Why have our leaders failed? Is it in our genes? Is god punishing us? Is it a conspiracy?
It would be fair to say that Pakistani’s share the view that their leaders have let them down, that their leaders have disappointed them, and that their leaders did not do justice to the potential of Pakistan.
Many international publications have referred to being the leader of Pakistan as being the “most difficult job in the world”. The leader of Pakistan faces a wide variety of international and domestic pressure on a daily basis.
Pakistan in recent years has been engulfed with political turmoil. This political turmoil has caused Pakistan economic hardship, destabilization, and the inability to solve crucial external and internal issues.
I’m one with the belief that majority of Pakistan’s problems are not extraordinary and can be solved with effort, cooperation and with mutual understanding among politicians.
So why is that not the case? Why can’t our politicians resolve simple disputes that we (the public) feel we can resolve?
Why is it that Pakistani politicians have failed miserably while politicians for other nations around the world have succeeded? Is it in our genes? Is god punishing us? Is it a conspiracy?
Or perhaps, is it because our politicians are catapulted in to such demanding and powerful positions, with no worthy political experience?
In the recent history of Pakistan, individuals who are embedded in the elite circles of politicians have been rewarded with powerful posts, instead of individuals who have diligently served Pakistan for years. Perhaps it would be better for the nation, if important posts of power were designated to individuals who have gained recognition for their work, rather than individuals who have gained recognition due to their family name or their association with tribes and elite politicians.
Perhaps the two undisputed great leaders of Pakistan; Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, were great leaders due to the wealth of political experience they attained, before being designated to demanding posts.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah began his political career in the year of 1896, and later on became the leader of the Muslim League in 1934. There is a 38 year gap, between his inception to the political life, and his promotion to chairmanship/leader of a political party. Certainly, 38 years in the political landscape, translates into a wealth of understanding and the know how of politics.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, served as foreign minister from 1963 to 1966, and then served as President from 1971 to 1973. He then became Prime Minister of Pakistan in the year of 1973.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had at least 5 years of experience in demanding positions, before he earned the reigns to Pakistan’s most demanding position.
Perhaps we should compare Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s political resumes, to the resumes of our more recent politicians.
Benazir Bhutto – Held no government position until she was made Prime Minister in 1988.
Pervez Musharraff – Held no position related to politics until he became the President of Pakistan in 2001. Although before becoming President he leaded the country as a General for two years with only military experience.
Shaukat Aziz – He was designated as Finance Minister of Pakistan in 1999, with having only corporate banking experience. In 2004 he was promoted to the post of Prime Minister.
In the recent history, Nawaz Sharif is the only politician, who had “experience” in politics before holding a demanding post. In 1981, he became the finance minister of Punjab, and he also served as the minister of sports. Although I tend to believe that Nawaz Sharif is an exception to the point I am trying to prove simply due to his personal incompetence.
The point which I am attempting to convey is that it would be feasible to state that there is a correlation between the political experience one posses and the caliber/quality of a politician/leader.
Would it not be a fair to say, that the more experience a politician has, the more adept and responsible they are in handling the issues concerning the nation?
Perhaps, the solution to the many diverse problems of Pakistan is placing responsible individuals who have successfully proven themselves, in posts where significant demands and pressure exits.
The experiment of selecting leaders who have little or no political experience has obviously failed; perhaps it is time for Pakistan to select leaders, who have proven time and time again that they are successful in appeasing the public, successful in solving Pakistan’s problems, and successful in moving the nation forward, and far away from the vicious cycle of one success story and two stories of failure.