There’s an old Negro spiritual saying that goes something like this: “I’d rather be on the inside looking out than on the outside looking in”. In Pakistan, the overwhelming majority of people live on the outside without a hope in hell of ever trading places. But even some of those on the inside are beginning to feel that the ground is slipping from underneath their feet. It is not just because of the shenanigans of their prime minister, who is overdoing his somewhat theatrical defiance of the judiciary and following it up with those ridiculous one-liners. Nor is it because of the reaction of the government to the assassination of the former governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, or because there is little to choose between the frightening available political alternatives in the forthcoming election.
It is primarily because there really is no hope. There is no government, no planning, no direction, no supervision — just functional anarchy. Whatever laws were passed for the protection of women are not being implemented. There is too much talk of Pakistan having been a mistake and the possibility of a violent upheaval in the near future which will wipe out the upper middle class and what’s left of the dwindling middle class. There is also the illusion that some sort of activity still exists in industry, which is largely functioning on a single shift where Parkinson’s Law reigns supreme, where work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
The family of the deceased governor must wonder what happened to all that bluff and bluster, all that heroic posturing and truculence, that absurd claim to secularism, when the head of state and head of government couldn’t even make an appearance at the funeral of such a high-ranking and loyal supporter of their party. Was it a case of blue funk or did their gesture indicate a tacit acceptance of the principle that, in Pakistan, a murder is justifiable, as long as it is committed in the name of religion?
There have been very few instances where a slaying such as that of Salman Taseer has been captured so clearly on national television. The world also saw a platoon of lawyers garlanding and throwing rose petals on the assassin who, after committing cold-blooded murder, strutted about like Alexander Nevsky after defeating the Teutonic Knights. In all countries, including Saudi Arabia, lawyers are supposed to be the upholders of the law and wilful murder is punishable by death. But in this country, the ethos has been drastically altered.
In all fairness to the coalition, it has, of late, been hampered by threats of long marches, political tsunamis, calls for early elections and attempts to bring back a former president who did incalculable damage to the country — a man who destroyed the civil service, eliminated the chief justice, passed the odious National Reconciliation Ordinance and didn’t add one kilowatt of electricity to the national grid. Karachi has been constantly riddled by strikes, demonstrations, ethnic unrest, a well-organised criminal network and general turmoil. The people are tough and they have survived. But they are rapidly losing hope. A heavy air of foreboding hangs over Pakistan’s cities and the countryside. Some have managed to escape to the West and have braved racism and discrimination. For those who can afford it, Malaysia has provided a second home. For the rest, there is a light at the end of the extinction.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (34)
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@No Same Same: Yes, I do know that our sense of history is "reasonably well understood" in India. But it is understood strictly from perspective of the Indian mindset. Since Hindus did not believe in the Two Nation Theory, it will be logical to assume that they considered we, the Pakistanis, as one nation, lock, stock, and barrel. If there is frustration and hopelessnes building up in part of your nation, would you not make an effort to understand the root causes of that frustration and do something about it before the break-up point??? I have not seen any meaningful discussion of this facet in Indian media, now or before. I have, however, seen that anyone who attempts to initiate a discussion on this subject is silenced by force. Case in point is Mr. Jawant Singh's book on partition. His credentials as a right-wing Hindu nationalist cannot be questioned, but still he faced a backlash for even approaching the subject. I do believe that we are "one nation" at least in one aspect: our failure to face reality and subject ourselves to introspection. We subjected our Bengali brothers to injustices and to this day we in Pakistan have not faced it realistically and you in India have never looked at your own complicity in the causes of the breakup of the nation in 1947. But, be good, and be happy, we do not wish you any ill-will.
@SK - Salman: "Partition ... was a result of frustrations and hopelessness built over an extended period of time. " Your post does not respond to points raised in my submissions. This usual Pakistani ploy of shooting the messenger will not fly! But to come to the points raised in your outburst, I trust you are a regular reader of ET. It is therefore surprising that you have not concluded by now from numerous Indian posts, that average Indian is mighty glad that partition took place and you got your own separate country. We shudder to think how you would have pulled us down with you, had we not reconciled to Pakistan. What is not clear to that same average Indian, however, is what is bugging Pakistanis and why they won't mind their own business? Your continuing "frustrations and hopelessness" should have had nothing to do with India, once you got separated. Yet you persist in being the nightmare for India, the region and now the entire world even if you destroy yourself in the process. A severe case of sado-masochism, perhaps!
