A barefoot revolution?

KARACHI: This is with reference to the report published in your newspaper titled "Zardari heckled at UK rally"(August 8). I condemn the shoe-throwing incident because the shoe was thrown at the president of Pakistan. However, the people of Pakistan are sick of hearing the selfish, irrelevant rhetoric of the president, the prime minister and all the other politicians. They are also sick of the many spokespersons of the government who fail to rise beyond personal loyalty and shamelessly tell lies without fear of any retribution. Why should Mr Zardari expect laurels when he sets out on a purposeless foreign visit, accompanied by people who see and hear nothing?

Dark clouds are looming over our country. The people are suffering, their lives devastated. If the "who-cares” attitude of those who govern us continues many more people will follow in the footsteps of the man from Birmingham. The non-violent, barefoot holding revolution might just be the recipe to get out of the troubled waters in which we are all drowning.

The weekend incident is a reminder to all the shining shoes wearers that they need to get out and be with the flood victims. We are often reminded by Mr President about "awam ki taqat"(the power of the people). I sincerely hope that the president gets his shoes wet – if for nothing else but to demonstrate that he understands what the people are going through.

Lt-Col (retd) Muhammad Ali Ehsan

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2010.