Eden for the elite

‘The comfort of the rich depends on the abundant supply of the poor.’ These words of Voltaire are quite relevant to the horrifying tragedies unfolding in Pakistan today. Seven and a half decades of democratically-cloaked imperious regimes have turned the country into an Eden for the elite and hell for the rest. Following the systematic subjugation of the masses through carefully crafted religious, political, ethnic and nationalistic tools, the avaricious aristocracy has been feasting on the misery of the disadvantaged populace. Comprised of political, feudal, military, judicial, bureaucratic, religious and corporate magnets, the aristocratic class keeps on supporting each other’s stakes while utterly disregarding national interest and public good.

This, among other things, is reflected in deceptive and populist narratives framed around notions of politics, democracy, national security, justice and religion. These narratives keep the stakes of the ruling class firm and fortified. Though numerically low, they outwit the destitute masses in shrewdness and unity. As the imposed caretakers of the national exchequer, they have accumulated assets worth billions by embezzling public funds. They have plundered the country with impunity in the name of democracy, national security, justice and public service. Moreover, most of the funds availed from lenders and generous countries over time in the name of development have directly or indirectly tunnelled into the elite’s bottomless pockets. It is these invaluable services that have plunged the country into a state of economic crisis. As if generous salaries were not enough for their “extraordinary services”, they keep enjoying free residence, healthcare, petrol, gas, electricity and vacation trips from our hard-earned money. Their children go to elite educational institutions abroad. Apart from impunity, these elites have an emergency escape plan in the name of dual nationality. Many of them spend their post-retirement lives abroad or in fortified and abundantly supplied defence cottages.

Contrary to this, the lives of ordinary people are atrocious and revolve around chronic deprivation. Their lifelong struggles can hardly afford them two square meals each day, and perhaps that too is unsustainable. They have to wrestle to stay within a social fabric designed by the elite for the elite. A frank assessment of the daily life of an average labourer in Pakistan is nightmarish. With daily wages not exceeding Rs700, would they be able to feed their children, let alone afford education and healthcare? Would these labourers ever be able to escape chronic poverty?

Though successive governments claimed to have the panacea for the nation’s ills, they have ended up gaining power, accumulating wealth and capturing lands. The systematic deprivation has socio-economically and cognitively dwarfed the major chunk of the population. This is what the elites exploit, through tempting pledges and legitimisation of their rigged public mandate.

What can be done to overturn this exploitative system? In the absence of class consciousness and public enlightenment, only the parasitic elites are empowered enough to reverse these trends. The ongoing chaotic circumstances demand the elite class to do a bit of good to the country and the people. Bringing back the plundered wealth would help buoy the otherwise sinking ship of Pakistan’s economy. This is the right time for the aristocracy to practically prove their long-peddled patriotism to the country. Else, only a divine intervention can save the country from becoming another Sri Lanka.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2022.

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