EDITORIAL : THE DAWN, PAKISTAN

Telling indictment

WITH the situation in Pakistan continuing along its downward trajectory, the relevant sections of Amnesty International`s report covering 2010 makes for depressing but predictable reading. Violence of all sorts continued with impunity, with the police often being reluctant to register complaints and investigate. Gender-based violence continued unabated. The Madadgaar helpline alone showed that over 1,000 women were murdered as of November 2010, while 321 women were raped and 194 gang-raped. The report notes the Federal Shariat Court`s December move to try and reverse several provisions of the 2006 Women`s Protection Act. In terms of religious beliefs, too, the state failed to prevent violence and bring perpetrators to book. Last year in Lahore alone, the country saw attacks on an Ahmadi place of worship in May, on the Data Darbar shrine in July and on a Shia mourning procession in September. Disturbingly, moderate Sunni Muslims find themselves increasingly in the cross-hairs of the terrorists.

With Pakistan embroiled in multi-layered conflicts, particularly in the northwest and Balochistan, the toll exacted upon the non-combatant population is shocking. Caught between the militant-terrorist nexus and the security forces, Pakistan`s ordinary citizens have suffered; the situation was worsened by last summer`s floods. With two million people displaced by the conflict in the northwest and over 20 million directly affected by the floods, the state of human rights in the country remained grim. Meanwhile, ordinary people were targeted by the militants — as well as the security forces particularly in Balochistan. The AI report notes: “Members of the armed forces continued to arbitrarily arrest civilians, subjecting some to extrajudicial executions. New cases of enforced disappearance soared, particularly in Balochistan, where many victims were found dead. Old cases of enforced disappearance remained unresolved.” Torture and deaths in custody continued. Although Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture in March, it took no steps to incorporate these commitments into domestic law.

Although Pakistan was to some extent sinned against, too — the situation in Afghanistan worsened matters here, while US drone strikes more than doubled to a reported 118 strikes in 2010 — little, it seems, has been done to improve matters. The AI report notes that “[the] military and civilian authorities failed to address the underlying causes of the conflict. They did nothing to improve the area`s significant underdevelopment, failing to rebuild basic infrastructure, including schools, and neglecting to restore businesses. Humanitarian relief for the displaced remained inadequate”. These indictments should serve as a wake-up call. Pakistanis do not need further evidence about the ineffectuality of those whose job is governance and the maintenance of peace.

Ties with Russia

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari`s visit to Russia and the signing of a joint statement on Pakistan and Russia`s common approach to terrorism and drug trafficking serve to focus attention on the need for Islamabad to deepen its ties with Moscow. A `former` superpower it may be, Russia remains Eurasia`s most important country. With its vast territorial expanse, huge energy resources and a level of technology that enabled it to put the first man in space, Russia deserves greater attention from Pakistan at a time when the need for Islamabad to broaden its economic and political ties has never been greater as we head towards a post-Cold War, multipolar world. In the past, Russia often felt it was Pakistan which had provoked it by joining American-led military pacts, and the Russians have not forgotten that the U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union had taken off from the US base in Badaber. That Pakistan had some other reasons for throwing in its lot with America cut no ice with the communist leadership. The situation deteriorated when Russia invaded Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, 1979, and Pakistan became a base for US-funded `jihad` against the Soviet occupation.

In the post-Cold War world, with Russia having shed its superpower baggage, Pakistan has to redefine its relationship with the country and forge closer ties for their mutual benefit. The two countries may not be neighbours, but they have common stakes, especially in the fight against terrorism. While Pakistan has suffered more than any other country at the hands of terrorists, Russia has its own terrorism concerns in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The joint statement issued in Moscow pledges cooperation in the fight against both terrorism and drug trafficking, besides hinting at Russian technical assistance for many projects in Pakistan, especially the expansion of the Soviet-built Pakistan Steel in Karachi. Let us hope the president`s visit and the cooperative endeavours pledged in the joint statement serve to bring the two countries politically and economically closer.

Fiscal over-indulgence

THE fact that over 4,000 of the Gilgit-Baltistan government`s employees have not been paid salaries for between three and seven months, as reported by this paper on Saturday, is unacceptable. With high inflation and its decimation of people`s budgets, it is difficult to imagine how the workers and their families coped. Reports indicate that the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister has taken notice of the situation and has ordered release of the funds, which means the workers should be paid in the days to come. Nevertheless it needs to be ascertained why the crisis grew to such proportions in the first place.

The affected employees, working for the region`s public works and water and power departments, were all temporary workers. Apparently, additional appointments — far beyond the requirements — were made in the departments without there being any practical need for such a large number of employees. Some of the employees were reportedly living in Karachi and Lahore while drawing salaries from the Gilgit-Baltistan government. Several inquiries have been conducted into why the departments are so grossly overstaffed, but their findings have rarely been made public. Better hiring procedures and improved fiscal accountability are needed to ensure such a situation does not arise again. The Gilgit-Baltistan government is still young and has “limited institutional capacity”, according to a World Bank report. Efforts need to be made to improve the capability of institutions. Though relieving a large number of employees of their duties would have obvious adverse consequences, the authorities need to make sure no more political appointments are made and that recruitments are based on the region`s requirements and financial capability. Considering the Gilgit-Baltistan government`s total dependence on Islamabad, it cannot afford to be extravagant in fiscal matters.