IT is high time that tough questions were asked of those who wield authority in Pakistan. If we claim to be a democracy then our citizens have a right to know what is ‘rotten’ in the state of our nation today.

Questions must start with the prime minister, who wields the highest position in office — even though he has ceded much of his powers to Caesar, especially on national security and foreign policy issues. We wish him a speedy recovery and good health. He is an exceptionally lucky politician, having become the head of the government for a third time — unprecedented in the chequered history of our Constitution that has been frequently trampled on by military boots. This time he has beaten his own record: of governing for more than three years in a single tenure. But the question remains whether he has learnt from past mistakes and managed to improve leadership and governance.

Mr Prime Minister, during this time of convalescence, kindly take a moment to think about some key governance issues. First is the matter of corruption in our polity. Do you agree with the army chief when he says that crime and corruption have a nexus and pose a serious national security threat?

The prime minister has frittered away opportunities to build the capacity of civil institutions.

Are the Panama Papers a non-issue for the ruling elite, something to be brushed under the carpet? You have addressed the nation twice and presented your family’s case before the National Assembly. You are obviously concerned that your family name not be tarnished. But isn’t the nation justified in seeking probes into matters of alleged tax evasion and avoidance, laundering, kickbacks and corruption? If so, should you not ask for an independent commission of inquiry — starting with your family? As a holder of public office, aren’t you morally bound to demonstrate that you and your kin are the first to be held accountable? If the family’s accounts and investments are clean and transparent, there is nothing to fear. It takes courage to lead by example.

Let us also turn to other pertinent governance issues. According to Ibn Khaldun, the greatest quality of a ruler is the ability to assign everybody to his or her proper station. Have you fulfilled this obligation as chief executive? You have avoided appointing a regular foreign affairs minister — is there no suitable parliamentarian for the position, or is it mistrust and insecurity that prompt you to hold on to this portfolio? Caught between an adviser and a special assistant, the ministry is clearly directionless. Resultantly, foreign policy formulations and responses to regional and global challenges are deliberated at the army headquarters. What message are you sending to your citizens and international stakeholders? This is indicative of indecision and weak civilian authority.

You also initially kept the portfolio of defence minister, and then gave this additional charge to a minister already grappling with a daunting energy crisis. He has failed to prove his mettle and appears sidelined in defence-related matters. We would have wished to see him sitting with the military brass and making a case, rather than confined to a corner with his civilian colleagues when summoned to GHQ. This reflects poorly on civil-military relations.

Let us turn our attention to national security issues. Since taking office, your government has failed to come up with a national security policy. Despite the creation of a national security division headed by a competent diplomat and a retired general as national security adviser, the Cabinet Committee on National Security has not been effectively utilised by you for institutional debates on the formulation of national, regional and global security strategies. Instead, a huddle of select kitchen cabinet colleagues and advisers — and frequent one-on-ones with the army chief — clearly indicate a pattern of personalised, secretive and selective decision-making on issues of national and international significance.

The APS tragedy of Dec 16, 2014 provided you an opportunity to lead the nation. The working group of professionals who drafted NAP came up with a 21-point plan. The first and most important point was for you to lead the war personally — as the commander-in-chief of an embattled country — by reviewing implementation of the plan with all civilian and military stakeholders daily. Why was this important role deleted from the plan? This abdication of responsibility has resulted in a void of leadership — being filled by none other than the army chief. Can one begrudge the stronger and more disciplined institution for having invariably made its presence felt?

The organisation for steering coordination and operations in the war against militancy has been ignored by you. Under the law, Nacta is supposed to work directly under the prime minister. Instead, it is confined to being a wing of the interior ministry. Though chairman of its board you have not held a single meeting in three years, despite the files gathering dust. Is this the way to lead civilian law enforcement agencies’ efforts?

On Jan 21, 2015, during a NAP implementation meeting, the army chief asked you to freeze all other projects and divert funds towards law enforcement for the next two years in order to build the capacity of criminal justice institutions, since the clause on military courts would expire by then. While ignoring this valid suggestion, could you not predict the militarisation of internal security strategies as the logical outcome? The opportunity to build civilian justice institutions was, unfortunately, frittered away — the biggest casualty of which is the rule of law.

Last but not least, let me caution you: great resentment is building within the police services as the interior ministry has stopped recommending gallantry and meritorious services awards for sometime now. Are the numerous police officials who lay down their lives in the line of duty not to be recognised? Is this the kind of leadership that the interior minister is providing as counterterrrorism czar? Policemen and women would be justified in feeling that you do not care for them.

This is not the way wars are won. In this hour of trial, the nation needs bold stewardship.

The writer is a retired police officer.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2016