Travails of the babu land

Such is the order for hearts, the sanctuary/

As the stones are captive, the dogs run free — Faiz

Who rules Pakistan? This question is often casually tossed around at parties, functions and events to express dissatisfaction at the state of affairs. Rhetorical as it often might be, it is, nevertheless, an important question for its answer eludes even the sanest ones. Originally, some naïve souls thought that it was run by a breed of tactless, talentless politicians. However, when it was observed that the speed of deterioration never slowed even in the absence of those inept politicians, this idea was abandoned. The seers of the republic then postulated that there was a half hidden force called the establishment micromanaging the affairs of the state from a distance. But as is widely known, the establishment only protects its own interests and intervenes only in extreme situations, so the realisation grew that there must be someone else responsible for the sorry state of affairs. After all, there is bound to be a force that does not just protect its own interest but also everything that ought not to be protected.

Then it dawned on some that there is a group that keeps working even when politicians and dictators are not around. In common parlance, they are called babus or bureaucrats. Amazingly, from the prime minister’s office to the defence ministry, they are everywhere. And while their style of oratory has changed since the time of Sir Humphrey Appleby of “Yes Minister” fame, their world view remains unchanged.

Even though there are a few bright exceptions, this class, generally, has one or two chips burnt or missing in the circuit boards of the standard model. We are lucky to have among the federal caretaker ministers, at least one distinguished example, nowadays in charge of the interior ministry. Whenever he opens his mouth, he creates new controversies. It is queer that when the thrilling tale of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s brave escape from the courtroom is told and retold, every government department is criticised but this man. Yet, why be harsh on the poor man alone? This class generally abhors out-of-the-box thinking, dotes on new methods of repression and is miffed at the slightest suggestion of imaginative solutions.

Just consider this. An unfortunate comment is made by a guest on a television channel. Instead of accosting the said guest, or slapping a fine to discipline the editorial team, they take the entire channel down. A deplorable and insensitive video is placed on YouTube and instead of finding ways to block the said video, they block the entire website and that, too, for months.

This sick mentality and the characteristic lack of imagination speak volumes about the sorry state we are in. No wonder, then, that the actual culprits in most cases go scot-free while only petty criminals and lesser thugs languish in jails. This is precisely why no terrorist to date has been brought to book through due process. And we either keep blaming the courts for their leniency or else criticise the politicians for not codifying fresh laws to ensure speedy trials of terrorists. Ineptness, when accompanied by boorishness and corrupt outlook, proves to be an unmitigated disaster.

This is exactly why the state’s writ keeps waning. That is why our historical narratives will always be based on hallowed fiction rather than facts. And that is why an overwhelming majority of beneficiaries out of around 8,000 names on the NRO list were babus, not politicians. And that is why only politicians were blamed for it, not babus.

What is really heartbreaking to see is the contagious idealism and optimism of the young bureaucrats joining the service. Then, they all gradually transform into your average, everyday babu. Please don’t conclude that I believe that no one else is responsible for all this mess. Politicians are directly or indirectly responsible for all of this, too. They pay no heed to the merit system and prefer sycophancy and complacency over competence while transferring and promoting bureaucrats.

But the bureaucrats of the republic function as the central nervous system of the country. If this country has to see a better day, this class will have to change.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2013.