@anwer mooraj: Sir, I admire your articles for the positive attitude at all issues pertaining to Pakistan. It was saddening to see you expressing your sorrow at the current situation there. British Indian province of Punjab was my ancestral area, namely pindi and gujranwala. Secondly, I am a Indian Sikh who have never faced discrimination in my entire life.it is alien to the ethos of the place where I am liiving right now,name Calcutta. My Bengali teachers hid me from the anti Sikhs massacre of 1984. West Bengal was very very largely peaceful with the army from fort William out to maintain the peace. The concept of true nationalism is ingrained in us as a Indian nation, protected by the laws in the constitution. I admit that we are not perfect and stupidity like the one in Gujarat and attari train issue has taken place but we are only humans. I hope you remain in good health and Waheguru bless you. Sat Sri akal, salam, peace...take care
SK - Salman, in India, Pakistan's view of history starting with 1857 is reasonably well understood.
Atheist Pakistani
Brother, loving the land one 'belongs to' and feeling that 'belongingness' is a natural human thing to do. Nobody needs to feel apologetic for nursing those feelings for Pakistan or any other land.
What clearly was stupid was all those endless theories and arguments cooked up by Islamists, semi-islamists, and liberal Islamists deriding and demonizing the love of land, and imagining that love for some 'ideas' - which nobody really understood - or some person gone by will trump all human tendencies.
Ideas like that are instruments to break things, rarely if ever, to make something cooperative and constructive for long (mythical history notwithstanding).
@G. Din: Your hate towards Pakistan and Muslims is disgusting to say the least. The Partition did not happen because of a single solitary event, it was a result of frustrations and hopelessness built over an extended period of time. Have never seen any meaningful discussion or even hint of it in the Indian media. The sole exception is the book by Maulana Azad: "India wins Freedom." But, I would not expect you to pay any credence to "wretched people" like Azad.
@G. Din: Well Said,
@anwer mooraj: Sir, there's no use of writing lenghty pieces bemoaning the future of pakistan, when in your own heart you still have this pseudo crocodile tear consciousness for hindu / indian wretched's rathar than looking at pakistani wretched's. Pls do read an article on 'caste system in pakistan, just published few days ago here on ET. and also search for one saudi incident where the saudi clerics did not allow the firefighers to save school girls engulfed in fire, because they would be touched by na-mehrum's. so much for shariya compliant fire fighting.
about "Negro"debate
I think the author used the word in right context without any racial slur. He was referring to the actual old sayings of aborigine black people of Africa who were at that time were called Negros, and not to modern day black Americans. The two belong to two different eras and civilizations. Africans were indeed called Negros, and denying that would amount to erasing the history.
@ ishtiaer hussain: please be careful with figures. If Ghazi Barotha were producing 14,000 megawatts, there would be no load-shedding in the country.
@anwer mooraj: You have not to go on defensive to make your point, it was just a suggestion with sincere intentions. Do whatever you like. I understand that Pakistan is quite color conscious but there is a difference between color consciousness and racism. Cheers,
@G. Din: I was referring to the group that was once referred to as Untouchables - not the Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, Parsees and Muslims.If you tell me that this group is as well treated as the Brahmin, Kshatriya or Vaishya caste, I'll take your word for it.But, heck you are getting a little carried away. I can't remember in 40 years of writing when I have attacked the Hindus in India or elsewhere, without any provocation, though I must confess that Mr Modi and Mr Thackeray are not exactly my favorite Indians.Mahatma Gandhi is and always will be.He was a true saint As for the sectarian killings in Pakistan I wonder what gave you the idea that I endorsed them. I have always stood for better relations between the two neighbors After all I spent my youth in Bhopal, did my schooling in Panchgani and when my late wife needed laser treatment for a brain tumor I didn't take her yto Cairo or Singapore, I took her to Mumbai. . Anwer Mooraj
Very thought provoking article. However, there must be many who want to see a weakened Pakistan. Saudi for one, by funding Wahabism and supporting some of the radicals may want a weak sympathetic government in Pakistan, which would be willing to press the nuclear button at their behest to counter Tehran and Tel Aviv. Pakistanis keep blaming USA that it is after its nukes, but maybe there are other players with sinister designs?
@Max: He never said American negro .... Not all negros are African American ... :)
@anwer mooraj: @Max "I absolutely abhor racism of any kind whether against the Jews... or the unfortunate wretches who are outside the caste system in India. " Let us see now "who are (the unfortunate wretches) outside the caste system in India". It would be all Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, Parsees and of course the Muslims. I wasn't aware that we were practicing "racism" against those communities in India. That is quite a sweep. But let us be fair. We understand what he meant. To hide his hatred of Hindus, he avoided to mention "Hinduism" in place of "India" , which snared all those communities in his broad sweep. Now, sir, how about "the caste system" (otherwise known as sectarianism) in Islam, Mr. Mooraj. Are you as abhorrent of the ongoing persecution of all non-Sunni communities in Pakistan? Why, pray, did you miss mentioning that?
@ishtiaer hussain:
If I recall correctly Ghazi-Barotha was started in BB's time.
