A modern state functions only through the rule of law, not of men.
LAHORE: Successive governments, elected or unelected, have by their failure, incompetence, cronyism, lack of integrity and commitment to rule of law, landed Pakistan into a perpetual state of crisis. The primary responsibility of the constitutional executive is to collect taxes from every citizen without any discrimination or favour and regulate all key financial institutions, the judiciary, scientific research, education, health, public transport, provision of energy, recruitment in bureaucracy and state-owned corporations on merit, land records, housing, citizenship documentation, security and law enforcement agencies, interfaith and intersect relations, religious sermons, etc. While the imams of mosques in Arab and other Muslim majority countries located in Asia are restricted to read from government-approved texts using loudspeakers on Friday and other occasions, our state has failed to enforce any regulation even in this critical area, leading to a rise in sectarian disturbances and extremism.
A modern state functions only through the rule of law, not of men, and acquires resources to deliver its obligatory functions by collecting taxes from citizens, for welfare of the most deprived citizens. Instead, what we witness is the state patronising a culture of tax evasion, protecting violators of laws and creating obstacles in the way of delivering justice and equal opportunities to all citizens, without any fear or favour. This is precisely the reason why in the developed world, punishment for tax evasion and conspiring with foreign powers to harm national interests, or compromising state sovereignty, is more than the crime of murder. A state that hesitates to provide welfare, health, education and security to its citizens is a state likely to collapse from within. While Pakistan faces a serious economic collapse, it is shocking that no action has been taken to stop institutionalised corruption and organised flight of capital from this country, even after the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan has publicly stated that $25 million is being smuggled out of the country daily in the personal baggage of individuals, through major international airports of the country.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2013.
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