Pakistan’s political economy

There has been much talk of saving democracy that is prevalent in Pakistan. That is hardly the case for some democracies fall under their own weight. The prevalence of a system is hardly in question. The breast beating politicians have about as much courage as the smallest ruminant. It was Shastri who was asked by one of the journalist as to why India is not taken over by martial law? His response was that we politicians know how to take a bullet in the chest and then keep on coming back at any such agency. And Shastri was physically no giant. His wife would cook for him on an ordinary mud choolah even when he was PM of India. Have we in Pakistan learnt anything from the neighbors-Iran, India and recently Afghanistan?

Our government is in a primitive situation where the rule of law has no meaning and this in the 21st century, where assets have been acquired by the powerful in daring the legal situation. Our democracy cannot be called a democracy because it is not in the hands of the many but in the hands of the few. Who are the few in Pakistan? Tell me in the PPP or in the PML (N). The PM rarely meets his own people. The Chief Ministers, I am told are very honourable people and I have no doubt but they must tell us about their assets and the assets of their near and dear ones. How has the bureaucracy been used for their nefarious activities of asset building and land grabbing? Does it behoove politically powerful people to use the bureaucracy for their own bank accounts? Are the bureaucrats paid from the state exchequer or from the finances of the political system? Has one political party not satisfied its gas order when it came into power? Why has Sui gas let them off without payment? Why have the courts let the politically powerful off the hook because they were able to withdraw their cases when they were in power? Was that legally allowed? When the law is not on all fours with the illegalities then where is construction of law? Where is the oft-repeated legal adjudication based on deductive or inductive logic? The law to me is a fascinating aspect of human determinants.

Nut then is our government(s) based on democracy and if so of what kind. The current political statements are not in order. They are not in order because they want to grease their fictional demand for money. Do the laws provide justice in private disputes and in criminal matters? Is it not clear that that is not the case? Karachi, North and South Waziristan, Balochistan and former East Pakistan are living proofs of us goofing up, of our inability to benefit the many. Was Pakistan made for the few? Go to the civil courts or any subordinate court and see what is happening and how the legal system has been guillotined. See how our politicians are peddling justice? When the powers-that-be become themselves the user of this horrendous and vulgar power what happens to the justice system? Why are lower courts functionaries transferred because they do not toe the line of the powers-that-be? Why lowest level actions are perpetuated by the top most politicians? Only to tell the public how righteous they are and to show the inordinate that they will take the case seriously without ever meaning to do the same. Yet they may be guilty of the same offence? If the castration was a legal punishment I would venture to say that most of the top leadership would be found guilty. Yet they unlike the poor are neither deprived nor depraved – sorry they are depraved because of the failings in the personality.

Is democracy open and fair in their discourses? The evidence from the TV shows is quite the contrary for we have in the political system people who are suffering from serous personality disorders. There are no gentlemen around anymore. Shouting and screaming and defending the indefensible are the orders of the day. The top leadership has to be defended and the more supercilious the act the more rotten the argument. Democracy in Pakistan is worse than tyranny of the kind that we have endured. In fact the civil democratic traditions would not have been there but for the military. Some things have gone sour over the years. Is it because the cup has started overflowing with egoistic factors? I have not yet hot upon the assets list of the politicians but when I do, I promise that the systems stink will become more apparent. All these Khawajgans and these butts will be yelling for their life. The lessons of former East Pakistan are not learnt.

Do these politicians and their scions use the system to their own ends? Why? Where is the legality of this? Is blood – not blue blood – to take precedence over the needs of the poor? Where is equity, justice and fair play? Democracy bets on debate? Do we debate? Are the parliament and the senate the forum for reasoned debate? The contempt for the democratic institutions is open for all to see. The top leadership does not go there. Any one that crosses the Rubicon has had it. He is doomed for life and is an enemy of the powers that be for. The cost of the hate is borne by the state. Where is the debate for projects that require the public to be taken in to not only confidence but also accept their demands? Are we adventurous as well as reflective in handling such projects as add an extra commitment on the people? The jangla bus is a case in point, the laptop and the taxi scheme will put an extra burden on the financial resources of the country. Are these the priorities for the poor and do they fill the stomach of the hungry. And we are in the 21st century and not ashamed of ourselves.

Our freedom is our own but this freedom is meaningless if the extra responsibility that it imposes on us is not followed. Do we have a religious commitment and as Muslims we have a duty that is largely unfulfilled. Do we censure freely and to obey punctually. Try resolving this paradoxical situation. Acts are fore-doomed for failure if due diligence and due discussion is not taken into consideration. Mac Kinsey consultant be brought at a cost and we seek their indulgence (with money) when they do not know the qibla or the khameer of this country. Is our culture the same as the home country of the consultants? Well we shall see how they implement all this and the various pronouncements of the minister’s regarding foreign investment. Like previous governments they seem to have a scout master at every port and they can call them anything (Guinness record scandal) and get a statement out of them. You and I will be witness to the deceit that is going on.

How can then economics and employment flourish in this country? How can inflation be brought down? What is the ministry of food security up to? What can be done to start the production system and productivity elsewhere? The banjar qadeem (uncultivable land) is not so. Knowledge has made it possible to grow anything anywhere-well almost. Ganja Bahars (bald mountains) can be converted into orchards. Dynamite can be destructive but its use can be made more positive. Guess? I leave you with the thought that knowledge factor is responsible for our poverty. Finances are necessary but not essential. Resources are with the lewd and people of easy virtue. Do not blame any one but get on with it. The marginal areas can be dealt with positively. That’s it. Shall we set up a ministry of broken promises and take the required legislation to the great democratic institution wherever that is located. Sub acha hai!!!