Democracy and dictatorship

Recently, it was reported that a two-headed snake at a Ukrainian Zoo, had become a popular attraction. The snake has two heads which are independent, and often snatch food from each other, even though they share the same stomach.

Although such a creature is rare in the animal kingdom, in the political jungle, such a creature has been very much in existence for quite sometime. The two heads of this serpent of menace are democracy and dictatorship. And in Pakistan, instead of being caged in Lahore Zoo, it enjoys a safari environment, residing in the Parliament Zoo.

The masses have studied and painfully observed this serpent for over 60 years. The dictator-head and the democratic-head engage in a struggle over which one gets the poisonous fruit (foreign aid) and control over the masses and the resources of the land.

Although they fight with their heads, they feed the same stomach, which is the US, which gets its desired prey as both heads (in democracy and dictatorship) implement the same policies and system which are dictated to them. Like the snake at the Ukrainian Zoo, this serpent too survives under special care.

We have witnessed carnage and mayhem under both dictatorship and democracy. From drone attacks to target killings, to commodity hoarding to ever-increasing rates and non-availability of utilities, like gas, water and oil etc. Everything has either remained the same or worsened.

It is about time, that the masses put these heads, where they truly belong – a zoo. However, replacing this serpent of menace requires an immediate alternative. This alternative can only be a system, which emanates from the ideology of the masses, and seeks to truly protect them.

ENGR SHARIQUE NAEEM

Lahore