The only thing we seem to learn, is that we’ve learnt nothing
“All I can say to my dear country-men is everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made, if you want a different result, make a different choice.”
There have been many bad legal moments in Pakistan’s history. Some amendments were poorly conceived; some were cruel and unjust; some were sold on false pretences, some were all of the above. Sixth amendment by Bhutto in 1976 was the beginning – and Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi was the first victim of Bhutto through this amendment.
But has there ever been anything like the Eighteenth Amendment? The legislation PML-N and PPP rammed through the House during Zardari regime. It’s a miserably designed law, full of unintended consequences. It’s a moral disaster, snatching the rights of the highest forum of the country (The President) and snatching basic rights of millions mainly to give the Prime Minister, a trillion-dollar cut, power and all rights to play with the fate of the country.
What really stands out, however, is the dishonesty of the whole effort. As far the nation miserably couldn’t understand, every word, from Z A Bhutto to down, why have amended the constitution, which favours the rulers or disturbs the system. The only point conceived is; every ruler dreams and tries to remain in power for their life time without any dispute, rather they want to form a hierarchy, to enable their children and then their children to remain in power.
The concept started from Z A Bhutto who was preparing his daughter Benazir for the purpose. Unfortunately or fortunately Benazir had to step into politics after the capital punishment of her father in 1979. Then after her assassination in 2007, instead of some senior party leader, Asif Ali Zardari pushed a nineteen years old boy into politics and declared him the Chairman of the party, even changing the sir name from “Zardari” to “Bhutto”, but keeping the strings in his hands as the Co-Chairperson. Perhaps it was important to keep a grip on the party (PPP). Now, young, immature and adolescent Bilawal is being pushed by senior Zardari and all the 70 years old pawns to be the prime minister of this ill-fated country. For Bilawal, it seems, a dream come true. What about the nation?
On the other side, Nawaz Sharif is trying to remain in seat for the next two decades at least, moreover he wants to be the King. So was his thinking and planning rather had started working in 1999, to be the King of the country. It’s not his fault; it’s the persons around him who out of flattery and obsequiousness have implanted this novel idea in his slender brain. To nation’s good luck, in 1999, General Pervez Musharraf challenged his misdoings, and the country was fortunate to get saved from this step. But, to be the king directly or indirectly remains in his mind. Induction of Maryam, in his cabinet without any portfolio but equally strong as himself, is a unique example of his imperial thinking.
Then, there’s a third domain, Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz. Shahbaz is holding the office of Chief Minister, Punjab since 2008. No doubt, his working towards development of roads and infrastructure is commendable, but nothing for the education and health. Here also people have the same fear; His son Hamza is equally powerful as Shahbaz, rather MPAs complaint that for all their prerequisite or work it is obligatory to contact Hamza.
If, we take the example of Yousaf Raza Gillani, as soon he took over as Prime Minister in 2008, his sons, Abdul Qadir, Musa, Qasim and Haider immediately came into the flash light as the “most influential product” after the President and the Prime Minister. They all got the best benefit out of the position.
So was the case with Pervez Elahi, his son Monus Elahi was the Punjab’s “strong man”, looking after all the affairs of the government as powerfully as his chief minister father.
The really important thing, however, is not just to realise that a few families are breaking the law and system, but to realise that they are doing so with intent of hierarchy. This isn’t one of those cases where people try to do what they said they would, but fall short in the execution. This is an act of deliberate betrayal: Everything about such act is specifically designed to do exactly the opposite of the democratic norms and basic rights of the general public.
Hereunder are the faces of the main players, co-players and those who are starving for the hierarchy in the Pakistan’s political game of “Ladder & Snakes”. Imran Khan is a fresh face in this game, and people are looking towards him with a new hope. Nawaz Sharif is the first generation, playing for the last 35 years, with a little creditability of development but at the same time people are afraid of his imperial thinking, snobbish and authoritative attitude and incapable team. All the others are second and third generation, and; unfortunately they or their older generations have been unable to deliver anything positive to the country, rather have risen; poverty, hunger, illiteracy, instability, insecurity, injustice, un-employment, racism and hypocrisy.
This raises two questions: Why are they doing this, and why do they think they can get away with it?
The answer to the first question is, presumably, simple greed.
As for why they think they can get away with it; time and history have proved that nobody bothers. For those who think, proper payment plans are there to keep them shut-up. And those who don’t have to suffer legal battles and unforeseen problems. Right from Z A Bhutto to the present regime, the same tune has been orchestrated for opponents and all those who became a threat for the government. Imran Khan should strictly be aware of this fact.
And on a more subjective note, don’t people get the impression that a few politicians get pleasure out of captivating people who make the mistake of trusting them for a ride? Isn’t Imran Khan right to convince those same voters that the illegal acts will continue occurring if Nawaz or Zardari become law and somehow again play the same “musical chairs” game?
In any case, let’s be clear: What just happened during past four years should be treated as another case of the cynical political deal between PML-N and PPP, otherwise situation may have been different. A clear challenge from Imran Khan requiring an answer for the corruption made by the strong players of national exchequer during 2008 to date was badly sabotaged by both PML-N and PPP, benefiting each other.
“History is a vast “early warning” system, but only thing we learnt from the history is that we learnt nothing from the history.”
On the other side, after the ruling on Panama Papers, the attitude of PML-N ministers and others is immature and juvenile. The revelling was premature: The case still has to go to the JIT and back to the court, and analysts have already highlighted the immense risks that come with rushing through an overwhelmingly unpopular decision.
But there’s another, more immediate, level of risk involved in the decision: what it means for the rest of the party agenda. Far from unifying behind a strong prime minister, it may end up driving them apart.
First of all, the real takeaway was not the political blunders of Pervez Rashid and Fatmi, but the intensity of PML-N infighting, even on an issue where the party was supposedly unified. In shooting down the first version of the Dawn Leaks and pushing through a more draconian revision, the hard-right House Caucus showed that, not the ministers, PM’s daughter was the determining factor on this issue.
Why do people vote for politicians like the lot we have?
Humans are social animals who thrive on reciprocity. It’s in our nature to be socially obliging, and the word “no” feels like a confrontation that threatens a potential bond. But when we dole out an easy “yes” instead of a difficult “no” we tend to over commit our time, energy and finances. In our country, masses are poor and under debt of the feudalism; agriculture, industrial or political, whom they can’t say “no” out of obligation or may be some unknown fear. Secondly; illiteracy in the society has deep rooted and badly spoiled the thought process and decision making. Thirdly; there’s a saying “little knowledge is always dangerous” and our masses gather knowledge thought media, may be newspapers, channels or through the so called wise and intelligent “Anchors” and “Analysts”, who are unable to fulfil their duty positively except a few.
It’s very important to educate people that; in democracy, people should not be afraid of their government, governments should be afraid of their people. The day when our nationals are able to understand its real meanings, fate of all the politicians will indisputably be changed. Otherwise this nation doesn’t have the right to complain about the political hierarchy system; it will continue and someday Bilawal’s son or Maryam’s son, capable or not, would be holding the office of the Prime minister or the President. And the nightmarish process will continue.
History is a vast “early warning” system, but only thing we learnt from the history is that we learnt nothing from the history.
All I can say to my dear country-men is everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made, if you want a different result, make a different choice.
