Rights and solidarity

The battle between people’s rights and their suppression cloaked in the need for the security of the state is an ongoing one. Pakistan ever since its inception is faced with threats from known and unknown sources, which has resulted in security always trumping other needs. People and their rights make up a state, while the opposite side argues that rights and people will exist when the state exists. In the wake of 9/11, the United States has faced the same dilemma. Rights activists have fought hard battles to defend people’s liberty from the trampling of the anti-democratic tendencies of the government. The framers of the US Constitution faced the same intellectual battle, which were represented by the Alexander Hampton-led federalists and the Thomas Jefferson led anti-federalists.

This interesting debate and many others like it are relevant only when people participate and realise they have a stake in them. The worst part is not losing the fight for rights, but rather not fighting for rights. Not realising the existence, value, and exercise of rights. And that right there is a tendency found in the people of Pakistan. Observing human behaviour is a great source of knowledge. Last week I learnt a great deal by observing people lined up at petrol pumps to fill their vehicles’ tanks. Government had announced that petrol and diesel prices would go up by Rs1.70 and Rs2.31, respectively. The queues became longer because it was still evening time and the new prices were going to hit the market at midnight. It was thought provoking to see BMWs, Mercedes, and Land Cruisers making the queue.

They were going to save 68 rupees on petrol and 92 on diesel assuming the tanks were empty. In reality, they were losing money rather than saving because the wait time was significant and engines were running with the air-conditioning most likely on. Secondly, the time wasted is an enormous cost if that is of any concern in this culture. More importantly, the corrosive effect such actions have on society is debilitating. To not question government actions and policies and passively accept them is the worst citizenship exercise we can all indulge in. A society ripe for true democracy and not just the democracy that comes after a futile ballot exercise would have people stand outside government offices instead of at the petrol pumps. Only if they had true education instead of just a degree.

Sure, our entire cost goes up by just less than 100 rupees, which is not significant but this is not about money only. This is about right and wrong. This is about society. Some of us blessed with a large wallet and high limit credit cards may not be impacted but there are those in our society to whom every penny matters. Let us not get sucked into this vile maxim of “don’t care about others”. Solidarity is a fundamental and an important human trait because it takes into account concerns and problems of others around you. The basic idea behind Zakat or any other solidarity based system is just so that the orphan across the street can also go to school or the poor neighbour can also wear new clothes. Once solidarity is driven out of people’s heads then they can be made to do awful things. Sadly, the credit card waving heavy tippers comfortably disregard the problems others can face. If people and their rights constitute a true nation, then let us not forget that empathy drives the quest for such rights.