INTERNATIONAL

Trump’s New Tune

January 2017

Reg. ss-973
www.southasia.com.pk

INSIDE
AFGHANISTAN
Crisis of Governance
THE MALDIVES
Who Is Incharge?
INDIA
Bold Experiment
NEIGHBOUR
Beyond the Corruption

It is time for Pakistan to step out

Afghanistan Afg. 50
Australia A$ 6
Bangladesh Taka 65

of its image as a country where

Bhutan NU 45
Brazil BRL 20
Canada C$ 6
China RMB 30

terrorism has its roots and France EUR 45

Hong Kong HK$ 30
India Rs. 65

emerge as a foward looking and Japan ¥ 500

Korea Won 3000
Malaysia RM 6

peaceful nation.
Maldives Rf 45
Myanmar MMK10
Nepal NcRs. 75
New Zealand NZ$ 7
Pakistan Rs. 150
Philippines P 75
Saudi Arabia SR 15
Singapore S$ 8
Sri Lanka Rs. 100
Thailand B 100
Turkey Lira. 2
UAE AED 10
UK £ 3
USA $ 5
 Contents
12
A Lonely
Stance
Pakistan could do well
to open more bridges
of communication with
its neighbours.

India
22
Bouquets and
Brickbats Afghanistan

24
The partial demonetization
move in India has its pros Crisis of
and cons. Governance
Any working
democracy must tackle
key matters.

Sri Lanka

29 Footprints in the Waste

Concrete measures are being
taken to tackle waste problems.

The Maldives

34
Who Is Incharge?
There is a tug of war between
two brothers for the control of

26
the Maldives.

Bangladesh
Price of Violence
Killing of political opponents in
Bangladesh is on the rise.

4 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

 REGULAR FEATURES
Editor’s Mail 8
On Record 9
Briefs 10
COVER STORY
A Lonely Stance 12
Challenge of Isolation 14
Hunter or Hunted? 16
REGION
Pakistan
Making of a Future Leader 18

40
The Democracy Trail 20
India
Bouquets and Brickbats 22
Afghanistan
Crisis of Governance 24
International Bangladesh
Playing a New Tune Price of Violence 26
Will he or won’t he succeed as
the next US President? Sri Lanka
Footprints in the Waste 29

50
Bhutan
Towards Functional Rule 32
The Maldives
Who Is Incharge? 34
Afghanistan Nepal
Woman Power Elusive Peace 36
More women are coming
into practical life in this INTERNATIONAL
‘closed’ country. Playing a New Tune 40
NEIGHBOUR
Beyond the Corruption 44
FEATURES
Pakistan
Nepal A Global Issue 46

56
Agents of Change
Efforts are on to remove
medieval rituals in Nepal.
India
Bold Experiment 48
Afghanistan
Woman Power 50
Bangladesh
Pollution Problems 52

44
Sri Lanka
Riding the Tuk Tuk 54
Nepal
Agents of Change 56
The Maldives
Neighbour
Where Have All the Tourists Gone? 58
Beyond the Corruption
There are concrete moves BOOKS & REVIEWS
in Indonesia to curb Media Law Revisited 60
corruption.
SOUTHASIA 15 Years Ago 62

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 5

 COMMENT

Census At Last
T
JANUARY 2017 Vol.21 Issue 1 hough the official word on the fate of population census is finally positive, it
has been such a tricky ride announcement after announcement and deadline
PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF after deadline that it is hard to actually believe that it will really be executed
Syed Jawaid Iqbal this time round. The best bet, however, is to hope for the best. On its part, the
MANAGING EDITOR
Supreme Court of Pakistan deserves definite commendation for making a concerted
Zeba Jawaid effort to save the country from a rudderless leadership by rejecting reasons for delay
in conducting the population census and ordering the government to announce a
EDITOR definitive timeframe for holding the much-needed headcount. While taking suo
Javed Ansari
motu notice on delay in census, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali was quoted as
ASSISTANT EDITORS saying, “We have beautifully decorated the green book [Constitution] in cupboards
Mahrukh Farooq – Faizan Usmani only to be forgotten. Our only anxiety is that the constitutional obligations should
Feature Writer: Khawaja Amer be implemented in letter and spirit at all costs.” Following the decision, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the Council of Common Interests
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
which agreed to begin Pakistan's sixth population census on March 15, 2017.
S. G. Jilanee
If history is anything to take cue from, fears of uncertainty on this crucial count
CONTRIBUTORS are not misplaced. After the first census in 1951, there should have been six held
Dr. Moonis Ahmar - Zeeshan Ahmed - Khawaja Amer by now and, in line with the Constitution, a seventh would have been due in the
Zufah Ansari - Huzaima Bukhari - Muhammad Ali Ehsan next few years. Instead, we have just had four – 1961, 1972, 1981 and 1998 – and,
Tariq Faruqi - Dr. Ikramul Haq rhetoric aside, there was never a realistic chance of the various deadlines being met
Muhammad Omar Iftikhar - Hafiz Inam - S.G. Jilanee that were announced in the last ten or so years. Financial constraints and logistical
Dr. Raza Khan - Taha Kehar - Zehra Khawaja issues have been often cited for the delay, but it is not too hard to detect the basic
Dr. Syed Ali Madni - K.A. Naqshbandi - S. Mubashir Noor reason: lack of political will to hold census, which is nothing but raw material
Tahira Sajid - Faizan Usmani for all the key social, economic and demographic indicators. These, in turn, form
the basis to work out formulae for distribution of resources among the provinces,
GRAPHICS & LAYOUT delimitation of electoral constituencies, job quotas, water apportionment and
Kamran Ghulam Nabi such other sensitive issues. Without census data, socio-economic planning is just
Haroon Rasheed guesswork. And if one were to point any one reason behind the mess in Pakistan,
Riaz Masih
it would be poor planning because the headcount required for preparing a correct
MARKETING & ADVERTISING cost-effective forecast is not available. The last census in Pakistan was conducted
Aqam-ud-Din Khan in 1998 and during the last 18 years the massive migration to the major cities
SPECIAL PROJECTS
has given birth to new demographic realities across the country. The unaccounted
Waqas Jan - Syed Ovais Akhtar immigrants have worsened the situation further.
Hira Sarwar The government now must act on a war footing for making arrangements for
holding the census without any further delay and assign the task to a parliamentary
COORDINATOR committee comprising representatives of all parties in parliament to avoid
Shehryar Zulfiqar unnecessary confusion. The committee should be headed by a federal minister
CIRCULATION
and prepare a list of requirements, including collecting cost estimates from the
Danish Shahid Census Bureau, meet with relevant staff to make plans, review and update Census
Boundary and Annexation Survey maps, and return to Census Bureau with its input.
EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE This should be followed with recruitment and subsequent training to enumerators,
20-C, Lane 12, off Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase II crew leaders and clerks. It is also important that this census use the state-of-the-
Extension, DHA, Karachi - 75500, Pakistan art technology for enumeration and data tabulation. This will eliminate the errors
Phones: 92-21- 35313821-24
when data is digitised later. Aerial photography and GPS units should be used
Fax: 92-21-35313832
Website: www.southasia.com.pk
to demarcate Census geography. The government should consider collaborating
Email: info@southasia.com.pk with digital giants like Google, which has extensive experience in collecting such
data. In fact, such tasks could be outsourced to such companies so that data is
MIDDLE EAST digitised and archived using the global best practices parameters. It may even be
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE cost-effective.
Pirana Advertising JLT Other than logistics, there are a couple of technicalities that the authorities need
PO Box 486207, 1704, Level 17, HDS Tower, to be clear about before undertaking the exercise. It is a bit surprising that after all
Jumeirah Lake Towers Cluster F, Dubai, UAE the bad blood that was created in 1998, there has been no procedural change
Phone: +97-14- 4508309 planned for enumeration purposes. The anomalies had led to serious protests in
Fax: +97-14-3688487 Urban Sindh, which plays host to a large immigrant population. In the wake of
Email: info@piranagroup.com
unrest in Northern Areas and the resultant southward movement, the issue this time
round is bound to be even more crucial. Besides, the definition of urban and rural
SouthAsia is published every month areas is also up in the air because of the change the local governance system has
by Syed Jawaid Iqbal for and on behalf of undergone in the intervening period. The delay, though unconstitutional, could still
JAWZ Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. have had a positive connotation if it could have been used to sort out such thorny
and printed by Union Graphics, Karachi. issues. It is advisable to preempt political backlash afterwards and everything
Views expressed by the contributors are
should be done to ensure that much. After all, it is not like asking for the moon,
or is it?
not necessarily shared by the editors.

Published since 1977 as Thirdworld, the magazine

was re-launched in 1997 as SouthAsia.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal

 EDITOR’S MAIL
Symbol of a
Failed State
This is with reference to
last month’s cover story on
the current state of politics
in Pakistan. A timely write-
up, it should have shed
some light on the perpetual
rift that is found between
the ever-flourishing
establishment (both military
and civil) and the elected
public representatives who
are mainly considered
makeshift legislators
compared to the
bureaucratic lot of civil
servants, or the movers
and shakers of the system.
More than a clash of the
titans, the unending tussle
between the bureaucracy
and the parliamentarians
seems to be an inherited
misfortune, plaguing the
country since its creation.
No matter what its effects
have been on the country,
the never-to-be-settled
differences between the
government and the mafia-
like establishment have
brought us nothing but
impoverishment, unending
poverty and ignorance
8 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
to live with. Isn’t this the
makings of a failed state?
Syeda Bushra Saeed,
Karachi, Pakistan.
Uncertainty
after Demone-
tisation
Most political leaders
passionately talk about
bringing an overnight
change in the system
without assessing the long-
term impact of such one-
off adventures. The recent
demonetisation move by the
Narendra Modi government
suggests the same approach.
According to economic
experts, demonetisation is
a gamble which could put
the Indian economy in peril
and could lead the country
to some serious crises later.
Despite being taken with
good intentions, a wrong
step can never produce the
right results. Desperately
playing hardball with so
much urgency to prove
himself a visionary leader
in Indian history, Modi
has been setting a wrong
precedent. In the name of
serving the broader public
interest, he seems to be
working on a personal
agenda, sacrificing public
objectives to fulfil vested
interests.
S. V. Ajit,
Delhi, India.
State of
Stateless
Rohingya
The Rohingya, a Muslim
minority of Myanmar, can
be termed as the most
oppressed minority in the
current period. Driven out
of their homeland, they
have been reduced to
stateless refugees, while
no country has any intent
to provide them the much-
needed shelter. Myanmar,
as it appears, has a clear-cut
policy to push the Rohingya
out of the country through
violence and other forms
of repression. Despite the
change of government, the
country has not revised
its approach towards the
resettlement of Rohingya
people. On the other hand,
the international community
has been turning a deaf ear
to the issue, as if nothing
wrong has been happening
in Myanmar. Up to now,
hundreds of Rohingyas have
been ruthlessly killed and
thousands thrown into the
sea through the organised
ethnic cleansing being
perpetrated for the last many
years. Truly a humanitarian
crisis, the current state of
stateless Rohingyas exposes
the double standards of
international human rights
champions.
Firdous A. Bhanji,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Controversial
Cybercrime
Law
The Bangladesh
government is going to enact
a cybercrime law to ensure
digital security, check
cybercrime and criminalise
offences that are committed
over the internet. Quite a
positive step though major
clauses of the proposed law
have major issues, making
it a bit controversial piece
of legislation even before
its final enactment. Most
importantly, the law
authorises the police and
security agencies to monitor
overall internet activities
in a covert manner,
which is nothing than an
intrusion into the lives of
citizens. Many terms and
expressions used in the
draft law are vague, such
as “acts of defamation”
and “use of computer or
other electronic devices
to hurt religious sentiment
and/or to harm the overall
stability and law and order
of the country.” Taken as a
whole, the draft law needs
an immediate review, as
it largely fails to define
actions that would lead to
punishment and it also does
not provide procedural
safeguards to the accused.
Mohammad Akram,
Sirajganj, Bangladesh.
Need for
Digital
Currency
Recently, the Indian
government has launched
a demonetisation move to
control the flow of black
money in the country.
In India, the banned
 ON RECORD
SLUG

“Political leader- “The PML-N is the

ship in Pakistan sole political party
is prolonging the with the credit of
cases against economic turn-
me and judiciary around, nuclear
is under the tests, motorways
influence of the current govern- and overcoming
ment.” energy shortage.”
Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif,
former President of Pakistan Prime Minister of Pakistan

Root Cause of Afghan Crisis “Scarcity is not

the main cause
“My justice is a for persisting
A war-torn country, Afghanistan can be termed little ‘karak’, like water crisis, but
as the most troubled state of the world. Suffering my chai.” the problem is
from intra-state conflicts, imposed warfare and Narendra Modi, also linked with
a poor law and order situation for decades, the Prime Minister of equitable distribution.”
country lags way behind its neighbours in socio- India Sheikh Hasina Wajid,
economic development. One of the reasons of its Prime Minister of Bangladesh
backwardness is its inability to address root causes,
such as the lack of a visionary leadership, political
disharmony, illiteracy, unemployment, gender
discrimination, etc. However, Afghanistan’s current “We strongly con- “Afghanistan is
leadership, led by President Ashraf Ghani, is unable demn terrorism in not dependent on
to find the fundamental reason for the country’s all its forms and a single port, but
downfall. Most of the time, the Afghan government manifestations.” it has access to
blames neighbouring countries and world powers Maithripala several ports.”
for its own shortcomings, without realising its own Sirisena, Ashraf Ghani,
helplessness to rectify the country’s main problems. President of Sri President of
In fact, much soul-searching is required from the Lanka Afghanistan
current Afghan leadership, as this happens to
be the only way it can acknowledge and amend
mistakes it has been making for ages.
Rajab Ali, “The Maldives “The reality is
Kabul, Afghanistan. health sector is that there are
rapidly moving barely 700,000
towards a revolu- of us sandwiched
tion.” between two of
Abdulla Yameen, the most popu-
President of the lated countries on
Maldives earth, China and India.”
Lyonchoen Tshering Tobgay,
Prime Minister of Bhutan

“Terrorist organi-
“The first prior- sations are hurting
ity is to hold both Islam and
elections, and it Muslim countries
currency notes of the denomination of Rupees 500 and will and must be and everyone
1000 comprise over 80 per cent of the total currency held.” knows the West is
circulation in the country. However, the sudden ban on Pushpa Kamal helping them.”
Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has created a serious cash Dahal Prachanda, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
crisis, causing major unrest among the people of the Prime Minister of Nepal Turkish President
country. Quite a bold step, the burning issue of black
money circulation and its generation needs to be handled
with some sustainable, long-term reforms, compared to
drastic, short-term interventions or politically-influenced
one-time measures. A long-term remedy, issuing e-coins “My main “The develop-
or e-currency can help such corruption-hit countries as message to you ment of Islam in
India and Pakistan to control black money, eradicate and the message China should stick
corruption and encourage the general public to disclose I delivered in to socialism with
their hidden assets to the government. Resorting to digital Europe is don’t Chinese character-
currency is a viable option and will help eradicate or, at just assume the istics.”
least minimise corruption. worst.” Wang Zuoan,
Barack Hussein Obama, Director, State Administration for
Syed Farman Ghani, former U.S. President Religious Affairs, China
Torotno, Canada.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 9

 BRIEFS

PAKISTAN

CPEC Opens

T
he China-Pakistan Economic Corridor formally
became operational when a fleet of trucks from China
arrived last month at Sost Dry Port in Gilgit-Baltistan
(G-B), the northernmost administrative territory of Pakistan.
Loaded on more than 250 trucks, the first consignment
was received by G-B Chief Minister, marking the formal
initiation of a trade corridor that connects China to the rest
of the world through Gwadar Port. The route will reduce
the distance between western China and Gwadar by 9,000
km. For the security of Chinese trade convoys, Pakistan
has installed 285 high-resolution, closed-circuit cameras
with night vision capability along the route. Equipped with
modern security gear, some 25 vehicles have been donated
by China as well.

PAKISTAN

Nuclear Safety
H
aving established a preliminary, sea-based arm of its nuclear deterrent, Pakistan
Navy has unveiled a Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication facility. The VLF
facility has been designed for command and control of deployed submarines,
carrying a nuclear deterrent patrol. VLF signals can penetrate some 20 metres below
the sea surface. The military communication link in the VLF spectrum will extend the
overall reach and flexibility of submarine operations. Multiplying its second-strike
capability through its Minimum Credible Deterrence (MCD), Pakistan will soon deploy
a nuclear-armed, submarine-launched variant of Babur, similar to the United States'
BGM-109 Tomahawk.

INDIA

Wildlife Protection

T
o strengthen its wildlife conservation initiatives, the Indian
government has recently finalised the National Wildlife Action
Plan (NWAP) 2017-31. The 14-year conservation plan aims to
increase the number of protected areas for endangered animals in the
country. Currently, there are a total of 726 protected areas in India. Using
centralised web-based equipment, surveillance drones and mobile-based
technology, the NWAP 2017-31 will address conservation issues such
as control of poaching, wildlife crimes and illegal trade, integration of
climate change in wildlife planning, rehabilitation of threatened species,
mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts and management of tourism in
wildlife sanctuaries and forests.

INDIA

Sun Energy

I
n India, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is setting up two solar
storage plants with a total capacity of 25 megawatts at Port Blair, the capital city
of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, India. Setting
up large-sized solar power plants will help generate sufficient power to supply to
remote locations that use diesel-generated electricity, a major source of pollution
in the area. Under the government’s anti-pollution drive, the NTPC will set up 50
solar plants across the country by June 2018.

10 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

BANGLADESH

Golden Vitamin

A
group of scientists in Bangladesh has successfully
developed Golden Rice, a vitamin A-rich rice variety
that can successfully address vitamin-A deficiency
(VAD) in the country. Developed by the Bangladesh
Rice Research Institute (BRRI), the grains of Golden Rice
accumulate beta carotene, a substance that is the main
source of vitamin A, which is essential for vision, immune 24 per cent of pregnant women in Bangladesh are vitamin
system function and for the overall growth and development A-deficient and one in every five pre-school children suffers
of the human body. According to statistics of WHO, nearly from VAD.

SRI LANKA

National Strategy

L
aunched by the Sri Lankan government in collaboration with the UN
Population Fund, the National STD/Aids Control Programme has become a
huge success. According to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, Sri Lanka has recorded a significant decline in the total number of HIV/
Aids cases, compared to other South Asian nations.
Following its vision to end the Aids epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable
Development Goals, Sri Lanka has recently implemented a five-year National
Condom Strategy, promoting the correct and consistent use of condoms among
the rural and urban populations.

NEPAL

Wow Factor

T
he world’s largest travel guidebook publisher, Lonely Planet
has named Nepal as the ‘Best Value Destination’ in the world.
The country also ranked 5th in the Lonely Planet’s ‘Top Ten
Destinations Guidebook.’ It is the only South Asian country that
has been featured in the list of the top 10 countries to visit in 2017.
Among the other countries are Finland, Canada, Oman, Dominica,
Colombia, Bermuda, Ethiopia, Mongolia and Myanmar. As per the
ranking criteria of the Lonely Planet, each destination is chosen
because of its scenic beauty, topicality and a ‘wow’ factor, offering
a unique experience to international tourists.

