Editorial: The News - 05 June 2013

In place


Pakistan’s new National Assembly now has a speaker and a deputy speaker. As predicted, the PML-N’s simple majority in the house ensured its nominees won without much drama. Ayaz Sadiq, a businessman from Lahore, made it to the speaker’s chair with 258 of the 313 votes cast. The process was pulled off smoothly enough – with token resistance from the PTI and the MQM, and the PPP opting to withdraw its candidates, apparently on the PML-N’s request. Keeping with democratic tradition, outgoing speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza presided over the events – graciously welcoming her successor as he took his place. No drama, no fuss – a good start to this new government. The larger parties all seem to have learned from the experiences of the past; and the generosity of spirit seen in the National Assembly was a welcome sight. Let us hope it is a harbinger of things to come as Pakistan completes its first ever constitutional transition of government.
There was a reminder, however, of the country’s dark past. Mahmood Khan Achakzai of the PkMAP – a coalition partner of the PML-N in Balochistan known to be fiercely opposed to autocratic rule – demanded that all MNAs take an oath to swear they would not support any future dictatorship. It was unclear whether Achakzai’s sharp remarks were directed at a particular party or individuals, or whether they were just a well-meaning expression of the democratic spirit, but they may have led to some raised eyebrows. The matter was dealt with by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khawaja Asif of the PML-N who stood up to aver a firm opposition to dictatorship. Achakzai also demanded an enquiry into the May 12, 2007 killings in Karachi – an investigation he said had been agreed to by all major parties in 2008. By the look of things, we can expect strong opposition and some strong views in this parliament. This is probably just what the doctor ordered for our democracy. For the moment at least, what is most important is that proper procedure has been duly followed and the lower house has elected its speaker and deputy speaker in a seamless manner. In the provinces too, everything has proceeded as per the book. All then seems to be in place for us to move into an important new era – on which many hopes and expectations rest.
 
A tragedy

The violence that has haunted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for months – most recently during electoral campaign meetings and notably those of the Awami National Party – has not ended with a change in government. All the killings in the province have been tragic, the latest particularly so. The victim this time was Farid Khan, shot dead by unknown assailants as he drove towards Hangu city. He was buried in his village on Tuesday where hundreds had gathered for the funeral. Farid Khan’s story is unique. He was elected as an independent from a Hangu provincial assembly seat and had joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf soon after the May 11 polls, after seeking the advice of his supporters. He was the poorest politician in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly – and probably in the country as well. Starting out on his campaign with just Rs100 and running it backed by supporters, Farid listed a motorbike and house as his only assets and stated that his only purpose in contesting the polls was to serve his community.
All that has now been rendered impossible. We do not know who killed Farid Khan, who had no gunmen to guard him. But his brutal death delivers another blow to democracy, discouraging others like him from taking part and endeavouring to work for their people. Farid had hoped that joining the PTI would enable him to do so more effectively. According to the police the modus operandi resembles that of militants, but further investigations are required for more concrete answers. Till then, the usual messages of condolence have come in. A man wanting to better the lives of his people now lies in his grave. The motives are hard to comprehend, but it is clear as day that such violence will destroy us all. The biggest challenge facing the incoming PTI government is to somehow contain it and prevent others from falling victim to it. It is now for the PTI to take the lead and prove that it can deliver on its promises and restore order in a land where no one is safe.
 
Creeping justice

It is possible that Tauqir Sadiq is finally at the end of the road in Abu Dhabi, where a court has now ordered that he be deported to Pakistan before July 3. The former Ogra chief had fled charges of committing fraud on a monumental scale, leading Pakistan’s law and order agencies a pretty dance as he was chased from country to country. It is alleged that he misappropriated as much as Rs82 billion. Even if it is eventually found to be a lower sum, this is one of the biggest cases of fraud in the history of the nation. Sadiq has a month to appeal the process and there is no telling what an Abu Dhabi court may finally say. Given his propensity for disappearing without a trace seemingly at the drop of a hat, the court was wise to add the caveat that Sadiq cannot leave for any other country until there is a resolution of his case one way or another.
The fact that he was able to leave Pakistan in the first place speaks of Sadiq having friends in high places across a range of agencies. It now appears that all the relevant agencies in both countries are on the same page, including the Pakistan embassy in the UAE which in the recent past has been accused of dragging its feet. One reason why Sadiq may be looking at a future in Pakistan than elsewhere is that the election of May 11 and consequent changes in government may have removed large sections of the protective umbrella that he had. In many ways the Sadiq case is an example of all that currently ails the country – synonymous with poor governance and the power of corrupt patronage. It is to be hoped that the courts in Abu Dhabi have as much interest in seeing justice done as the millions of Pakistanis whose pockets Sadiq allegedly burgled.