The Power of No
No, no more whimsical projects, and no more revolting patronage politics to enrich the rulers, their pathetic cronies
The writer is Executive Director News, Express News. He tweets @fahdhusain fahd.husain@tribune.com.pk
The Pakistani leadership is rattled. Its traditional complacency has given way to a semblance of activity. Everyone now wants to be seen to be doing something which may lead somewhere in the general direction of reform.
But wait. Reform is a mighty heavy word. It drips of intention, ambition and initiative. Reform signifies a rejection of the way things are, and the acceptance of how they should be. It denotes an understanding of the limitations of the present, and clarity about the beautiful possibilities of the future. And it marks a powerful respect for the power of ‘No’.
Today is the day to exercise this awesome power with unrelenting ruthlessness. Today is the day to stand up and shout out ‘No’ to all those things, big and small, that plague the life of Pakistanis with nauseating permanence. Today is the day to look the leadership in the eye, and fling the power of No in its face.
No, it is not acceptable for us to be uneducated any more. It is a crime against humanity that half our children are deprived of schooling, and hence a future. It is a crime perpetrated on our nation by every single politician and every single fauji who has ruled us since 1947. It is a crime that has devastated this society more than any other, for it is due to this shameful crime that a majority of Pakistanis cannot rise to their God-given potential. This is a crime that deserves the severest of punishments for each and every ruler who has lorded over the destruction that we face today. So no, we will not allow this crime to continue. No, we will shame all those who are responsible for it even today. No, the state of education must improve now. No, no more empty words and hollow promises, no more meaningless policies and insincere commitments.
Prime Minister, we dare you to declare an education emergency. We dare you to display your resolve. We dare you to prove that you understand and recognise the dire need for education as the top priority for Pakistan. Can you do it? Do you have what it takes? Prove it, or step aside.
No, it is not acceptable for the police to stay incompetent, inefficient, inept, corrupt and good-for-nothing anymore. This police that we have is a burden on Pakistan because it serves very little purpose other than serving the equally incompetent and corrupt rulers for their petty personal political interests. This police is a burden because it rapes the law, savages the citizen, brutalises the victims, mollycoddles the criminals, and has minimal capacity to protect and serve the citizens of Pakistan. No, such a police force must not exist any longer. No, there is no excuse left not to reform it now.
Prime Minister, we dare you to declare the complete depoliticisation of the police. We dare you to forbid any single person from your family, your biradri, your party to interfere in the working of the police. We dare you to initiate police reform that has been detailed in reports time and again. We dare you to transform this rotten, moth-eaten and demoralised force into a modern and professional one led by independent-minded and dynamic professionals. Do you have what it takes, Prime Minister? If not, step aside.
No, it is not acceptable any more for the law to be unequal for the citizens of this country. For too long we have lived with the bitter fact that the powerful can get away with anything in Pakistan. For too long we have accepted this with a shrug of the shoulder and a curse on our lips. For too long we have seen the civil and military leadership exist in this land like nobles of yore; the untouchables who can do no wrong in the eyes of the law. For too long we have seen the judges protect their interests more than those of the litigants; for too long we have seen the lawyers molest law with shocking impunity and zero accountability; for too long we have seen the bureaucracy manipulate the rules of its own making to carve out a cushy life for itself at the expense of the common man; and for too long we have seen the elite treat this land as their personal fiefdom. Well, no more. A ruthless and unforgiving reform is now mandatory to amputate this rot. Every advanced society follows rule of law. Are we barbarians?
So Prime Minister, do you have the capacity to understand the sacredness of this concept? Do you have the ability to comprehend what the rule of law entails? Can you wrap your mind around the fact that the basic rights of the children living on the streets outside Raiwind are the same as that of your sons and daughters? Can you grasp this? And if you can, then we dare you to ensure the supremacy of this concept. We dare you to announce that you will do everything in your power to implement the rule of law in Pakistan; that you will brook no exception; and that you will be brutal in ensuring no mighty or powerful man or woman is treated favourably by the law. Do you have what it takes, Prime Minister? If not, please step aside.
And no, it is definitely not acceptable any more to have vague targets for this nation. No, no more whimsical projects, and no more revolting patronage politics to enrich the rulers and their pathetic cronies; no more unaccountable spending on unnecessary schemes that benefit no one except those who launched them. Enough.