BHUTAN

Easy Banking

T
he Central Bank of Bhutan has recently introduced ‘Agent Banking,’
allowing financial institutions to provide banking services to people
outside the bank premises. Under the initiative, a bank agent can
accept cash deposits and withdrawals, process loan applications and is
entitled to collect utility bills on behalf of the bank. Post offices, private
courier companies, agents of telecom operators, insurance companies,
pharmacies and shopping outlets are eligible to become a bank agent.
Aimed to serve unbanked populations across the country, the access to
financial services and loans through agent banking will help unemployed
youth to start their own businesses.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 11

 COVER STORY

A Lonely
Stance That Pakistan supports terrorists is a common complaint.
Pakistan must make strong efforts to shed this global
perception or it may run into more trouble.
By S.G. Jilanee

I
ndia has mounted a relentless
campaign to smear Pakistan as a
sponsor of terrorists. It uses every
gimmick to embarrass and every forum
to vilify Pakistan. The latest occasion
was the Heart of Asia Conference in
Amritsar, where Afghanistan president,
Ashraf Ghani also chimed in to give an
earful to Pakistan’s delegate – the PM’s
foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz.
Earlier, India boycotted the SAARC
summit to be held in Islamabad,
pulling Bangladesh
and Afghanistan
as well with it. The meeting had to be
cancelled. Next, Prime Minister Modi
again reviled Pakistan at the BRICS
summit in Goa.
India’s defamatory drive has
led to two, parallel, perceptions.
One, that it is a dastardly attempt
on India’s part to divert world
attention from India’s on-going
atrocities in Kashmir. This is
Pakistan’s official viewpoint.
But this argument does not
stand the test of ground realities.
Indian brutalities have been
going on since July 8 when Hizb ul
Mujahedeen leader Burhan Muzaffar’
Wani, was shot dead by troops
and, as a result, the entire Valley
erupted in protest. Five months
have gone passed and is still a
curfew and hartal. About one
hundred protesters have been
killed and more than one
thousand blinded by pellet
guns, yet there is no sign of
any let up in the intensity of
the agitation.
But the international

12 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

 The offer of financial assistance was a mega
goof on part of Pakistan, primarily because
it was peanuts compared with the billions
India is pumping into Afghanistan.
community has taken no notice.
Even when Pakistan sent 22 of its
lawmakers round the globe to narrate
the horrors India is perpetrating on
the innocent people of Kashmir, in
order to jolt its conscience out of its
slumber, it refused to wake up. The
theory of India trying to divert world
opinion is, therefore, otiose.
The other assumption - and one
which sounds more realistic - is that
this is India’s reaction to the terrorist
attacks on its military camps in
Pathankot and Uri, which it blames
on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood
Azhar, safely ensconced in Pakistan
and treated by its establishment as a
valued asset.
India finds a receptive audience
when it complains about terror
attacks from Pakistan on its soil
because it backs its allegations with
tangible evidence. By contrast, when
the Pakistan claims being victim
of terrorism and cites 5,000 troop
losses, there is not even a sigh of
sympathy, much less a moist eye
or a word of condolence from any
quarter. The response, at best, is a
few words of praise for its relentless
fight with terrorists. And Pakistan
government goes overboard with
glee. The “appreciation” of Pakistan’s
anti-terrorism effort is splashed
across the front pages of the country’s
newspapers.
The reason for the lack of sympathy
is that Pakistan is not the target of
attack by foreign terrorists like India.
Here, the terrorists are home-grown.
Therefore, the world outside, treats
Pakistani casualties as a consequence
of, what former Secretary of State,
Hillary Clinton called, “rearing
snakes in the backyard.”
On the face of it, though, it looks
like India wants to punish Pakistan
for the terrorist attacks on its soil by
trying to isolate it internationally.
And it seems to have at least partially
succeeded in its plan, given the
amount of sympathy it receives
worldwide.
But India is not alone in its
crusade to discredit Pakistan.
Afghanistan is another. Afghanistan-
Pakistan relations had started on the
right note with Ashraf Ghani taking
over as the new president. There were
exchanges of friendly visits and much
display of cordiality on both sides. It
was a clear departure from the time
of President Karzai, who spared no
opportunity to castigate Pakistan.
Then relations took a downturn as
Taliban attacks on Afghan troops
increased and Kabul started to blame
them on Pakistan. Today the relations
are so strained that the Afghanistan
president spurned Pakistan’s recent
offer of $500 million assistance.
The offer of financial assistance
was a mega goof on part of Pakistan,
primarily because it was peanuts
compared with the billions India is
pumping into Afghanistan. Instead
of trying to compete with India,
therefore, it would have been more
useful had Pakistan tried to address
Kabul’s basic grievances. So long as
these complaints remain unresolved,
friendly bilateral relations are not
possible.
Afghanistan’s immediate grie-
vance is the attacks on its troops and
installations by terrorists enjoying
safe havens in Pakistan. Next is the
import facility for goods from India
across Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan
allows such a facility for Afghan
exports to India. But it does not allow
Indian goods to go to Kabul. Pakistan
wants to hurt India, but in the
process it hurts Kabul more because,
Afghanistan is land-locked.
Kabul’s dependence on imports
from India is so acute that both
countries are said to be planning
transportation of goods by air. This
amounts to off-setting Pakistan’s
restriction on Indian exports to Kabul.
How Pakistan reacts to this plan will
be clear when the operation starts.
To enforce its ban against India it
would have to deny its air space to
Indian planes, which would open a
Pandora’s box of conflict.
However, though India seems
to be in the vanguard of the anti-
Pakistan smear campaign, the United
States too seems to have grown cold.
It is on the same page with India
on the issue of Pakistan’s support of
terrorists, with its lingering allegation
of providing a safe haven to the
Haqqani network for their attacks on
Afghan and US troops.
In consequence, America
mollycoddles the “Enemy No.1” of
its “most allied ally.” It enters into
a defence pact with India and lends
support to India’s membership of the
NSG. The situation cries out for urgent
attention of Pakistan’s policymakers,
who should also take note of the fact
that Xi Jinping, president of Pakistan’s
“all-weather friend,” China, received
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra
Modi, at his father's home province
of Shaanxi, in central China, the first
foreign leader, ever, to be so invited.
Earlier, Modi had hosted Jinping at
his home in Gujarat. By contrast, the
sprawling Raiwind Palace, decorated
with marble tigers, remains waiting
for Jinping to visit.
How far Pakistan is responsible
for the unhappy situation it faces
today is a moot point. Corrective
steps are required to arrest the drift.
Conflict with India may be an eternal
commitment. But, it is not the same
with Afghanistan and America.
Here the issues are specific and can
be addressed with some straight-
forwardness. Afghanistan does not
accept Pakistan’s excuse that it has no
leverage with the Afghan Taliban to
bring them to the negotiation table,
because, it is plain that if Pakistan
denies them sanctuary or they could
not carry out their attacks. The same
argument holds with regard to the
US grievance about the Haqqani
network.
One enemy at a time may be
manageable. But to confront more
adversaries simultaneously would be
patently unwise. Time is calling for a
realistic review of Pakistan’s relations
with India, Afghanistan and USA.
The writer is a senior political
analyst and former editor of
Southasia.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 13
 COVER STORY

O
n September 24, 2016, the
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi while delivering a
speech in the southern Indian city of
Kozhikode warned Pakistan that, “we
will isolate you. I will work for that.
India would continue to push to make
Pakistan a pariah state in the eyes of
the international community. We will
intensify our efforts and force you to
be alone all over the world.” Modi’s
outburst against Pakistan and his threat
to isolate Pakistan in the region and
in the world took place shortly after a
terrorist attack on the Indian army camp
located in Uri in its controlled parts
of Jammu & Kashmir which killed 18
soldiers. India also claimed to launch
what it called “surgical strikes” inside
Pakistani territory to target what it called
“terrorist camps.” Pakistan swiftly and
vehemently denied the Indian claim
and termed it as baseless and a blatant
lie.
What is meant by the Indian policy
to isolate Pakistan and is New Delhi
capable of implementing such a policy?
What should Pakistan do to cope with
the challenge of isolation? These are
the questions raised in the aftermath
of Modi’s assertion to isolate Pakistan
and the chain of events prove how
serious is the Indian government about
implementing such a policy. First was
the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) summit which was
held in Goa in October and was used by
the Indian Prime Minister for ‘Pakistan
bashing.’ But his efforts failed as Russia
and China, the two key members of
BRICS, refused to endorse his assertion
against Pakistan and called it irrelevant
and inconsistent with the agenda of that
conference. Second was the successful
Indian attempt to postpone the 19th
SAARC summit which was scheduled
to be held in Islamabad in November.

Challenge of
India not only announced a boycott of
the conference alleging that Pakistan
was involved in spreading terrorism
in India and in the region but it also
succeeded in convincing three more
members of SAARC, i.e. Afghanistan,

Isolation
Bhutan and Bangladesh to express
their unwillingness to attend the
SAARC summit. Therefore, when four
out of eight SAARC member countries
decided not to attend SAARC summit
in Islamabad, it was tantamount to
depriving Pakistan of an opportunity
to host that summit. Technically, even Pakistan must climb out of the isolation that it has been
if one member of SAARC refuses to driven into in the South Asian region and make efforts
attend the summit, it cannot be held.
Third was the Heart of Asia conference to get rid of its perceived image of a state that backs and
which was held in Amritsar in early
December on discussing terrorism in
exports terrorism.
the context of Afghanistan which was
also used by the Indian Prime Minister By Dr. Moonis Ahmar

14 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

to hit out at Pakistan and blame it about
fomenting terrorism in the region. He
was joined by the Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani who also criticized
Pakistan of promoting terrorism in his
country. The hostile Indian attitude vis-
à-vis the Pakistan delegation in Amritsar
reflected the consistent Indian policy,
particularly following the Uri attack,
to marginalize Pakistan at regional and
international fora.
Three major factors need to be
examined as far as the challenge of
isolating Pakistan is concerned. First,
for the first time in the recent past,
India, along with three countries of
South Asia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh
and Bhutan, has managed to form an
informal alliance against Pakistan. While
Bhutan supports New Delhi on policy
matters, Afghanistan and Bangladesh
hold hostility towards Pakistan for
a variety of reasons. Bangladesh,
during Sheikh Hasina’s regime has
deteriorating relations with Pakistan
because of Islamabad’s condemnation
of the war crimes trial and the hanging
of several political figures on account
of their alleged role in genocide in the
liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.
Afghanistan tilts towards India since
the ouster of the Taliban regime after
9/11 and periodically criticizes Pakistan
of patronizing terrorist groups. Nepal
and Sri Lanka, which used to have a soft
corner for Pakistan, are now neutral and
don’t want to offend India. Therefore,
these two countries, after the boycott of
19th SAARC summit led by India were
unable to support Pakistan. Furthermore,
India has deepened its influence in Nepal
and Sri Lanka by providing substantial
economic assistance in modernizing
their infrastructure. Second, Pakistan
was unable to comprehend the Indian
strategy to subvert 19th SAARC
summit. When the SAARC summit
was scheduled to be held in Islamabad
in November, Pakistan should have
been careful by avoiding steps which
could have provided an opportunity to
New Delhi to boycott the summit. For
instance, on the occasion of SAARC
Interior Ministers Conference held in
Islamabad in August, several protest
demonstrations were held against the
visiting Indian Home Minister Rajnath
Singh. He was so furious with the
hostile environment in Islamabad that
after going back he said on record
that Pakistan was not a country worth
visiting.
At the UN General Assembly annual
session held in September in New York,
Pakistan maintained its hard position,
particularly on Jammu & Kashmir, which
led to a severe reaction from the Indian
delegation. The tense situation along
the line of control further deteriorated
Pakistan will continue to face isolation
unless it formulates a two-pronged
strategy.
relations between India and Pakistan.
It was in such an environment that
the dates of SAARC summit were
approaching. India used what it called
Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist
activities and the hostile environment
prevailing in Islamabad against India
and announced the boycott of the
summit. In a seminar held in Islamabad
in June on “Is Pakistan Isolated?
Regional Challenges and Opportunities”
organized by the Institute for Policy
Reforms, the participants were divided
as one school of thought subscribed to
the notion about the isolation of Pakistan
at the regional and international level
while the other rejected that notion. It
seems Pakistan fell into the trap which
was hatched by India to subvert the
SAARC summit scheduled to be held in
Islamabad. Was Pakistan in a position to
remain calm and cool when the SAARC
summit was scheduled and ignore
things which could have provided India
an opportunity to boycott the summit?
Unfortunately, the timing of escalating
tensions with India when the SAARC
summit was to be held, backfired as four
out of eight SAARC members decide to
boycott.
Third, the image of Pakistan abroad
that the country is patronizing banned
terrorist groups like Jaish Mohammad
and Jamaat ud Dawa tends to create
negative opinion about the country.These
two groups are banned but their leaders
are allowed to address public gathering
and disseminate their programmes. The
message which is sent from Pakistan
about the freedom given to banned
Jihadi outfits is very damaging which
provides an opportunity, particularly
to India, to portray a negative image
about Pakistan. Under the National
Action Plan which was launched in
January 2015, the Pakistan government
had committed to rein in militant,
extremist and terrorist organizations
and deny them any public space. But
these banned religious extremist groups
appeared under a different name and
are allowed to continue with their
activities by preaching sectarian hatred.
This means that within the establishment
there are elements who have a vested
interest in patronizing such groups as
they think that they can be used against
India in its controlled parts of Jammu &
Kashmir and against the perceived pro-
Indian regime in Kabul.
Pakistan will continue to face
isolation in the region and outside
unless it formulates a two-pronged
strategy. First, normalize its relations
with Afghanistan and Bangladesh so
that attempts made by New Delhi to
use these two members of SAARC
against Pakistan are neutralized. For
that matter, Pakistan must maintain a
neutral stance on domestic issues of
Bangladesh. In case of Afghanistan,
Pakistan must pursue a policy of strict
non-interference as its past policy
of patronizing some Afghan groups
has proved to be counterproductive.
Ironically, in the past it was Pakistan
which was pursuing a policy to lead
the smaller countries of South Asia
against perceived Indian domination
and belligerence. Now, things are
moving in the opposite direction and it
is India which has successfully isolated
Pakistan at the regional level. Second,
Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad
must be given the task to aggressively,
effectively and rationally counter
the Indian tirade against Pakistan by
successfully projecting massive human
rights violations by the Indian security
forces in its controlled parts of Jammu
& Kashmir and the anti-minority policy
of Modi regime, particularly against
Muslims and Christians. Principally,
the world should take note of Indian
atrocities in Kashmir and its intolerant
policy vis-à-vis minorities and should
isolate New Delhi.
Reversing the tide of Pakistan’s
isolation is an uphill task because
unless the leadership is clear, coherent
and consistent in its approach to
pursue zero tolerance vis-à-vis religious
extremist groups, it will continue to
face the challenge of isolation. Regional
disconnect is another type of isolation as
travel, trade and connectivity of Pakistan
with almost all the countries of SAARC
is meager. It is time on the part of the
government and civil society in Pakistan
to rethink domestic and foreign policy
before it is too late and the country is
further isolated.
The writer is Meritorious Professor
of International Relations
and Dean Faculty of Social
Sciences, University of
Karachi.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 15
 COVER STORY

Hunter or
Hunted?
Rather than walking the lonely path, Pakistan could increase its relevance in the region if
it were to adopt a more inclusive approach and follow a logical foreign policy.
By Khawaja Amer

A
fter the cancellation of the
SAARC summit in Islamabad
and Pakistan’s embarrassment
at the Heart of Asia conference in
Amritsar, political observers and
commentators on international affairs
believe that Pakistan is fast heading
towards complete isolation. They argue
that barring China, most countries in
the region consider Pakistan a terrorist
state while others perceive it as a
‘bad boy’ and, as such, they prefer to
keep a safe distance. Afghanistan has
started toeing the line of India, Iran
believes in maintaining a complex if
not hostile attitude towards Pakistan,
while the US-India defence agreement
has further consolidated New Delhi
in the region, seemingly weakening
the position of Islamabad. It sounds
pretty strange that despite atrocities in
Kashmir, violation of the Line of control
(LoC) and a generally uncompromising
attitude, India has been very successful
in foiling Pakistan’s efforts to convince
the international community to listen to counter allegations against it with any US Congress is aware of Pakistan's
its narratives. good results. Reasons may range from importance in the Islamic world and
Refusal to listen to Pakistan’s side incompetent diplomacy to its failure to South Asia and in resolving the Afghan
of story, in fact, can be termed as successfully woo the world's media. issue. But some congressmen who
diplomatic failure and poor lobbying by The reason gets due credence while are "either not updated or have some
the country. Some ascribe this ‘failure’ referring to the recent discussion in the concerns" have raised these fears which
exclusively to the absence of a fulltime US Congress whether to categorise are baseless and efforts are being made
foreign minister while others attribute it Pakistan as a "friend or foe." Adviser to to address their concerns.
to the inept tilt towards China. But the the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign According to the latest definition,
fact remains that India has somehow Affairs, Sartaj Aziz has also admitted international diplomacy is the conduct
been successful in conveying the that while the concerns were caused by of international relations through the
message to the world that Pakistan Afghan and Indian propaganda which intercession of professional diplomats
is a terrorist state. This has also been led to anti-Pakistan views by some with regard to issues of peace-making,
affirmed by many countries like US, Congressmen, it’s only a section of US trade, war, economics, culture,
UK and various think tanks in the intelligentsia which thinks that Pakistan environment, and human rights. Since
world. In short, despite its stand against should be treated as a foe by United the beginning and application of
terrorism, Islamabad has failed to States. The adviser maintains that the modern international systems, states

