Democracy from debris will take timelDAWN:Speaking at a seminar in Washington a senior State Department official, Thomas Pickering, had, among other things, some remarks to make about the current developments in Pakistan. He said the US was pressing General Musharraf to make good on his pledge to restore democracy and that a good beginning would be to announce ``milestones and a clear timetable'' for a return to constitutional, civilian and democratic governance.The remedy for flawed democracy, he said, was not a military coup. He added that the US was closely watching developments in Pakistan while remaining engaged with it because what Pakistan did ``has tremendous effect on the security of the region with whom we share long ties.'' Pakistan's problems are many, and while there is a great desire for surgical action to set things right, these problems can only be tackled over time. A quick fix, while deeply attractive, is not a readily available option.The two major parties in theirrespective terms in government did make a mess of things and, for all practical purposes, threw democracy to the wolves. But this precisely is the challenge which Pakistan faces today. To clear the debris and strive painstakingly for creating a better democratic environment.But the important thing is that it has to be sustained. The military must keep its agenda short if it is not to repeat the mistakes of previous military takeovers. And having done the minimum that is required, it must smooth the path of democratic restoration and allow the political process to be revived.Aliens' registration good to sort out chaosDAWN: THE decision by the government to set up an aliens' registration authority, which would regularise nearly two million illegal immigrants in Pakistan, would make sense only if it is meant to evolve some order out of the prevailing chaos and arbitrariness.The other condition is that all illegal entrants, irrespective of their nationality, are brought under the system ofregistration. The proposal to leave out the over three million Afghan nationals will defeat the very purpose for which registration is to be introduced. The purpose of an aliens' registration authority should be to register aliens in the country and give them work permits for fixed periods so that their presence and movement are kept under the watchful eye of the authorities.So far, any such exercise has been to terrorise these people and make them aw source of illegal gratification. Usually the purpose is to check and monitor the entry of non-nationals in search of job or other opportunities. A large number of these aliens are involved in legitimate business activities or are employed as domestic help, cooks and waiters in restaurants - jobs for which local hands are not available in sufficient numbers.In that sense, the aliens are filling some important gaps in the employment sector. The policy towards the immigrants should, therefore, be informed by a proper and realistic appreciation of their roleand contribution as work hands in domestic and certain sectors of the economy.
