Pakistan on the Cross Roads:

August 21, 2008

Shamas-ur-Rehman Toor

Musharraf’s departure has left Pakistan on cross roads. This is again a crucial time in the history of our nation. I am sitting away from my soil but I can feel the urgency of the situation of vitality of the moment. There is a sudden vacuum in the government. This has to be filled by someone reasonable and dignified politician which we obviously lack. We, as a nation, are once again on a sensitive and critical turn in the history. This will surely be mentioned in the history books in bold letters. This chapter of Musharraf will be noted in various versions. But no matter what he did, one must analyze his tenure with neutrality. He did a lot of work in terms of economy and administration. But he failed as a politician. He gave spirit to the nation but he failed to rally them behind him. He was indeed a good and perhaps honest administrator but a poor leader and politician. He governed with his fist and ruled with power. He failed to win the hearts and people.

We still do not know the scale of disaster and the enormity of risks Pakistan faces as a result of last nine ‘successfully failed’ years. We still do not know where have we landed after the political stunts that he played in cooperation with the ‘King Makers’ who were running the political scene. We still do not know how shattered we are left as nation and as a country. We still do not know what future lies there for our beloved Pakistan.

But truly speaking, which politician really mentions his failures. Everyone talks about the successes of his/their government. If we have really achieved so much in every government during last 61 years, why are we still mentioned as a state that suffers from economic turmoil, political unrest, internal chaos, power crisis, and lawlessness? We are citizen of a country where every politician emerges ‘successful’, ‘heroic’, and ‘angel’. Well, examples are there. I don’t need to mention names.

There is only one Ultimate Ruler, Allah, who will rule forever. So, when one is given the opportunity to lead, one must keep in mind that one will have to leave eventually. And that is how one should plan one’s exit. One should know how one would like to be remembered. A decent and respectful exit is one alternative when people ask you “why are you leaving?” You can do it by being a steward and passing the leadership to the deserving well in time. The way of humiliation and disrespect is also an alternative when people ask you “why did not you leave earlier?”