The winds of change and call for ending exploitation may finally release millions of oppressed who for centuries have been exploited in Balochistan, South Punjab, rural Sindh, parts of Central Punjab, KP, and tribal belt. Pakistan’s national security and economic progress can only be ensured if equal rights, equal opportunities and security of life are enjoyed by all citizens, irrespective of their caste, creed, sex and ethnicity as provided in constitution.
Inspite of the fact that numerous politicians from South Punjab have held important public offices ranging from PM, CM, Governor, Speaker NA, Provincial and Federal Ministers, this region continues to be deprived of education, health and other basic necessities of life. It is an area where politics is dominated by feudal, gaddi nasheens, big landlords, industrialists and those involved in crime, who by design never allowed education to spread there. However while these politicians send their own daughters and sons abroad for education, they have ensured that if any government has ventured to construct schools, the building is used for any purpose other than education.
Panchayats headed by feudal elite deprive justice to oppressed poor masses. It is an area with the highest number of ghost schools, notorious for crimes against women and forced labour. The powerful ruling elite of South Punjab fear that if masses get education, their political domination stands to be challenged. This void has been filled by madrassas, some of them serving as recruiting grounds for foreign funded fundamentalist involved in terrorism.
It is time the Federal Government ensured that the exploitation of the poor and crimes against women be curtailed through education.
TARIQ ALI
Dubai, UAE
