Periscope on Pakistan

Periscope on Pakistan

General's landmine

Following the military government's decision January 26 to ask the judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and four High Courts to take a fresh oath of office swearing loyalty to the "new provisional order", a number of judges have chosen to retire rather than stand to ceremony. Many among them were very good judges. We are sorry to see them go. Equally, however, several judges did not enjoy the best reputations. Too many tears will not be shed for them.

No timetable in Rawalpindi

In fact, we can raise afresh certain other issues which are hanging fire and which could embarrass, possibly even derail, General Musharraf's government in time to come. First, you cannot have a clear-cut mission statement without a clear-cut timetable. This suggests...a lack of confidence in being able to steer along the straight and narrow path to "true democracy". The fact is that in this time and age a timetable would have imposed some necessary political disciplinein Rawalpindi as well as removed some of the obstacles in the path of the government by the international community.

Finally, it would have imbued the new dispensation with a degree of political certainty and assurance that would have revived confidence in the economy and country. Two, conventional wisdom suggests that tough economic and political decisions should always be taken at the very beginning of a new regime when there is goodwill aplenty for it or when everyone is in awe or fear of it. Regrettably, this time-tested approach seems to have been abandoned. Three, it is clear that this is a military government without even a credible civilian face to take responsibility for any mishaps.

The decision-making centre is GHQ which constantly cues the federal and provincial cabinets as well as the NSC. On a day-to-day basis, with GHQ's powerful tentacles all over the provinces and districts... the situation could become alarmingly self-perpetuating. There is no fall back position, no fall guys, no"alternative" advisors, no political (as opposed to military) strategists. The mind fairly boggles at the thought of an unprepared military junta with a leaky umbrella caught in the midst of a sudden downpour as it stumbles across a terrain splattered with landmines.

General Musharraf should pause to evaluate the quality of advice he has received so far. There is too much at stake to remain smug any more.