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Today's Pakistan looks more like a failed state, beset with crises, foremost among which is the crisis of identity. There are several definitions of a failed state. One defines a failed sate as “a state whose central government is so weak or ineffective that it has little practical control over much of its territory.” Example is Afghanistan. Another defines as one that has a "shattered social and political structure." A general breakdown of law and order and economy is treated as another sign of a failed state.
Pakistan, too, has been included among failed states by some analysts, because of the reigning chaos in its society, especially the sectarian killings, the rise of the extremists, an unstable economy and near total breakdown of law and order. In fact, Pakistan appears to be a storehouse of crises, each as serious as the other. Foremost of them is its crisis of identity and ideology. Sixty-three years on, it is yet unable to define whether it is a theocratic or secular state. August is the month in which Pakistan was born. The founder told the people that they may go to hell or heaven; it was their choice. The state had nothing to do with their personal issues. That's what he meant by saying “You may go to mosques or temples, etc.” on august 9, 1947. But the critical mistake Jinnah made was that he addressed this message to a select group of people, -the constituent assembly members. What prevented him from addressing the Muslims of the territory that was to become Pakistan will remain a puzzle. But the fact remains that had he given this message to the masses over the All India Radio, it would have prevented the endless controversy. Therefore trying to adjust secularism with theocracy Pakistan has come forth as a crossbreed. It flaunts the title of “Islamic” but Islam has nothing to do with the policies the state adopts. In fact, as far back as the 1950s, Yusuf Afghan, editor of the Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, in his satirical weekly column once observed, “India is Hindu, calls itself secular; Pakistan is atheistic, calls itself Islamic. To retain the Islamic facade, yet make the state secular, it has been cleverly inserted in the constitution that no law shall be enacted that is repugnant to Islam. Thus so long as any enactment or executive order of the government does not directly clash with Islam, it would be kosher. A government composed of corrupt and selfish rulers may therefore aggrandize over the people with impunity and even forgive criminals. Then there is the crisis of constitution and political system. Pakistan stands out as a rare specimen of a country where a constitution was framed eight years after its birth and abrogated every now and then. After the country was halved a new constitution was framed in 1973. But, it was never implemented and only disfigured beyond recognition. Provincial autonomy was a basic condition. But it remains denied even till this day. As a result the country lacks national unity. There is no sense of “belonging” among people. The highly centralized and authoritarian state apparatus that encroaches upon what are purely provincial subjects has bred political unrest that has blown into secessionist movements. The government is a cross between the parliamentary and presidential systems. The president is not elected by the people, yet he wields so much power as to turn the prime minister into a dummy. Other crises the country is saddled with include economy, foreign policy, national security, and administration. Pakistan's economy (GDP) is $164 Billion; Israel and Singapore with populations smaller than Lahore have economies larger than Pakistan's. This is because Pakistani budgets follow no consistent policies. Even an elected government follows the policy of breaking the back of the poor while making the riche, richer. A very simple example is the spike in taxes on petrol and petroleum products and even such essential food items as wheat flour and pulses. On the other hand the feudal landlords with hundreds and thousands of hectares do not have to pay a penny on the huge incomes they draw from agriculture Pakistan's trade deficit (the money Pakistan effectively owes to the world) is estimated to be $10.7 billion, with exports of $18.3 billion and imports $28.9 billion rupees in the coming fiscal year. Having accepted a $7.6-billion emergency loan to avert a balance of payments crisis in November 2008, it has been forced to withdraw subsidies from electricity and gas. In the 2009-10 budget tax collection target has been set at Rs. 1377.5 billion, whereas the current expenditures are estimated at Rs 1699.19 billion. The deficit will be covered by external assistance for which the president goes around the world on a begging spree. At the same time Pakistan boasts the largest number of cabinet ministers and half-ministers than perhaps the largest and richest states in the world. Today, half of the original Pakistan has many times more ministers than when it was whole! A substantial part of the deficit could have been reduced by controlling such wasteful expenditure, and levying tax on agricultural income. The financial adviser had, in fact, declared with some fanfare before the annual budget that such tax would be imposed. But, perhaps because the president himself is a mighty landlord with fabulous income from agriculture, he sealed his lips on the issue. In the administrative sphere, the provincial governments seem to love going back to the old colonial system of district and divisional management. The step is intended more to spite Pervez Musharraf, rather than any innate quality in that arrangement to recommend itself. Musharaf had introduced elected district governments to promote democracy at “grass roots” level. And, because, he is PML (N)'s particular anathema, Punjab is in the forefront of reverting to the old system. But the NWFP government has rejected the idea. Pakistan's foreign policy remains in a shambles. The worst part of the deal is that the government is not on level with the people. For example, as Sen. Carl Levin and others have repeatedly asserted, the drone attacks inside Pakistan take place with the full knowledge and consent of the government of Pakistan yet, the state feigns outrage and condemns them in the strongest terms simply to mislead the people Relations with India have yet to pick up after the terrorism in Mumbai, which had direct links with Pakistani elements. Meanwhile, India has let it be known that, to restart dialogue, Kashmir and Sir Creek issues must be totally frozen. How Pakistan responds to this one remains to be seen. National security is another problem. First it was monster of sectarianism that stalked the country taking toll of innocent lives Then the government allowed the Taliban so much leeway that they almost set up a parallel government. Till at last, more under US pressure than of its own volition, it came into action that displaced several million people and created a major humanitarian crisis Today secular-liberal segment and the religious orthodox, -a.k.a. extremists are openly at war. While the former goads the government to take action against the extremists, the latter resort to direct revenge with suicide bomb attacks. In the past the rulers used the well-known ploy of foreign threat to national security to rally popular support. Now, US assurance that India poses no threat to Pakistan's integrity has blown off that fig leaf. Standing at the threshold of the New Year of its independence, therefore, people of all callings need to pause and ponder where the country stands today, their own contribution in its present state and how to repair and restore its disfigured its image.
S. G. Jilanee is a senior political analyst and the former editor of Southasia Magazine.
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