More on the feudal mindset

Feudal mindset thrives on political expediency, keeping the status quo and not taking the guilty to task

The feudal mindset in Pakistan is not restricted to the landowning community. People who own this mindset come from a wide variety of backgrounds. For them, they take it as their right to behave as they will and do what they want. If they are checked or challenged, it becomes a matter of their honour and they respond with force. Such minds have proliferated over the years in Pakistan.

Why do we stop at the murderers of Shahzeb Khan? Let us start with our elected officials.

Go to the parking lot at the parliament and most of the vehicles of our MPs break all the rules — they have tinted glasses, fancy number plates and, in many instances, are not even registered. A large portion are stolen vehicles. Question them at our own risk.

A journalist does a survey which shows that most parliamentarians don’t file tax returns, let alone pay tax. Instead of remorse or shame, the parliament wants to know who leaked the information so that they can be punished.

On our roads, our high and mighty travel with guards that bully other motorists. The servants of the people don’t stop at traffic lights, don’t pay toll or parking fees and park where they want.

Both the elected and unelected party faithful are given all sorts of benefits. The government does not even have proper records of how many vehicles it has given and to whom. In fact, it is common now to see two cars with the same government number plate. Police guards are provided. Government employees serve as assistants, peons, cleaners, gardeners at homes of these people. No wonder staff is missing in most offices.

The pampering is at another level. Parliamentarians have special desks at airports. The VIP lounges are open to them. They don’t pay for anything. They get special seats on planes. They have the best of everything.

It would be unfair to blame our elected representatives only. Look at our bureaucrats. When it comes to delivering, they are possibly worse. The Sindh police chief is not interested in pursuing the murderers of the son of an officer of his force. Only because the local thana has taken money and fixed the FIR. Corruption exists as never before.

The government at many levels works only to intimidate and threaten. Not to help and serve. Work in any government office, barring a few, is only done if bribes are paid. It is a wonder why every year, the budget religiously enhances the pay of federal government employees when they have done nothing to deserve this.

Any attempt to reform the way the government functions is thwarted by the bureaucracy. They don’t want power devolved or their incomes reduced. One of the biggest mistakes of this government is that it over-relies on the bureaucracy.

One remembers the time of Nawaz Sharif, who did away with the permit raj and also cut through red tape. Such initiatives are now seen only in Punjab under Shahbaz Sharif.

The only check to a feudal mindset is the rule of law. But if our lawmakers are amongst our biggest lawbreakers then we have a problem. A gentleman officiating in the Senate supported the burying of women who were alive “because it is our tradition”.

The feudal mindset thrives on the lack of accountability. No one should ask any questions. All the high and mighty get together and share the spoils while the people starve and suffer. But is there hope ahead of change? Very unlikely in the present scenario. The parties that started as best friends and fought in between are now coming back and banding together. Political expediency means keeping the status quo and not taking the guilty to task. In all this, the feudal mindset thrives.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2013.