People of Asia keep dreaming of change in their socio-economic conditions, but only faces change and systems never change. They get rid of Musharrafs and have to bear with Zardaris, who prove to be worse than Musharrafs. Thus Asian people, from frying pan, end up into fire.     Where did PPP go wrong? What are main factors, which create political instability, obstruct economic development, hinder peace and harmony, and cause widespread human rights violations in Asian societies?  Why criminals come into power in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh?  Present article will focus on above-mentioned questions.

A.    Pakistani Scenario:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is ruling Pakistan for 5th time since its formation.  But, every time it came to power, it failed to deliver according to its manifesto and promises. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a charismatic leader, but, his dilemma was that he while dreaming of becoming the greatest leader of Islamic world, and was also adopting the style of Mao, turned himself into a very powerful and ruthless civilian dictator.  He could not tolerate difference of opinion thus crushed his friends and foes alike by using law-enforcement and secret agencies.  He tortured many people to death and ultimately died a violent death at the hands of General Ziaul Haq.  Sadly, three out of 4 children of Bhutto also died a violent death.  One wonders if it was tit for tat?     Benazir’s government was twice dismissed on corruption charges. During both her regimes she lavished PPP members with good jobs and other financial benefits. Zardari and PPP exploited the murder of Benazir Bhutto and won 2008 general elections and came to power.  Zardari has proved that: he is not a trustworthy person; he cannot think beyond his personal interests; he did not want to restore the deposed judges because he could not afford to do so due to murder and corruption charges against him, but, he had to restore the judges under the pressure of military boots; and he can never be faithful to his own country that he is heading now; and that he can easily sacrifice PPP and Pakistan to save his own neck and for the sake of looting billions that he is begging from around the world in the name of financial crises of Pakistan due to the war on terror.

B.     Bangladeshi Scenario:

Begum Khalida Zia and Sheikh Hussina Wajad have been ruling Bangladesh with intervals despite being involved in massive corruption scandals.  Bangladeshis are not able to get rid of their corrupt leadership and new leadership does not seem to be emerging.

C.    Indian Scenario:

Things are slightly better in India mainly due to an independent judiciary and impartial role of the armed forces.  But corruption is part and parcel of the politico-economic culture of India too.  Many politicians are known to have relations with underworld. Following are factors of control by criminal minded persons over political cultures of Asia:

1.    Lack of quality and value Education:
Literacy rate, quality and value education are absent from Asian societies.  Issues like human rights, democracy, corruption, interfaith harmony, justice, peace, and participation of masses are not part of the curriculum and are not discussed in schools, colleges and universities.  The education system, particularly in Pakistan, promotes and perpetuates slave-mentality.

2.    Dominance of feudal values:
Asian societies are predominantly feudal societies, therefore, feudal values continue to dominate every sphere of life and difference of opinion is not tolerated in bureaucracy, religious institutions, political institutions, non-government organization, and industries. Feudal mindset is seen active everywhere.

3.    Political parties lack democratic Culture:
Party leaderships in Asian countries don’t allow emergence of new leadership from within political workers.  They want to dominate their parties till death and transfer party ownership and political power to one of their family members after their death.  Thus they contribute to weakening of their own parties.  Benazir and her father both made this mistake.  As a result PPP and Pakistan are being held hostage by Zardari and his flatterers. 

4.    Weak political institutions:
Political institutions are comparatively new in Asia as compared to Europe and America. Parliaments are dominated by individuals.  But can we use this as an excuse?

5.    Hereditary politics and exploitation of sympathies of masses:
Benazir Bhutto, Sheikh Hassina Wajad came to power by exploiting sympathies of masses because their fathers were murdered.  Cori Aquino, Sonia Ghandhi, and Begum Khaleda Zia capitalized on the deaths of their husbands.  Zardari capitalized death of his wife Benazir to grab power.  This is quite common in Asian counties to capitalize on dead family members to win public sympathies.

6.    Weak judiciaries:
Judiciary, which keeps a check on role of both executive and legislature, is deliberately made weak by ruling elite of Asia.    

7.    Anti-people role of law-enforcement agencies and suppressive laws:
Party that comes to power takes a full control of the law-enforcement and secret agencies of the country and begins to use these agencies for punishing its opponents and intelligentsia by declaring them anti-state, anti-religion etc.  Those who speak for the rights of masses are declared enemies of state and those who grab power, loot and plunder national wealth, and are involved in massive human rights violations, get certificates of patriotism.   

8.    Sycophants act as anti-people agents and pimps:
Every usurper has a group of shrewd, sharp, and cunning elements, which immediately offer their services and talents for protecting the interests of usurpers.  Some wise and honest persons, who want to oppose the dominance of criminal elements, keep their mouths shut, for, “Who will bell the cat?” attitude prevails.  These wise persons don’t want to take any risk of angering the dominant forces, for, they know that these dominant forces could punish rebels by private gangsters and/or law enforcement agencies.  Such people are sidelined and ignored and sycophants become prominent in party affairs and are lavished with highest positions.  There sole job is to tell lies on behalf of the corrupt rulers, justify the corrupt and anti-people policies of the rulers, misguide and assure the rulers that they are on the right track, and to scuffle with those who criticize the policies of the rulers.

9.    Masses divided and disorganized:
Masses in Asian countries are divided on religious, sectarian, caste, racial, and political lines.  Ruling elite divides people on these lines so democratic forces remain devided. Masses spend all their energies to fight on non-issues and become hostile to one another on sectarian basis and never unite to launch an integrated movement against the real enemy, which is corrupt ruling elite.   

10.    Establishments are corrupt to the core:
The establishments (civil and military bureaucracies) in Asian societies are corrupt to the core, therefore, they cannot afford to have a clean and democratic system.  We have seen this during the presidential elections of Pakistan in 2008.  Pakistani establishment allowed Zardari, a person with a strong criminal background, to win, and Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, former chief justice of Pakistan, was made to lose.  If establishment was honest and patriotic, they could easily stop Zardari from entering into presidency.   

11.    Religious and national symbols used by ruling elite:
Any criticism about Jinnah, Iqbal, Islam and ideology of Pakistan is not tolerated, flag burners are tortured.  Establishment will never act upon the vision of Jinnah or Iqbal, but, will severely punish those who criticize or disagree with their ideas.   

12.     Shortsighted, selfish and greedy politicians:
Generally majority of politicians of Asian societies are after money, ministries and well paying jobs for their family members.  They do not have capacity to think beyond their immediate financial interests.  These politicians can sell their country for a few million rupees without bothering about future of Pakistan.  There are very few examples like Aitzaz Ahsan, who rejected premiership offer by Musharraf and continued to be faithful to the cause of restoration of an independent judiciary.     

13.    Conclusions and Recommendations:

a. If judiciaries of Asian countries are not made independent, criminals will continue to rule the Asian region.  Particularly if Pakistani judiciary does not become independent, the country is going to be next Afghanistan.

b. If corrupt rulers are constantly given protection with NROs, corruption in politics will increase manifolds, and Pakistan will be worst than Somalia and Afghanistan.

Yunis Khushi is Chief Editor, Pakistan Christian TV