Anarchy ensconced

“Our government... teaches the whole people by its example.  If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”

Thus opined Justice Louis David Brandeis (1856-1941) – and the second sentence suits to a tee the ground situation in this Islamic Republic. Brandeis was a member of the US Supreme Court from 1916 to 1939.   As Justice William O Douglas wrote, “Brandeis was a militant crusader for social justice whoever his opponent might be. He was dangerous not only because of his brilliance, his arithmetic, his courage. He was dangerous because he was incorruptible. . . [and] the fears of the Establishment were greater because Brandeis was the first Jew to be named to the Court."

We are in desperate need of people who are dangerous because they are incorruptible.  What we suffer from is a mass of top-dogs who are dangerous because they are not only highly corrupt or corruptible, materially and morally, but are consumed by greed and self-interest — and dangerous also because they fear losing their grip on power.

And, just what do governments of Pakistan teach the country’s ‘whole people’?  Well, to start with, that it is kosher to break the law, it is kosher to cheat, it is kosher to rob the people, and it is kosher to do exactly as each empowered individual may choose.  As for anarchy, the latest fashion in Karachi is target killings, or maybe random killings for fun, by motor cycle riders and pillion passengers.  On a daily basis, citizens, whether of rival ethnic, sectarian or mafia groups, are gunned down at bus stops, in their shops, or in their cars, or wherever.  The police are helpless.  The government and administration does not care — they are too busy doing their own ‘things’.

There is no need to mention Fata or various parts of what is now known affectionately as KP where anarchy was invited in and feted.  For Balochistan, the federal government came up with its ‘package’ and then sat back and watched.  What can be expected of a government headed by a man, a ‘nawab’ at that, Aslam Raisani, whose words were splashed on the masthead of this newspaper on June 30: “A degree is a degree, original or fake.”  How aptly he symbolises the thinking of the ruling party and its coalition partners. So can anyone who is sane, who is not moronic, admit to having any hope?

What respect for the law can the ordinary citizen have when he hears about presidential pardons being handed down to cronies for crimes they have allegedly committed?  How is he supposed to react when he hears day after day that criminal or civil cases are being dropped by the agencies of the law against members of the government or hangers-on of the administration? And when law enforcement agencies admit, as those of the Punjab did earlier this year, that 629 terrorism cases were decided by anti-terrorism courts in 2009, of which suspects in 471 cases were acquitted, is he supposed to applaud?

Then we come to anarchy on roads all over the land when those who presume themselves to be ‘high and mighty’ move around in vehicle-cades.  The supposed guardians of the people have seen to it that they are guarded to the hilt by those employed to guard the people.  Their fear for life and limb is such as we have never before seen.  The presidential and ministerial protection units are grossly insulting to anything approaching democracy — they are indeed its revenge and little else.  As for the greatest protectors of the people, should a corps commander have traffic held up for him to pass by with an escort of 13 vehicles?  Does a superintendent of police need two van loads of armed guards? The contempt exhibited is without bounds.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2010.