After listening to the schoolboy speech of the interim selected Prime Minister in the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, I decided to explore the selection criteria. It is widely believed that it was Raja Riaz Ahmad Khan, who as leader of the opposition, suggested the name of the candidate which was accepted by the outgoing PM. Thus, Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar was unanimously selected to head the interim set-up as the 8th PM.
Firstly, there was no provision in the original 1973 constitution for an interim government. The sitting outgoing elected PM continued to run the country while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was tasked with holding free and fair elections. Secondly the interim arrangement is only required to provide the administrative support to ECP. The big question being was there no better choice to represent the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at the international forum?
Selection for a position requires a Job Description (JD) against which the qualification of the applicants is evaluated. When the person comes on board MBOs take over (Management by Objectives). Meritorious selection requires JD while performance is regulated by objectives. Raja Riaz should make public the JD for the Interim PM together with the MBOs, as the selectee seems to be going wayward.
During his speech at the UN the hall was empty with very little interest. Though the speech was well written he had to struggle to read it. At the hotel in which he stayed the nightly rate was $4400 per person. On his way back he stopped in London to meet dignitaries there. From there he went for Umrah to the holy land. For a country close to default this joy ride makes no sense.
During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, the Islamic Republic incurred a debt of about $ 20 billion which it wanted to get rid of. Strict financial discipline was enforced. Officials travelled on Iran Air and stayed in the embassy premises, every dollar was saved to retire the debt.
The country has enough talent in every field which is largely ignored and bypassed. I challenge the interims to publish their trip reports together with measurable objectives to benefit from these expensive tours that the nation can ill afford. Please focus on holding free and fair elections as has not happened since 1970. Pakistan needs an orderly and constitutional transition of power without passing through Lal Kurti.
Within a short period the country became debt free. The President of Iran gave a very powerful speech at the international forum holding the Holy Quran in hand, which clearly overshadowed the performance of our Interims. It was the same forum where the Chairman PTI gave a very powerful speech. He spoke extempore from his heart. When Zulfikar A;i Bhutto spoke in this forum the world listened in silence. Even the speeches of the fourth usurper had more impact.
It did not end here; the interim Chief Minister of Punjab also went on an official trip to China where he meet the Chinese leadership. I remember after every foreign visit Bhutto used to address the Parliament highlighting the outcome of his trip. As leader of the opposition Wali Khan then responded with his point of view. In one of his speeches Bhutto told the house that the Shah of Iran was not happy with the provincial government of Balochistan. Prompt came the reply, here the Shah of Pakistan, not of Iran, rules. A politician has to earn his wings. He or she has to sell himself and his ideas before he or she can reach the corridors of power. Selected individuals follow a different course; it is equally important for them to perform.
Raja Riaz and Shehbaz Sharif are accountable for their selection. Both the interim PM and CM should publish a trip report together with the expenses incurred and the achievements of their respective  trips, otherwise they should be considered joyrides to be covered by the individuals out of their own pockets.
Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was the first PM from Balochistan. He was a seasoned politician with solid credentials. Like Muhammad Khan Junejo before him. when he stood up to the dictator he was cornered and replaced by Shaukat Aziz, the crafty international banker. Jamali sahib refused to take military action against Nawab Akbar Bugti for which he was sent home.
The PM of Pakistan is not an easy position. After over 75 years the JD has still not been finalized, then a separate JD is required for the interims. Unfortunately the experimentation continues while the country and its institutions sink.
Compromise on merit has hurt the nation badly. Gen Sirl Douglas Gracey, the last Gora Commander-in-Chief, warned against the menace of nepotism. Despite objections of the Chief and the founder of the nation, Ayub Khan (PA 10 ) was appointed the first Desi Sipah-e-Salar superseding nine senior officers much brave and abler than him. It then set the tone of the armed forces. Promotion of Zia-ul-Haq against merit and seniority was the biggest blunder committed by Bhutto which he regretted later. I had the chance of meeting Gen Muhammad Sharif, the senior most General with outstanding professional credentials, who was bypassed. Then Mian Nawaz Sharif committed the same mistake not once but five times during his three stints as PM. After meeting Pervez Musharraf, I came to the conclusion that he should have retired as a Major but he made it to the top. After forced retirement of Genl Jehangir Karamat, Lt Gen Ali Kuli khan was superseded by Nawaz, ignoring both seniority and merit. Recently stories of a deal in the appointment of Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa have also surfaced, casting serious doubts about the selection process. Opinions differ in the Armed Forces about applying the seniority formula in promotions but the superior judiciary has applied it well for a smooth transition with no extensions.
Pakistan deserves better. The nation must be represented by the best selected through an open merit after due process. These back door entries must stop. I remember after the 1965 war Mr S.M. Zafar, a federal minister and leading lawyer, was sent to the UN to represent Pakistan instead of Bhutto. Zafar sahib proved to be no match to the experienced Swaran Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister. As an experienced foreign policy expert Bhutto was rushed to effectively counter his onslaughts.
The country has enough talent in every field which is largely ignored and bypassed. I challenge the interims to publish their trip reports together with measurable objectives to benefit from these expensive tours that the nation can ill afford. Please focus on holding free and fair elections as has not happened since 1970. Pakistan needs an orderly and constitutional transition of power without passing through Lal Kurti.
