Twice Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif was hitherto no doubt recognized as a politician of consequence in Pakistan. On the 15th of March, however, a Leader was born. Within moments, his leadership had steered a nation to rebirth.
Not withstanding the brilliant and determined campaign of the lawyers, and the pivotal role played relentlessly by the media, it was the courage, resolve, and acumen of Mian Nawaz Sharif that eventually harnessed the awareness and sentiment created in the public, and turned it into a people’s power to be reckoned with.
He stood his ground, and led from the front. Had Mian Nawaz Sharif failed to lead the March personally, the sea of humanity would not have emerged; had he given in to fears of assassination, or gone into hiding to evade arrest, or accepted orders of house arrest and remained within the four walls of his house, or backed down fearing a martial law, history certainly would not have been made on this Ides of March.
In a defining moment on the morning of the15th of March, in the footsteps of The Quaid Mohammed Ali Jinnah, he gave a call for civil disobedience and called on people to come out and change their destiny and save their country. Then, screwing his courage to the sticking place he emerged to lead - for better or for worse. This moment was his ascent to the stature of a true leader. Neither did he know whether the masses would really rise, and nor, ironically did the masses know before this moment, whether he would be able to overcome the material and intangible barriers to come out and steward them towards their goal. He came forth, and then there was magic. The proverbial sea parted, and history was in motion.
None may be minimized: without the brains of the lawyers and judges, the legal intricacies and the counter arguments to the government’s absurd and bizarre positions, could neither have been understood nor articulated effectively. Without the media, its collective intelligence, grit and sacrifices, the same could not have been communicated and disseminated effectively. And finally without political ownership and leadership of the cause, such expression of public sentiment on a large scale would not have been possible.
It is ironic that decades ago Pakistan was exhorted by the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah to never desert the principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline. The Quaid’s advice unfortunately has largely remained unheeded till now. Today, without Faith in the justness of the cause, faith in the possibility of change, faith in their ability to change destiny if only they struggled, the people would not have achieved what they did. Without Unity of purpose between stakeholders, again the movement would have come to naught. Neither the civil society and the legal community, nor the media and the political parties could have achieved what they did, standing alone. The finest example of Discipline was the non-violence of the Marchers, not to mention the discipline within the various groups of stake-holders, in following the calls of their respective leaderships.
Last but not least, an unsung hero must be mentioned – as much for what he did not do, as for what he did. In the dramatic tableau that played out, one man exhibited integrity, wisdom, restraint - and will - of supreme proportions. The remarkable role he played, has not only earned him trust and respect of the people of Pakistan, but also elevated the prestige of the institution he leads. Because of him today, the nation is once more able to stand tall and be proud of the armed forces of its country.
Source: http://pkpolitics.com/2009/03/17/a-leader-is-born/
by Gul Bukhari
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