'Farcical Elections'

Full text of Pakistan President’s address on August 14, 2002

Bismillaher Rehmaner Raheem.

My dear countrymen; Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Asslam-u-Alakum;

I take this opportunity to extend my sincere felicitations to all my Pakistani brothers andsisters on this auspicious occasion of our Independence Day. Exactly 55 years ago today at 11.50 p.m. allIndia Radio Lahore broadcast the following announcement, "at midnight the independent sovereign state ofPakistan will come into existence".

Then after 10 minutes at the strike of midnight hour came the following announcement, "thisis Pakistan Broadcasting Service", a solitary sentence 5 simple words but what a momentous victory for the71 years old Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e- Azam, the great leader, the founding father of the new nation whohad fought against such odds to create a new homeland for the Muslims of India.

Victory also for Allama Iqbal who had conceived the very concept of Pakistan and whomQuaid-e-Azam had described that his death in 1938 as one of the greatest poets, sears and philosophers ofhumanity. Victory also for hundreds and thousands of Muslim leaders throughout the length and breadth of theland who had steadfastly worked with the Quaid in the struggle for independence.

Victory finally for millions of Muslim throughout the subcontinent who had instantly andwhole-heartedly followed the Quaid-e-Azam in transforming the Pakistan movement into a revolutionary movementand had spared no sacrifice in order to make Pakistan a living reality.

My dear countrymen;

Today, we pay homage to these great men and women who spent their lifetime waging a villainstruggle to secure a homeland so that future generations that is we could live in a free country.

It is also a day to pay homage to the father of our nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnahwhose greatness and achievements have been recorded by an eminent historian in these words, "few individualssignificantly alter the course of history, fewer still modify the map of the world, hardly anyone can becredited with a nation state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three." They can not be a more befitting andbetter deserve tribute to the father of this nation.

Independence days are milestones in the historical journey of a nation. They provide anopportunity for a solemn reflection on our performance. Every nation faces ups and downs in its evolution. Wetoo have experienced our share of ups and downs in the course of the last 55 years. May be dominated by anover dose of downs but vibrant nations don’t dwell and waste time and energy on regretting over theirfailures. They in fact learned from such experiences and move on with enriched experience.

In October 1999, my government was faced with challenges in almost all spheres of governance,areas which needed serious and urgent attention including revival of fledgling economy, strengthening of thefederation and national cohesion, improvement of law and order, depoliticization of state institutions,introduction of a system of accountability and rebuilding of national confidence and morale.

These were all priority areas for me, as I wanted to pull the nation out of the political andeconomic morass that existed then. Two years and 10 months is but a small moment in the life of a nation yetlooking back I can take satisfaction in the fact that we were not only able to arrest the rapid down slide ofthe nation in time but in fact are well on our way to recovery.

Substantial and noteworthy progress has been made on our agenda in this short span of time. Asa matter of policy and learning from past experience we did not opt for cosmetic changes and quick fixes forthe sake of gaining instant popularity. Instead we decided to rebuild and reinvigorate state institutions andundertook fundamental and far-reaching reforms to ensure sustainable and long lasting growth. Briefly, ourstrategy was to get out of the debt trap way we were spending over 50% our resources in debt servicing througheffected debt restructuring and acquisition of more funds on very soft terms we were able to create fiscalspace.

The financial resources thus released are being used to invest in fast returned developmentprojects, which will give us higher returns than the debt service liability that we incur. The areas ofconcentration to utilize these additional resources productively are agriculture, information technology,energy, small and medium size industry and communication.

As a policy the government has followed merit based practices, principles of good governancehave helped us to ensure that the government has at all times kept itself clean and above board and alldecisions and actions have been taken in a very transparent manner. In the last nearly three years we havedemonstrated to the world that good governance economic progress and elimination of corruption is possible inPakistan.

The world accepts this now. This is no mean achievement when compared with the despair anddespondency, steering us in the face in 1999. Internationally Pakistan’s image in the comity of nationstoday is tall and respected from the threat of being reduced to a Praia status only a few years ago Pakistanhas emerged as a respectable and responsible member of the world community.

My dear countrymen;

Pakistan thinks and speaks the language of peace. We believe that stability and harmony arethe answers for improving human conditions in our region. We owe peace to the people of this part of the worldwhose aspirations continue to be thwarted fighting the poverty line, provocative rhetoric and war hysteriaserve no purpose instead they lead to inflexibility, confrontation and only complicate issues. It is time togive peace a chance.

In order to achieve durable peace in the South Asian region, it is imperative that we resolvethe long-standing Kashmir dispute. Pakistan supports the principle struggle of the people of occupied Kashmirfor their right of self-determination since long promised to them by the international community. The strugglefor self-determination of our Kashmiri brothers is a sacred trust with us, which can never be compromised.

