Terrorism and Extremism, the real causes and its solution.

                  Economic and Social deprivation in every Country lead either to one form of outburst or another. Either the people as a whole take up arms against the Class responsible for their perpetration of the persecution under the leadership of a leader or initially the insurgency begins in one part of the Country and then gradually spread to other parts, if not properly treated, and thus the old fabric of administration is dismantled.

                The political parties hypocritically blamed Musharraf and his allies for all the evils but the reality is opposite. The germs of despondency, deprivation, hatred, discrimination, social and economic injustices, illiteracy and poverty were flourishing in the Country for the last 60 years. All the Government Departments were busy in looting both the people of Pakistan and the funds allocated in the budgets by the Government. The figures in the files of offices are in contradiction with the reality on the ground. Billions of rupees and dollars were misappropriated in such a way that the looters considered looting as their vested right. Every law and rule enacted either by Parliament or by the Provincial Assemblies for the welfare of the people was violated shamelessly. From the office of the President down to the office of a Patwari (Land Revenue Official of lowest rank in Land Revenue Department) was busy either in aggrandizement of power or accumulation of money. The political parties during their tenure of Government did nothing but instituted cases against each other and spent billions of dollars on litigations which benefited lawyers of their choice but brought no fruit due to issuance of National Reconciliation Ordinance by former President Musharraf. The Government has fully endorsed the policies of the previous Government but is not confessing openly which is evident from the last six months ruling. The nation witnessed how the big parties in the coalition Government bypassed Parliament, the smaller parties in the coalition were kept in the dark, issues were discussed, and agreements took place either in Dubai or in London, which was openly declared by the leaders like Maulana Fazal Rehman and Asfandyar Wali Khan in their Media talks.

               The nation is witnessing the trickery of the politicians for the last 60 years but no one is blaming them because the people elect them and when a Military General uses the same tactics, everyone blames him. The problems of the common man are still hanging in the air and they are pursuing such issues which have no direct relationship with the day to day problems of the people.

               The people have no other option than either to welcome to a Military Dictator or to take up arms against the established system and both are Unconstitutional and illegal methods to find out the solution of their problems. However, a question arises, how to find out the solution of the problems? People needs the solution of their problems but have no means how to find out it? Neither a Military General nor rebellion is the solution. The solution is in the hands of the politicians and they have their own priorities lists. The removal of Musharraf is presented either as the solution or the restoration of deposed of Judges. Suppose, today Judges are restored, tomorrow the election of Asif Zardari as the President of Pakistan would be an issue. The common man would always remain on the waiting list of the politicians. I suggest to the Government that a comprehensive bill may be drafted by the coalition partners in the Government containing their demands and be presented to the Parliament and be thoroughly discussed. The Awami National Party should present its demand for the Provincial Autonomy, Royalty for the electricity, power on the use of the Natural Resources in the NWFP, the other coalition partner should include their own demands and the bill be passed in the next six months. The Government would have four years for the solution of the problems of the people.

                Terrorism and extremism in Pakistan should not be attributed to Pakistan's foreign policies, especially Pak-U.S relations, though it has played a role to a certain extent. It should be attributed to the shortsightedness of those who ruled this Country for 60 years and did not try to understand the requirements of the people. Those who are backing this entire disturbance know very well the real issue. The U.S intervention in Afghanistan is just a pretext to exploit the anti-U.S sentiments of the people.

                Billions of dollars were given to Pakistan by America, which is admitted by our Government, but this heap of dollars brought no change in the lives of the people because the amount is yet to be spent on the people. The Government is treating the social and economic wounds of the people with gunpowder and air bombardment.

