Does competence justify going against the rules?

But as I said, It is my perspective, second perspective to be precise. Incidentally, the general after this extension is going to stay on helm of affairs even longer than the full term of our own elected government. How is that for "fair opportunity to all" and "right of the worthy" principles.