16 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

define and redefine foreign policies
keeping in view the changing global
scene, particularly in respective regions.
Therefore, there is no permanence
either in friendship or rivalry. But then
a country’s geographical location and
strategic significance does make a
country attractive or non-attractive. A
country despite its internal instability
and meagre resources can still be
important for many if it has a greater
appeal for the neighbouring countries
by being a strategic regional player.
Pakistan is definitely one of those
important countries despite decades
of long home-grown menaces like
corruption, bad governance, load
shedding, and political disturbances.
All it requires is effective lobbying and
subtle diplomacy.
A critical study of Pakistan’s recent
diplomatic moves reveals that a number
of initiatives, though taken keeping
in view the age-old cliché ‘'Love the
neighbor as thyself' turned out to be
counterproductive. These include the
prime minister’s participation in the
swearing-in ceremony of Narendra
Modi --- a person who can cut his
neighbour's throat without having
the country notice it. Insurgency in
Balochistan is another instance. Add to
the list mishandling of the Afghan issue
resulting in the mudslinging from Ashraf
Ghani at Heart of Asia conference, a
predictable response from the Indian
government in the form of an angry
denial that the Ufa agreement had been
about broader issues and a rejection
of the Pakistani attempt to include
Kashmir in the agenda. Almost all of
these mistakes have been the outcome
of shortsighted and often immature
political involvement in the foreign
policy process. These overenthusiastic
steps could have been avoided through
intelligent and subtle diplomatic
moves.
Is there something wrong with
Pakistan's foreign policy? There is
a general belief that the policy is a
collective draft of the major super
powers of the world, and if it is true,
then the country does not need a full
time foreign minister at all for the
available foreign office staff is enough
to implement the policies according
to the directives and line of action
received from the ‘bosses.’ Though, the
vacant seat of the foreign minister gives
credence to this notion, the fact remains
that there is no properly and explicitly
defined foreign policy pursued by
Pakistan.
The uncertainty and inherent
inconsistency in preparation of
a farsighted, long-lasting and
independent foreign policy has resulted
in Pakistan’s shaky stand in South Asia.
Husain Haqqani, a noted Pakistani
author and former ambassador to the
USA, says: “We have always had this
mythical notion that a superpower ally
will come from outside, solve all our
problems, improve our economy and
build our military so we can stand up
to India. First we looked to the U.S., but
they did not do what we expected them
to do. Then we turned to China and
we have consistently believed China
will solve all our problems.” He goes
on: “China has often promised large
amounts of investment in countries but
rarely has all that investment actually
flowed through. For example, despite
announcing plans for more than $24
billion in investment in Indonesia since
2005, a decade later China has invested
only $1.8 billion there.”
With these foreign-policy related
narratives it can be safely summed
up that the Pakistan foreign policy
initiatives lack transparency, consensus
and a coherent sense of purpose.
However, the foreign office has
denied all allegations levelled by the
opposition that a foreign policy, if it
exists, is reactionary, and lacks the
required R&D to identify and arrest
opportunities, some of which may not
have emerged in the mainstream as yet.
With a nearly dysfunctional R&D wing,
Pakistan’s foreign policy has failed on a
number of occasions. Thus this wing of
the foreign office must be set in motion
immediately with directives to identify
the loopholes and build an independent
policy protecting the country’s
international frontiers and safeguarding
its social, political and economic
interests. Dependence on a conspiracy
theory must be avoided to promote a
consistent sense of purpose. Pakistan
must build a policy of consensus that
is clear, well-communicated and is not
confused by the stakeholders involved
with policy formulation, espousal or
advocacy processes.
Surrounded by not-so-friendly
neighbours, the only consolation for
Pakistan is the time-tested Pakistan-
China Friendship. The support which
China and Pakistan give to each other
is considered significant in global
diplomacy and has been compared
to Israel-United States relations.
According to a Pew survey of Pakistan
public opinion, 84 percent respondents
said they had a favourable view of
China and 16 percent had a favourable
view of the United States. These results
showed that Pakistan is the most pro-
China country in the world. Similarly,
the Chinese state-run media has
portrayed Pakistan in a favourable light
in regional issues.
Consider the comments of C. Raja
Mohan, Carnegie India director at the
Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace on Sino-Pak relationship. He
says, “As Islamabad becomes a visible
negative factor in India-China relations,
it's hoped that political differences won't
overshadow economic engagement
between the two heavyweights. China
and India are strong enough to know
that they have no choice to manage
their strategic differences as the cost
of conflict would be too great to bear.
With Modi in power, India was now
asserting its political and economic
clout on the global stage, so Beijing
has learnt to engage with a more
powerful India than it previously
encountered. Clearly, both Xi and
Modi are committed nationalists but
their relationship will oscillate between
cooperative economic elements and
competitive strategic elements for the
foreseeable future."
Experts on international affairs
say that unless Pakistan understands
the meaning of balance of power
in international relations, countries
hostile and not friendly to Pakistan will
keep on blaming it even for deeds not
committed by it. A balance of power is
a state of stability between competing
forces. In international relations, it
refers to equilibrium among countries
or alliances to prevent any one entity
from becoming too strong and, thus,
gaining the ability to enforce its will
upon the rest.
The writer is a member
of the staff and a veteran
journalist.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 17
 REGION PAKISTAN
Making of a
Future Leader
Her father may believe that Maryam Nawaz Sharif has still a long way to go
but she certainly has the germs for leadership as she is proving in the many
assignments she is currently handling.
S
ome political pundits predict a
rather interesting change in the
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
after a decade when Nawaz Sharif
reaches the age of 72. They foresee
Maryam Nawaz calling the shots and
they have valid reasons. In 2012, it was
announced that Maryam will participate
in politics to assist her father in the 2013
general elections. Since then, she has
been active in politics, and currently
serves as an aide in the Pakistan Muslim
League (N) heading the most important
organ of the party -- the media cell.
According to a report published in an
English language newspaper, the little-
known Strategic Media Communication
Cell (SMCC), operating out of the Prime
Minister’s Office is working under the
watchful eye of Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Set up with the special approval of the
PM as part of the information ministry
in late 2015, the SMCC has since
evolved into a powerful unit. Initially,
the SMCC was provided with a staff of
15 people and a budgetary allocation of
Rs. 20 million for the current financial
year. But only recently, the information
ministry sought the PM’s approval
to increase the number of SMCC
employees to 38. With this increase, the
cell requires another Rs. 20 million to
meet operating costs.
In the opinion of several
government officials privy to the
SMCC’s operations, the cell had
actually taken over functions from the
information ministry. As explained in
its original summary, the SMCC was
given the mandate to create favourable
public opinion for the government by
preparing special media campaigns.
An insider told the newspaper that the
cell’s entire staff had been recruited
18 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
By Dr. Syed Ali Madni
on Maryam’s recommendation, even
though some of its key members held
academic qualifications irrelevant to
communications.
Originally groomed to fill the slot
of the Foreign Minister, the idea was
dropped when Maryam had to resign as
the Chairperson of the Prime Minister
Youth Loan Programme — a position she
claimed to have been holding purely “as
a volunteer and on an honorary basis”
--- following a Lahore High Court order
which asked the federal government to
replace her and devise a transparent
mechanism for fresh appointment she
had to resign. The judge also raised
queries about a unique combination of
her degrees – M.A. (English Literature)
and Ph.D. in Political Science –
which was presented to the court
by a government lawyer in
support of Maryam Nawaz’s
eligibility for the position.
The slot of the Foreign
Minister is still lying
vacant despite the fact
that foreign affairs is a
complicated business
and every country
needs a full-time,
cabinet-level, officially
appointed foreign
minister. According to
an editorial published
in a leading English
language daily,
“There was a relatively
straightforward solution
to the problem: to use
the Senate elections in
March to elevate Mr Aziz
or Mr Fatemi to parliament
and hence be eligible to
become a full cabinet
member. For reasons best known to Mr
Sharif, that opportunity was declined.
Worse yet, the prime minister has done
nothing to try and resolve the turf war in
the foreign ministry that has hamstrung
its functioning.” Is it because the Prime
Minister wants to see none other than
Maryam in the Foreign Office?
As a Foreign Minister she would
have been responsible for implementing
the state's diplomatic principles
and policies and related laws and
regulations; safeguarding national
sovereignty, security and interests on
behalf of the state; running diplomatic
affairs on behalf of the state and the
government; and handling diplomatic
activities. Naturally, five years in the
foreign office would groom her enough
to step in the shoes of her father.
In an April 2012 article in Newsweek
Pakistan, Maryam Nawaz was described
as the new face of the PML-N. Fluent
in four languages, the Newsweek
article portrayed her as a progressive
heir apparent of Pakistan's mainstream
right-to-center PML-N. She urged youth
in her address on the Quaid e Azam's
birthday to play an important role in the
economics and politics of Pakistan. She
announced her intention to participate
in politics in order to assist her father.
In fact, the much publicized Maryam
Nawaz-Michelle Obama meeting was a
part of her grooming. The First Lady of
the United States had formally invited
Maryam Nawaz Sharif for a one-on-one
meeting in the White House on October
22, 2015, the day when Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif had a meeting with
President Obama in the Oval Office.
The US first lady had a discussion with
Maryam Nawaz about the worldwide
children education programme for
which they had already agreed to work.
Michelle Obama informed Maryam
Nawaz in August last that she would also
work with her to promote education in
Pakistan.
This particular meeting reminds one
of the Simla Agreement signed between
Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
on July 2, 1972. It was much more
than a peace treaty seeking to reverse
the consequences of the 1971 war (i.e.
to bring about withdrawals of troops
and an exchange of PoWs). It was a
comprehensive blue print for good
neighbourly relations between India
and Pakistan. Under the Agreement,
both countries undertook to abjure
conflict and confrontation which had
marred relations in the past, and to work
towards the establishment of durable
peace, friendship and cooperation.
Benazir Bhutto also accompanied her
father to that historical meeting an later
led the Peoples Party as well as the
Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto shaking hands with Indra Gandhi at Simla in 1972.
Benazir Bhutto is on Bhutto's left.
Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa feels that
Maryam is being groomed by Mr Sharif
much like Zulfikar Bhutto trained
Benazir Bhutto. This is not surprising
in a country where dynastic politics
is a trend. Siddiqa points out that by
investing in Maryam, the Americans
seem to be indicating that they see the
Sharifs/PML-N as a major political force
in the future.
Writes Asha'ar Rehman in Dawn, “It
is remarkable just how fast Ms Maryam
Nawaz has travelled on the highway to
where she is, or soon will be, compared
to a young Ms Benazir Bhutto travelling
with her father to Shimla.” According
to him, Maryam along with Ishaq Dar
and Shahbaz Sharif, was responsible
for running the operations of the federal
government smoothly.
Politics in Pakistan is fundamentally
hereditary and practically every party
leader is grooming his son or daughter
to step into his shoes. Assembly seats
are described as ancestors’ seats, which
are generally won by family members,
of course through free if not fair
elections. Though a political scientist
may argue that elections work on the
principle of free-markets and as such,
by encouraging family politics, we are
allowing democracy to be hijacked by
a few families, the situation is not going
to change even after five decades.
Born on October 28, 1973 in
Lahore, after graduating from the
Convent of Jesus and Mary, Maryam
pursued her undergraduate studies at
the Punjab University, and also earned
a master's degree from there. She is
currently pursuing a doctoral degree
at Cambridge University. She played a
vital role in promoting higher education
in Punjab and serves as the chairperson
of the Board of the Sharif Medical and
Dental College. In 2011, she became
actively involved in national politics.
Maryam Nawaz has since 1997
been the chairperson of the Sharif Trust,
founded by her grandfather Muhammad
Sharif, Sharif Medical City and Sharif
Education Institutes. She takes a keen
interest and is directly involved in the
working of the Sharif Trust and its allied
institutions, including the Sharif College
of Engineering & Technology, Sharif
Education Complex, Sharif Model
Schools for Boys and Girls, Sharif
Institute of Technology and the Islamic
Center.
There is no doubt that Maryam
is intelligent and smart enough to
understand the requirements of being
a successful politician in today’s fast-
changing world. She understands well
that the social media has become
one of the most important forums for
political activism in its different forms.
Social media platforms such as Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube provide new
ways to stimulate citizen engagement
in political life, where elections and
electoral campaigns have a central
role.
Maryam is very effectively using
social media to get closer to potential
voters. Through Twitter she has been
able to communicate faster and reach
citizens in a more targeted manner
without the intermediate role of
mass media. Reactions, feedback,
conversations and debates generated
online as well as support and
participation for offline events helps
her in deciding the future course of
action. Moreover the multiplication of
messages posted on personal networks
when shared, enables her to reach to
new audiences.
Currently, Maryam is the only female
leader who is playing such an effective
role in the PML(N). She encourages
women’s participation in politics for
the development of Pakistan and takes
part in different initiatives for the social,
political, educational and economic
development of Pakistan.
The writer follows political and social
developments in South Asia.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 19
 REGION PAKISTAN
E
lection Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) has been under the
spotlight since the time the last
elections were held. There have been
a number of accusations and counter
accusations with the opposition
parties, especially Tehreek-e-Insaf
accusing the ECP for acting as a
facilitating body that sees nothing
wrong with the elected legislators of
the government and pursues all cases
pertaining to the opposition with deep
interest and visible intent. Given the
Panama Papers scandal, politics in
Pakistan is in great turmoil and the ECP
finds itself in the middle of a political
environment that showcases it as a
biased institution. With politicians
vying for influence, the main question
The Democracy
Trail
The road to true democracy lies through an efficient and honest institution whose job
should always be to scrutinize election contestants and ensure transparency.
20 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
that arises is – what does ECP stand for?
Who it stands with is also something
that is very much in play. What is
certain is that the elections watchdog
has not been treating all stakeholders
with the same stick, forcing many
people to question the very nature of
independence, freedom, transparency
and unquestionable accountability
that the ECP enjoys as one of the most
important institutions of the state.
In making the announcement,
Modi made good his stated campaign
pledge of fighting “black money” the
illicit proceeds – often held in cash –
of tax evasion, crime and corruption.
He has now approved the creation
of a department of Political Finance
– a new tool to make the legislators
By Muhammad Ali Ehsan
accountable. The department will audit
the statements of assets and liabilities
of the legislators. Armed with the sword
of bringing under its ambit lawmakers,
it would not be an easy job to perform.
Ideally, ECP’s department of political
finance would warrant the appointment
of the Director, managerial staff and
technical assistants. Their selection
and appointment should have
nothing to do with the interference
of politicians. If their purpose is to
act as a check on the legislators, then
they must not and cannot have any
association with a political party and
must be non-partisan in all political
matters. The creation of the department
would obviously require a functional
directorate and a huge bureaucratic
apparatus. The number of legislators
that presently sit in the national and
provincial assemblies are more than
1500. Add to this those who are
elected for local bodies. Would the
ECP be able to scrutinize in time the
assets of thousands of legislators?
For that it would have to be not only
empowered but properly resourced.
So far what the ECP has done is
consistently widen the gap between
its capability and credibility. Unless
all political parties re-tool and take
the directorate of political finance
in the ECP seriously and as a
centerpiece of creating a necessary
check and balance for determining
who gets to do politics in Pakistan,
the whole exercise may just cave in.
The department should be based on
a sound and workable methodology
that contributes to the ECP working
efficiently and not just beating around
the theme of ensuring accountability
with little or no resources. The public in
Pakistan is already amused at the level So far what the Election Commission of
of tax declarations of the legislators
against their accumulated heaps of Pakistan (ECP) has done is consistently widen
wealth. The public has the right to
know the true financial standing of the gap between its capability and credibility.
the people they vote for and ECP is the
institution that does the job for them.
In the apparent change in the nature
of democracy that is hard to miss in legislators who themselves abide by would witness real law makers in the
Pakistan these days, the ECP also holds and respect the law. It is only then making and those who cheat and
a great responsibility in demonstrating that a reformed institution like the tell lies would be barred from doing
that it believes more in the values ECP can contribute in bringing in politics. If nothing else, it would at
that democracy brings along rather change by sending to the parliament least the disqualified and dishonest
the typical rule of majority (tyranny only those representatives who don’t from contesting elections.
of the majority). No wonder it would flout the rules. No meaningful change There are discrepancies and
continue to retain the job that is most will take place if the department of excesses committed by the legislators
difficult and emotional to perform – political finance does not enforce because the ECP is not doing its job.
checkmating the lawmakers. its laws. In future, laws will have If the political finance department of
Examining all statements of assets to be more stringent to combat the ECP could establish a network of
and determining that they don’t include political blackmailing as well as scrutinizing the declaration of assets
discrepancies or false information mounting political pressures. It is for with the help of the FBR, revenue
would be an uphill task. It would not this department to see that the gap departments of the provinces, FIA and
only be the submitted statements but between the fortunes of those who other institutions, it would lead to
a comparison would have to be drawn contest elections and the rest of the huge reforms in the electoral system.
with those submitted earlier to be able people has been growing for over two Then legislators would only reach
to come to a definite and meaningful generations. As a result, the strong the parliament through a system of
conclusion. The increase or decrease are becoming stronger and the weak filtration.
in value of the income/assets of any weaker. It is not rampant corruption in For the department of political
legislator would only be possible if Pakistani politics but the resilience of finance to be successful, the ECP
such a comparison were made. The the free that continues to expose. This would have to retain its independence,
other institutions of the state would shocks the political elite and brings autonomy and the ability to function
also have to come forward to assist them out of their complacency. Now independently. It is only if the
in determining this value and if the they need to acknowledge that it is department of political finance
matter needs any investigation, the time to follow the law which cannot can combat interference from the
law enforcement agencies would also continue to deny, fight against or government that it may be expected
be involved. In a sense, the directorate ignore. to perform its functions properly and
would have to establish a network Seen in this context, if only the without any let or hindrance. The onus
and work hand in hand with other department of political finance does will always be on the ECP.
institutions to manage its job in a its job – and does it properly, it
given time line – something that we would definitely help in degenerating The writer is a retired lieutenant
hardly see happening in our country. the huge inequality that has eaten colonel of the Pakistan Army. He is
To have a rules based society the into society. Only when the “assets currently pursuing a Ph.D in civil-
country needs strong and competent concealers” are punished that Pakistan military relations.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 21

