ALTHOUGH leadership is a born trait, it can be rejuvenated either by going through a formal training institute or by on-job learning.

In Pakistan, because of the prevalence of dynastic politics, politicians miss the opportunity of receiving formal experience in inculcating leadership. What brand of leadership can you expect from a political leader who is one day a feudal lord bullying his tenants or a lawyer who only knows proving through arguments white as black and vice versa in the confines of a cramped building, then moving to the corridor of power to control the fate of millions?

Just watch the leadership qualities the military generals are exuding. On Eidul Fitr and Independence Day, while political leaders, from the president down to a provincial minister, were engrossed in celebrations with family and visitors in their cosy homes, Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif and Peshawer Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani were spending the days with the internally-displaced families and troops fighting for the survival of the country in North Waziristan.

Soon after the Samungli terrorist attack, Gen Sharif and the Air Force Chief, ACM Butt, were there to eulogise the soldiers who so bravely defended the installations. Where was the chief minister of Balochistan?

Some may argue that it’s the job of these generals to be with troops little remembering that US President Barack Obama and many other heads of Nato countries and political leaders came all the way to Afghanistan to buck up their troops. Prince William of Great Britain volunteered to serve in Afghanistan just for the sake of British troops stationed in Afghanistan.

For Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family it was more important to spend 10 days in Makkah than to pay a visit to the troops fighting in Waziristan and the families of displaced persons living in Bannu.

Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and the Supreme Commander President Mamoon Hussain probably think they have neither any links with the troops nor with the displaced people.

S.G.B. Shah Bokhari

Peshawar

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014