Zardari, the Nelson Mandela of Pakistan?

"Time will prove he is the Nelson Mandela of Pakistan". This statement was attributed to late Benazir Bhutto by a former senator and Bhutto family friend Mr. Abdullah Riar, as reported in the New York Times, and the "he" here refers to Asif Ali Zardari.

The only thing that allows for any comparison of Zardari with Mandela is their time in jail and their link to the word "Reconciliation". That's where the comparison begins and ends. When Mandela used the world "Reconciliation" he combined it with "Truth" as in "Truth and Reconciliation Commission". "Reconciliation" for Mandela did not mean freedom from prosecution for any personal corruption or misconduct. He was never under any suspicion. It meant a chance for all South Africans for being truthful and acknowledging their crimes and misdeeds as part of the national healing process to ensure a healthy future for the nation.

What Pakistan needs more than anything else is a national healing process. But healing can not even begin without acknowledgment of misdeeds and true contrition by all. Once there is a sincere acknowledgment by all the actors (Musharraf, Sharif, Zardari, the military, the judiciary etc) on public stage carried live by the media, then the process of repentance and forgiveness can move forward. We need a high-powered "Pakistan Truth and Reconciliation Commission" comprising of people beyond reproach, people like Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. I am sure we can find a few people who fit this description in a nation of 160 million people.

As part of this process, Pervez Musharraf must respond to the charges of undermining Pakistan's constitution and the laws, human rights abuses, and acting arbitrarily against people who opposed him.

Nawaz Sharif must address the allegations of his contempt for the judiciary when he was in office, and the charges that he amassed wealth and left the country bankrupt in 1999. He must address specific allegations of where, how he got the money to pay off the $450m loan as ordered by a British court in 1998, in connection with Hudaibia Paper Mills Ltd.

Asif Ali Zardari needs to honestly deal with allegations of corruption and abuse of power rather than rely on Musharraf's NRO. If he is innocent, he should seek to clear his name. If he is guilty, he should acknowledge his guilt and seek forgiveness of the people as part of the process.

Other politicians, party leaders, military officers, judges and bureaucrats should follow Musharraf, Sharif and Zardari and admit to any wrongdoing on their part, clear the air and ask for forgiveness to start with a clean slate.

The examples set by major leaders will inspire others in and out of government to start believing in personal responsibility and accountability for their actions.

The continuing blame game in Pakistan means every one wants others to be held accountable without acknowledging their own misdeeds. No one wants to look at himself or herself honestly in the mirror. Corruption and power abuse allegations are used as a means to achieve and maintain political power. There is a great deal of hypocrisy in how Pakistani politicians, military, judiciary and bureaucracy go about dealing with the concept of accountability so essential for a functioning democracy. This must change for the sake of the future of Pakistan.

I am not naive, but I am hopeful that this will eventually happen. Asif Zardari has shown lately that he is quite capable of working across party lines with his friends and foes alike. He has set aside his urge for personal revenge against those who persecuted him in the 1990s. Maybe, just maybe, Asif Zardari would want to prove his late wife's appraisal of him was accurate by using his influence as the PPP leader and follow Mandela's example and begin the healing process in Pakistan. I just hope that it happens before it's too late.