A day for introspection

Let us reset our course and reclaim the Republic Day

The Pakistan Day was originally meant to commemorate the country becoming a democratic republic in 1956. But democracy was nipped in the bud when soon after in 1958 Gen Ayub Khan trampled over the nascent constitution. Since then instead of the Republic Day, March 23 is celebrated as the Pakistan Day – to observe the passage of the Lahore Resolution.

Despite the advent of democracy this national holiday is still celebrated as Pakistan Day. Pakistan is a functioning democracy without intervention or interruption since 2008. Hence March 23 should mark the return of democracy and semblance of constitutionalism in the country rather than merely to commemorate passing of the Pakistan Resolution.

In a country where there is nothing much else to cheer about, its people enjoying fruits of civil liberties, free speech and the right to elect their own government calls for a celebration. Admittedly the civil and military oligarchs that have ruled since independence have consistently deprived the people of Pakistan of their economic rights. Today should be the day for introspection, to judge where did we go wrong.

Unless the ruling elites evolve a consensus on pressing problems faced by the people, supremacy of democracy will be nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory.

Almost half the time since its inception Pakistan has been under military or quasi-military rule. Even most of the rest of the period has been spent in keeping either the Bonapartists at bay or the civilian dispensation straitjacketing itself by remaining on the straight and narrow as defined by the brass.

This is not to say that our civilian leadership is blameless for the present state of affairs. In fact our politicians mostly belonging to the feudal elite have left no stone unturned to loot national wealth and to trample over the rights of the common man. Developmental issues have never been their priority. No wonder over the years Pakistan has become a national security nuclear state with abysmal social indicators

Only in recent years a culture of accommodation and tolerance amongst the ruling elite has been nurtured. Hitherto whomsoever was in power left no stone unturned to emasculate institutions to satisfy the perennial urge to self- perpetuate.

In this context, the biggest bane for the country has been the rampant use of religion in virtually every field of life. Ironically those who had opposed the creation of Pakistan in the name of Islam became the vanguard of ‘Islam is in danger’ brigade. The situation has come to such a pass that not only the so-called protectors of faith are prosecuting religious minorities with impunity; sectarian divide amongst Muslims is taking a very heavy toll as well.

The civil and military oligarchs that have ruled since independence have consistently deprived the people of Pakistan of their economic rights. Today should be the day for introspection, to judge where did we go wrong.

Ironically in a country whose founder was a paragon of tolerance successive rulers both military and civilian have shown no qualms in bending the law to kowtow to the obscurantist in abundance amongst our folds. Only recently the small Hindu minority was not spared from the ire and wrath of the zealots to prevent it from observing Holi.

The sad part is the very few politicians – including the ruling PML-N lot – had the moral decency to condemn the damning trend. Not only the leadership but even as a nation we have become desensitized to the plight of the persecuted Ahmedis and Shias. It no longer bothers us.

With the barbarians literally knocking at our gates to say that religion should be a private affair is asking for too much. The embryonic negotiations with the Taliban are to address their primary demand for ‘Nifaz e Shariat’ (implementation of Shariah) of their brand. The government’s narrative is that the 1973 constitution powered with the Objective Resolution gurtantees shariat in the country.

The recent edicts of the mullah heading the Islamic Ideology Council declaring child marriages and polygamy as true Islam in this day and age almost sounds pathetic. What is the need of such a Council when a vibrant parliament buttressed by independent higher judiciary exists to interpret Islam and make laws?

The biggest bane for the country has been the rampant use of religion in virtually every field of life. Ironically those who had opposed the creation of Pakistan in the name of Islam became the vanguard of ‘Islam is in danger’ brigade.

The exponential increase in the Saudi influence, especially since the advent of the present government, does not augur well for the prospect of inculcating enlightened values in the polity. The recent $1.5 billion economic dole out by the Kingdom has generated a debate about the nature of the strings attached.

The government insists there are none – and it’s just a gift to Nawaz Sharif!

Thankfully the prime minister has categorically denied any plans to send troops to Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.

 In the real world however there is no such thing as a free lunch. In the aftermath of Gen Zia ul Haq’s Afghan jihad and Musharraf’s embracing the West post 9/11, what is in store for the hapless nation this time? Certainly not enlightened Islam!

Criminal lack of planning on the part of our leadership is at the expense of future generations. The Tharparker famine is just one manifestation of the fact that Pakistan is now officially a water scarce country. On this count without a concerted plan things are not going to get better but worse with time.

Minister of planning and development Ahsan Iqbal has rightly warned that internal and external water threats need to be addressed urgently. The minister laments that under the Indus Water Treaty inflows in Eastern Rivers from India are on the decline.

March 23 should mark the return of democracy and semblance of constitutionalism in the country rather than merely to commemorate passing of the Pakistan Resolution.

There is a lot of talk of India damming up what is perceived as Pakistan’s share under the Indus Water Treaty. However the fact remains that Pakistan has not been able to dissuade its recalcitrant neighbour from illegally using the water as upper riparian. Our efforts to resolve the issue through international arbitration have also come to naught.

But we cannot blame India for not optimally using available water resources. Inflows from the Indus River under our control are being wasted away into the sea just because our squabbling politicians cannot evolve a consensus on how to share them.

We are told that Kalabagh Dam cannot be built owing to lack of consensus. Unfortunately thanks to mishandling by the rulers as well as the so-called experts this mega project is somehow perceived as a diabolical plan by the Punjabi ruling elite to usurp the share of smaller provinces.

It is estimated that about 35 MAF (million acre feet) of water falls into the Arabian Sea without any advantage to us. What a waste it is can be judged by the fact that presently seven dams’ collective storage capacity is now only 13 MAF.

A section of the media, especially some bleeding heart liberals, have played no small role in opposing construction of big dams (read Kalabagh Dam) in the name of saving the environment. According to their jaundiced thinking saving the mangroves of Sindh is more important than the children of Tharparker.

Unless the ruling elites evolve a consensus on pressing problems faced by the people, supremacy of democracy will be nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory. Reset of priorities by the civilian and military leadership is the need of the hour.