Business Recorder Editorial May 29, 2018

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

On May 24, 2018, in reply to a question at a press conference whether he would order any inquiry into the recent revelation by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of what he believes to be the real reason he was forced to quit, i.e. putting Musharraf on trial for treason, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called for forming a truth commission with the consensus of all mainstream parties to unveil hidden facts about all major incidents that occurred in Pakistan since 1947. He wanted whatever had happened to come before the people to avoid repetition of blunders committed in the past. He said the process of bringing facts before the people would take a long time therefore dialogues on the issue should be started as soon as possible and should be a part of the election campaigns of all political parties. Mr Abbasi wanted whatever had happened to be documented so that people could be aware of the facts. The suggestion of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission may or may not be an idea whose time has come, but it is certainly worthy of consideration. The demand for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been periodically raised. If it were to come into existence, much would depend on state and non-state actors being willing to open themselves up to a such a Commission and the requisite political will to see such a painful but in the end rewarding process through. Any Truth and Reconciliation Commission worth its salt would have to be an independent body with the requisite powers to demand compliance and submit a final report to be taken up by parliament amongst others. Unfortunately, the idea of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been floated on the cusp of the general elections with the present government about to depart. This ‘distraction’ could, and probably would, push the idea on the backburner till the electoral dust settles. However, through that haze and after, the idea should be seriously debated, and the experiences of other Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, especially the one in South Africa after apartheid, examined for models that would suit our peculiarities.

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are usually court-like restorative, not retributive, justice bodies that seek to discover the revealing past wrongdoings of governments and non-state actors in the hope of resolving conflicts stemming from history. They also usually seek to define concepts such as truth, reconciliation, justice, memory, reparation and recognition. They often provide proof against the historical revisionism (distortion) of the state and non-state actors’ terrorism and other crimes as well as human rights abuses. In addition, they can provide historical clarification by setting straight the received (dominant) versions of the past. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, apart from the best known example of apartheid, have dealt with diverse issues, including the legacies of colonialism and slavery. They offer victims an opportunity to accuse the perpetrators, forgive, and thereby heal. If not during the election campaigns, at least once a new government takes office two months hence, the idea of setting up a badly needed Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Pakistan’s chequered and tragic past should be pushed for, and efforts mounted to forge a consensus that this indeed is an idea whose time may have finally come for us.