I confess that I had not read the details of the much derided Kerry-Lugar Bill until Chitral News reprinted the harshly titled article "Surrendered Sovereignty" with the surtitle, "A beggar nation can't be sovereign". The author ends with a trenchant observation: While most Pakistanis discuss the price for selling our sovereignty, few work to rescue that very sovereignty.

Like most Pakistanis I remain deeply skeptical of America's desire to enter into a genuine partnership with Pakistan let alone help Pakistan overcome the numerous hurdles created by the geopolitical instability of our region. That much of this geopolitical instability is due to our previous sacrifices as a front line state to end Soviet occupation in Afghanistan fuels this doubt. There remains little appreciation of Pakistan's singular role in bringing about the demise of the Soviet Union and ending the Cold War. The well warranted hue and cry about the intrusive conditions of the Kerry-Lugar Bill, ostensibly created to support Pakistan, raise yet more doubts about American sincerity.

While this debate continues on the national stage, I find it ironic that Chitral News recently carried a debate about the merits of foreign Non Governmental Organisations or NGOs working in the district (see letters on the Norwegian Fund For Chitral). In our local context, few dispute the good work done by a number of groups and most accept the reality that these very groups also pursue their own agendas. Similarly, organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and USAID are all tools to advance policy as well as assist nations. As long as the policies of both donor and recipient remain concordant, there should be no rancor. Skilled leadership must work for the benefit of our society, be it in Chitral District or the greater Pakistani nation, bearing in mind the American caveat, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." I have no desire to wade into the debate about the relative merits and challenges posed by NGOs or groups working in Chitral because it has been neatly summarized by Dr. Khalil Jughooru. He urges Chitralis to welcome all NGOs working for the benefit of Chitral without feeling beholden or sentimentally attached to any particular group. The key is that locals must do what is in their best interests.

Returning to the national stage, most political leaders and the military have voiced concerns about provisions in the Kerry-Lugar Bill which interfere with Pakistan's sovereignty. In a testimonial to the necessary bickering of parliament in a democracy, it seems that opposition to the Bill has already paid dividends. The planned channelling of development funds through ill suited and self serving American agencies is being revisited in favour of local Pakistani groups and institutions. How can Pakistani institutions be created and strengthened without investing in them?  More importantly, it appears that some of the questionable provisions in the Kerry-Lugar Bill infringing on Pakistan's sovereignty will be amended. Should this be the case, all of Pakistan's disparate political parties can share a degree of satisfaction in serving the nation. To rescue the nation's sovereignty, it has to stand up for itself.

This point is illustrated by an incident which occurred during the Martial Law Administration of General Zia in 1978. A farewell dinner was  arranged in honour of the outgoing District Forestry Officer (DFO) by the then District Commissioner (DC) of Chitral, Nawab Khan. Some thirty senior civil servants and administrators were in attendance at the official DC Rest House which was in use prior to the construction of the current Governor's Residence in Chitral. Most of the attending bureaucrats were non Chitralis but several senior Chitrali administrators and staff were also present. At the invitation of the late Colonel Murad Khan, the much loved Commandant of the Chitral Scouts, my father attended the gathering.

During this period in Chitral, local residents from Denin had agitated against the appropriation of their irrigation water for the nearby Judicial Housing Scheme. The agitation of locals had so provoked the ire of the DC that he openly hurled abuse on the local Chitrali populace during the course of the dinner gathering. Although the DC was an able administrator who rose through the bureaucratic ranks by dint of hard work, he had clearly overstepped all boundaries of decorum. Decency does not permit the reproduction of his comments denigrating the Chitrali people but those in attendance were shocked by this crass display. My father was on active service or "Hazer Service" as an officer in the Pakistan Air Force. He was not beholden to anyone at the gathering and simply stood and thundered at DC Nawab Khan," By name you are called Nawab Khan but you are not the Nawab of Chitral! You are sent as a servant of the state to serve the people of Chitral. If you do not take back your words, I will shoot you myself!" With that, the dumbfounded DC left the dinner amidst silence.

The following day a message arrived for my father who remained as a guest at the Chitral Scouts Mess. The DC had requested a meeting at his office. Subsequently, the DC apologized profusely for his outburst and proffered that he did not understand what had overcome him at the previous night's dinner, even suggesting that he was overworked. Not satisfied with this response, my father insisted that his apology could only be accepted in the company of Chitralis who endured his tirade. The DC dutifully gathered all of his staff and anyone present in the office and publicly asked for forgiveness for his gratuitous remarks. A number of those present, including the DC's own Chitrali administrative officer Bajgi. l, later commended my father on taking the DC to task for his uncalled for vitriol against Chitralis.

If all of Pakistan were to stand up and speak with one voice on issues of national interest, we would rescue both our sovereignty and dignity.

Shahzadi Sofia Iqbal Baig,

US

13 Oct 09.

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