 REGION INDIA
D
emonetization of ₹500 and
₹1,000 banknotes was a
policy enacted by the Indian
government on November 8, 2016,
ceasing the usage of all 500 and 1,000
rupee notes in the current series as
legal tender after November 9, 2016.
The announcement was made by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a
live television address.
In making the announcement,
Modi made good his stated campaign
pledge of fighting “black money” the
Bouquets and
Brickbats
In the long-term it may prove to be a blessing, but for the time being, demonetization
seems to be a curse for India as Modi’s action has adversely affected a large population.
22 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
illicit proceeds – often held in cash –
of tax evasion, crime and corruption.
He stated that some 14 trillion rupees
worth of 500 and 1,000-rupee notes of
the Mahatma Gandhi series (equal to
86% of all the currency in circulation)
had ceased to be legal tender. By doing
this, he hoped to render worthless the
counterfeit notes reportedly printed
by Pakistan to fuel terrorism in India.
But the move sent shock waves
throughout the country and the short-
term impact was disastrous as India’s
By S.G. Jilanee
economy went into a tail spin. All
indicators – sales, traders’ incomes,
production and employment - took a
plunge. It appeared the demonetization
drive had resulted in severe economic
disruption. Small producers, lacking
capital to stay afloat, just shut down.
India’s huge number of daily wage
workers couldn’t find employers with
the cash to pay them. Local industries
suspended work for lack of money.
According to one report, 10,000
construction workers left Gurgaon
due to the cash crunch. The informal
financial sector – which conducts
40% of India’s total lending, largely
in rural areas – all but collapsed.
Hospitals were turning away
patients who had only old banknotes;
families could not buy food; and
middle-class workers were unable
to buy needed medicine. People
even died in cash queues and related
events.
In one incident, a 42-year-old
man was reported to have committed
suicide after failing to withdraw
₹20,000 in cash to pay to his cousin
over a land dispute and escape social
boycott by a khap panchayat in
eastern Rajasthan’s Karauli district.
Inevitably, low-income and rural
households were hit hardest by the
currency reform. Barter economies
reportedly sprung up in many towns
and villages. Banks limited the
amount that could be withdrawn.
Scores of weddings were called
off. In the immediate aftermath of
the demonetization, Indian stocks
plunged below their 200-day moving
average.
Because India’s economy relies
predominantly on cash, the measure
affected a vast majority, particularly
those who have the least financial
resources. ATMs are scarce in India
and few rural Indians have a credit
or debit card. An estimated 600
million Indians — nearly half the
country’s population — are without a
bank account. Three hundred million
have no government identification,
necessary to open an account. It
would take an eternity till the entire
population has a bank account. And
the reform could not wait that long.
The decision is likely to cut some
amount of GDP growth - “between
a quarter and three quarters” -
because of the economic disruption
it has caused in different sectors of
the economy. According to some
economic analysts, including former
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh, this alone is enough to damn
demonetisation.
Demonetization has received flak
from other sources as well, such as
the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal calling
it “a scam worth Rs 8 lakh crore.”
Foreign missions say the cash curbs
breach the Vienna Convention and
have warned of action.
Frank Hans Dannenberg
Castellanos, Dean of the Diplomatic
Corps comprising 157 foreign missions
in New Delhi, said: “The buck stops
at PM Narendra Modi’s door and
he should intervene to resolve the
issue soon.” Roiled by restrictions on
withdrawals by their embassies, many
foreign governments are reported to
be contemplating reciprocal measures
against Indian missions abroad.
But along with brickbats there
also have been bouquets for Modi.
BJP president Amit Shah appreciated
the demonetization move because
it would deal a hard blow to “black
money” which is used in the
elections.
Explaining the prime minister’s
action at a press conference, the
Governor of the Reserve Bank of
India, Urjit Patel and Economic
Affairs secretary, Shaktikanta Das
stated that the decision to eliminate
the notes had been taken because,
“whereas the supply of notes of all
denominations had increased by 40%
between 2011 and 2016, the ₹500
and ₹1,000 banknotes increased by
76% and 109%, respectively, in this
period owing to forgery. The forged
cash was then used to fund terrorist
activities against India.”
According to Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley “demonetisation would clean
the entire economic system, increase
the size of economy and revenue
base.” The move has received the
support of Indian National Congress
spokesman Randeep Surjewala, Bihar
Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, Andhra
Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu
Naidu and former Chief Election
Commissioner of India, S.Y. Quraishi.
Social activist Anna Hazare welcomed
demonetisation “as a revolutionary
step” and President Pranab Mukherjee
hailed it as “a bold step.“
International response has also
been positive. IMF issued a statement
supporting Modi's efforts to fight
corruption by the demonetisation
policy. Singapore-based newspaper
The Independent published a
laudatory article on the move titled
"Modi does a Lee Kuan Yew." From
making up his mind to rolling it out, a
new Lee Kuan Yew is born in India. It
will be reflected in the legacy of this
Prime Minister," the article said.
Others who showered encomia
included Chinese state media Global
Times which called it a "fierce fight
against black money and corruption."
Former Prime Minister of Finland
and Vice President of the European
Commission Jyrki Katainen, BBC’s
South Asia Correspondent Justin
Rowlatt and Swedish Minister of
Enterprise Mikael Damberg, think this
was a bold decision on part of Modi.
The confusion and inconvenience
were largely due to the fact that the
size of the demand for new notes
was not correctly foreseen and new
currency notes had not been printed
in adequate numbers.
Some have called Modi’s decision
a miscalculation of epic proportions.
But this is an uncharitable judgment.
The problem needed surgery which
could not be deferred. A little
temporary dislocation in the status
quo was inevitable. Modi’s argument
is short term pain for long term gain.
And, on the whole, the mass reaction
is positive, due to the hope that it will
rid society of corruption.
India has set the course, which
Pakistan, with its 5,000-rupee note
and burgeoning corruption might find
useful to follow.
The writer is a senior political analyst
and former editor of Southasia.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 23
 REGION AFGHANISTAN
Crisis of
Governance
There is a clear failure of governance in Afghanistan which is impacting utilization of
funds and continues to create obstacles for the administration.
A
fter a public and civil society
expression of displeasure
over the poor performance
of various Afghan ministries the
country’s parliament has also showed
its utter dejection over the situation
which resulted in the sacking of five
ministers. Many other ministers are
also facing the legal wrath of members
of Afghanistan’s Lower House
named Wolesi Jirga (Pashto: People’s
Council), which is constitutionally
empowered to sack cabinet members
for performing poorly. The cabinet
members who were sacked included
Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani,
Labour Minister Nasrin Oryakheil
and Public Works Minister Mahmoud
24 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
By Dr. Raza Khan
Baleegh. Ministers for education
and transportation have also been
disqualified.
The ministers were dismissed in
November as the parliament begun
the process to summon as many as
18 of them over their failure to utilize
less than 70 percent of the 2015
budget in their respective ministries.
Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani,
who is the son of former Mujahideen
era Afghan president, Ustad Rabbani,
argued on the floor of the Wolesi
Jirga that his ministry had spent more
than 70 percent of the 2015 budget,
and instead raised questions on the
authenticity of the year’s financial
report. Interestingly and intriguingly,
finance minister Eklil Hakimi is one of
the few cabinet ministers of President
Ashraf Ghani who have survived
the parliamentary vote over their
performance.
During his address to the Wolesi
Jirga to answer questions about his
ministry’s performance, Rabbani
blamed MPs and power transition for
non-implementation of a $1.5 million
complex for the Afghan embassy in
Islamabad. Labour Minister Oryakheil
cited 'insecurity' as one of the
reasons why the budget could not be
adequately used by her ministry. The
parliamentary vote on the ministers’
performance took place despite pleas
from President Ghani and Chief
Executive Abdullah Abdullah to halt
further action against the cabinet.
President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah
told MPs that their decision would deal
a huge political blow to the government
at this critical time and urged them to
stop the process. President Ghani and
Dr. Abdullah have been part of the
Unity Government brokered in 2014
by US Secretary of State, John Kerry.
However, both have been at daggers
drawn and have had serious issues on
the approach to governance.
The dismissal of pleas by President
Ghani, in particular by the Afghan
parliament, demonstrates the level of
confidence which one pillar of the
state has on the other and reveals the
crisis of governance in the war and
insurgency ravaged country. While the
parliament does not look at President
Ghani with favour, the latter also has
seemingly little regard for the former.
This is evident from the fact that
instead of abiding by the parliamentary
decision regarding sacking his
ministers, President Ghani asked the
ministers to continue working by
pleading before the Supreme Court to
play its role to end the crisis. Whether
the crisis would end or not, it does
reveal many things.
The foremost lesson one could
learn from the political and governance
crisis is that the Afghan constitutional-
democratic political dispensation is
not up to the task of nation-building
and the massive reconstruction process
going on in the country for a decade.
As far as the matter of utilizing the
budget for the respective ministries
is concerned, this should not have
been a big deal in a country where
reconstruction is going on at such a
massive level. There is no justification
for spending less than 70 percent of
the allocated budget. If one looks deep
into the issue, it is clear that there is
far deeper political and administrative
mismanagement in Afghanistan under
President Ghani. Otherwise, it was
expected that his performance in the
economic sphere would be far better
in comparison to his predecessor
Hamid Karzai. Ghani is an economist
by training. The sordid situation in the
Afghan ministries suggests that while
on the one hand there are problems
of approach and modus operandi of
the governance, on the other there is
extensive corruption and nepotism in
the ministries.
Where President Ghani’s
approach to governance in the war
and insurgency ravaged Afghanistan
is concerned, he should have come
up with full scale policies for every
ministry and department with viable
and time-bound strategies to make
them perform better. However, this
ingredient has been largely missing in
the style of governance of President
Ghani. He should have capitalized
matter of being a popularly-elected
president with backing of the Afghan
nation and should have come up with
innovative ideas.
Ghani should have also prevented
The foremost lesson one could learn from
the political and governance crisis is that
the Afghan constitutional-democratic
political dispensation is not up to the task
of nation-building.
massive corruption, whose scandals
have been coming to the fore from time
to time, within the various ministries
of Afghan government. There has been
little rather no improvement in the
situation which prevailed during the
rule of President Karzai. Analysts have
been pointing at various corruption
scandals but there has been little
attention from President Ghani’s
administration to address the issue.
In fact, instead of bringing innovative
ideas and an approach based on these
ideas to governance President Ghani
chose to run Afghanistan as it has
been traditionally ruled by different
men for decades. This approach
required buying loyalties of social
and community leaders of different
ethnicities and regions. In fact the
clobbering of the present so-called
Unity Government of Afghanistan
was the result of appeasing the
major ethnic communities by sharing
power among them rather than on
any long-term policy to address the
multi-dimensional and deep-rooted
problems of governance. It may be
mentioned here that President Ghani
himself belongs to the largest Pashtun
community of Afghanistan whereas
Abdullah belongs to the second
largest Tajik community and Vice
President Abdul Rashid Dostum, a
feared ethnic warlord, is an Uzbek.
The situation has led to continuous
power wrangling among President
Ghani, Abdullah Abdullah and Rashid
Dostum. The situation in turn has given
rise to a competition among the three
to accommodate their loyalists and
henchmen in different ministries and
departments. The upshot is a failure
to have a good governance structure
based on the four key principles of
accountability, transparency, rule
of law and participation. President
Ghani’s government has been seriously
lagging on all these counts. There
has been little, if any, accountability
in the government. The element
of transparency in the governance
structures leave a lot to be desired. The
condition of people’s participation in
governance at every level, right from
policymaking to its evaluation, has
been so negligible that most Afghanis
have no sense of belonging to their
government.
An important factor is obviously
the insecurity in the country due to
the Taliban insurgency. However, the
rampaging Taliban insurgency is itself
the upshot of a crisis of governance
and maladministration. Security is the
topmost priority of the state and if an
Afghan minister argues that he or she
could not use up the required amount
of budget due to insecurity than it is
itself raising questions on the very
rationale of his or her government.
Addressing the problems of insecurity
and insurgency requires proactive if not
good governance. However, President
Ghani and his ministers have failed to
be proactive and let the country runs
‘naturally.’ The government of President
Ghani is limited to Kabul and certain
other cities. This is because there is a
heavy presence of US-NATO forces in
and around these cities. Historically,
Afghan governments have been
confined to Kabul and a few other
towns, leaving the local governance to
rural elite. This was the case during the
Hotaki Dynasty and, after the creation
of modern Afghanistan by Ahmed
Shah Abdali in 1747. But at least in
the cities different Afghan regimes
ruled through their own ability and
were not dependent, especially on
foreign powers. The prevailing crisis of
governance will not solve the complex
governance issues in Afghanistan and
the insecurity and Taliban insurgency
will continue.
The writer is a political-economy and
security analyst with a doctoral degree
in International Relations.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 25
 REGION BANGLADESH

Price of
Violence
Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness.
We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.
– Martin Luther King

By Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq

I
ntra-party violence in recent
months leading to a large number
of killings sadly reflects on the
conduct of the ruling Awami League
(AL) in Bangladesh. It can aptly be the party and outside in the entire
called as “violence boomeranged.” political arena. Violence begets
The legacy of violence of the AL violence and hatred can never be
is now creating mayhem within countered through use of brute force.

26 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

There appears little hope of ending
the prevailing hostility and in-fighting
due to the undemocratic attitude of
rulers and devastating corruption in
the rank and file of the party. Analysts
are thus not wrong to say that “AL
will be destroyed by none other but
its own members.”
Shakhawat Liton and Tuhin
Shubhra Adhikary in their article, AL
wounding AL, has aptly analysed that
the Bangladesh National Party (BNP)
“men no longer seem to be major
political rivals of leaders and activists
of the Awami League. Members of
main opposition Jatiya Party and
even the Jamaat-e-Islami men do not
pose any threat to the ruling party.
The ruling AL men now fight none
but their own party colleagues.”
Tragically, about 52 AL men lost
their life and nearly 3,500 were
injured in 334 incidents of internal
clashes from January 2015 to October
2016. These statistics are compiled
by Ain-o-Salish-Kendra (ASK), a legal
aid and human rights organisation Chronology of some recent clashes and killings
that provides support to the “On November 14, 2016 at least four people were killed and 50
disempowered, particularly women,
working children and workers.
others injured in fierce clashes between the supporters of current
The culture of violence has and former union Parishad chairmen over establishing supremacy
become so widespread in Bangladesh in a remote char of Narsingdi's Raipura upazila. Police and locals
that in the past few months as many said there had been a longstanding rivalry between AL-backed
as 35 clashes took place between AL Nilokkha UP Chairman Tajul Islam and former chairman Abdul
and BNP men, leaving five people
dead and around 350 injured. AL Haque, who is also a ruling party leader. On October 18, AL leader
men also clashed with Jamaat-Shibir and freedom fighter of Shailkupa in Jhenidah Moktar Mridha was
activists twice, leading to the death of seriously injured by his rivals within the party over tender dropping,
two. The aggressive actions of AL to said party sources and locals. On October 30, ruling party men,
establish supremacy in the political allegedly backed by a local lawmaker, assaulted Tarash Upazila
arena is one of the causes behind the
internal and external clashes but as Parishad Chairman and local AL leader Abdul Haque in his office.
observed by Shakhawat Liton and On September 17, Rizvi Hasan, a Jubo League leader, was shot
Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary: “making dead, following an internal feud over control of the Motijheel AGB
money in unlawful ways like extorting, Colony and its adjacent areas. On March 29, Nasim Ahmed Sohel,
tender manipulation and influencing a member of Chhatra League's Chittagong city unit and also a
the government's development work
is the main cause behind their frantic student of Premier University, Chittagong, was killed allegedly by
efforts to establish supremacy or his rivals in BCL”— Shakhawat Liton and Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary
retain control over a particular area, (http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/al-wounding-al-1315303).
shows an analysis of the incidents of
clashes.”
It is reported in the press that these
incidents of internal conflicts have feuds inside the party." This was not the situation
left the AL high command in high According to Nur Khan Liton, earlier as the main political rivalry
anxiety. Recently, the chief of AL, acting executive director of ASK, in Bangladesh was between the
Sheikh Hasina issued directions to all “when democratic space shrinks, AL and the BNP — the two major
leaders working at the grassroots to political opponents become weaker parties that have been governing the
settle internal feuds. These directions and do not get necessary environment country in turns since restoration of
have proved to be ineffective. The Joint to perform due roles. This situation democracy after the fall of autocratic
General Secretary of AL, Mahbubul is prevailing in the country now.” In General Ershad’s regime in 1990.
Alam Hanif, while admitting that the absence of any strong opponents, The January 2014 elections and its
the party is divided into numerous he has observed, “leaders and aftermath have gradually changed
factions with millions of leaders and activists of ruling party get involved the political landscape, creating a
activists, said: "So there might be in an unethical competition within situation in which AL is left alone to
some differences of opinions and themselves.” dominate to the extent of complete

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 27

 REGION BANGLADESH
Under Hasina’s rule, the outbreak of
violence in politics has become a serious
challenge and this is likely to become even
worse in coming months.
hegemony. The alliance of BNP-
Jamaat boycotted the elections and
their violent tactics to resist the polls
proved counterproductive, giving a
free hand to AL to win and rule.
The unsuccessful efforts to topple
the government in 2015 led to a
more chaotic situation and gave a
pretext to the ruling AL to victimize
its opponents as numerous cases
28 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
were filed against adversaries all over
the country. The crackdown on BNP
leaders and activists led to bloody
clashes between the two bitter rivals.
With many in jails, BNP became a
dysfunctional entity.
According to Liton and Adhikary,
“Jamaat-e-Islami, a key component
of BNP-led alliance, has been facing
the biggest crisis since it resumed
activities in independent Bangladesh
as most of its top leaders were
executed on charges of committing
war crimes in 1971.” After the
boycott of BNP, Jatiya Party became
the main opposition in parliament.
However, it also failed to be an
effective opposition party that could
challenge the AL in parliament after
some of its members in parliament
were inducted in the cabinet.
All parties in Bangladesh have
consensus that the alarming rise in
the number of killings of political
activists since disputed parliamentary
polls has left grassroot campaigners
across the country fearing for their
lives. This is the worst one can
witness in any country.
There are inter-party (between AL
and Opposition parties) and intra-
party killings (in the case of AL) as
well as extrajudicial killings at the
hands of police and other agencies.
Human rights activists have labelled
the arrests and subsequent deaths of
activists "extrajudicial killings," while
opposition leaders have blamed the
government for targeting opposition
activists. Several ruling party activists
have also been killed ever since the
victory of AL in 2014.
The Awami League of Sheikh
Mujib that gave the nation its first
constitution within one year of
independence, was based on four
cardinal principles — secularism,
nationalism, socialism and
democracy. It is now promoting
hatred, committing atrocities and
using violence against the opponents.
In the process, its own house is
inflicted with infights, causing loss of
precious lives.
According to Nyshka Chandran
[Deep political tensions underline
Bangladesh violence, CNBC,
January 9, 2016] the “ruling
party's marginalization of political
opposition parties in recent years
created a vacuum of leadership for
radical groups to fill.”
All political analysts are of the
view that under Hasina’s rule, the
outbreak of violence in politics has
become a serious challenge and this
is likely to become even worse in
coming months, if the government
does not take drastic steps to bring the
killers to justice and end skirmishes
within the ruling party.
The writers, partners in law firm
HUZAIMA & IKRAM, are Adjunct
Faculty Members at Lahore
University of Management Sciences
(LUMS).
 REGION SRI LANKA

Footprints in
the Waste The Polluter Pays Principle is one rib in an umbrella approach to
solving Sri Lanka’s waste management problems.

By S. Mubashir Noor

D
ismissed for decades as quack
science, climate change is
now a permanent fixture of the
24-hour news cycle around the world.
This is thanks largely to the media
hype surrounding the Paris Agreement
on climate change adopted at the
United Nations COP 21 conference
in December last year. Consequently,
the once fringe terms recycling and
renewable energy have entered dinner
table talk of many global households,
especially those in developed
countries. Meanwhile, signatory states
scramble to stave off the worst effects

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 29

 REGION SRI LANKA

of climate change by keeping the rise

in global temperatures to below two
degrees Celsius.
Sri Lanka, too, has decided it needs
to do more to reinforce this global
initiative despite outputting a fraction
of the carbon emitted by the worst
offenders — the US, China and the
EU. To this end, Sri Lanka’s cabinet of
ministers on November 1, under the
stewardship of President Maithripala
Sirisena, passed a landmark proposal
to enact the Polluter Pays Principle
(PPP). The PPP is purposed to be one rib
in an umbrella approach to solving the
country’s spiraling waste management
problems. Once operational, the
PPP will penalize the importers and
consumers of plastic and other non-
biodegradable materials by charging
a levy proportional to their potential
for pollution.
Although the moving parts of
this proposal are unclear and a
special committee to formulate
recommendations will huddle together
at some point, the application of the
PPP in its current shape seems lopsided
in favour of businesses. Consumers
will have to pay a temporary deposit
to the trader or producer at the to the environment. Sri Lanka’s Central implementing it. Furthermore, the PPP
time of buying non-biodegradable Environmental Authority also cites is a tried and failed idea in Sri Lanka.
materials or containers, which will grim figures, claiming 5.2 million It was originally unveiled in 2008
be reimbursed once they return the tonnes of metropolitan waste is being as the controversial Environmental
items. For electrical and electronic produced globally everyday, of which Conservation levy bill that passed
products with a longer shelf-life, 3.8 million tonnes is attributable to without a debate in parliament. To
the deposit will include an annual developing countries. Some data boot, MP Champika Ranawaka of the
interest calculation. The government models also calculate that global ruling United National Party (UNP)
hopes the PPP will encourage citizens annual solid waste production will was the Environment Minister then.
to dispose non-biodegradable waste have inflated to 2.2 billion tonnes by As it turned out, the PPP failed to gain
properly via drop-offs at designated 2025, up from the 1.3 billion tonnes traction with the people and municipal
locations. measured in 2012. authorities, rendering it political
Central to the PPP — a programme Environmental challenges driftwood. Lack of information and
widely practiced in the developed plague Sri Lanka like many of its lax implementation sunk the initiative,
world — is the idea that citizens must socioeconomic peers in the region which makes critics wonder how the
pay the total cost of consumption, and worldwide. The country’s Center same faces will today engineer a
which includes the social and for Environmental Justice identifies at turnaround in its fortunes.
environmental costs. Otherwise, the least 58 derelict waste dump sites in This is just the tip of the iceberg
lofty ideals of the Paris Agreement will the Western Province alone, most of of criticisms levelled at the PPP. Some
remain a mere pipe-dream. With global which are packed to the brim. Burning argue that certain types of pollution
landfills beginning to burst at the seams garbage in the open is a common are so bad for the environment they
and their majority concentrated in practice at such facilities which adds should be banned outright instead
developing countries, it is paramount to the water and land pollution. of subjecting them to social costing.
that recycling becomes an intrinsic Colombo itself has quadrupled Polluting rivers or protected forest
part of national cultures. It only takes its garbage output since the early habitats, for example, is so utterly
a little research to uncover the havoc 1990s, with dire implications for the reprehensible that letting the culprits
wreaked by non-biodegradable waste surrounding wetlands and fauna. Soil off with a mere fine would be grossly
on the environment. Toxins released erosion, degradation of the coastlines negligent of the state. The government
by such waste can leach into the soil from excessive mining and the marked also needs to work harder to better
and groundwater, poisoning both the increase in air pollution in major cities implement the existing environmental
land and food sources. from industrial emissions and motor laws, like the National Environmental
Moreover, there is no skirting vehicle exhaust are among the other Act of 1980, which often fall prey to
around the fact that the solid waste pressing environmental concerns political patronage.
management problem globally is bedeviling Sri Lanka. Bureaucratic lethargy has not
snowballing to unmanageable levels. The PPP, however, is not without helped either. Sri Lanka currently has
Government estimates suggest a its critics. They contend the remit no national waste management policy.
whopping 60% of the plastic imported of this social costing programme is Rumour has it that the blueprint
into Sri Lanka ends up being offloaded nebulous, as are the mechanisms for of such a policy has been floating

