Pakistan Happenings..A Vorticical Journey To Self Discovery Or Destruction.

This October it is becoming very clear what the many varied cracks are there in full view in Pakistani political and societal levels. Baluchistan post Awaran earthquake disaster has made it clear that there is  a wide gap and animosity between the army and the seperatists? Militants in hiding.The tragic remote control bombings of Jafferabad express shows how vulnerable an average Balochi has become to the evil machinations of the terrorists.The people are at their mercy , left alone by the state and its machinery which tries in vain to give a semblance of normalcy and "everything under control" to the outside "viewers". So far no solution is found to the "Balochistan" problem.
Post Peshawar church bombings and Qissa Khwani bazar disaster, KPK also stands on very shifting ground. As its new , on a learning curve, government tries to grasp again in vain, the volatile and confusing situation, questions again arise in the minds of the ordinary citizen, when will peace return. For whatever worth the media proclaimed statements of some militants show that they only wants talks on rheir terms and do not guarantee any peace or respite to the commoner.
Karachi is again spinning in a vortex. Some thugs, thieves caught but others with extortion chits and bullets to match spring up anew.The operation goes on with some successes like catching gangsters or some arms consignments but political party workers also suffer disappearances and violence.A big megapolis is again left on the wishes and whims of a minister who is powerful but again on a learning curve.
For the time bieng it seems the most important foreign policy question is the "drone attacks". No informed articulation about post NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and relations with India.
As the prime minister who now seems in ill health pushes hard to bring the economy in focus at least for the media, a dull haze hangs over Pakistan. A respected Geo news network journalist Ansar Abbasi says on prime time show with Malik on Dunya News "Who says Usama Bin Laden is a terrorist " .We the measly viewers look confusedly at the screen.

Towards Administrative Reforms, appointment of Chief Executives..Akhtar Ali.

Akhtar Ali http://developmentpakistan.blogspot.com/p/profileakhtar-ali.html  in his seminal book "The Political Economy of Pakistan, An Agenda for Reforms &Restructuring " published in 1995 writes " management& control of autonomous corporations & nationalized banks & DFIs present special problems and issues.Smaller mostly manufacturing operations have now been privatized and are therefore excluded from discussion here.
Autonomous corporations like PIA,WAPDA,OGDC etc& the government controlled Banks &DFIs like NBP and NDFC are not autonomous at all in reality.Interference in strategic and as well as mundane day to day operations is an established practice, both from ministries(Secretariat) and from the political leadership. This goes down to even task assignments, promotions, transfers and still in disciplinary matters.
The Prime minister clears and appoints  the chief  executives of these organizations.No standard or established procedure or requirement is there for such appointments. It is purely arbitrary and mostly political."
It seems that the PML N government has taken notice of this and has appointed a selection board for all such appointments. Ironically the military government of 1991 did not take heed of this although they followed alot of devolution processes to make decentralization possible.
He further suggests "De-politicization of appointment process of CEO, de-bureaucratization of corporation boards &making them more effective and guarantee of tenure of the CEOs."
(Book available with Royal Book Company, Pakistan)
The elected Nawaz Sharif government has rightly made economy, administrative reforms , restructuring and including private sector in its policy and economic inputs as top priorities. Mr Ahsan Iqbal is now heading the Planning Commission of Pakistan which will be making five year short term and further long term plans for projects according to their developmental needs.PML N government needs to further devolve powers to people through local governments as only that will bring about true administrative restructuring.

A New Pakistan?Mirror ,mirror on the wall!

11th May 2013 will be a very important day for Pakistan. Its political stewardship may show immense promise and focus or if the state succumbs to violent opposition to its system there maybe doom or gloom.
Pakistan Tehrike Insaaf led by Imran Khan ex cricketer turned politician has struggled 17 years and made a party mainly of young followers who want change and are sick and tired of same old faces in parliament and government promising much and delivering little to the people.his politics has matured much though his electoral language leaves much to be desired in terms of finesse and elegancal.He is on a whirlwind tour of the Punjab and Sindh and he gives hope for change of the system as he defines taking down the power of MPA, MNA ,patwari, Thana and the other power circles which run the beleagured Pakistani administrative set up.Today in Jacobabad he promises a new municipal/local bodies set up which empowers the community with education and health reforms.His main thrust is towards rooting out corruption in government and recovering lost money. He may gain some votes in urban areas like Karachi, Lahore ,Hyderabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa which may bring his party into eleectoral politics. His manifesto though covers a wide range of issues will be tested fully only if he gains administrative power.http://www.insaf.pk/docs/PTImanifesto.pdf
His focus of opposition are the Mian Sharif brothers of the Pakistan Muslim League -N whose government in the Punjab has been successful despite the acute and lancinating load shedding imposed on this province by the PPP led federal government. The hyperactive previous chief minister mian Shahbaz Sharif has kept most of the ministries with himself which speaks volumes for the delegation of powers and devolution which is so essential for modern statecraft. However , Mian Nawaz Sharif bieng the scion of a business family understands the politics of economic progress. The strength of this party is mainly business and economic  bringing Pakistan much needed stability. http://www.pmln.org/pmln-manifesto-englishurdu/
The Pakistan Muslim League Quaid e Azam has also gained a large chunk of votes in the 2008.In Musharraf's regime they did deliver on some issues as due to help in aid because of war on terror Pakistan gained a lot of financial help . This also showed their ability to see in line with the establishment which the PML-N refuses to do in their independent status.This party may gain more seats this time but for PTI which is planning to wrench seats from PML-N but may dmage PML-Q also in the process.http://pml.org.pk/about/manifesto/
So the story goes....
Mirror Mirror on the wall
Who is the fairest of
 'em all?

A Mother's Prayer...Maa Ki Dua.

Poem by Meherzaidi

Aye Allah Parwardigaar Pak Rab
Meri nanhi si gudrya sada sukhi rahe

Aye hamd ke haqdaar Paalenhaar
yeh naari har aanch se bachi rahe

Eishwar sab ko deney waaley
Is ke bhojan mein koi na kami rahe

Har Qismet ko chamkane waaley
Meri gudriya sone chandi mein sajee rahe

Aye merey Paak Rabb e Ghani
Meri gudriya har dam sada sukhee rahe

(This poem was written in Urdu,Roman Font)

English Translation:

O Allah, The Nurturer, Pristine Maker
May my little doll be happy forever

O,Praiseworthy, Divine Creator
May this girl be saved from Fire

Eishwar, Giver to all and sundry
May your Ganga never run dry

O Shiner of all true fates
May my doll be adorned by your Grace

O my Pristine Lord of Benevolance
May her world be filled by Your Reverence

(I wrote this poem in Urdu in 'Hamd' form,praise poetry to Allah and 'Dua' ,poetry asking God's benovelence in 'Hindustani'Urdu'.India is known as 'Hindustan' in vernacular although it is home to the second largest Muslim community after Indonesia and Bangladesh.The divisions based on religion are no longer relevant to peace in the world especially the subcontinent of South Asia. Pakistan is also multicultural and multi - religious country but is seeing rampant violence and death due to intolerance which is not feasible for modern existence as a country. It should shun its sole claim to Muslim majority and should cultivate tolerance, egalitarian justice and peaceful coexistence for a better future for its young ones.)