Check this out and laugh yourself sick…
** Honours well deserved
**
[Hussain H Zaidi](The News International: Latest News Breaking, World, Entertainment, Royal News H Zaidi) Monday, August 22, 2011
Every year on Independence Day the federal government confers honours on persons from different walks of life for distinguished contributions to the nation. The list of the beneficiaries this year has given rise to some adverse criticism for including a number of stalwarts of the ruling party. Is the criticism called for?
The ruling party stalwarts on the list are chairman of the Senate Farooq Naek, National Assembly speaker Fahmida Mirza, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Farzana Raja, chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme, Zumarad Khan, chairperson of the Pakistan Baitul Mal, Salman Faruqui, secretary general to the president, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, and Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States.
All these ladies and gentlemen are persons of impeccable character, are endowed with fine qualities of head and heart and have to their credit selfless service to society. They never needed any awards or medals for the enhancement of their statures. Rather, their names will add to the prestige that the awards carry. For the recipients it’s enough that they are part of a government which is the fruit of tremendous sacrifices and is wedded to making the country a better place to live.
To begin with, Rehman Malik is a symbol of the fight against militants and miscreants, gangs and mafias. If today there is some semblance of law and order in the country, public life and property are secure and the citizens are safe in their homes and walk freely on the streets, the credit goes to Mr Malik, above all. Doesn’t he deserve a medal at the least? The fact that he is on the long list of the beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance is no cause for belittling his services or lowering his stature.
If Mr Malik is leading the government’s crusade against lawlessness, Farzana Raja and Zumarad Khan are spearheading its fight against poverty. It needs hardly be mentioned that poverty is not only a menace in itself but is also the breeding ground for evils such as illiteracy and extremism. Thanks to the duo, millions of people have moved above the poverty line, broken their begging bowls, found gainful self-employment and are leading a dignified life. The PPP is known as the party of the poor and for the poor. The party is committed to stamping out poverty and generating job opportunities. Therefore, it is only logical that the two have been honoured. If both continue to serve the country in the same position for another couple of years, poverty and unemployment will wither away.
The next on the list of the recipients is Hussain Haqqani, who is performing one of the most challenging jobs in the world – defending Islamabad’s interests in Washington. Pakistani-US relations have been going downhill since the demise of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in May. The death of the Al-Qaeda leader has given rise to several questions in the US, notably whether the Pakistani authorities knew his whereabouts or even protected him all along.
Though publicly the US administration has acknowledged Pakistan’s role in the hunt and killing of Osama bin Laden, such statements should not be interpreted to mean that the Americans don’t see Pakistan’s role in the fight against militancy with suspicion, if not with disapproval. In such a scenario, convincing Americans of Pakistan’s seriousness and earnestness in the counter-terrorism campaign is no less than the devil’s own job. However, Mr Haqqani has proved equal to the task and if today Washington counts Islamabad among its strategic allies, it’s largely because of his inimitable diplomatic skills and tireless efforts.
Farhatullah Babar’s job is in essence similar to that of Mr Haqqani. He is defending the president of the republic against his critics and detractors, who leave no stone unturned in casting aspersion on his character and motives. We all know that Mr Zardari is a man of enterprise, who is piloting the ship of state in troubled waters. Regrettably, there is no dearth of people who, instead of acknowledging his matchless leadership qualities, :omg: are gunning for him. It’s important for a government to perform well but it’s even more important for it to advertise its performance and silence its critics. This makes Mr Babar’s job no less important and no less challenging than that of Mr Haqqani.
The PPP government may have faltered at this point or that. But still it’s one of the most efficient and cleanest governments the country has ever had. :cb: While a host of people will claim credit for that, one person stands out among all the claimants. Yes, he is none other than Salman Faruqui, the ace bureaucrat. Though formally not a member of the PPP, Mr Faruqui is a vital part of its administration. It’s he who is the mastermind behind many of the good things done by the party during its three-and-a-half years in power. His track record speaks for itself.
Last but not least, the lady and the gentleman who are running the two houses of parliament. In a parliamentary system, the legislature is the most important and powerful institution and holds the key to the success of democracy. The excellence of democracy in a country can in large measures be attributed to the excellence of its parliament. Today if democracy is taking root in Pakistan despite all odds, the Senate chairman and the speaker of the National Assembly are among the persons who deserve accolades for that.
However, the list of recipients does omit a few names. Of these, mention must be made of two: one is the spin doctor of the government – the courageous, fearless, dauntless lady who is never short of words in calling a spade a spade. The other is the MNA from Karachi who is widely known and respected for his sagacity and manners and has emerged as a role model for the young generation. Hopefully, both will be honoured next year.
The author is a freelance contributor based in Islamabad. Email: [EMAIL=“[email protected]”][email protected]
Source: The News
Bravo! Hussain H. Zaidi also deserves a medal here. He must be bestowed with Sitara-e-Jurat. Though it is a military award, but the courage and zeal with which Mr. Zaidi has composed this encomium, the state of Pakistan must suspend its rules and regulations and allow the Star of Courage to be honoured by going to a freelance gladiator defending the ultimate indefensibles.