What we need is simple: basic rights for all, education for all, justice for all, accountability for all, equal opportunity and level playing field for all, safety of life and property of all, and a bright future with endless possibilities for all.
Prime Minister, we dare you to make this happen. If you cannot, please step aside.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2015.
But wait. Reform is a mighty heavy word. It drips of intention, ambition and initiative. Reform signifies a rejection of the way things are, and the acceptance of how they should be. It denotes an understanding of the limitations of the present, and clarity about the beautiful possibilities of the future. And it marks a powerful respect for the power of ‘No’.
Today is the day to exercise this awesome power with unrelenting ruthlessness. Today is the day to stand up and shout out ‘No’ to all those things, big and small, that plague the life of Pakistanis with nauseating permanence. Today is the day to look the leadership in the eye, and fling the power of No in its face.
No, it is not acceptable for us to be uneducated any more. It is a crime against humanity that half our children are deprived of schooling, and hence a future. It is a crime perpetrated on our nation by every single politician and every single fauji who has ruled us since 1947. It is a crime that has devastated this society more than any other, for it is due to this shameful crime that a majority of Pakistanis cannot rise to their God-given potential. This is a crime that deserves the severest of punishments for each and every ruler who has lorded over the destruction that we face today. So no, we will not allow this crime to continue. No, we will shame all those who are responsible for it even today. No, the state of education must improve now. No, no more empty words and hollow promises, no more meaningless policies and insincere commitments.
Prime Minister, we dare you to declare an education emergency. We dare you to display your resolve. We dare you to prove that you understand and recognise the dire need for education as the top priority for Pakistan. Can you do it? Do you have what it takes? Prove it, or step aside.
No, it is not acceptable for the police to stay incompetent, inefficient, inept, corrupt and good-for-nothing anymore. This police that we have is a burden on Pakistan because it serves very little purpose other than serving the equally incompetent and corrupt rulers for their petty personal political interests. This police is a burden because it rapes the law, savages the citizen, brutalises the victims, mollycoddles the criminals, and has minimal capacity to protect and serve the citizens of Pakistan. No, such a police force must not exist any longer. No, there is no excuse left not to reform it now.
Prime Minister, we dare you to declare the complete depoliticisation of the police. We dare you to forbid any single person from your family, your biradri, your party to interfere in the working of the police. We dare you to initiate police reform that has been detailed in reports time and again. We dare you to transform this rotten, moth-eaten and demoralised force into a modern and professional one led by independent-minded and dynamic professionals. Do you have what it takes, Prime Minister? If not, step aside.
No, it is not acceptable any more for the law to be unequal for the citizens of this country. For too long we have lived with the bitter fact that the powerful can get away with anything in Pakistan. For too long we have accepted this with a shrug of the shoulder and a curse on our lips. For too long we have seen the civil and military leadership exist in this land like nobles of yore; the untouchables who can do no wrong in the eyes of the law. For too long we have seen the judges protect their interests more than those of the litigants; for too long we have seen the lawyers molest law with shocking impunity and zero accountability; for too long we have seen the bureaucracy manipulate the rules of its own making to carve out a cushy life for itself at the expense of the common man; and for too long we have seen the elite treat this land as their personal fiefdom. Well, no more. A ruthless and unforgiving reform is now mandatory to amputate this rot. Every advanced society follows rule of law. Are we barbarians?
So Prime Minister, do you have the capacity to understand the sacredness of this concept? Do you have the ability to comprehend what the rule of law entails? Can you wrap your mind around the fact that the basic rights of the children living on the streets outside Raiwind are the same as that of your sons and daughters? Can you grasp this? And if you can, then we dare you to ensure the supremacy of this concept. We dare you to announce that you will do everything in your power to implement the rule of law in Pakistan; that you will brook no exception; and that you will be brutal in ensuring no mighty or powerful man or woman is treated favourably by the law. Do you have what it takes, Prime Minister? If not, please step aside.
And no, it is definitely not acceptable any more to have vague targets for this nation. No, no more whimsical projects, and no more revolting patronage politics to enrich the rulers and their pathetic cronies; no more unaccountable spending on unnecessary schemes that benefit no one except those who launched them. Enough.
What we need is simple: basic rights for all, education for all, justice for all, accountability for all, equal opportunity and level playing field for all, safety of life and property of all, and a bright future with endless possibilities for all.
Prime Minister, we dare you to make this happen. If you cannot, please step aside.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2015.