30 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

around the Environment Ministry
since 1996, but the lack of specifics or
indeed a schedule by which it should
be put up for debate in parliament
has dimmed expectations. Without a
cohesive national strategy, many who
collect material for recycling have
been discouraged by the government,
newspapers are being imported for
use as wrapping paper and there is
scant glass bottle collection in the
country. Another piece of legislation,
the Hazardous Waste Regulation, has
also been in limbo since the 1990s.
This state of affairs conveniently
excused the municipal authorities
from performing their duties diligently
while bemoaning the lack of funds.
National budgets too have consistently
ignored the need for sufficient resource
allocation towards efficient garbage
disposal systems. Ordinary citizens
are also culpable in perpetuating
this problem. Despite Sri Lanka’s oft-
touted high literacy rates, few are
aware of their social responsibilities
regarding garbage disposal. And,
as supermarkets and malls, glitzy
icons of progress, continue to rise in
urban centers, so does the national
consumption of non-biodegradable
plastic.
The more illustrious critic of
the PPP — the executive director
of the Center for Environmental
Justice, Hemantha Withanage —
The application of the Polluter Pays Principle
(PPP) in its current shape seems lopsided in
favour of businesses.
finds the proposal indifferent to
the socioeconomic realities in Sri
Lanka. Withanage contends the PPP
was flawed from the start because it
did not differentiate between luxury
emissions and survival emissions
while disproportionately burdening
the lowest rungs of society. He has
urged Colombo to reorient the PPP
towards focusing on the “big polluters
and not the end-users.” Additionally,
Withanage believes the government
should lobby the international
community to pressure the US, China
and the EU into contributing more to
the climate change adaptation fund
commensurate with their carbon
footprints.
There are, of course, solutions to
Sri Lanka’s solid waste management
problem and the PPP could play a
key role in managing them if the
government is willing to iron out the
kinks by inviting detractors to contour
a new, improved version. That said,
a national waste management policy
is imperative, as is the move towards
Extended Producer Responsibility that
charges a higher percentage of the
social cost from producers or agents.
Awareness campaigns to educate the
general public on the perils of climate
change and how the consumption of
plastic catalyzes them will eventually
produce a society that does not
pollute and hence does not need to
pay any fines.
History shows us that top-down
government initiatives without broad-
based support are doomed to fail and
the PPP may be no different. What
Sri Lanka needs right now is to rally
together all the national stakeholders
in a concerted action to save the
environment. Implementing the PPP
in its current shape at the expense of
the disenfranchised poor simply to
appear “business-friendly” is a recipe
for disaster.
The writer is an Islamabad-based
freelance journalist.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 31
 REGION BHUTAN

Towards
Functional Rule
Successful conclusion of the second local government elections in Bhutan demonstrates
its commitment to strengthening democracy.

By Faizan Usmani

H
eld for the second time in
Bhutan’s political history, Local
Government (LG) Elections
concluded in November last year.
In 2007, Bhutan marked the end of
a century-old monarchy and became
a democratic state. After a year, the
country enacted its first national
constitution, which instituted a two-tier
governance structure based on national
and local bodies. In 2011, Bhutan
elected its first local government,
which has now been replaced by
newly-elected local bodies.
In 2016, the Election Commission
of Bhutan (ECB) organised second-
Local government elections in three
stages. The first round was held in the
third-level administrative division of
Bhutan in January 2016. The second
phase was held in June in the western
part of the country, while the third and
fourth phases were completed in July
and November, 2016.
“To strengthen democracy, it is
necessary to empower the lower
bodies in the government and it is

32 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

very creditable for Bhutan to have
conducted it very successfully,” says
Dr. S. Chandrasekharan, the founder-
director of the India-based South Asia
Analysis Group (SAAG).
As per the conditions set by the
ECB, all aspiring candidates have
to pass a ‘functional literacy and
possession of skills test’ to qualify for
the LG elections, paving the way for a
young, educated leadership to emerge
and play their part for development
and growth of the country.
Chogyal Dago Rigdzin, Bhutan’s
Chief Election Commissioner, terms
the recent LG elections as historic.
He says, “Despite some problems, the
elections went smoothly with active
participation of the electorate.”
According to the Election
Commission of Bhutan, a total of 1,423
candidates have been elected in the
these elections.
“Out of the total, 432 had
previously held elective posts in local
governments. The elections were called
for a total of 1,477 constituencies.
However, there were no elections held
in 41 chiwogs (electoral precincts)
due to lack of candidates,” admits
Chogyal Dago Rigdzin, Chief Election
Commissioner.
For a nascent democracy like
Bhutan, the successful conclusion of
its second local government elections
is being termed as a milestone in
many ways. First of all, the smallest
country in the Himalayan region
has demonstrated its commitment to
strengthening democracy despite its
lack of experience and incapacity
to adapt to a totally a new system of
governance. Secondly, it reaffirms its
long-term goal of achieving gender
equality, as the recent LG elections
witnessed significant progress in terms
of women’s participation.
Third, a young political leadership
has been surfacing out of the local
government elections being held at
regular intervals, a good omen for a
country that took almost a century to
get rid of an absolute monarchy, where
the king had used his discretionary
powers to decide about public interest
without as much as referring to public
opinion.
“With regard to Local government
elections held in Bhutan, one should
compare it with what is happening
in Nepal, where for sixteen years no
elections to the village or regional
levels have been conducted and the
politicians are still fighting over the
demarcation of individual units,” says
Dr. S. Chandrasekharan.
Though most of people in Bhutan
still consider democracy as an enforced
ideology which has its origins in the
west, the young lot of the country see
the potential in a steadily evolving
democratic rule that has something to
offer, e.g. protection of human rights,
gender mainstreaming, freedom of
expression, equal employment and
learning opportunities offered to both
men and women, as well as a sense
of obligation conferred on governing
institutions for them to act in the public
interest.
Despite a token representation in
the running of state affairs, the active
participation of youth in the electoral
and political process suggests a bigger
change in how the young and educated
want to make their presence felt. It
shows today’s Bhutanese youth are
eager to defy the status quo and wish to
seize any opportunity that helps them
make a dent in the long-established
monarchical system, which is still
defiant in allowing democratically-
elected public representatives to work
independently.
Says Tashi Pem, a Bhutanese writer,
“Within the framework of the Local
Government (LG) Act of Bhutan 2009,
local governments in the country
are responsible for providing public
services, promoting socio-economic
development, framing and enforcing
rules consistent with national laws
and promoting culture and protecting
cultural sites among others.”
However, some people believe
local bodies representatives in Bhutan
have not been empowered enough
to be able to contribute to state
matters, as the country’s unshakable
constitutional monarchy has yet to share
its administrative power with public
representatives elected at both national
and local levels. Still going strong, the
king has the last say in running the
government and he exercises his power
whenever it comes to deciding the fate
of the nation, ridiculing the concept of
parliamentary supremacy.
“With respect to important aspects
such as financing, staffing, and
policy-making, there are noteworthy
limitations to the scope for decision-
making by local governments, and
in effect, by citizens. For example,
local governments can raise revenues
through taxes within nationally defined
scope and scale, some fines and user
fees, etc. However, these revenues
make up, on average, less than one
percent of overall expenditures,” says
Tashi Pem.
Amidst these power imbalances,
both the national parliament and local
government bodies in Bhutan find
themselves at the mercy of a powerful
kingship, but the consistency in its
political journey stands as a good omen
for the country where democracy is
gradually finding its ground in spite of
apparent challenges and constitutional
restrictions.
A local leader once explained the
role of local governments: “If a person
stands outside and shouts, the blue
sky may or may not hear him. Local
governments help to bring the blue sky
closer to the people.”
This corresponds with the ‘bridge
between the people and the Centre’
imagery that local government leaders
often evoke when speaking of their
roles. What is striking in these imageries
is that local governments do not seem
to perceive themselves as decision-
makers, but as links to those who do,
says Tashi Pem.
The writer is a member of the staff.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 33
 REGION the maldives

Who Is
Incharge?
Sibling rivalry between brothers Maumoun Abdul Gayoom and his half brother
Yameen Abdul Gayoom – leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The Maldives needs to look
for fresh leadership to move forward on the road to democracy.
By K.A. Naqshbandi

T
he bedrock of democracy is the
rule of law and that means to
have an independent judiciary
– an institution where judges are not
subject to pressure and influence and
are free to take impartial decisions
based solely on fact and law.
Whenever and wherever justice is
sold to the highest bidder, democratic
norms are flouted. The Maldives is an
instance.
According to a recent Al Jazeera
report, text message conversations
reveal that the judiciary in the
Maldives is far from independent.
Senior judges have received money
and luxury flats and meet regularly
with the president and his deputy,
who meddle in high-profile cases
and judicial appointments. In one
text message, the former prosecutor-
general declared absolute loyalty to
Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and
promised "no one can touch" him. In

34 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

another, a Supreme Court judge, Ali
Hameed, assured the vice president:
"We will remain soldiers till the
mission is over in 2018! Or 2023 ?
Hah! hah ! Hah !"
So it’s not at all surprising that
to manipulate the exit of Maumoun
Abdul Gayoom as the Head of the
Progressive Party of the Maldives
(PPM), his half brother Yameen Abdul
Gayoom resorted to the Gayoom
family’s favourite toy — the Maldives
judiciary. One of the many judges
on Yameen’s payroll issued a ‘court
ruling’ handing over the chair of PPM
to Yameen. Interestingly enough the
judge was none other than Haleem
Bai, a ‘journalist’ turned Civil Court
judge appointed by Yameen. He ruled
that PPM now belongs to Yameen
because Maumoon is too interfering
and has brought the party to a grinding
halt.
As a matter of fact, Maumoon has
been a victim of his own creation —
one of the most corrupt judiciaries
in the world — which, according
to a veteran Maldives journalist,
“has finally turned around and bit
the hand of its Master. Maumoon’s
party engineered and the Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) the first and
once the largest political party in the
Maldives, allowed the dismissal of
Article 285 of the 2008 Constitution
which defined the basis of appointing
experienced and qualified judges.
Had it been followed, it would have
cleaned the judiciary of the many
inexperienced, unqualified and
sometimes criminal figures Maumoon
put on the benches during his 30-year
rule.”
Interestingly enough the future
course of democracy in Pakistan,
to a great extent, depends on the
efficiency of the courts and the
integrity of judges. Commenting on
the judgment on the Panama Leaks
case, the outgoing Chief Justice Anwar
Zaheer Jamali has said that the courts
cannot announce verdicts to please
someone or in the face of pressure
due to media hype.
Speaking at a ceremony, Justice
Jamali said the courts in Pakistan
were completely independent in
their judgments and they were not
under any kind of pressure. "For us,
delivering justice is the most important
thing," he said.
"We cannot give a verdict to please
someone or by getting under pressure
because of media hype,” the chief
justice of Pakistan said. "The judicial
system is not just meant for verdicts,
it is rather meant for providing justice
to people."
He warned that prevailing social
evils were weakening the country and
if other institutions fail to do their
job, then the judiciary is charged
with double responsibility. Let’s hope
our judiciary is competent enough to
shoulder the double responsibility.
To end the dispute once for all,
President Yameen insisted that there
should not be any further discussions
within the ruling party and urged
members to unite in a bid to resolve
the differences.“If there are problems
within our party, I strongly suggest
that we find a way to resolve it,” he
stressed. PPM lawmakers loyal to
president Yameen then decided to
amend the law, putting an age cap of
65 years for political party leaders in a
bid to oust Gayoom. The amendment
thus put an end to Gayoom’s era as
the PPM leader for ever.
In the 2013 elections the PPM
nominated Yameen as its presidential
candidate but Maumoon continued
as head of the party. Both were happy
with their respective positions enjoying
the authority constitutionally granted
to them until June, when Maumoon as
the Head of the party opposed a bill
amending the Constitution to allow
Maldivian territory to be siphoned
off and sold to anyone interested ---
empowering the government to lease
islands for development as resorts
without competitive bidding. His
son, an MP, voted against it and was
expelled from the party. The same day
his daughter, Dunya Maumoon also
resigned as foreign minister.
Sibling rivalry led to the division
of PPM as Maumoon withdrew
his support from the Yameen-led
government. The rift between the
brothers led to split of party into two
factions -- Maumoon’s loyalists and
Yameen’s loyalists. Ironically, the
ultimate breakup took place on the
fifth anniversary of PPM. Maumoon
the party’s founder who groomed his
younger brother Yameen and made
him the president of the country
was very intelligently removed from
the political scene of the Maldives,
declaring him obsolete and an
obstacle to the government.
Just hours after Maumoon’s PPM
Council meeting, Yameen held his
own PPM Council meeting. Chairing
the council meeting of his faction,
Mamoun appointed a new Secretary
General and made it clear that his
brother had finally overstepped the
limits. At his own Council meeting,
Yameen did the same as his brother —
he elected a new Secretary General
and appointed other loyalists to key
positions.
Though the rift between the two
brothers started soon after Yameen
took oath as the president, the last nail
in the coffin was Mamoun’s refusal
to endorse Yameen as the PPM’s
candidate for the presidential election
in 2018. Yameen’s supporters dragged
the dispute into the courts, where
Mamoun’s decision was superseded
and he was replaced by Yameen as the
leader of the party. He now holds the
posts of both President of the country
as well as the head of the party.
With both the important position
in hand, there will be no check and
balance on Yameen. According to the
constitution he can remain in power
as long his party wants him. Now that
he is also the head of the party, he
has nothing to worry and continue as
the President of the country as long
as he wants without any obstacle. The
absolute power has negative aspects
too and history is replete with the
miserable fate of dictators.
Injustice and absolute power
tend to breed corruption. Al Jazeera's
Investigative Unit very recently
exposed massive corruption at the top
of the Maldives government, including
theft, bribery and money laundering.
President Yameen is accused of
receiving cash in bags filled with up
to $1m -- so much that it was "difficult
to carry," according to one of the men
who delivered the money.
According to recent reports
there is growing threat of a coup.
The Maldives became a democracy
in 2008 when Mohamed Nasheed
became its first freely-elected leader,
ending three decades of autocratic
rule under Yameen’s half-brother,
Maumoon. Since Yameen came to
power in 2013, he has enacted a
series of increasingly draconian
laws. Under his rule, hundreds of
political activists have faced charges
and several senior figures have been
given long jail sentences, including
Nasheed, who was painted as anti-
Islamic and now lives in self-imposed
exile in the UK. Reports have emerged
that a group of exiled opposition
leaders — including Nasheed — had
met in Sri Lanka, planning how to
oust President Yameen.
The Maldives belongs to Maumoun
or Yameen? The answer is simple;
it neither belongs to Mamoun nor
Yameen --- the corrupt ones. It will
ultimately belong to the people of the
Maldives.
The writer is a freelance journalist.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 35
 REGION NEPAL

Elusive
Peace
After ten years, there is still lack of clarity in the peace legislation aimed at bringing in
transitional justice to Nepal. The fear is that the situation could again throw the country
into conflict and violence.

By Zehra Khawaja

T
o end the crippling war that
continued for more than 10
years killing over 17,000 Maoist
rebels, the Nepal government signed a
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
with rebel CPN (Maoist) on November
27, 2006. Unfortunately, even after ten
years, transitional justice – an important
component of the peace process – is
still elusive as the justice mechanisms
lack resources and a strong mandate.
This inordinate delay could push
Nepal towards a new dimension of
conflict, resulting in a possible return to
violence.
The 2004 Secretary General’s
Report to the Security Council defines
transitional justice as “the full range of
processes and mechanisms associated
with a society’s attempts to come to
terms with a legacy of large scale past
human rights abuses in order to ensure
accountability, serve justice and achieve
reconciliation. The primary objective of
transitional justice is to end impunity
and establish the rule of law in the
context of democratic governance.”
To ensure transitional justice for the
sufferers of the Nepal civil war, the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
and the Commission of Investigation
on Enforced Disappeared Persons
(CIEDP) were made a part of the peace
process and considered instrumental
in ending the decade-long conflict.
The two commissions were, however,
unfortunately formed on February 10,
2015, nine years after the CPA was War II period. After the Second World serious violations of human rights during
signed. War, the Nuremberg Trials held between the war, to bringi Nazi war criminals to
The origins of transitional justice 1945 and 1949, were assigned the task justice. Although the legal justifications
can be traced back to the post-World of prosecuting those who committed for the trials and their procedural

36 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

innovations were controversial at the
time, the Nuremberg trials are now
regarded as an important precedent for
dealing with later instances of genocide
and other crimes against humanity.
The second such trial is
currently going on in Bangladesh.
The International Crimes Tribunal
of Bangladesh is a domestic war
crimes tribunal set up in 2009 to
investigate and prosecute suspects
for the genocide committed in 1971
during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
However, International organisations
like Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and
even the UN have taken a queer stand
on the implementation of war crime
verdicts in this case. They say that the
trial procedure was flawed. They have
also criticised the practice of hanging
of criminals in general.
Similarly , the Nepalese press also
has reservations about transitional
justice in Nepal. According to a
Kathmandu-based newspaper report,
“Human rights activism in Nepal has
come largely from the urban elite,
while the majority of conflict victims
are poor and belong to rural areas. The
Will the Nepal government be able
to provide justice to the war victims
without being biased and controversial?
transitional justice commissions, loyal
to their political allies, are not victim-
friendly in their procedure. They have
failed to address victims’ needs through
a legislative route to truth, justice and
reparation, with a continuing lack
of adequate laws and political will
to solve the conflict era cases. Both
commissions have ‘finished’ their work
without fulfilling their mandate (the
commissions’ two-year mandate ends
in February, 2017) or developing a
roadmap to identify the root causes of
conflict, address poverty and structural
violence.”
In short it’s not all that easy
to ensure transparent and across-
the-board investigation of crimes
committed --- especially war crimes.
To record witnesses and cross
examine the surviving witness to
fulfill the requirements of justice is
undoubtedly a herculean task. Will the
Nepal government be able to provide
transitional justice to the war victims
without being biased and controversial?
The way things are moving, certainly
not.
Even the members entrusted with
the task by the Nepal government
are in a fix due to the lack of clarity
on definition of Commission of
Investigation on Enforced Disappeared
Persons (CIEDP). It is facing obstacles
in carrying out a preliminary
investigation of the complaints, in
which relatives of the victims have
registered the death of the disappeared
persons. “We are supposed to find out
the truth behind the disappearance of
a person, but the incidents of death
fall under the jurisdiction of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission,” said
CIEDP Chairperson Lokendra Mallick
in a recent interview. Moreover,
the government did not amend the
transitional justice law even after the
Supreme Court ordered to streamline
it. Besides, the government has not
criminalized the act of disappearance.
The commission had requested the
government to reform the law and
enact a new law a year ago. “We have
not been able to decide how to deal
with complaints of the individuals
who were detained incommunicado
for weeks and months so we cannot
proceed with the investigation amidst
legal conundrum,” said Mallick.
Naturally, under such circumstances
it is not so easy to provide transitional
justice to the victims of the war. But then,
taking over eight years to constitute the
commission is simply criminal and all
those involved in undue delay must
be put to task. Moreover, the hurdles
being faced by the members of CIEDP
must be removed without any further
delay to provide much needed relief to
the victims who are going through pain
and agony for the last eight years.
Regretting the delay in constituting
the commission, the TRC Chairman
said. “As it has been eight years since
the end of the conflict in Nepal, it
could be difficult to gather evidence
on various incidents. Then, there could
be problems pertaining to cases about
court verdicts and political parties’
rejection. There are also contentions
about whether events occurring during
the conflict period were purely human
rights violations or not or if they took
place during combat or not. But we in
the TRC have decided that no matter
what our personal opinions are on
such issues, the Commission is a body
of high moral integrity. We will do
our best not to go into voting on such
matters but decide through consensus.
We are in the process of forming the
regulations and have already formed a
task force to do so.”
Apart from this important
component of the Agreement, very
little or no progress has been made
on a number of provisions, such as
elimination of discrimination, adoption
of a common development concept,
scientific land reform, protection and
promotion of national industries and
establishment of the rights of citizens
to education, health, residence,
employment and food security besides
socio-economic security of backward
communities. The Agreement includes
the Maoist commitment to end the
fighting, pledges by the political parties
to institutionalise federal democracy,
recruitment of Maoist fighters into
the Nepal Army, elections to the
Constituent Assembly (CA), adoption of
a new constitution and transformation
of the Maoists into a democratic entity
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 37
 REGION NEPAL

hve been somehow met.

