Sohrab Goth madrassah

Some 57 boys belonging to poor families were found shackled in chains from the basement of a madrassah located in Sohrab Goth Karachi. As the news surfaced, we have seen our so-called human right activists and NGOs coming out of their secure houses blaming the religious madrassahs for all the troubles that afflict Pakistan, but they dare not hold the factors and vested interests in this country for failure of the state to provide subsidised education facilities.

In the developed world, state subsidies are only extended for projects that relate to the most deprived sections of their society. In Pakistan, it is the reverse.

If trillions of rupees worth real estate belonging to federal government and its state owned enterprises like Pakistan Railways were not allowed to be gobbled by the elite land mafia and sold at market price, enough money could have been generated to fund free education for poor and bail out Railways.

In Karachi, prime real estate belonging to federal government was allotted to political activists of a pro-Musharraf party in that city. In Lahore, land worth hundreds of billions was given almost free for yet another golf course by the military junta. The priority is golf, palatial residential societies, farm houses for few instead of more schools, playgrounds, hospitals and colleges for the majority.

Unfortunately for this country, the state absolves itself of its obligation to provide education, health and clean drinking water to the most deprived sections of our society. With such a mindset of the ruling elite and an establishment, whose priority is confined to allotment of more plots to the paid servants and its political cronies, no doubt this country is a perfect breeding ground for fanatics and religious bigots.

What choice the poor have other than sending their sons and daughters to these madrassahs with the hope that their children may benefit from education. We should be asking the provincial government, local police and ministry of religious affairs for their failure to regulate and monitor these madrassahs, located not in some remote part of Pakistan, but our major cities and towns.

Yet, instead of blaming the tax-evading traders, feudal and cartels of this country for the plight and miseries suffered by millions of our poor, we will blame these madrassahs, most of whom give free education to the poorest of the poor. Until the state abolishes these madrassahs and replaces them with schools, Pakistan and its citizens will continue suffering because this country and its citizens are there to serve the ruling elite and endure their insatiable greed.

MALIK TARIQ ALI

Lahore