Whatever happend to his 7 points agenda? We don’t hear much about it lately. After eight years of authoritarian rule, how much has he achieved on his 7 points agenda? Lets keep emotions/biases in check and disect his performance in a rational manner.
1) Rebuild National confidence and morale
We are not a poor nation as is generally perceived. In fact, we are rich. We have fertile land that can produce three crops a year. We have abundant water to irrigate these lands and generate surplus power. We have gas, coal, and vast untapped mineral resources and above all, dynamic and industrious people. All these await mobilization. We have only to awake, join hands and grasp destiny for Allah helps those who help themselves!
While it all sounds very flattering in letters but this is quite an ironic situation given that during his 8 years, we’ve seen shortages of basic food commodities many times. A practical way to achieve this target would have been to initiate a massive longterm planning (more like 5 yrs plans) to kickstart developmental work in various sectors with coordinated efforts in planning, research & development works according to current & future needs.
2) Strengthen Federation, remove Inter-Provincial disharmony and restore National cohesion
Cementing the federation is vital. This will be achieved through devolution of power, from the Centre to the Provinces and from the Provincial to the local governments as actually enshrined in the Constitution.
Frankly, I don’t see any serious efforts in this regard from Musharraf. Did he ever give any outlines about how he’d go about to acheive this target? If there was any particular initiative started, lets share & discuss its results so far.
3) Devolution of power to the grass root level
Our Government sees devolution as the first step towards the re-building and the restoration of the people’s faith in the Government of their own country. With this new concept of elected community governments, an unprecedented transfer of power will take place from the elite to the vast majority. The people themselves will become empowered to take charge of the foundation of democracy and of the system by which they are governed.
OK - so this new concept of Grass Root level Democracy was introduced and I am not aware of the working details of this model so rather than taking a potshot at it, I’d like to hear from those who’ve seen & experience it more closely . How is it faring so far. Do people today feel they’ve more say in the affairs of their local communities through this new system? Has this system been able to alleviate their day to day sufferings better than the previous model?
4) Revive Economy and restore Investor confidence
Rebuilding of investor confidence through stability and consistency in economic policies and economic security. The objective is to encourage local investors, overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors
Increase domestic savings
Carry out pragmatic tax reforms
Turn around state enterprises towards profitability
Boost agriculture and revive industry
Strict austerity measures
Yes - there’s been economic growth at macro-economic level and investment is flowing in due to many corrective steps initiated by Musharraf. Credit to him for this success. To sustain the momentum, what is needed now is to channalize the trickle down effects to the lower echelon of the society. And honestly I don’t see any concerted efforts in this regard. We need a program to introduce technology at lower levels of manufacturing & agriculture sectors, generate a class of skilled labors who is better equipped to adapt to new technological concepts to boost productivity. Any thing going on in this regard ??
Strict austerity measures - With the recently concluded biggest government cabinet in Pakistan’s history, it doesn’t look like Musharraf was serious about financialausterity in government spendings.
5) Ensure law and order and dispense speedy justice
The basic ingredients to check corruption, I feel, are firstly developing strong institutions and systems, which avoid any discretionary authority and powers to any one. Improving the qualities of law enforcement agencies is another area to check corruption. Sometimes you find yourself very helpless to deal with situations because your law enforcement agency is unable to deliver on whatever you are thinking, so therefore, the quality of law enforcement agencies is extremely important.
Failed miserably!! whatever facade of anti-corruption drive was there, it fizzled away over time due to reasons we all know too well. Instituions of judiciary & parialment are just as shaky as they were during the time of past corrupt regimes. No opportunity was provided to nurture them into independent, strong & viable instituions of the state.
Whatever happened to much touted police reforms - any positive impacts so far?
Did he ever roll out any comperhensive longterm plan for this particular point i.e Ensure law and order and dispense speedy justice ?
Law & order situation in the country is in tatters after 8 years. There are allegations of forced disappearences/detentions, Police/Army personnel are being blown to pieces in high security areas, judges are being sent home for certain political reasons and a major section of legal community is up against Musharraf.
6) Depoliticize State institutions
The political structure we plan involves a trilateral distribution of responsibilities between the Centre, the Provinces and the district representing the basic (lowest) rung of democracy.
How is that working out so far? What was the plan to achieve this target and how is it being implemented?
7) Ensure swift and across the board accountability
The process of accountability is being directed at those guilty of plundering and looting the National wealth, and tax evaders. It is also directed towards loan defaulters and those who have had their loans rescheduled or condoned. The process of accountability will be transparent for the public to see.
So - whatever happened to “swift and across the board accountability” ? After an initial show of honest intentions, “across the board accountability” has lost much esteem & credibility. Defaulters & plunderers like NS, BB, Chaudrys & others were given leeway due to political/personal ambitions.