I think you have said aloud what is on the minds' of many Pakistanis'...sad, disturbing. I just wish everyone there safety.
Pakistan is on the way to becoming another Somalia and Afghanistan. Not only does it face internal pressures (such as terrorism, sectarianism, adventurist judiciary bent on going soft on terrorists, lack of consensus on tackling Taliban and al-Qaeda, uncontrolled inflationary pressures, widening fiscal gaps, weakening Rupee, rampant poverty, the list goes on) but also external pressures (deteriorating relations with the U.S, the biggest donor, rising oil prices, continued animosity with India and climate change, here too, the list goes on). It's unfair to say that Musharraf didn't add a kilowatt of electricity to the national grid because he oversaw the construction of Ghazi-Barotha power conplex (a run-of-the-river project on the Indus river) which now produce 14000 megawatts of electricity throughout the year.
@Max: Sorry if you found the word 'negro' offensive. In the history of American music the spiritual has always been referred to as a 'negro' spiritual, not as a black spiritual or as an Afro American spiritual. It is just a convenient term for a certain musical genre dating back to the early days when anthropologists classified the races into Caucasian, Alpine, Negro and Australian, ( by which was meant 'Aborigini' ) If you knew me better and had read all my articles you would know that I absolutely abhor racism of any kind whether against the Jews, the Gypsies, the Hottentots or the unfortunate wretches who are outside the caste system in India. So, once again, with apologies to you Max, I find it amusing when somebody in Pakistan says that he finds a certain reference to be offensive when the people of this country are possibly the most color conscious in the world. Anwer Mooraj
@Max: What about the people from the Negroid race that are not Americans i.e. people living in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia etc.?
Nigger WAS used in a derogatory manner in US and so rightly the word Negro is avoided due to the historical baggage associated with the word. There is nothing inherently derogatory in the name of a race - nor is the context used by author in any way disrespectful
@Max: You are mistaken, the word "Negro" is not considered derogatory if used in the proper context. It comes from the original latin word for black and many educated people in the US do use in writing when referring to slave era "negro spirituals or hymns". The word "nigger" is considered derogatory but some argue that even the word "black" is derogatory and outdated, preferring instead the term "African - American".
Good analyst always ends the analysis with some hope, some light at the end of tunnel. Probably you avoided it merely due to extreme pathetic situation at home. To me if fairness and justice to each Pakistani is ensured in its true sense things can be reversed even today. But who will do it is the pivotal question.
A very doomsday-ish article.
I notice it is only the " upper middle class and what’s left of the dwindling middle class." that is at risk presumably the ruling elite who are the biggest culprits will continue to be safely in the saddle .
I feel really lucky nowadays given that i have a Canadian nationality. Pakistan indeed looks like a mistake seeing how good Muslims are treated in India and how much growth they are having. STILL, even if Pak goes into a free fall even from here, i would still call myself a Pakistani because that's how we roll.
Wow!!! Anwer Mooraj Sahib. Why this extreme bout of hopelessness and pessimism all of a sudden???? Nothing noteworthy has happened in the last couple of months that did not happen in the last couple of years. Your columns are usually a reminder of beautiful events and persons of years gone by; and usually stories that stir the heart with beautiful memories. I see so many hopeful events in the past month alone. The government finally decided to tackle the lawlessness in Lyari and establish its writ in a large part of the City. The Supreme Court issued a monumental judgement convicting the Prime Minister, an event that lawyers can only dream of in Saudi Arabia (since you quoted that country.) You have based the thesis largely on the assassination of Governor Salman Taseer. And his own daughter Shehrbano had this to say in this newspaper of Jan 16, 2012 about the situation in Pakistan:
**> But there’s nothing that’s bad about
Whatever it is that caused this bleak pessimism, I hope you would look at it differently. Love your articles, as I have commented on so many occasions.
The head of govt. Pm gilani did attend taseers funeral
"There is ...just functional anarchy. " "Functional anarchy", that is how John Galbraith, an American ambassador to India described the country of his posting, India. The problem with Pakistan is it will not leave India alone, even in appropriating unique terms by which India was described by others. It is a severe case of "Hum kisi sey kum nahin!" If India is a functional anarchy, we Pakistanis are no less!
Unfortunately this upper middle class has largely been supportive of military dictators who have safeguarded the status quo and also at the same time created a state of illiterate impoverishment for "the outsider classes" by utilising the majority national resources on defence and debt servicing (for loans taken to purchase expensive items such as fighter jets, naval frigates, etc)
Sir, Your the spirit of your essay well taken, please try to avoid the word "N" for African-Americans. It is considered derogatory and disrespectful in this country. Thank you.
Can not find fault with what you have written. Your deliberately leaving the army, the biggest player, out of the discourse is somewhat not understood.