If we had adopted Quaid’s legacy in letter and in spirit, Pakistan would have become a modern democratic welfare state
LAHORE: Our country is full of people who have betrayed the Father of the Nation, so we are destined to suffer as we already are today. Standing almost at the bottom of all socio-economic indicators, Pakistan has been listed 140th out of 148 in terms of violence and crime. We lag far behind other countries in health and education, but in nepotism and corruption we beat many other countries. It was on September 11, 1948 that a critically sick Quaid, accompanied by his sister, had arrived in Karachi, then the federal capital, from Quetta, with no protocol, only to be transported in an ambulance that broke down on that hot humid day. He, unfortunately, died the same evening.
If we had adopted the Quaid’s legacy in letter and in spirit, Pakistan would have become a modern democratic welfare state that he envisioned, where the Constitution would have reigned supreme, laws would prevail, justice delivered and every citizen, irrespective of the post he or she held, would have been held accountable for his or her acts. Unfortunately, what followed after his death was betrayal of all that he stood and fought for. The Father of the Nation wanted the rule of law — he wanted accountability, morals and ethics to be followed. He wanted those holding public offices to lead a life of simplicity; instead we see the exact opposite. The Quaid-e-Azam stressed that Constitution is vital for laying down the foundations of a modern democratic welfare state, while men like Pervez Musharraf and his ilk would have us believe that to save the state, constitution may be violated or suspended. The Quaid termed corruption and bribery to be a curse which should be dealt with an iron hand; however, both are considered a privilege for the elected ruling elite. The Quaid wanted merit to prevail in recruitments and appointments.
Sadly, Pakistan has been misruled, people have indulged in nepotism and favouritism, resorted to plunder of state lands and assets by regularising this illegality. Almost every alternate year, floods ravage Pakistan, but no government, including military dictators, have thought of building more dams, water reservoirs and barrages. This is the unfortunate reality.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
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