According to available reports, a
number of factors have contributed
to the slow and weak implementation
of the CPA. The political parties
lost several years in blaming and
condemning each other. The formation
of organisations similar to paramilitary
structures like the Young Communist
League, Youth Force, Tarun Dasta,
Madhes Bahini and others created
confusion among different political
parties, stopping them from coming
out with a definite decision. On the
other hand issues like lack of effective
political and institutional mechanisms
to direct the peace process, top-down
approach of the peace implementation the TRC and CIEDP would conclude He said, “Transitional justice cannot
process, lack of political coexistence their jobs within the deadline. But both just be about addressing past crimes or
and changes in the power equation the commissions have just been able to even about preventing future ones. It
after each assembly elections, vested collect as many as 57,753 complaints also has to help all of us in our own
interest-based negotiations adopted by of rights violations from across the different regions put a closure on
the parties and lackluster performance country in nine months and the process historically-evolved grievances. Unless
of civil society as a watchdog were of scrutiny of each case has yet to be the historically-evolved grievance
other factors behind the sluggish started. Apparently, it seems that it is of, say, the people of Kashmir is not
implementation of the CPA. impossible to complete the task before addressed, unless their sacrifices are
All said and done, the only February 9, 2017, the expiry date. not respected, unless homage is not
aspect of the peace process — giving Transitional justice has been very paid to all the people who were victim
justice to the conflict victims and appropriately defined by Siddharth to the violence, it will be very difficult
punishing the rights perpetrators – is Varadarajan, former Editor of The for people living in these societies
yet to be concluded though the two Hindu in a speech he delivered at and communities to feel a sense of
commissions formed with a mandate a seminar in Kathmandu in January, closure.”
of two years which will expire on 2016 organised by Himal Southasian
February 9, 2017. It was expected that and the Center for Transitional Justice. The writer is a freelance contributor.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 39

 INTERNATIONAL

Playing a
New Tune
Trump brings a whiff of fresh air to the White House. His radical policies
may succeed but there are possibilities that they may fall flat.
The next four years will tell.
By Tahira Sajid

T
he U.S. President-elect, Donald
Trump, recently caused quite
a stir in the media with his
overly enthusiastic comments in
a congratulatory phone call from
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of
Pakistan. Trump’s characteristic style
of communication that digresses from
traditional diplomacy expected of a
president, was a complete surprise
to the Pakistani premier. Sharif
promptly released a transcript of the
call to the local media as proof of his
own popularity with the incoming
American leader.

40 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

 The transcript quickly hit headlines
worldwide despite some skepticism
surrounding its accuracy. Apparently,
during the call Trump praised the
“amazing country” of Pakistan with
“one of the most intelligent people,”
and offered to help resolve regional
conflicts, saying that he is “willing and
ready to play any role” that Pakistan
wants “to address and find solutions
to outstanding problems.” Since the
India-Pakistan Kashmir dispute has
been the largest flashpoint of conflict
between the two nuclear-armed
neighbours for decades, the offer was
interpreted in Pakistan as validation
of the Pakistan position. The local
media reported a rise in optimism
and goodwill in the Pakistani citizenry
towards the incoming U.S. President.
However, a careful analysis would find
this optimism to be misplaced at best
and resting on a simplistic world view
removed from actual geo-political
realities, or mere wishful thinking.
The 2016 U.S. election campaign
has come to be known as the most
divisive campaign in American history
that forced voters to choose between
two highly disliked candidates and
also brought to light the changing
priorities of the American electorate.
After eight years of President Obama,
they seemed ready for change again for
a variety of reasons too complicated to
write about here. Race, security and
economics topped the list and Donald
Trump emerged successful in swaying
enough voters to his vision.
From the beginning, Trump defied
popular polls and pundits and secured
Republican nomination with ease.
Then, he calmly bagged the election
win, dashing the hopes of the first
female presidential candidate of a
major party and former First Lady and
Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
Despite losing popular vote to the
Democratic nominee by the reported
3 million in the highest ever loss for
any president-elect in U.S. history,
Donald Trump was declared to be
the rightful 45th President-elect of
the United States in accordance with
the rules of the U.S. Electoral System
and is set to take office on January 20,
2017.
Throughout the campaign year,
the President-elect was accused of
running an aggressive and divisive
campaign by his opponents. His
many controversial statements
against fellow Americans of diverse
ethnic backgrounds, his proposal of
creating a Muslim registry (considered
reminiscent of Nazi Germany) and
of imposing a temporary ban on
Muslims from entering the country,
mocking a disabled reporter who
disagreed with him, using degrading
language for women while advocating
punishment for those seeking abortion
and his support for the use of torture
in interrogation did not endear him
to many Americans with a different
vision of their country.
His persistent refusal to make his
tax returns public, and his alleged
use of loopholes to avoid paying
taxes for 18 years made him an
even more controversial candidate.
He even cast doubt on the country’s
Trump’s plans as future president
and Leader of the Free World may
be in some ways quite a mystery.
own election system with allegations
of expected rigging and voter fraud,
and sought to undermine intelligence
agencies’ capability to do their job
when they questioned Russia’s role
in hacking and possibly influencing
the election outcome. However, none
of this was enough to dissuade his
loyal supporters of whom Trump had
famously declared in Iowa: “I could
stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue
and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t
lose any voters, OK?” Not surprisingly
then, his approval rating continues to
rise and is reported in some polls to
be higher now than anytime during
the campaign.
Donald Trump had established
himself as the unpredictable candidate
devoid of political correctness early
on and continues to proudly own that
label. He picks spats on twitter with
critics and communicates directly with
his millions of followers on seemingly
inconsequential issues. He has even
claimed to not need daily intelligence
briefings considered routine for any
president-elect because he thinks he is
“really smart” – earning him criticism
from the former CIA head, Leon
Panetta: “Trump has no experience or
background in government, foreign
policy, national security, or counter-
terrorism…” and should find time for
the briefings. Even President Obama
remarked that governing well came
down to being well-informed and not
being smart.
The international and local media
that have covered Trump extensively
for years are still trying to understand
his real position on various issues.
Since he has been in the public eye for
decades, his previous and changing
views are documented in detail and
have been discussed ad nauseam. Yet,
Trump’s plans as future president and
Leader of the Free World may be in
some ways as much a mystery even
now as they were over a year ago.
His proposals during the campaign
were accused of lacking specificity
and relying more on grandstanding
rhetoric. His communications team
regularly appeared to face the
unenviable prospect of trying to
explain and sometimes explain away
what came to be known as his ‘flip-
flops.’
However, as Donald Trump
continues to apply unconventional
methods in his dealings keeping the
media and his opponents forever
guessing his true intent, it is clear
that as a long time reality TV star
he is incredibly savvy about using
information to his advantage and
taking risks for ratings whenever he
deems necessary. His critics think
such risk-taking and disregard for
consequences makes for good reality
TV, but one requires a different
set of critical thinking skills while
interacting on the international level:
his friendly overtures towards Russia,
criticism of NATO, and opposition to
the Iran Nuclear Deal have sent off
alarm bells for many US allies directly
affected by his positions. His foreign
policy shifts became evident with the
congratulatory call he took from the
Taiwanese President that marked a
change from decades of US position
on one-China policy. His cabinet picks
also indicate an attempt to challenge
established positions of the out-going
administration. The selection of Rex
Tillerson who received a medal of
freedom from Putin as Secretary of
State has been highly controversial,
just as choosing David Friedman as
US Ambassador to Israel deemed an
equally unpopular choice for his hard-
line stance on the two-state solution
to Israel-Palestine conflict.
It is in this context that the phone
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 41
 INTERNATIONAL

call between Donald Trump and

Nawaz Sharif begs review. To be sure,
the Kashmir issue between India and
Pakistan is a cause of continued tension
between the two countries and though
India strongly opposes it, Pakistan
would welcome any mediation from
the United States. To this end, it is
easy to fall prey to optimism of finding
a solution through involvement of
the highest office of the world’s most
powerful country, and many Pakistanis
may choose to retain that illusion.
However, others are of the opinion
that Trump’s friendly overtures towards
Pakistan may simply be attributed to
his characteristic refusal to play by
traditional rules of diplomacy and lack
of regard or understanding of regional
geopolitical intricacies due to his lack
of experience in governance. There
appears to be little chance of Trump
actually going ahead with his offer and
offending India, another nuclear power
and a country where he has strong It would be in Pakistan’s interest the rest of the world, the new occupant
business interests. He has openly called to keep a wait-and-see approach. For of the Oval Office and his world view
himself a “friend” to the Indian people. the sake of the optimists among us, the shall both remain a mystery.
His previous position on Pakistan also best case scenario would be that the
serves as a reminder: in 2012 Trump had President-elect keeps his word to Sharif, The writer is a freelance columnist
tweeted: “Get it straight: Pakistan is not and finds value in helping to resolving based in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Her
our friend. We’ve given them billions this simmering conflict once for all. He writings and volunteer work focus
and billions of dollars, and what did is known to defy expectation and could extensively on socio-economic issues,
we get? Betrayal and disrespect – and very well be ready to surprise us all yet interfaith dialogue and U.S.-Muslim
much worse. #TimeToGetTough”. again. For now, to his compatriots and to relations post-9/11.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 43

 NEIGHBOUR

Beyond the
Corruption
Corruption is ingrained in Indonesian life. President Widodo has made
efforts to overcome the problem but his path is littered with many
obstacles which just refuse to go away.
By Taha Kehar

I
ndonesia’s downward spiral into
a cesspool of corruption and
mismanagement has been widely
reported by the media. If the findings of
a survey commissioned by the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) are anything to go by, these news
reports have steered public perception
in a negative direction.
At least 66.4% of respondents
believe the roots of corruption remain
firmly entrenched in the state and society
since President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo
assumed public office in 2014. On the
other hand, 10.8% of respondents were
of the view that corrupt practices have
gradually started losing traction after
Widodo seized the reins.

44 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2016

 A little over 21% of respondents said
most cases involving graft allegations
have remained stagnant, leaving the
system in a peculiar state of limbo.
Meanwhile, a staggering 50.4% of
respondents insisted that the country
had made concrete and well-meaning
attempts to eradicate corruption.
The findings were reported in
July 2016 - nearly two years after the
Indonesian president was sworn in. The
study was conducted between April 17
and 29 and 3,900 respondents were
interviewed. The sample, as expected,
was representative as a sizeable
fraction of the respondents belonged
to areas that were, according to the
Corruption Eradication Commission
(KPK), particularly vulnerable to political
mismanagement.
It is difficult to discredit the statistical
data that has been put forward through
this survey. The study has managed to
put a figure on the level of dissatisfaction
triggered by various forms of political
corruption. These trends suggest that
Widodo - who had made a series of
electoral promises to reform the political
system - has failed to stem the roots of
mismanagement.
Analysts believe that people who
have been accused of corruption are
seldom meted out serious punishments.
In its 2014 report, the Indonesian
Corruption Watch (ICW) stated that out
of 479 graft convicts, only 372 received
less than four years of imprisonment. As
a result, many of them tend to repeat
their offences because the chances
of getting caught appear to be slim.
The element of deterrence has been
conveniently removed from the equation
and breaking the law stands the risk of
becoming an inconvenient norm. The
abbreviation ‘KKN’ - which stands for
corruption (korupsi), collusion (kolusi)
and nepotism (nepotisme) - has seeped
into the Indonesian state structure. Such
mismanagement is heavily ingrained
in the fabric of social life and has
manifested itself in various forms.
The growing spate of corruption in
Indonesia has generated a fierce debate
among scholars. More often than not,
academics have been trying to determine
if the roots of corruption can be found in
the pre-colonial era, the period of Dutch
colonization or Japan’s occupation of
Indonesia between 1942-1945. For most
academics, corruption has emerged as a
taken-for-granted aspect of Indonesia’s
judicial, political and corporate milieu
that usually defies an unequivocal
explanation. The ambiguity has made
it difficult to agree upon a specific
time period during which the roots
of corruption were sown. However,
former president Suharto’s New Order
regime, between 1965 and 1998,
has been viewed a suitable starting
point for analysis. During these three
decades, Indonesia was characterized
by a sustained period of economic
growth. However, corrupt practices also
run parallel to such positive economic
indicators as Suharto managed to secure
the loyalty of his subordinates through
a system of patronage. Elite sections
of society were guaranteed business
prospects and political ranks in exchange
for their unflagging support to Suharto’s
regime. Suharto also had the army and
sizeable resources generated from the
oil boom at his disposal. This made it
The growing spate of corruption in
Indonesia has generated a fierce debate
among scholars.
easier for him to manoeuvre the system
in his favour.
The country’s economic policy was
also chalked out through the support
of a small group of confidantes who
were believed to be corrupt. A relatively
close-knit group of capitalists largely
benefitted from state privatization
schemes. Most of them ran monopolies
that functioned without a significant
degree of monitoring. Since Suharto’s
New Order was excessively centralized,
there was predictability among investors
and businesspeople. They knew how
much money they were expected to offer
as bribes to serve their narrow, business
interests. After Suharto’s rule, a regional
decentralization drive kicked off in
Indonesia. Administrative autonomy was
shifted away from Jakarta and transferred
to the districts. As a result, bribery was
no longer an ingrained aspect of the
system.
The KPK was established in 2003
to rid the country of corrupt influences.
The agency sought to carry out a much-
needed oversight function by monitoring
the state. But these developments did little
to put an end to the corruption downward
spiral. The KPK initially focused more on
low-profile officials rather than the big
fish. Over time, especially towards the
end of former president Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono's government, the agency
took on the Herculean task of demanding
accountability from ministers, judges
and the police. These instances suggest
that corruption remains a menace in
Indonesia. What is more, the KPK has
also been accused of mismanaging affairs
and engaging in corrupt practices.
Similarly, high-profile corruption
cases that surfaced during former
president Yudhoyono’s rule sullied the
government’s image. These problems
have also emerged during Widodo’s
regime.
At first, the incumbent president
vowed to wage a battle against
corruption in the country. He shifted
countless government services online to
prevent bureaucrats from obtaining extra
money.
For his first few months in power,
Widodo enjoyed a clean image.
However, things took a nasty turn when
the president decided to throw his weight
behind a police chief who is suspected
to be involved in countless graft cases.
The nomination of Budi Gunawan
for police chief triggered a wave of
controversy. Widodo refused to intervene
in the matter even though the nominee
had been accused of corruption in
the past. This resulted in a showdown
between the police and the KPK where
the latter was criminalized. The president
only decided to intervene when the
situation had worsened. According to
media reports, Widodo proposed a
“weak compromise” by deciding not to
consider Budi for the police chief’s post.
The nominee was eventually appointed
as the deputy chief. At this critical
juncture, the menace of corruption is
inextricably linked to the political system
in Indonesia. This reality will continue to
influence the public’s perceptions until
tangible reforms are put into effect.
Indonesia’s people have shown
a willingness to eradicate corruption
from the political sphere. The media,
which has vociferously advocated
freedom of expression, has made it a
point to give space to these viewpoints.
Although most media outlets are owned
by businesspeople and politicians who
have their own agenda, the public’s
eagerness to fuel change cannot be cast
aside so easily. People are more likely to
vote for a leader who is not involved in a
graft scandal and may act accordingly to
prevent such negative publicity.
The writer is a poet and author. He is a
law graduate of SOAS.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 45
 FEATURE PAKISTAN

Climate Change is an issue that the world must confront

A Global Issue with increasing seriousness. Pakistan has become a

signatory to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change but
it looks like the country still needs to develop a national
climate change strategy.
By Zeeshan Ahmed

P
akistan has ratified the Paris
Agreement on Climate Change.
Its ratification is in line with its
firm commitment to the purposes and
objectives of the Climate Convention.
It also highlights the resolve of Pakistan
to remain fully committed to the
implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Climate change and global warming
are serious issues that the world faces
and the threat keeps increasing with
every passing day. It can be said that
while the world has countless issues,
they all pale in front of it. It affects the
entire planet and has been damaging
it greatly. If things are left as they are,
there would be no return from the
catastrophe.
Several organizations, both
governmental and non-governmental,
have been trying to create awareness
regarding the issue. On December 12,
2015, a big milestone was achieved,
which will determine the direction for
the times to come. Called Conference
of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate
Change, or more commonly known
as the ‘Paris Conference,’ the first ever
agreement on a global level was signed.
There are around 195 nations involved,
including Pakistan, which participated.
All of them agreed on the initiative.
The primary objective of the agreement
is to reduce global warming to well
below 2 degree Celsius i.e. 1.5 degrees
Celsius. Moreover, it was decided that
developing nations would be assisted
in tackling global warming. Also, there
is a provision of granting $100 billion
annually to the cause by developed
countries from 2020. There was a pledge
made by the developing countries to
bring down the GHG (Greenhouse