The announcement by India to hold elections in Indian occupied Kashmir is yet another effortto give a mask of legitimacy to India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s position onthis issue is based on United Nations Security Council resolutions. Elections can not be a substitute for afree and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the sole credible voice of the Kashmiri people hasalready rejected the holding of such elections, as have some other parties. The government of India hasorganized such farcical elections in the past a well. These so-called elections have invariably been retchedand have always been boycotted by the Kashmiri people if the past is any guide the elections planned by Indiawill once again take place without the participation of the Kashmiri people and they are only designed toobtain pre-determined results.

The intimidating presence and pressure of hundreds of thousands of Indian security personnelto force the Kashmiri people to participate in these elections will further deny such elections, any semblanceof legitimacy. India claims that peaceful election in Indian Occupied Kashmir would be a test of Pakistan’ssincerity for a dialogue with India, this is a self-serving argument.

Pakistan can not accept any responsibility for developments inside Indian Occupied Kashmir norcan India try to shift the onus of the failure of elections to Pakistan. The Kashmiri struggle is indigenousand the rejection of these elections is a decision that the Kashmiris themselves have taken. While reiteratingour strong desire for the peaceful settlement of the core issue of Kashmir and all other outstanding issues,we want to make it abundantly clear that we will never be subdued by coercion, no one dare think of anyadventurism across our borders.

My dear countrymen;

Your Arm Forces are standing guard on the country’s borders. Let life and business continuesas usual with the confidence that your valiant forces have the Juzba-I-Eeman not only to defend every inch ofthe motherland but also to carry the fight across the border Inshaallah. You can rest in comfort; your ArmForces are wide-awake and fully capable.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism for a long. After the 11th September incident wehave been at the forefront of international war on terrorism. We stand firmly committed to root out thisscourge so that the world is a safer place to live in. At home and insignificant minority has held the entirenation hostage to their misconceived views of Islam and fanatical acts of terrorism.

They are spreading themalice of sectarianism laced with poison of religious intolerance and violence. The recent attacks speciallydirected at the places of worship of our Christian brothers and sisters are the most shameful and despicableexample of terrorism. All this in the name of Islam, these misled criminals and the terrorists patrons andtutors even have the audacity to think their actions are the rout to Jinut. Is this the true spirit of Islam?

Is this the religion that we all are so proud of? Where is the tolerance, the magnanimity, the chivalry andthe large heartedness that characterized true Muslims? We were never so cowardly as to hide and then try tokill children and women other than the innocent victims who get killed, who is the loser, nobody but Pakistan,your country and the poor of Pakistan whose sustenance depends on jobs through investment which shies away.Are we playing in the hands of enemies of Pakistan?

My Pakistani brothers and sisters, we all have to put in a joint effort to root out those whoare maligning our religion and tarnishing the image of Pakistan while imagining themselves to be ultraIslamists. There are no quick fix solutions to the problem of sectarianism and extremism, they are to betackled in a systematic and methodical manner. This government is doing its utmost to meet this menacefrontally to catch the bull by the horn and overall strategy is under execution to enhance all round lawenforcement capability. Firstly the Police Ordinance 1861 has been replaced with the Police Ordinance 2002after a short period of 141 years. A counter terrorism organization has been established and is being mademore potent with better training and better equipment.

The Law Enforcement Agencies are being strengthened with qualitative improvement throughbetter induction, better training and better equipment.

The Judiciary has also taken steps to improve functioning of Anti Terrorists and other courts.

By the grace of Allah results have already started showing our security agencies have alreadymade very important breakthroughs. A sizeable number of gangs of terrorists have been busted and almost all, Irepeat almost all top criminals with head money have been apprehended. The Anti Terrorists courts have alsoawarded death sentences and exemplary punishments to about 80 criminals. Our response to the Murree and Taxilaattacks was swift and effective, all the perpetrators of the attacks have either been killed or all of themhave been arrested. More than that just before I entered I got the news from the Interior Minister that theywere about 15 terrorists at large involved in these incidents and planning more incidents all of them havebeen arrested now. This is commendable work done by security and intelligence agencies and also the judiciaryin tandem with each other. They have accomplished all this at the peril of their lives at times and I knowthat.

We applaud their courage and the resourcefulness. It is time that instead of criticizing theseagencies as we always do we appreciate their efforts and lend them our full backing and support. I amconfident, we will Inshaallah break the back of all these criminals and the organization supporting them.

I appeal to all Ulemas. Mashaikhs, religious political parties and organization to comeforward actively to protect Islam from such distortion and abuse.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Political restructuring has been one of the four areas of focus of my government. We startedat the gross roots level empowering the people of the district, tehsil and the union councils. This hasushered in a silent revolution where the destiny of the people has been given into their hands by devolvingpolitical administrative and financial authority to them. This will be embedded in the Constitution to givethem sustainability.

