SC’s advice to ruling elite
According to a PML-N senator poor must stay poor in order for there to be someone to grow wheat and be wage labour
Supreme Court has appealed to the ruling elite to give up their extravagant lifestyle and redress the grievances of the poor through their riches.PHOTO: REUTERS
The concept of ‘divine right’ used to exist in societies where monarchy was the primary system of governance. It referred to the belief that monarchs receive their right to rule directly from God while those under his rule had only the responsibility to serve. The introduction of democracy gradually did away with this outmoded belief which was replaced by ideals regarding equality and freedom for all human beings. Yet it appears that after its demise in the courts of kings, the idea has emerged intact in the minds of our elected representatives. Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, a senator from the PML-N, gave voice to one such opinion. According to the senator who made the statement at a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, the poor of this country must stay poor in order for there to be someone to grow wheat and be wage labour. He further elucidated this point by claiming that the concept of equality does not work and that those who are unable to work hard and receive education must not expect the same treatment as the country’s elite.
‘Wise’ words from someone who through the accident of birth was born into an influential and affluent family and who has been receiving perks offered to parliamentarians for decades. The senator appears to believe that the poor must work hard and become educated to enjoy the same lifestyle as him while declaring the government powerless or unwilling to give them the opportunities to do so. He has ignored the reality of the farmer growing wheat on a tiny patch of land or a wage labourer performing back-breaking tasks every day and the fact that they do not earn enough to feed their families, let alone provide quality education to their children who incidentally, are also working in order not to go hungry. Given this, the Supreme Court’s recent exhortation, urging our ruling elite to leave behind their luxurious lifestyles and serve the poor is highly timely. But unfortunately, the chances of this appeal being taken seriously are about as bleak as the future of a poor child.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2016.
‘Wise’ words from someone who through the accident of birth was born into an influential and affluent family and who has been receiving perks offered to parliamentarians for decades. The senator appears to believe that the poor must work hard and become educated to enjoy the same lifestyle as him while declaring the government powerless or unwilling to give them the opportunities to do so. He has ignored the reality of the farmer growing wheat on a tiny patch of land or a wage labourer performing back-breaking tasks every day and the fact that they do not earn enough to feed their families, let alone provide quality education to their children who incidentally, are also working in order not to go hungry. Given this, the Supreme Court’s recent exhortation, urging our ruling elite to leave behind their luxurious lifestyles and serve the poor is highly timely. But unfortunately, the chances of this appeal being taken seriously are about as bleak as the future of a poor child.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2016.