The issue of internally displaces people (IDP) is a serious one. United Nations has estimated the number of displaced people to be about 2.4 million and has asked the world community for about $ 543 million to help these folks. The situation is too bad for people to sit idle and not do anything.
Regretfully, the world community has been giving tons of aid to Pakistan for decades for one reason or another and it is only natural to expect donor fatigue, but this is not the time for the world community to hold back. Pakistan on its part has to be vigilant against the waste that has been the subject of intense reporting in the media in the past.
At this point, nobody has either asked, nor has the military (or the government) explained that why didn’t anyone take into account the factor of civilians who would be caught in the fight between the Taliban and the army. Did anyone even consider the fact that people might leave and flee the fighting and if they did, where would these people go and how would be they be cared for? This should be the central focus of conversation as Pakistan Army is recapturing Pakistan ’s territory that was temporarily lost to Taliban.
As always, there are some people, especially those in opposition in Pakistani politics are using this tragedy to score political points. These people must be shamed into giving up their political ambitions and asked to mobilize to assist those who are struggling to survive in the camps. No question every politician understands the difficulties being faced by the IDPs and most of them seriously want to help too, but unless a united effort is launched, nothing significant would be done. Here is what I suggest:
All leaders, both in government and in opposition, regardless of their electoral status (elected or otherwise) must park themselves at these camps with their political workers to coordinate, monitor and organize everything possible to provide relief to the residents of these camps, otherwise knows as IDPs.
These leaders must announce to stop all political activities (rallies, meeting, press releases, interviews, and meetings with foreign and domestic leaders) unless they accomplish their goal of successfully helping and safely returning all IDPs to their homes.
All political, social and business leaders must ask their followers, both inside and outside Pakistan to give not whatever they can, but what actually is needed on the ground. Right now, the entire country is gathering material, but if the material gathered is not relevant or can’t be used, the entire exercise is futile.
Special teams comprising of government and opposition leaders, coupled with businessmen must visit donors wherever possible to get help, instead of pledges. Remember, it is going to cost mountains of cash to rebuild the roads, cities and the infrastructure that has been destroyed in the fighting in Swat and other areas. Those going back to their homes would also need financial help and these teams can raise cash to repatriate the victims.
Committees of local politicians, businessmen, and law enforcement officials (minus the damn mullah) must be formed in the affected areas so that the Taliban are unable to come back to terrorize the population like the past.
Every elected member of the current assemblies must be assigned a special task (raise cash or done time) for at least six months to help stabilize the financial, political and overall situation in affected areas.
Once the situation become normal and the Taliban are defeated, PPP, PML (N & Q) MQM and ANP (no need to take other parties seriously) must come together to formulate a long term comprehensive anti terrorism strategy because this fight between Pakistan and the nihilists is not over, even as Pakistan Army is brilliantly liberating Pakistan’s lost territory to Taliban. The ideological battle against the forces of hateful ideology is going to be long, rough & tough, and at times it would be tempting to give in to the easy, but ridiculously wrong notion of India , Israel and America are working to destabilize Pakistan .
Pakistan, its leaders and most importantly, its people have the courage and the capacity to emerge triumphant. In fact, Pakistan will win, but it will take serious efforts, honest self assessment, and a clear vision where there is no room for conspiracy theories.
Bilal Qureshi
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