Dear countrymen;

In October we shall Inshaallah usher in an era of true democracy. This fine transition iscritical to the future of democracy in Pakistan. We all therefore, owe it to our country to enter this phasewith maturity and a fresh resolve. People of Pakistan have undergone rigors of three general elections in thelast decade and have gradually become disenchanted as those who were given chance again and again failed tomeet the expectations of the people of Pakistan.

The public demands a change of faces in the future election,in the hope that their new leaders will strive to develop the nation and improve the lot of the common maninstead of Siphoning the countries wealth to distant lands to serve their personal interest, their personalcomforts and their personal pleasures.

How to bring about this change is the question? The government can onlytake facilitative action but the ultimate authority lies with you, the people of Pakistan. Let us see what thegovernment has done to encourage a change and bring in new leadership. The voting age has been reduced to 18years, may be our youth elect better people. Minimum education level of BA has been introduced; thiseliminates to be exact 41% of the previous legislature.

Qualification and disqualification of candidatesArticle 62 and 63 of the Constitution have been reinforced; this should eliminate looters, plunderers,criminals, bank defaulters, tax evaders and utility bill defaulters from coming into the Assemblies. It is nowup to the Election Commission to enforce this without fear or favour.

A new Political Parties Act has beenintroduced to bring democracy within political parties and to throw up true leaders. 60 seats have beenreserved for women, this will, I am sure introduce a new perspective into the Assemblies. Seats in theAssemblies and the Senate have been increased to allow entry to fresh blood; this is what the government isdoing and has done. It now remains up to you to understand the value of your vote.

You have to vote for theright person, irrespective of his party, an individual who will serve the nation with honesty, sincerity anddedication on this solemn occasion, let me give the whole nation a personal guarantee, I will take allpossible measures to ensure a free, fair and a transparent election.

My dear countrymen;

Pakistan is blessed with a power potential in its human capital and natural resources to earnit a place of honour in the comity of nations. There is no external threat that we can not handle. The enemylies within. When Pakistan came into being, we were physically at our weakest, our enemy thought we willdisintegrate. It was the sheer resolve, patriotic fervor, honesty of purpose of our senior generation andtheir faith in the future of Pakistan which kept this country alive and moving forward, many of them are alivetoday, I salute all of them.

I am reminded of a moving story about the Pakistani flag. A few day before 14 August, 1947 atan international scout Jamboree in France, the contingent of wise scout was representing the then BritishIndia, some young Muslim Scouts within this group came to know about the new Pakistani flag, such was theirexcitement and the desire to be a part of this historic event that they promptly decided to make this newflag.

This was done by stitching together pieces of green from the turban of one scout and white cut from theshirt of another. Next morning on 14 August at 9.ooam they proudly hoisted their new country’s flag side byside with 85 other nations accompanied by salutes and cheers from hundreds of scouts and guides gathered fromall over the world. Such was the spirit and feelings of national fervor in those days.

It led ordinary boysand girls, men and women to do extra ordinary things, that generation did not wait for someone else to tellthem what to do. They took initiatives of their own. They did things because they believe that it was theright thing to do. People even the poor people open their homes to incoming refugees and help them generouslybecause they knew that those refugees had left behind their homes, lands and lifetime savings.

Governmentofficers and staff made do with whatever they had at their disposal. They knew that the new government did nothave adequate financial resources to offer them even the basic minimum office supplies. They worked inmakeshift premises, used thorns to write and used as common pins, recycled used envelops by turning theminside out and used crates as tables and chairs. Businessmen rose to the occasion to build our economy fromnothing.

They did not profiteer. They did not exploit. They knew and accepted that they had to start fromscratch and they had to operate under tremendous business constraints. I can go on and on and give youhundreds of examples of individuals and groups of people from that generation, our senior generation, whoselflessly made vital contributions to the country in whatever way they could. They did not mourn. They didnot complain. They simply took initiative and did whatever had to be done for the good of the country becausethey knew that whatever was good for the country was also good for them. They were devoted to the cause. Theywere enthusiastic to have an opportunity to make a difference. They were determined to show to the world thatdespite dooms day scenario wished by the enemies of the new country they will succeed at all cost.

In short they had a purpose in life. They put Pakistan on the road to progress but then alongthe way we started to flounder. It is our generation, my generation that lasts its bearing. Why did we falter?Why did we mess it up? Where did we go wrong? How is it that our parents see dreams have turned into suchhorrible nightmares now and the sad indeed tragic fact is that some of us have started doubting our ownabilities, the nation’s abilities and thus failure has become a self fulfilling prophecy and now we havebecome so negative and cynical about anything and everything that this seems to have become a future of dailylife.

Pessimism, cynicism, negativism are deadly diseases they now at the core, we have to shun them like aplague. Let us have faith in ourselves, let us be positive.