                 Musharraf was blamed for shooting the people, what the present Government is now doing both in FATA and in settled areas of NWFP for the last six months. When a disease becomes chronic, it takes longer time to heal than a disease of acute nature. The patience of Government should be exemplary and should not hide its inefficiency of 60 years behind bombardment and shelling. It should re-evaluate the performance of all its Departments on war footings for finding out an everlasting solution, which is possible if the Government effectively mobilised the elected representatives, dignitaries of the areas. No agenda of foreign militants can succeed unless backed by the local people. The Government has failed in winning the sympathies of the local people and that is why the foreign elements have succeeded. Indiscriminate and non-judicious use of force is responsible for the increase of enmity of the local people and the law-enforcing agencies.

                I quoted above the Patwari as example. This official and his above officers are so powerful in every village that they have destroyed the peace mind of the people by making wrong entries in the revenue record, which causes litigations among the owners and thus causes the loss of sufficient amount and time of the people. People have fed up of this "Patwari Culture" but have no power to change it. Actually, the people seek the remedy of their problems in the militants who forcefully implements their decisions (whether right or wrong). People are in search of such leaders who may give them the guarantee of the safety of their land property, money, honour and peaceful living and in this search when they find such militants they welcome them. My contention is that the State Institutions should be so strengthened that the confidence of the people is restored. The Government should eliminate bribery from its Departments. Why a person has been compelled to such an extent that he becomes ready to annihilate himself along with other innocent people?

                After First World War, the victorious States treated the Germans with humiliation in the Agreement and they were pushed to the wall. The Germans united under the leadership of Hitler and destroyed not only themselves but also caused the disintegration of the British Empire in the Second World War. Britain was no longer in the position to sustain such a huge empire due to weak financial and political condition. Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan and committed every crime there but the bravery and revengeful character of Afghans rendered dilapidated them so much that after withdrawal, the Soviet Union disintegrated due to several simultaneous crises.

                Pakistani nation currently faces two-edged sword i.e., price-hike, food shortage, devalued currency, elimination of subsidy on essential items etc; from the Government while inefficient, corrupt and insidious officials in the Government Departments who are sucking the blood of people when perform their duties. This situation actually flares up the flames of the already burning fire in the Country.

                 Everyone is talking of the Sovereignty of the Parliament but so far it has been ignored in nearly all the major political issues which means that the Government does not believe in the sagacity, wisdom, knowledge, experience, talent, honesty, farsightedness of the Members of Parliament that is why decisions are concluded somewhere else which is the clear proof of the contradiction in speech and deed. At present, there is clear dichotomy in the approach of the Government and people to the national issues. Government wants to bring tranquillity through gun power but people wants the open eyes of the Government to see their plight. The clash between the people and Government is not due following a particular policy like war on terrorism but the people have developed a perception that no Government in the Country is sincere which is a dangerous perception and is necessarily needs to be removed on priority basis. People are of the view that foreign countries including America sent to Pakistan billions of dollars for them but they brought no change because the amount went to the pockets of a few persons while guns silence the people when they demand the amount. When the son of a father gets the perception that the father is doing against his interests, he becomes defiant to his authority and then it takes long time of father to remove that perception. The Government should behave like an affectionate father and should do promptly instead of becoming an obstinate horse doing everything according to his caprice. If the Government is doing sincere efforts then why the condition of the people does not change while those who remain in the Government become billionaires only in short span of time of five years? These are such pungent and unbearable questions, which cannot be faced by a person who is working constantly against the interests of the people.

                Elected people like MNAs and MPAs can play a vital role in this regard if the Government properly mandated them to undertake the job. Large Parliamentary Committee should be established and sent to the areas of disturbance in shape of Jirga to find out the real causes and find out solution instead of sending troops with guns in hands.

                I request Mr. Pervaiz Khan Advocate, MNA from Swabi who has remained a Judge not only in Pakistan but also in Kosovo, to put a resolution for such a Committee of the Parliamentarians to find out the solution. He should come forward and discuss this issue not only at the party forum but also at the floor of the House. I hope that after the intervention of these veteran politicians, the situation would come to normalcy.

Manzoor Ahmad

Marghuz Balar Khel, District Swabi, NWFP, Pakistan.

Email: manzoorahmadjalalmall@hotmail.com

Dated: Saturday, 23 August 2008