Beyond the rhetoric of change

Pakistan’s creation was undoubtedly a miracle! In hindsight, every event happened as if it was divinely decreed to facilitate the dream for an independent state to materialise but even the founders had never thought of Pakistan to become a reality so soon. One thing, however, is certain — that those who had participated in the Pakistan Movement had not envisioned a country like the one we live in today. It was destined to be a modern Islamic state worthy of emulation by others.

What has hindered the dream of Pakistan to come true? Two things: greed and grapes. The greed of politicians, bureaucrats, and generals led first to regression then disintegration. Barring some exceptions, people at various levels thought of Pakistan as the spoils collected at the battlefield.  Everyone tried to take away as much as possible with or without entitlement. The formative phase of was fraught with intrigues and power politics. No genuine efforts were made to redistribute wealth (through land reforms and fair taxation system) and to build institutions in line with the Islamic principles of justice, human dignity, and egalitarianism.

A few years back, I visited interior Sindh to see its political, social, and economic conditions. I spent five weeks in different villages (goths) interacting with people and observing the forces shaping their lives.  For me, it was a unique experience full of surprises and shocks. I realised that radical restructuring was necessary to redeem the poor from an entrenched feudal class that has halted socio-economic progress. 

The plight of people in Sangarh and adjoining areas was miserable. It seemed as if the world of haves and have-nots was at play all around. A few landlords had virtually created their own states within a state with claimed roots in Islamic ethos. They owned vast tracts of agricultural land where the poor peasants worked from dawn to dusk in scorching heat on either subsistence wages or a meagre share in the harvest. The difference in their standard and style of living reminded me of stories about the Mughal despot kings who ruled people with an iron fist without accountability. 

One feudal family had occupied all power structures; a brother was a senator, another MNA, and his close relatives served in the civil and military bureaucracy. I saw people coming to his castle to get their grievances redressed. Nobody in the area could participate in any social or political activities considered displeasing to the landlord. The schools and healthcare centres were either in a dilapidated condition or converted into garages. Everyone thought the prevailing socio-political order to be preordained and natural. This mindset is the greatest barrier to any meaningful and desirable change in Pakistan. 

The starting point of change is to change the direction and structure of politics by actively playing one’s role as a responsible citizen. One cannot expect too much from people living in rural areas under the clutches of a feudal system. It is time for the young educated class to actively participate in politics. The free media has already done a lot to open our eyes about what our politicians do and why. With the media’s help, public memory should now be strong enough to recall the five-year performance of each government and take rational decisions in the next elections. 

The prevailing state of affairs — political, social, and economic — in Pakistan is disappointing and disturbing. The so-called leaders, who come in different shapes and sizes, are always busy hoodwinking the public with hollow slogans and clichés. The persistent problems of poverty, energy crisis, lawlessness, and institutional corruption make it indispensable to replace the existing system with the one which promotes equality, liberty, and opportunity for all irrespective of race, religion, and region.