Politics in sports
YET another sporting event between Pakistan and India is being overshadowed by politics. The All India Tennis Association admitted on Thursday that it may have to forfeit its Davis Cup Group I Playoff tie in Pakistan, as it awaits clearance from its government to travel across the border. India’s top players Sumit Nagal and Sasikumar Mukund had already refused to travel to Pakistan for the tie. The AITA subsequently failed to shift the tie to a neutral country. The AITA’s request for a neutral venue was rejected by the 15-member Davis Cup Committee as was its appeal to the International Tennis Federation Tribunal. The tie, scheduled for February, will see the winners retain their place in Group I. If the Indians get the green signal, it would be the team’s first visit to Pakistan in 60 years. In its request for shifting the tie out of Pakistan, the AITA had said it was taking place too close to the February polls in Pakistan. Thankfully, the Committee pointed out that Pakistan has successfully held ties in the recent past, unlike in 2019 when another India-Pakistan contest was shifted to Kazakhstan.
The Committee’s move of not buckling to Indian pressure contrasts with the approach of the Asian Cricket Council and International Cricket Council. The ACC had shifted a major part of this year’s Asia Cup, originally set to be hosted by Pakistan, to Sri Lanka. Pakistan then travelled to India for the ICC ODI World Cup hoping their neighbour would reciprocate when Pakistan hosts the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. But already there are reports that India is pushing the ICC to shift its matches to another venue. Despite the cricket stand-off, the Indian bridge team visited Pakistan for the BFAME Championship, and the Pakistan football team went to India for the SAFF Championship. It is hoped that the Indian government sends the right message by not politicising the Davis Cup tie.
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023
Grounded careers
PAKISTAN’S aviation sector remains bogged down by troubles but some course correction appears to be on the cards. Senators have sought action against the Civil Aviation Authority director general who allegedly provided misleading guidance to then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, leading to Mr Khan making his infamous speech in parliament in 2020. In one fell swoop, Mr Khan had not only demolished the credibility of Pakistan’s aviation regulatory framework but also jeopardised the careers of numerous pilots and tarnished PIA’s reputation. The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has rightly focused on this issue, demanding action against the CAA DG for his role in this debacle. However, it is also imperative that there be stringent accountability for the former minister. He had claimed — and remains unapologetic to this day — that the licences of 262 of the 860 active pilots were either ‘fake’ or obtained through cheating in exams. Later, while 180 pilots were cleared, the licences of 50 were cancelled and 32 pilots were suspended. Mr Khan’s irresponsible remarks had far-reaching consequences, shaking the confidence of international aviation bodies in Pakistan’s flying standards. PIA’s flights to Europe and the UK have been suspended since the scandal around fake licences emerged. A team from the EU’s Aviation Safety Agency visited Pakistan last month for a final safety review. A decision by the agency is expected next May.
While it is encouraging that steps are being taken to amend rules and restore the pilots’ cancelled licences, the deeper issue of accountability and integrity in the aviation sector needs urgent attention. The reinstatement of unfairly maligned pilots is a positive step, but it does not absolve the decision-makers who initiated this crisis. Pakistan’s aviation sector is at a critical juncture. The trust of international regulatory bodies and passengers are paramount. To regain these, Pakistan must show a commitment to transparency, accuracy in public statements, and a willingness to hold all responsible parties accountable, regardless of their position. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible governance and the impact of careless statements on national institutions. As Pakistan works towards lifting the EASA-imposed ban, it must take this opportunity to learn from these events and rebuild its aviation sector with accountability, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to international safety standards at its core.
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023
Electoral lethargy
JUST under six weeks from today, the people of Pakistan are scheduled to go to the polls to elect their representatives for the next five years. Yet while the election machinery has been activated, the colour and the verve that should mark pre-poll activities is absent.
Instead, there is a sense of ennui and disillusionment with the state of affairs in the country, particularly the political polarisation and erosion of rights that have marked the past few years. It is the responsibility of state institutions and mainstream political parties to change this situation, as an unfair election, and the people’s lack of faith in a manipulated electoral exercise, will only hurt the evolution of democracy in Pakistan.
Perhaps because so many obstacles have been placed in the holding of timely polls, people are still unsure that they will actually be casting their votes on Feb 8. Thanks to the firm interventions of the Supreme Court, the excuses proffered by the ECP and others have been cast aside, as their lordships have said no more poll delays will be tolerated.
Political parties should reinforce the notion that they support timely polls, and will resist any possible delays. With the exception of the PPP, the other main parties have yet to hit the campaign trail with full force. Most are limiting their activities to press conferences, or launching tirades against their political opponents.
The time is now for mass-contact drives, so that voters can hear first-hand from candidates how the latter intend to solve the people’s myriad problems. Voters want to know how the fragile economy will be revived and jobs created; how prices will come down; how their streets and neighbourhoods will be made safe; how the ship of state, which has been sailing in troubled waters for the past several years, will be steered towards calmer shores. The ECP can also play its part by informing voters about the poll process through public awareness campaigns.
But above all, people need to be convinced that their vote counts, and that the results will not be stage-managed by powerful hands working in the shadows. This is something only the state — particularly its more powerful pillars — can convince the people of.
The impression that electoral manipulation is afoot, strengthened by the ongoing crackdown on the PTI, must be dispelled, and all contenders must be able to freely and fairly contest the polls. If the state fails to do this, public disillusionment will only increase, which itself is perhaps the biggest threat to national cohesion.
When people feel they have no say in the affairs of state, and that electoral decisions have already been made elsewhere, it damages democracy as well as national cohesion.
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023