Gen Musharraf’s desire to wear two hats at the same time may not be that desirable for the masses
(Absolute power blurs absolutely — Asian proverb)
GENERAL Pervez Musharaf has vociferously reiterated that come what may he would remain chief of the army staff and president of Pakistan, simultaneously. He would wear two caps; he would sit in two chairs; and would sleep on two beds at the same time. I do not have the slightest intention to comment upon his decision. He is the supreme ruler of Pakistan. If he so desires, he can put on a dark tan shoe on one foot and black shoe on the other. It is an interesting phenomenon that haunted numerous rulers in ancient and not so ancient history.
Incidentally, invading conquerors were rulers and commanders of their legions. Alexander the Great who swept across half of the world was the king as well as the supreme commander of his armies. Babar was the king, and at the same time he was the commander of his armed forces. Mahmood Ghaznavi, who led his armies while invading neighbouring countries, was a ruler. But, Khalid bin Waleed, Tariq bin Ziyad and Musa bin Nusair were Sipah-i-Salars, commander-in-chiefs of their armies. They were not the rulers. They fought complying with the orders of the caliphs.
Let us not get involved in the history of the departed mortals who wore more than one cap, and couldn’t contribute substantively to society. I have no intention to sit in judgment upon General Pervez Musharaf’s clearly pronounced decision to keep the two posts of chief of the army staff and the president of Pakistan unto himself. Absolute power doesn’t necessarily corrupt a person absolutely. Absolute power blurs the vision of a person absolutely. He conveniently falls prey to the notion that he can’t be wrong, and believes he is not prone to committing mistakes. It is each man’s personal predicament. If he assumes the reigns of a country, his personal predicament turns into the predicament of a nation.
An academic scrutiny of a person’s craving for holding two posts would pave the way for comprehending possible repercussions of such cravings. Mr Ali Khan (younger brother of Wali Khan and Ghani Khan and uncle of Asfandyar Wali Khan) was federal secretary for education. Internal unrest at the Allama Iqbal Open University rendered the university without a vice-chancellor. The federal government directed Ali Khan to assume the post of vice-chancellor in addition to his post of education secretary and hold the two posts simultaneously. Ali Khan handled the two posts amicably for the reason that both the posts dealt with education, and in a way were interconnected.
Let me cite an example of my Sufi friend who had to hold simultaneously the posts of vice-chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University, and director-general, Pakistan National Council of the Arts, Islamabad. The two posts were diametrically different in nature. One post was purely educational in essence, whereas the other post was related to creative and performing arts throughout the country, and execution of cultural pacts with 56 countries. It was a nightmarish experience for my Sufi friend. He laments to this day that he couldn’t give his best to the two posts he held at the same time.
The issue of holding two posts develops into complex concern in case the two posts happen to be diametrically different in the fulfilment of job requirements. General Pervez Musharaf’s persistent desire for wearing two caps at the same time serves us with a suitable example for comprehending undesirable outcome of such a desire.
General Pervez Musharaf adamantly insists on remaining chief of the army staff while he wields the wand of authority as president of Pakistan. The two posts he clings on to are absolutely different in nature. The post of chief of the army staff is purely a martial post. The post of the president is a civilian post that provides nucleus for political culture in the country. How can a person who has been groomed to become a professional soldier, take it upon himself to look after the political affairs of the country? Technically, a government servant is forbidden from taking part in politics. As long as General Pervez Musharaf clutches on to the post of chief of the army staff, he shall remain a government servant in Grade 22. For a day’s casual leave he will have to submit his formal application to the defence secretary for approval.
It is an academic scrutiny. It is of no consequence whether General Pervez Musharaf relinquishes his Grade 22 post in the army, and remains the president of Pakistan. No historian worth his salt dare describe him a democratically elected civilian ruler of Pakistan. He would go down in history as a military ruler who dismissed an elected civilian government on his own, became a ruler, and later on legalized his taking over the reigns of the country through the LFO. Such a ruler maintains divine right to keep as many posts under his belt as he likes. The elected representatives who enjoy cozy comforts in the assemblies under the system devised by General Pervez Musharaf have no moral right to question his desire for simultaneously remaining chief of the army staff and the president of Pakistan. Under his authoritarian rule, our already battered political culture will receive irreversible setback.
