A fragmented polity

QUETTA: This is with reference to Rasul Bakhsh Rais’s article “A fragmented polity” (August 9). With due respect to Mr Rais, I want to say that he failed to explain the root cause of the chaos in this country. It is strange that while analysing the current degenerated state of affairs, hardly anyone explores history.

In my opinion the era of colonialism and the post-colonial policy of the west better explains the current state of affairs. In order to prolong their rule in the subcontinent, the British created a class of people who performed functions to facilitate their rule. When they became sure they were going to leave the subcontinent, they ensured that this class of people ruled the country.  This independence is not independence. It is only change of masters. The whites were replaced by the natives, who were “Indian in colour” but “English in taste” who helped the west make Pakistan an imperialist tool. This class is in a minority and exists in the form of choudhrys, waderais, khans, sardars and nawabs. These have acted like mini-monarchs and kept the overwhelming majority of the people underprivileged.

We need to realise that we have not yet achieved true independence and what we need now is a revolution.

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