Kerry-Lugar Bill

An Act for Enhanced partnership with Pakistan and its people

or an accord of compromises by Pakistan on its sovereignty.

From the last couple of weeks when the news broke in the international and
local Pakistan media on the enactment of Kerry-Luger bill in the United State
Senate, I have been witnessing a great debate emerged on the Pakistan media
particularly in the last week, many TV anchors enthusiastically bringing
dispossessed arguments from those so called scholars in their evening and late
night talk shows who have not even read the text of the bill but offering their
comments. Such type of thinking has already earned a huge social, cultural and
economic loss to the nation by their immature and radical reasoning. Their
Taliban type of philosophical description is no more acceptable to the people of
Pakistan. It’s ruining the upcoming generation by their ill and vested interest in
the past 10 years of fascism and now they have come up again to diminish the
tangible and intangible effects of the bill over being conveyed to Pakistan and its
people by a friend country. I do not understand how badly and unwisely they are
exploiting the sovereignty of Pakistan.
This prompted me to read the bill thoroughly. In the preamble clauses of
this bill, it is written, “A democratic, moderate, modernizing Pakistan would
represent the wishes of the Pakistani people and serve as model to other
countries around the world. Economic growth is a fundamental foundation for
human security and national stability in Pakistan.” Is not this a dream of people
of Pakistan to become humble citizen of their motherland and play a dignified
and honourable role in the global community?
Amazingly the other clauses which relate to the economic assistance to
the people of Pakistan does not mirror any denial to the Pakistani People from
any of their fundamental rights as being citizen of Pakistan, rather it gives
adequate assurance to promote the peace, law and order and security for the
people of Pakistan who are dreadfully facing terrorist attacks within the country
by Al-Qaeda and Taliban. The bill not only assured Pakistan as an non-NATO ally
to stand within the global community even an absolute defence and economic
support is ensured by the United States for the next five years with a sizeable
amount of assistance mentioned in the bill.
From the beginning it was portrayed and advocated to the Pakistani nation
through a well designed resourceful media campaign that we are surrounded by
the enemies and there should have been a strong hold ruler for the protection of
the nation which obviously can be preferred from the forces to protect the
country. It was the only reason why martial law was always welcomed by the
nation in anticipation of stability on the political scene. The political forces were
made pathetic through a general goal set by the bureaucratic establishment
unless common man found his representation in 2008 election.

This has remarkably been noted by the globe. And the Kerry-Lugar bill is
one the good gesture of the global community members to come up with sound
and committed democratic and defence support to strengthen the people of the
country to combat terrorism faced by Pakistan and its allies besides huge
economic assistance to solidifying democracy and rule of law which would
ultimately bring discipline in the institutions and accountability measures would
certainly alleviate the ongoing poverty. However if some restrictions are imposed
for the proper utilization of the economic assistance on the Pakistan government,
it should have been taken in true spirit. Keeping in view past track record of the
Pakistan government in the last ten years, anybody who is offering support
would certainly ensure that this time assistance goes directly to the people of
Pakistan. So I believe this aspect should have been elaborated in the media
specially Pakistan electronic media with great national responsibility rather than
exploiting furious self-image of small segment of the country who has enough
ruined and bankrupted this motherland in the past.

PS. While this article was writing, news breaks into international and local media
that President Obama has deferred his signature of approval due to unwarranted
criticism on this bill in Pakistan. I wonder how much my pledge and viewpoint for
this bill was truthful and those playing this game have again succeeded by
imparting their superfluous campaign against this bill.

By Naeem Baig
Dubai UAE.
7th October, 2009.