Improving Governance Pakistan: Fighting Roots of Terrorism

PML factions merger: A right step in right direction at right time?

2010-09-19T02:49:00.001-07:00

Dear Network Members:

The merger of PMLQ and PMLF into APML appears to be a step forward to form a party in waiting. In a way, it is also a step forward to prevent a military take-over. Our history shows that a military take-over was almost always preceded by absence of a party in waiting to replace the party in power that became unpopular amongst the people or the 'shadow government.' In Pakistan, we always had a 'shadow government' in disguise.

As I understand it , the move can greatly help the civilian democratic dispensation that we initiated from Feb 2008 elections in the country. I strongly believe we MUST keep the civilian democratic dispensation in whatever form it can exist and let the process take its normal course towards a truly democratic political establishment ensuring good governance in the country.

The emerging scenario is likely to bring a change in government in a free and fair constitutional manner. I am of the view that President Zardari will do a great service to PPP if he steps down from presidency to lead the party in a democratic way. It is very unusual for a head of state to be the president of the country and be the party head at the same time. Alternatively, he may step down from the position of party head and keep the presidency. President Zardari can also save his party by removing the prime minister and helping in installing a consensus candidate from within or outside the parliament. The present PPP-led coalition is already in shambles. Its coalition partners are either failing to perform or drifting away from the PPP.

It will do no good to the president and the prime minister to rely on their thundering media statements. Those in strength do not threaten; it is only the ones in fear who do so. The 'shadow government' in place is too strong to be brow-beaten by such threats. The PPP must get rid of its past traditions of confrontational politics and confrontational governance. It must understand where it stands and what its dimensions of authority, responsibility and accountability are and it must focus on improving governance rather than imagining enemies or creating ones all around. It must understand the country belongs to the 180 million people of Pakistan and not to marginalized PPP voters and supporters alone.

Time is undoubtedly running out for the country and its people and, obviously, for the parties in power at the centre and the provinces. Either we save the country and its people OR the parties in power. The choice is obvious.

You are cordially invited to express your views, openly, fairly and concisely. It is your moral responsibility to stand up and act in the interest of the county and its people.

Regards.

Mumtaz A. Piracha

Chairman

Good Governance Forum

Pakistan

Shadow National Government of Expert Professionals in Pakistan

2010-08-28T00:58:00.001-07:00

Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified, Top Ranking Globally Searched interactive Think Tank on governance in Pakistan has launched its new public initiative called the Shadow National Government of Expert Professionals. Details can be viewed at http://shadownationalgovernment.blogspot.com

Senator Lugar: Greater Transparency, Clear Objectives Needed for U.S. Aid to Pakistan | Nancy Birdsall | Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Blog

2010-06-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Senator Lugar: Greater Transparency, Clear Objectives Needed for U.S. Aid to Pakistan Nancy Birdsall Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Blog

Aid to Pakistan by the Numbers : Center for Global Development : Initiatives: Active: U.S. Development Strategy in Pakistan

2010-06-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Aid to Pakistan by the Numbers : Center for Global Development : Initiatives: Active: U.S. Development Strategy in Pakistan

IRI Releases Survey of Pakistan Public Opinion | International Republican Institute (IRI)

2010-02-25T02:14:00.000-08:00

IRI Releases Survey of Pakistan Public Opinion International Republican Institute (IRI)

2009-11-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Good governance has been an over-riding, perennial, key issue in Pakistan during its 61-year history, starting from the 14th of August 1947. Without going into the past, the country is today faced with grave public issues of inflation, unemployment, poverty, law and order, electricity, water, gas, transport, housing, education, health, justice, corruption, maladministration, and political instability. The tasks ahead are gigantic and demand a high level of competence, courage and commitment from the political leadership, civilian bureaucracy, and civil society organizations to lead the country of 160 million souls to stability, progress and prosperity.

Pakistan has an immense geo-political strategic position. It borders Afghanistan, China, India, Iran and provides access to the CIS in Central Asia via Afghanistan. It has a direct route to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Sea marks Pakistan's southern boundary with 1064 km coastline. It has been a long-time close ally of China and Iran. Being a major Muslim country, Pakistan shares religious affiliation with Iran and enjoys brotherly relations with Arab States in the Middle East and Muslim countries in the South Asia. It has been allied with the United States of America from the beginning of its establishment and remained a part of the US sponsored political and military alliances of SEATO and CENTO for a long time. It is also a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The port of Gawadar in Balochistan, the largest land-mass province of Pakistan rich in natural resources such as natural gas, coal, marble, chrome, silver etc., has been largely constructed and financed by China. The Gawadar Port will provide a cheap, convenient and comfortable route for shipments to and from the Arabian Gulf, the Central Asian Republics and China. It could also be used by the American and European shipping lines. Road link to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics from there onwards will greatly contribute to the international trade, bringing cost and time savings to the shippers and prosperity to the destination cities. There is already a road link from Quetta to Iran. Gawadar will also be linked by road to the major cities of Pakistan.

Pakistan is probably one of the rare countries of the world endowed with every thing. It has land, sea, rivers, four seasons, manpower, agriculture, industry, natural and mineral resources, oil, gas, vegetables, fruits, foodgrains, livestock, dairy farms, roads, railways, airways, shipping lines, telecommunications, coastline, and what not. It can meet most of its requirements from its domestic resources.

What Pakistan badly needs today is the WILL TO DO AND THE COMPETENCE TO DO to tap the country's vast resources. Nothing can stop the country from progressing fast once its will to do is put into full gear. Competence will come along. Money, technology, and foreign collaboration are no problem once the political stability is achieved, progressive policies are formulated, and well-designed programmes are implemented in all earnest to show to the world that we are determined to move ahead in the new century.

Under the country's Constitution, adopted by all political parties and provinces in 1973, the role of each organ of the state i.e. the executive, parliament and judiciary is clearly defined. What is needed is the adherence of the political government to the tenets of the Constitution. With Unity, Faith and Discipline in our heads and hearts, we can live together, work together and progress together. Sectarian, linguistic, and ethnic considerations cannot overtake the nation's determination to forge unity and live in peace.

The ongoing threat of militancy in the tribal belt is borne out of the absence of political government, equitable distribution of wealth and resources, economic, legal and social justice, respect for tribal traditions, customs and values and fair and firm settlement of issues agitating the minds of the tribes. The tribes are as good Muslims, patriotic and Pakistani as anybody else but like country's other regions, the tribal region also needs a different treatment. Once the government of Pakistan is fully conscious of the underlying stresses and strains and it determines with courage, confidence and competence to resolve the thorny issues, peace and tranquility are bound to return faster than imagined.

As far as the Kashmir dispute with India is concerned, we have lived with it and fought for it in 1948, 1965 and 1971, notwithstanding Kargil. We now have to stop thinking about using arms to resolve the issue and start using peaceful means with honesty and sincerety to come to an acceptable solution. Neither India nor Pakistan can afford to keep the issue burning for indefinite time and keep the people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir in a state of despair and despondency for too long. The Kashmir issue has cost India and Pakistan huge sums of men, money and materials overtime and the defence budget of each country is still taking a major chunk of its national exchequer in the presence of mass poverty and under development in the rural areas