EDITORIAL : THE DAWN, PAKISTAN

National embarrassment

NOT since Abdul Qadeer Khan confessed to transferring nuclear technology to Iran and Libya has Pakistan suffered such embarrassment. Right under our military`s nose was found Osama bin Laden, the most wanted man of the decade, living in relative comfort in a compound with stringent security that somehow went unnoticed. Nor was this man simply an enemy of other countries; he and his ideology have exacted a stunning death toll in Pakistan over the last few years. Add to this the way he was killed, and embarrassment turns into deep shame. US forces operating independently of Pakistani authorities flew from the Afghan border across our territory to Abbottabad in helicopters and then conducted a 40-minute fire fight at Bin Laden`s safe house — again, a building located within walking and visual distance of the Pakistan Military Academy. They killed Bin Laden, among others, and flew off with his body. In the process, one helicopter crashed for technical reasons and was blown up by the Americans to destroy evidence.

We are to believe that all of this took place without the knowledge of the Pakistani authorities, at least according to the official line. Both the Foreign Office statement on Monday and President Zardari`s column in the Washington Post yesterday deny Pakistani involvement in the operation. All this leaves us with is multiple sources of embarrassment and worry. It implies that foreign military helicopters were able to travel undetected across our airspace, transporting highly trained operatives who conducted a dramatic operation without being interrupted by any Pakistani law-enforcement agency or the military. The logical conclusion of this is that our defences, including radars that can identify foreign aircraft, are shockingly weak. If so, it is legitimate to ask how the defence budget this country can ill afford is being spent, and whether other countries would be able to infiltrate Pakistani territory as easily as America did.

If, on the other hand, the vague response by the government is hiding the truth of the matter, Pakistani authorities must come clean about our civilian and military involvement — if any. It is understandable that perhaps select details cannot be revealed for security reasons. But the current strategy of not being forthright both insults the intelligence of Pakistani citizens and heightens concerns about the quality of our counter-terrorism intelligence and operations and the strength of our borders. It is also resulting in unfounded speculation and conspiracy theories, a situation worsened by some television talk show hosts and guests spreading misinformation by filling the void with their own guesswork.

Politics of survival

TO some, the fact that the PML-Q joined the PPP-led federal cabinet on Monday is another example of the politics of `reconciliation`. To most others, it is a shrewd move to ensure self-preservation. Along with the enlarged cabinet there is also talk of cooperation come the next election. The alliance has been blasted as opportunistic and unnatural, especially by a perturbed PML-N. But even to the neutral observer the union is an odd one. The PPP needs the Q-League`s additional numbers in parliament to help pass the upcoming budget while for the PML-Q, being in power is always a welcome prospect. There is also the matter of resolving the corruption case against Moonis Elahi. That the alliance will have consequences for the ruling party has been made clear by the resignation of Raza Rabbani from the federal cabinet. Mr Rabbani, who deserves kudos for sticking to principles, quit citing his incompatibility with the Q-League. This sentiment is surely shared by many in the PPP`s old guard.

Though coalitions produce the strangest of bedfellows, this particular union is particularly odd because of the history of intense bitterness between the newfound allies. Mr Zardari himself has used the most unflattering of terms with reference to the PML-Q, while many in the PPP rank and file saw the Q-League as their principal tormentors during Gen Musharraf`s rule. The Chaudhries` rivalry with the Bhuttos is also the stuff of political lore. But anything is possible in politics. If the PPP could extend an olive branch to Nawaz Sharif, then why not to the Chaudhries of Gujrat? However, the PML-Q has not been offered the choicest of ministries.

This may be the first phase of the PPP`s consolidation of power, and the MQM, it appears, is the next in line to be wooed. Though Mr Zardari has stabilised his government, the spirit of the 18th Amendment has been lost as a bloated cabinet is the cost that has been paid to save the government. Have we witnessed the death of ideological politics in Pakistan and has the voter been betrayed? Perhaps ideology died a long time ago and what is in vogue is the art of survival.

Karachi violence

ARE the ills of Karachi never going to end? Without pointing fingers at any one group among political parties or the various mafias that have come to dominate the city, it can be said that the culture of intolerance in what was once the most cosmopolitan metropolis in Pakistan is growing at a pace that the authorities may never be able to check without adequate resolution. Karachi saw an eruption of killings and arson attacks on Monday and life for many people came to a standstill after violence erupted in several parts of the city following the death of a senior MQM activist. The ordinary citizens of the city were held hostage, yet again. Such violence has been going on since the mid-1980s and the trend shows no sign of abating. If anything, violence in Karachi is taking a new and unique dimension now that is difficult to decipher. Where once there were one or two actors involved, now there are several.

It is up to the authorities to stem the rot. Political parties that are supposedly alliance partners in Sindh need to sit down in all earnest and resolve whatever differences they might have in this province. With the right mindset, matters can be talked through without bullets being fired and vehicles set on fire. Millions of people live in Karachi and most of them want nothing more than a decent way of life devoid of the terror that has come to envelop the city. It is the right of all those people who shun violence to live in an atmosphere of peace. As it was said at the outset, how long is this nightmare going to last? Have Karachi`s problems been sidelined by its own leaders for whatever manner of political expediency? We hope this is not the case.