46 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

 In the last decade or so Pakistan
has suffered from a number of
natural disasters.
gases) emissions level in their countries.
The plan will be revised every 5 years.
On November 4, 2016, the agreement
was officially set in motion.
Pakistan’s delegation, consisting of
officials from the Ministry of Climate
Change as well as Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, besides people belonging to
civil society, forwarded their case and
were able to hold their ground. This was
quite positive, as Pakistan’s stance was
put in front of the world. Pakistan’s firm
take on global warming is definitely
appreciable, and the need of the time,
but there are still a lot of issues that it
needs to deal with.
In the last decade or so Pakistan
has suffered from a number of
natural disasters. A few of them were
directly caused by the change in the
environment. A good example is
the smog that envelopes Lahore and
other cities in Punjab, come winters.
The polluted water, air and damaging
changes to the ecosystem are all a part
of the situation. This pollution and other
issues need to be taken care of quite
seriously but is Pakistan willing to go
down that path?
The political uncertainty in the
country overrides everything else,
whether it is the economy, education,
health, agriculture, transport, agriculture
and so many other areas. Can Pakistan
set aside its political tensions? Moreover,
can the political parties, along with
other entities in the government, come
together to deal with such issues? There
needs to be more awareness regarding
climate change and global warming.
The latter is easily ignored and its
various threats trivialized. Can people
in Pakistan become educated about the
environment and instructed to follow
guidelines to eradicate pollution? A
country which lacks seriously in science
often loses track of factual science.
Also, is the government willing to take
necessary steps against those industries
that do not follow the environment
protocols?
It is highly pertinent for Pakistan
to realize that its needs a clear
environment policy. There are frequent
reports of forests being cut down,
common occurrences of flooding, the
need for disposing of and treating waste
and the overall incidence of rising
pollution. Apart from the observation of
Earth Hour observation every year and
plantation drives, there is nothing more.
It also appears that Pakistan’s will to
progress in technological terms can give
way to more issues if the environment is
not the required importance.
It needs to be pointed out that while
Pakistan’s intentions may be clear on the
matter, it needs to make more deliberate
efforts to preserve the environment as
the clock is ticking and the sound is
getting louder by the day.
The writer likes to explore subjects of
historical importance.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 47
 FEATURE INDIA

Bold
Experiment
By demonetizing the Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 notes,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have miscalculated his strategy.
By Zufah Ansari

I
n a noble attempt to relieve India
from the plague of corruption and
threats of terrorism, Prime Minister
Narendara Modi’s recent move to
demonetize Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000
rupee notes, has brought millions to
the streets protesting against the risky
move.
As demonetization is put into the
works in the world’s fastest growing
economies, this crude clampdown on
‘black money’ in India comes with an
air of fear and uncertainty leading to
nationwide chaos as Indians scamper
to get their existing currency changed
for new banknotes.
What has triggered this need
is the widespread phenomenon of
corruption. A government survey,
published in 2013, revealed that only
1 percent of the population pays taxes,
while it is also stated that India’s illicit
untaxed economy takes up one-fifth of
the GDP.
The ideology that has given birth to
this solution is backed by the notion
that as more and more people get
currency exchanged, the government
will be able to track down incidents
of tax evasion, eradicate black money

48 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

and uproot any domestic funding that
might be taking place for terrorism,
through counterfeit money.
Moreover, this process is a catalyst
towards leading India to gradually
mould its society to do cashless
transactions, which will eventually
create greater financial access,
transparency and a promise of greater
revenues for digitalized businesses.
Conversely, countries which have
implemented quick demonetization
have faced severe hyperinflation or
economic collapse that has led to the
question of how well a large economy
like that of India can cope with the
aftermath and position itself to absorb
the shock that the change is likely to
bring.
Despite the long term impact of
this policy which is forecast to have
a positive tilt for the overall economy,
the short-term implications are grave.
Currently, the Indian government is
trying to brace itself for the possible
slowing down of GDP growth to
5.8 percent from that of 7.3 percent
estimated earlier.
On the other hand, what sounds
like an achievable reality, in theory,
becomes questionable when one
measures it against the implications
that it may have in an economy where
cash is 12-14 percent of the total GDP.
A nation where most of its population
is based in the rural areas and less
than one-third has access to financial
institutions, the policy is likely to face
many logistical issues.
With India, primarily being a cash-
led economy, this sudden change
in policy has and will have a drastic
impact on its overall economic
stability. About 90 to 98% (in terms
of volume of the transactions taking
place in India, involve cash and with
86% of cash being withdrawn from
the system and not considered legal
tender has put much of the population
in a conundrum.
The implementation of demo-
netization has consigned Indians to a
state of confusion and desperation and
has impacted the smooth execution
of the new policy. The common man
is suffering as he has to stand in lines
outside ATMs, banks and post offices
that are on many occasions out of
cash.
The situation is much more severe
for people who heavily depend on cash
for their day to day needs. For some, it
is a decision to choose between getting
their existing cash changed against that
of earning a daily wage, whereas in
extreme circumstances it also means
that some might not have enough cash
on hand even for food.
In addition, businesses have been
largely affected, especially those
that deal in consumer goods as sales
have dipped by one-third. Likewise,
the agriculture sector has suffered
as far as purchasing of raw materials
like fertilizers and seeds and selling
of crops and consumable items is
concerned. The construction industry
has been hit by rising labour costs,
whereas the fishing industry is close to
breakdown. Sectors such as real estate
are facing a meltdown as they require
huge cash investments which is now
slowing down.
Besides the far reaching impact
on the economy, the process of
demonetization has also taken a toll on
the cultural and social fabric of Indian
society. Due to the ban marriages are
being postponed and people are now
in debt.
For many, especially the under-
served population of Indian, this policy
would also mean losing their savings as
they fear that they will be harassed and
questioned by the financial institutions
to declare the legitimacy of their cash
holdings. In a situation where a person
brings 250,000 rupees to the bank has
to explain the source of the cash. If he
fails to do so, the amount could be
slapped a 200 percent tax.
Despite the potential benefits
and the purity of intention that the
policy might hold, the costs that are
associated with the implementation
of the policy will be difficult for many
Indians to bear. The demonetization
proposal in India has faced a backlash
at many levels, ranging from the public
to officials and economists.
A considerable set of influencers
believe that this may not be the most
effective way to counter the malice of
tax evasion as most black money in
India is not dealt in cash but mainly
in the form of gold, silver, property
and overseas financial institutions.
This would make demonetization a
futile effort and a nuisance for the
economy.
While the economic stability of the
country is the primary driver behind
this shift in policy, there is a political
angle to it that works in favour of
Narendara Modi.
His decision of implementing the
radical strategy of demonetization
highlights his position of a decisive
head of state who is aggressively
approaching solutions for macro
issues threatening the country’s future.
The move could also be seen as a way
to strip possible contestants in the
upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh
of assets and cash and destabilize
their preparations.
On the flipside, a major base of
voters for the ruling party comprise
traders, businessmen and wholesalers
who mainly deal in cash and now
seem to have been flattened out.
Modi’s move may appear as bold
and working towards greater economic
stability but it could cause a lot of
harm. The prime minister’s efforts to
demolish the shadow economy could
have a hard-hitting impact and lead
to dire consequences for the Indian
nation.
The writer is an undergraduate student
with interest in culture and society.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 49
 FEATURE AFGHANISTAN
Woman
Power
Afghanistan is finding new solutions to sustain its socio-economic balance and providing
more opportunities to women to participate in national development.
T
he humanitarian situation in
Afghanistan worsened during
the period when the US and its
coalition forces were actively present
there. Considered a ‘worn-torn
nation,’ Afghanistan is in dire need
for a far-reaching change in mindset
and development of its various social
sectors. Moreover, with the thinning
of international aid coming to
Afghanistan, Kabul is desperately in
need for solutions to sustain its socio-
economic balance.
During these bleak times
overshadowing the country’s
socio-economic and
political
50 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
By Muhammad Omar Iftikhar
fabric, social
entrepreneurship is
gaining momentum,
especially among
the youth – and
particularly women.
However, with foreign
aid and investment
becoming a distant
dream for Afghanistan,
social entrepreneurs
from the country are
aiming to change their
society. To accomplish
this task, they must
understand the marketing and
financial dynamics of their
country, create a vision and
mission for their business, and
work on a strategy to build
viable ideas to transform their
society and eventually their
country. Perhaps building and
maintaining relations with
key government officials,
businessmen and influential
decision-makers from the
bureaucracy, these social
entrepreneurs can move
ahead in their dream of changing
Afghanistan. Starting a business will be
a challenge altogether in a country that
has not seen social development in a
long time. However, it is high time that
Afghanistan’s youth brings constructive
social change.
Shethab Afghanistan Center
for Business and Social Innovation
facilitates innovation and
social ventures driven by
young social
entrepreneurs. Their mentors, advisors
and partners come from various
countries, joining hands to bring social
change in Afghanistan. According to
the Shetab Afghanistan's website: “We
share a vision about Central, West
and East Asia that transcends borders
- and one that is founded on thousands
of years of wealth, prosperity and
well-being of its people. With our
incredible and growing community of
like-minded individuals and diverse
organizations, we are creating a
vibrant startup and social innovation
community in Afghanistan that believes
in the power of collaboration and co-
creation, shaping a more inclusive
future for its citizens.” Located in
Kabul, Shetab Afghanistan provides
workforce development, capacity
building, mentoring and co-working
solutions to young entrepreneurs who
arrive at Shetab with a vision and a
passion to moving forward. Shethab
broke the stereotype by recruiting the
first female participant in its network.
This was a major strike at the country’s
mindset, in which the government and
extremist factions prevent women from
pursuing a career.
Where Afghanistan has been facing
gender inequality for long, it also
lags behind in providing education
to its female population. According Starting a business will be a challenge
to Steven Koltai, Senior Advisor for
Entrepreneurship to former US Secretary altogether in a country that has not seen
of State Hillary Clinton, who also ran the
Global Entrepreneurship programme social development in a long time.
(GEP), said, “Entrepreneurship also
empowers, enabling a poor woman
in a poor country to generate income,
secure a good home and send her During the TED Talk in 2005, the however, has created a gap between
children to school. This is also the current President of Afghanistan, the rights that the women will receive
promise of microfinance, but full- Ashraf Ghani, the then Chancellor and the dark truth – that women are
blown entrepreneurship takes it to a of the Kabul University, spoke on oppressed and not allowed to live by
meaningful, lasting level.” 'How to Rebuild a Broken State.' He their will. Even if women do take part
called for a higher level of global in social entrepreneurship projects
engagement in the region, especially and assist men in bringing Afghanistan
in Afghanistan. In response to the out of its many predicaments, it is
question, “How is Afghanistan going imperative for the Afghan government
to provide alternative income to the to increase female participation in
many people who are making their the Afghan Parliament, in peace talks
living off the drugs trade?” Ghani said, and in rebuilding Afghanistan’s social,
“Instead of sending a billion dollars economic and political system.
on drug eradication and paying it to Interestingly, the enrollment of
a couple of security companies, they women at the Kabul University’s
should give this hundred billion dollars computer science department is 30% of
to 50 of the most critically innovative the total strength enrolled. Before 2002,
companies in the world to ask them there were no women studying in this
to create one million jobs. The key to department. This is a major step forward
drug eradication is jobs. Look, there's and the government must provide
a very little known fact: countries that avenues for women in Afghanistan to
have a legal average income per capita gain education and become part of the
of 1,000 dollars don't produce drugs.” system, by doing jobs or by becoming
Although the constitution of social entrepreneurs. This will be the
Afghanistan pledges to provide women only way forward for Afghanistan.
the right to education and employment,
the political structure of the country, The writer is a freelance columnist.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 51

 FEATURE bangladesh
Pollution
Problems
Bangladesh faces the menace of pollution because of the lifestyle it has followed so far.
But the government is now employing a cleaner fuel policy to prevent a catastrophe.
S
outh Asia is prone to adversities
of natural calamities. Climate
change, in recent times, has
posed a serious threat to economic
and social development of the region
which has gone through all around
progress in many spheres of life. Being
a low-lying and riverine country in
South Asia, Bangladesh fears the most
in the face of climate change as its 580
km coastline is exposed on one side,
to the savage Bay of Bengal and, on the
other, to the Ganges and Brahmaputra
rivers. But the real intimidation is in
the air. With its smoggy urban skies,
Bangladesh’s economic landscape is
slowly moving towards ruination.
After independence in 1971,
Bangladesh emerged as a nation with
a booming economy in the region. Its
GDP has tripled since then with more
job opportunities being created. The
population growth rate has declined
to 1.4% from 2.9% in 1974 and the
52 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
By Hafiz Inam
country is largely food secure now.
But all these milestones seem to be
fading away against the onslaught of
the global climate change.
Climatic abnormalities, especially
those affecting the atmosphere,
foreshadow a bleak future for the
inhabitants of this part of the world.
The capital and the hub of national
commercial activity, Dhaka ranks
highly amongst major cities of
the world for its environmental
degradation. Poor air quality in the
urban habitat accounts for around
230 million cases of respiratory
ailments annually. According to the
Air Quality Management Project
(AQMP) founded by the government
and the World Bank, around 15,000
premature deaths and several million
cases of pulmonary and neurological
illness are caused by sulphur dioxide
and particulate matter in the urban
atmosphere.
Surveys were conducted
between 1990 and 1999 to study the
environment. These studies showed
that the concentration of particulate
matter in air exceeds the red line. It
had reached 3000 micrograms per
cubic meter around the Farmsgate area
in the capital whereas the allowable
limit was 400 micrograms per cubic
meter. Similarly, sulphur dioxide was
found at the rate of 385 micrograms
per cubic meter in the same vicinity
while the permissible limit was 100
micrograms per cubic meter. It was
also supported by the fact that Dhaka
ranked 169th out of 178 countries on
the Air Quality Index in 2014.
Presence of sulphur content in
both crude oil and diesel imperils air
quality. It trades in sulphur dioxide, a
toxic gas, with other toxic outcomes
through industrial and vehicular
emissions. These emissions are
chiefly responsible for atmosphere-
related problems in the country
such as acid rain, reduced visibility,
acidification of soil, necrosis (i.e. crop
damage through leaf destruction) and
respiratory stress. To cope with these
problems, the government is eager to
take immediate steps, especially in
urban vicinity.
Governments have shown respons-
iveness over the yearsin tackling the
climate foreboding. Policy makers
in Bangladesh have formulated the
National Environment Policy and the
National Environment Management
Action Plan to incorporate the need
for preserving the natural heritage
to policy framework. Yet battling the
anticipated catastrophe requires more
tangible measures taken in a right
direction. One of the steps would
be limiting the sulphur content in
gasoil to avoid further damage to the
environment.
Tackling the issue promptly is the
need of the hour and the government
has responded to it by adhering to a
global shift towards a cleaner fuel.
The country has decided to join other
regional countries in adopting a cleaner
fuel policy to bring air pollution levels
down. The state-owned sole importer
of gasoil, the Bangladesh Petroleum
Corporation (BPC), has already started
importing cleaner fuel of 2500 parts
per million (PPM) from 2016. It has
purchased 2500 PPM gasoil from te
Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC), the
largest gasoil supplier to BPC, in
contrast to the 5000 PPM it used to
import in the past. In the region, Sri
Lanka has already moved to 500 PPM
sulphur gasoil from 0.25% sulphur
gasoil this year. Pakistan too has
pledged importing cleaner fuel of 500
PPM grade from next January. This
indicates the alarm bells have rung
The capital and the hub of national
commercial activity, Dhaka ranks highly
amongst major cities of the world for its
environmental degradation.
and countries are responding.
The foggy air hovering over the
hardworking Bengalis is the outcome
of recklessness. Both vehicular and
industrial emissions are contaminating
the natural environment of the country.
Brick kilns, sugar, cement, chemical,
fertilizer and jute factories, spinning
mills and paper, pharmaceutical and
other plants emit chlorine, hydrogen
sulphide, ammonia and smoke in large
amounts. These pollutants in the air
damage the environment and increase
air pollution, causing many health
related issues such as bronchitis and
chronic cough.
The situation is also affecting
children’s health. According to the
National Institute of Diseases of the
Chest, nearly seven million people in
Bangladesh suffer from asthma and
more than half of them are children.
“Children breathe more air relative
to their lung size than adults. They
spend more time outdoors, often
during midday and afternoons when
pollutant levels are generally highest,”
says Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, chief
of Kochi Kanchar Mela, a children’s
welfare organization. This shows how
dreadful the situation has become for
the dwellers.
With its growing population
Bangladesh’s expanding urbanization
bringing in more vehicles and there are
more locomotives pulling trains. This
is further damaging the miserable state
of the natural habitat. The Department
of Environment has appointed out
that the two-stroke engine used in
auto rickshaws, motorcycles and mini
trucks is the main polluter. Just in
Dhaka, more than 65000 rickshaws
and 296000 motorcycles choke the
streets with smoke and gases. Reports
of the Atomic Energy Commission
of Bangladesh have also shed light
on the growing air pollution in the
country and claim that in Dhaka
alone, automobiles emit 100 kg lead,
3.5 tonnes of particulate matter, 1.5
tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 60 tons
of carbon monoxide every day. No
wonder, Dhaka ranks high among the
most polluted cities in the world.
In its struggle to better its
environmental plight, Bangladesh
is determined and focused in its
approach. Its import of cleaner fuel
not only coincides with the country’s
mission of preserving the environment
but also substantiates its endeavours
in this regard. If more such concrete
measures are taken, the future of
the country’s young would offer
encouragement.
The writer is a member of the staff.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 53
 FEATURE SRI LANKA

Riding the
Tuk Tuk
The Tuk Tuk Safari makes your visit to Colombo a memorable experience because it has
so much more to offer than just a boring taxi ride.
By Tariq Faruqi

T
hinking about having a vacation
and looking for fun? If yes, Sri
Lanka has a special surprise for
you to turn your trip into a memorable
one. The Tuk Tuk Safari Service offers new, the Australian founders of the
a great travelling experience across Tuk Tuk Safari have designed it in such
Colombo. Happy customers give a way that it suits tourists. With the
good reviews. Although relatively Safari, bustling streets, mouthwatering

54 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

delights and cultural landmarks are a
memorable experience.
What make the Tuk Tuk Safari
Service different are the privileges that
it offers lIke guests are welcomed with
a coconut drink. The journey through
Colombo is exciting. Drivers know
quite well how to remove hunger
cravings with delicious and mouth
watering eats.
The blue and yellow three-
wheelers offer many attractions. With
ice boxes in the tuk-tuks, travellers
are never dehydrated. Hot spot wi-fi
makes sure that you stay connected
all the time while built-in battery-
chargers always keep you in touch.
There is customized music too.
Sri Lanka has a lot to offer such as
seven UNESCO World Heritage sites,
which promise many opportunities to
re-live the ancient history of Buddhism.
Religious places never fail to attract
visitors from all over the globe. Sites
like the Temple of the Tooth, Dambulla
Golden Temple and Anuradhapura
take you through a spiritual journey.
Sri Lanka is also home to around 468
species of birds.
For the adventure-loving, exciting
experiences provide great amusement.
Caving, mountain biking, adventure
trekking, hot air ballooning, scuba
diving, water skiing, water rafting,
wind surfing and canoeing offer great
thrills. Sri Lankan beaches are an
integral part of the visit. As an Island,
Sri Lanka has plenty of fabulous
beaches such as Hikkaduwa Beach,
What make the Tuk Tuk Safari
Service different are the privileges
that it offers like guests are welcomed
with a coconut drink.
Unawatuna Beach and Nilaveli Beach.
Around the year adventure enthusiasts
experience sunbathing, sea-boat
rides, scuba diving, snorkelling and
a lot more. No wonder, Sri Lanka has
as an attractive tourism point and the
Tuk Tuk Safari is highly recommended
to get around Colombo without any
hassle.
The Tuk Tuk Service is offered
in different categories. There is the
‘City Safari’, for instance. If you are
a food lover, you can bring your own
refreshments but the ‘Food Safari” is
also suitable for food lovers. It brings
you the best local stuff such as mouth
watering hoppers, delicious cheese
kottu and sizzling chicken barbeque.
The ‘Gala Safari’ takes you through
Colombo’s best seasonal hotspots. It
takes you to food-stops and plenty of
drinks free of cost.
The Safari offers three different
tours through Colombo, each taking
about 4 hours. For those who want
to go somewhere else, the Safari can
alter its route.
Music is considered to be an
essential part of road trips, and the
Tuk Tuk Safari knows that. All the Tuk-
tuks contain AUX cables. Just bring
your smart phones or music players
and the stereo system will keep you
entertained.
The Tuk Tuk Safari claims to have
not only mastered the art of navigating
skillfully through chaotic streets but is
also familiar with the most fascinating
places of Colombo. The drivers have
interesting Nick names like ‘Sparky’
and ‘The Wizard’. Their priority is
a safe journey through the streets of
Colombo.
The Tuk Tuk Safari was awarded
the Luxury Travel Award for 2016. The
Huffington Post and Honeycombers
Singapore have also appreciated the
Tuk Tuk Safari.
The writer is a member of the staff.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 55
 FEATURE NEPAL

