It is the unfortunate fate of Pakistan that a country created by icons like Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and other men of integrity, commitment and principles is being ruled by despots and men accused of financial scams with no stakes in Pakistan. The problem with Pakistan and its elite, some of whom are pseudo intellectuals with an insatiable greed for fame and wealth, is that they live in a state of denial.
If people have allowed themselves to be duped to vote for this regime, despite all the controversies and corruption scams, the Americans should not be blamed. It was not the USA which influenced J Ashraf Qazi to procure 69 defective locomotives from a black listed Chinese firm for Pakistan Railways, nor did they influence this regime to again procure 75 more such locomotives from them. China today is a major producer of fast trains and even the USA is seeking to import their locomotives, yet those who matter in Pakistan manage to place orders with manufacturers of ill-repute in that country.
Our finance minister, whose total tax paid in Pakistan for 2009 was under Rs 9500, conveniently forgets to provide funds for import of sugar in time, which results in a bonanza for the mill owners and hoarders, most of whom are in power. We have a habit of not accepting our own shortfalls and rely on conspiracy theories.
Nations help other countries if it suits their own national interest. If our political and khaki elite have intentionally compromised on our perception of state sovereignty by renting out our military bases, then this can be termed as a grave compromise, but the blame should not be shifted to others. The failure of our elected parliament and executive to provide good governance, justice, equal opportunities, welfare and an independent accountability infrastructure, is totally our own folly. For decades, we have distorted our own history and the role of our founding fathers. This has been done by pygmies like Ayub, Zia and Musharraf and yet they got away scot free.
Similarly, a few individuals have hijacked Allama Iqbals philosophy and made heroes out of zeros. I agree with Asma Jehangir, the President of SCBA, that Iqbal’s philosophy has become the domain of a certain media group. You cannot condone the intellectual dishonesty of few who were party to the wrong portrayal of Allama Iqbal for decades.
In spite of all the doom and gloom, there is the institution of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which alone enjoys more credibility and respect than all the other institutions of the state.
As a nation we need to follow the true undistorted vision of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam, instead of being fed with another doctored version of our founding father’s vision. Iqbal was neither a religious fanatic, nor the enlightened moderate that Musharraf and his cronies talked of. He was not against the Ahmedis as a sect to be denied equal rights, but was very clear that they themselves should voluntarily opt out of the Islamic faith, since they do not believe in the basic principle which is the finality of last prophet. Both Quaid and Iqbal wanted Pakistan to be a modern democratic welfare state, where every citizen enjoyed equal rights, equal opportunities irrespective of their sex, caste, faith or creed.
Such a democratic welfare state cannot function if the elected representatives indulge in the plunder of state assets and scare resources, abuse their discretionary powers and are not held accountable for their criminal acts done.
SYED IJAZ
Texas, USA
