Think before you speak

What political chicanery - the chief of a political party which sits in the elected houses both federal and provincial has asked the army to take over. Altaf Hussain couldn't be more illogical if not utterly undemocratic. No doubt there is a narrative that army and elected government are not on the so-called 'same page' on the issue of military action in North Waziristan, and quite a few people want an end to this 'drama of mazakrat' (talks) with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. But the manner in which Altaf Hussain put across his mind on the issue in an interview with a private channel it was unworthy of a political leader who - of late if not for always - goes hoarse in advocating the cause of democracy in Pakistan. "Pakistan is more important than democracy for us" - to that extent one may overlook his expression as the pent up feeling of a concerned Pakistani. But then what he adds to his remark is terribly wrong as it is grossly violative of the constitution. "I will request the army chief and prime minister of the country to come on the same page for tackling terrorists, and if the elected regime does not join hands with the army towards getting rid of terrorists then I would suggest the military to step forward on its own". Not only does his suggestion earn him legal culpability under Article 6 of Constitution, it also appears to be poignantly disrespectful of the emerging political consensus, oblivious of sacrifices made for revival of democracy and no less immensely embarrassing to his own party men. Rightly then, the local leaders of the MQM leadership are struggling to deflect public outrage and seem to be succeeding given their past experience of covering up their leader's occasional off-the-cuff controversial standpoints on national issues. First things first, the MQM members moved a resolution in the Sindh Assembly as an expression of solidarity with the armed forces but clearly staying away from Altaf Hussain's long-distance worldview of realities on the home ground. Perhaps the local MQM leadership would like to come up with a formal retraction from what their leader happened to have conceived and said, and is of so much pain to the general public and frustration to his workers.

The fact on the other hand is that never before did the GHQ and an elected government come so close to an agreement on myriad national matters and issues. The army high command and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his civilian aides meet almost every day and review the evolving counter-terrorism scenario in tribal areas and elsewhere in the country. Even before his eleventh hour U-turn on the move to strike at militants hideouts in Fata following terrorist attacks in Bannu and Rawalpindi, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had a meeting with Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and surprised everybody by opting for 'one last offer' of talks to Taliban. And this is no secret that the just announced national security policy is a joint venture of military and civilian leadership. There is no doubt whatsoever that it is the armed forces who are tasked by constitution to secure lives and properties of citizens against internal and external aggression. But there is no doubt now also that the forces would move only when ordered by an elected government. This is a change, and a historic departure from the past when an army chief could hand over military airbases to an outside power and the public would come to know of it years later. That Altaf Hussain should be moving past his party's horrible treatment at the hands of dictatorial powers not even once looking back is indeed a sad moment. That he seems to be reading from the same page as the Taliban who too wish quick demise of democracy in Pakistan is disgusting. Presently, the government and the military seem to be in agreement that targeted surgical strikes would serve the purpose. But in case a fuller action in North Waziristan is warranted that is also on the table and will take place. One must not lose sight of facts that terrorist activity in Pakistan has an unmistakable colour of a guerrilla movement and the evolving geo-strategic situation in the region tends to radiate critical ramifications for Pakistan. It is, therefore, imperative that top political leaders are extremely circumspect in the choice of their diction in their comments and be not as simplistic and therefore unrealistic as reflected from the MQM chief's interview.