Agents of Change

In Nepal, priests and fortune tellers are helping discourage

child marriages in a bid to bring the country’s society at par
with other modern cultures.
By Faizan Usmani

A
ccording to the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), early
marriage or child marriage is a
formal marriage or a statutory, customary
or an informal union that is entered into
by an individual before he or she becomes
18.
In 2005, UNICEF conducted a
household survey in some 49 developing
countries, which revealed around 48 per
cent or over 32.5 million females in South
Asia aged 15-24 were married or in union
before the age of 18.
Nepal is among the top ten countries
with a higher rate of females being
married before 18, according to the State
of the World's Children by UNICEF. It
says more than 23 per cent of Nepalese
girls aged 15-18 were married in 2012. In
Nepal, over 50 per cent of women aged
20-24 years are married before the age of
18, whereas less than 25 per cent of the
marriages that take place in the country
are registered in the civil registry office.
In Nepal, girls aged 15-20 are twice
as likely to die in childbirth as those in
their twenties, while suicide tends to be
the leading cause of death for women of
reproductive age, says Nepal’s Population
Census 2011.
A common practice throughout the
country, child marriage is more prevalent
in the mid and far western regions of
Nepal, wherein the majority of Terai and
Madhesi ethnic groups live. Interestingly,
the minimum age of marriage is 20 for both
men and women in Nepal and arranging
an underage marriage could result in a
three-year imprisonment with a fine of up
to 10,000 rupees ($127). However, owing

56 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

to the weak enforcement of law, the
practice has been in full swing in many
parts of the country.
Drawing the short and long-term
consequences of child marriages,
Nikolay Nikolov, a UK-based writer,
says it tends to be a deeply embedded
tradition in Nepal, where marriages
are willingly or forcibly arranged by
parents or relatives of the girl and in
some cases girls are found to be as
young as 12 months at the time of their
engagement.
“In the short-term, girls are more
likely to drop out of school and are less
likely to have access to information
about birth control and contraception.
In the long-run, they are more likely
to suffer the dangerous impacts of
early childbearing. In a vicious inter-
generation circle, the women are less
likely to rise out of poverty so that they
can spare their own daughters from
enduring the same fate,” says Nikolov.
To curb the perilous practice,
the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) and Nepal's Department of
Women and Children took a unique
initiative by hiring Hindu priests and
astrologers as volunteer advocates
who, besides fortune telling, inform
Hindu priests, astrologers, shamans and
people about the demerits of early
marriage.
other spiritual leaders have started using
An astrologer, locally known as their standing to inform people about the
‘Jyotish,’ plays a significant role in
Nepalese society and is referred to ill effects of child marriage and teenage
by people on a number of occasions,
such as childbirth, wedding, starting pregnancy.
of a new business, rice feeding and
sacred thread ceremonies, etc. For a
common Nepali, a jyotish tends to be “When parents bring their child marriage.
the most important person because of daughter’s ‘cheena’, I pay close In the Dadeldhura district, local
their ability to prepare and interpret attention to the birth year. If the girl is priests have stopped some 14 child
a cheena, the personal horoscope underage, I advocate her parents to wait marriages through counselling. “I have
that is made according to the Hindu until she is an adult before arranging already organized six counselling
astrological calendar. It reveals the her marriage. Any oversight on my sessions against child marriage in
influence of the planets on a man part can destroy the lives of adolescent nearby villages and I am gearing up
or woman belonging to a particular girls,” says Dev Dutta Bhatta, a 66- for more,” says Bhojraj Josh, a local
zodiac sign, which is known as raashi year-old priest and astrologer. priest.
in Vedic or Hindu astrology. “The majority of parents want to “Earlier, I only used to tell villagers
As a rule, a cheena of an individual marry off their daughters at an early their fortunes. Now I also tell them it
is made according to the different age. Unfortunately, when they come is illegal to marry off their children
planetary positions in the solar to us, they lie about the age of their before they reach 20,” says Shyam
system at the time of birth. It serves young girls. However, the birth date Bahadur Bhandari, another shaman.
as a lifetime astrological guide and mentioned in the cheena is always “We not only help people get rid
during difficult times people consult true, which helps us to imagine the of evil spirits and sickness, but also
an astrologer with their cheena and possibility of a child marriage taking fight against social evils like child
act according to his advice. And place – and the need to stop this from marriage,” says Bhandari.
when it comes to marriages, the happening,” says Bhatta. “Some people think we are quite
cheena is always referred to ensure In collaboration with the Nepalese conservative with traditional beliefs
the astrological compatibility between government and UNFPA, many groups that defy development. This is not true
bride and groom. of astrologers, priests and religious and the work we are doing against
Rising to the occasion, the lot of leaders are organizing awareness child marriage is because we have a
Hindu priests, astrologers, shamans campaigns and orientation sessions bigger role to play in the transformation
and other spiritual leaders have started in schools, educational institutions of the society we live in,” says Padam
using their standing to inform people and in rural communities to promote Singh Mahar, a Hindu shaman.
about the ill effects of child marriage female education and to warn people
and teenage pregnancy. about the long-term consequences of The writer is a member of the staff.

SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 57

 FEATURE THE MALDIVES

Where
Have All the
Tourists Gone?
The Chinese visit the Maldives in much lesser numbers these days, which is a cause for
concern. The country is coming to grips with the problem but it needs to do much more.

T
he Maldives, a tourism-driven
country, offers its tourists and
international visitors hotels, guest
houses, safari vessels and resorts. As per
the 2014 statistics issued by the Maldives
Ministry of Tourism, the number of
tourism facilities has exponentially
increased in the country over the last
few years.
As of 2014, according to the
ministry, there were some 511 registered
accommodation outlets with a total
bed capacity of over 31,500. This was
a significant increase from 14 per cent
in 2013 to 19 per cent rise in 2014.
A positive development in a tourism-
dependent economy, the leading factor
behind the rise was the international-
standard resorts and guest houses
which are being added every year to the
tourism infrastructure.
Built under the ‘one-island-one-
resort’ concept, a resort in the Maldives
is referred to as a ‘resort island’ and
tends to be quite a popular tourist
accommodation because of its friendly
environs, gourmet cuisine and other
modern features. In 2014, according to
the Ministry of Tourism, there were some
111 resort islands in the archipelago
with more than 23,500 registered beds.
Kandholhu Island and Loama Resort are
the two new resorts while the Soneva
Jani Resorts, the latest addition to the
high-end resort sector of the country,
will start its operation in January 2017.
Derived from a Sanskrit word

58 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017

meaning ‘wisdom,’ Soneva Jani consists
of five islands and is a collection of 33
island sanctuaries and 26 water villas
with one and two bedrooms. A five star
resort, Soneva Jani is well-equipped
with state-of-the-art facilities and salient
features, such as a cinema, health spa, an
infinity pool, a waterslide from the upper
floor into the sea, clubhouse, a beach
restaurant, a retractable electric roof for
horizontal stargazers and a diving school
and water sports centre.
Located in the Noonu Atoll, an
administrative division of the Maldives,
the resort is surrounded by a 5.6
kilometre lagoon and is 40 minutes
away from Male International Airport by
seaplane or a one-hour speedboat drive
from Soneva Fushi, another luxury family
resort located in the Baa Atoll that is the
World Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO.
Being hailed as a symbol of high-end
island living in the Maldives, the Soneva
Jani had its soft opening in October last
year. Currently, hundreds of people are
working day and night to complete the
project. However, there is bad news for
the Maldivian tourism industry in general
and for the Soneva Resorts in particular.
According to statistics of the Maldives
Monetary Authority (MMA) and the
World Bank, Maldives experienced less
than 2 per cent economic growth in
2015 because of “lower tourism sector
growth due to lower arrivals from China
and Russia.” In the recent economic
history of the Maldives, this happens to
be the first occasion when the country
has suffered from an economic downturn
since the international financial crisis of
2008-09.
“As of August 2016, Chinese arrivals
have fallen by -11.5 percent. Some
260,491 Chinese tourists visited the
Maldives from January to August, down
from 230,437 in 2015. However, Chinese
tourists still represent a market share
of 27.3 percent,” says Ahmed Naish, a
Maldivian travel and tourism journalist.
According to him, after growing
exponentially from 2010 onwards to
capture a market share of 30 percent,
Chinese arrivals peaked in 2014 with
about 364,000 visitors and declined for
the first time in 2015 by -1.1 percent.”
The main reason behind the decline
pertains to a 30-day state of emergency
that was declared by the Maldivian
government in November, 2015. As
expected, the move, which led to a
significant decrease in the total number
of foreign tourists, was detrimental for
the country’s tourism sector.
In terms of tourist arrivals, says Ahmed
Naish, “After China, the United Kingdom
has the highest market share with 8.1 per
cent, followed by Germany (7.9 per cent),
Italy (5.7 percent), India (4.6 per cent),
Russia (3.4 per cent), and France (3.3 per
cent). However, arrivals from France fell
by -5.7 per cent and growth from Russia
flattened at 0.6 per cent. Arrivals from
Russia and France registered significant
declines in 2015, falling 33.2 per cent
and 17 per cent respectively,”
Moosa Zameer is the Minister of
Tourism in the Maldives. He says the
country missed the target of 1.5 million
tourist arrivals in 2016, while the revised
forecast is 1.4 million, which happens
to be the same target that was missed in
2015.
In Sri Lanka, Chinese tourists have
grown by 70 per cent (from 128,000 to
270,000). In Mauritius, Chinese visitors
have increased by 41 per cent (from about
60,000 to 90,000). In Bali, Indonesia, the
number of visitors from China increased
to 17 per cent (from 586,000 to 688,000),
but the total number of Chinese tourists
travelling the Maldives have reduced
from 364,000 to 359,000 between 2014
and 2015, says Mifzal Ahmed, Director
of Strategy and Development, MEGA
Global Air Services, Maldives.
The decline trend may lead to a
misdiagnosis of the problem, says Mifzal
Ahmed.
He says, “The decline implies that
if the domestic economies of these
countries recover, then so will tourist
numbers to the Maldives. While this may
be true of Russia, what is going on in
China is certainly not that straightforward.
However, there is relatively little we
in the Maldives can do to address this
decline.”
On an average, one in three
international visitors to the Maldives
is from China. However, after the
emergency declaration in November
2015, the number of Chinese visitors
dropped by one fifth over a brief 3-month
period. In the first half of 2016, the drop
was the steepest for years, which, as a
result, negatively affected the revenues
of Soneva Fushi, which is the Soneva
Jani’s neighbouring resort owned by the
Soneva Group, the international resort
brand.
For the first time in its two-decade
history, the Group has sustained losses
because of the decreasing international
arrivals in the Maldives, thus putting
both of its existing projects and future
investments at risk.
F.U.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 59
 BOOKS & REVIEWS
Media Law
Revisited
I
n most developing countries, poor
law enforcement remains the
most common concern. Besides
struggling with such never-ending
social evils as poverty, unemployment,
illiteracy, etc., what else ails these
countries is their inability to enforce
law and order effectively.
A developing nation, Pakistan is
no exception. Through the country
has shown commendable progress in
terms of legislation and policymaking
pertaining to different areas and
sectors, it has not been able to
effectively implement the existing
laws, which includes its
media regulations and
policies.
The book ‘Pakistani
Media Law: A Comparative
Study,’ written by Dr
Muhammad Abrar, is the
latest contribution to this
important subject that has
received more attention in
recent years, particularly
after the privatisation of
electronic media in Pakistan
in the early 2000s.
A PhD in Law from
the University of Glasgow,
U.K., Dr Mohammad
Abrar is a Pakistan-based
writer. He has published
extensively in international
scholarly journals and
magazines and also has
presented research papers
at many international
conferences. Prior to
his doctorate in law, he
served the Faculty of Law
at the International Islamic
University, Islamabad as
a visiting lecturer and
programme coordinator.
He has also served as an
60 SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017
By Faizan Usmani
advocate of the Lahore High Court,
Rawalpindi Bench.
Using both primary and
secondary sources, the book is
purely research-based and offers
comparative, descriptive, explanatory
and perspective analyses on the
TV broadcasting industry. Divided
into nine chapters, it attempts to
fill in the research gap in the field
of law enforcement and regulatory
supervision of electronic media in
Pakistan.
The book’s first two chapters
introduce the current state of media
Book Title: Pakistani Media Law
Author: Muhammad Abrar
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 978-0-19-940345-5
Price: PKR. 995
Pages: 275
laws in the country and describe
how the electronic media industry is
regulated, with the key focus on the
relevant legislation and its
enforcement. In this section,
the author gives a detailed
overview of the Pakistan’s
legal system in the context
of the media and critically
highlights the deficiencies in
the enforcement mechanism.
The writer rightly points out
the fact that, though Pakistan
has introduced some laws
to control and regulate the
electronic media, it has failed to
enforce the relevant regulations
and has not been able to deal
with a range of regulatory issues
relating to terrestrial, satellite,
cable, mobile TV and Internet
Protocol Television (IPTV).
According to him, the
President of Pakistan has the
sole right to appoint people
on key media posts, which
in the end, turns out to be a
political selection rather than
appointments made purely on
merit, thus severely affecting
the maintenance and running
of a fair system. For instance,
according to the PEMRA Act,
the authority consists of a
chairman and 12 members,
all of whom are appointed by the
President of Pakistan. Through this
manner of selection, according to
the author, the President has a direct
influence on PEMRA’s membership
and, indirectly, on the decisions taken
by the authority.
Such a system of selection has
loopholes in that the authority and the
Council of Complaints could both be
influenced by political motives. For
example, the President could choose to
protect the agenda of a political party
to which he belongs. At this time, it is
difficult for the PEMRA chairman and
the authority’s members to provide fair
and non-partisan enforcement system,
says the author.
In addition, the authority gives its
final decision against a complaint on
the recommendation of the Council
of Complaints, which merely serves
as an administrative body bereft of
any legislative significance. Moreover,
despite suffering a loss owing to
media piracy or other infringements,
no person or organisation can go to
the court directly without the prior
approval of PEMRA, making the
enforcement mechanism slow and
lengthy.
Defined by the author as ‘key
chapters of the book,’ chapter 3, 4,
5 and 6 shed light on the specific
enforcement issues that are mainly
related to cable-casting, satellite
and terrestrial broadcasting. In
these chapters the author discusses
the weaknesses of the regulatory
provisions and recommends some
viable solutions. Referring to illegal
broadcasting by cable TV operators,
he says PEMRA allows cable operators
to run their own TV channels, but they
mostly telecast pirated Indian and
English films, plays and songs, which
is a direct infringement of copyright.
The transmission of illegal satellite
programmes by cable operators
continues unabated regardless of
repeated warnings issued by PEMRA.
The author also raises some valid
questions about the process of granting
a licence that helps operators to
create a monopoly. Unregistered TV
channels, unauthorised programmes
and advertisements, as well as
unauthorised cable TV access are the
leading enforcement issues that have
yet to be addressed, according to the
writer.
Chapter 4 highlights financing
issues in public service media, which is
provided unjustified financial benefits
by the government merely on cultural
and social grounds. In most countries,
such as Germany, Jamaica and Estonia,
their public sector media do not depend
on government funds and directly
generate money by selling airtime to
the private sector or by collecting fees
from private broadcasters. The public
media in Pakistan should be given
protection for adequate, predictable
and independent mechanisms of
The writer rightly points out that though
Pakistan has introduced some laws to control
and regulate electronic media, it has failed to
enforce the relevant regulations.
financing.
With reference to other countries,
chapter 5 of the book delineates both
the existing and prospective challenges
posed to digital broadcasting, namely
mobile TV and IPTV. It also explores
the legal implications of emerging
technologies and their impact on
media regulatory authorities.
Chapter 6 discusses some key
issues that are related to sports
broadcasting and state aid that is
provided to the public sector, with
special reference to the anti-siphoning
laws. It says there is no competition
between the private and the public
media, which tends to be a direct
result of state aid generously granted
to Pakistan Television (PTV), a public
sector TV channel that is owned by the
government. The aid helps PTV to hold
a dominant position in comparison
with private TV channels, restricting
fair competition in the market.
Chapter 7 focuses on the
development of media technology
internationally and explores the
legal framework followed in different
countries pertaining to the protection
of rights in TV broadcasting. The
chapter discusses various international
agreements, such as the 1961 Rome
Convention, the 1974 Brussels
Satellite Convention, the 1986 Berne
Convention, the 1994 Agreement of
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS), as well as
the 2002 WIPO Performances and
Phonograms Treaty.
Chapter 8 highlights current
initiatives being pursued internationally
for broadcasting development. It
examines how new agreements are
implemented globally. Chapter 9 is the
concluding section of the book and
sets out numerous recommendations
in relation to media law enforcement
and regulation of TV broadcasting
in Pakistan. Despite the presence of
media laws, as per the key findings
of the book, PEMRA has been facing
numerous enforcement issues, while
there is a consensus that enforcement
in the TV broadcasting sector is at a
low ebb.
The book recommends the
removal of regulations that restrict
judicial procedures (e.g., Section 34
of the PEMRA 2007 Act), proposing
a robust regulatory framework for
improving the enforcement of media
laws. To resolve media disputes and
complaints, a special media court
must be established in place of such
powerless administrative bodies as
PEMRA’s Council of Complaints, the
author writes.
A must-read for journalists and
media professionals, ‘Pakistani Media
Law: A Comparative Study’ by Dr
Muhammad Abrar is a valuable
addition to literature available
pertaining to laws for electronic
media and effectively determines how
electronic media and TV broadcasting
can be regulated and laws enforced
more effectively.
Published by the Oxford University
Press (OUP), Pakistan, the book is in
hardback. Considering the significance
of scholarly materials produced on
such rarely-discussed subjects, such
books should be available at prices
lower than the PKR. 995 at which this
book is priced.
When it comes to books of general
interest, the OUP needs to reconsider
its pricing structure, as it is already
generating substantial revenue
from publishing school books and
curriculum-based material in large
quantities every year.
It is also worth noting that the
book concerns itself with television
broadcasting only and does not take
into account other media, such as
print and radio. Perhaps the writer has
kept these areas for future books.
SOUTHASIA • JANUARY 2017 61
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