The show must go on
Ali Ashraf Khan
Believe it or not, our politicians have not only made a mockery of
democracy, but even the head of our entire nation is hung with shame for
the government having let down the aspirations of the people which had
been expressed in their mandate to the two majority parties PPP & PML
(N) in the 18th February elections. The leaders of these parties instead
of facing external pressure more steadfastly as elected representatives
of the people appear to have accepted foreign dominance even on our
sovereign issues, while the countries with vested interest in Pakistan
are twisting our tail like a band master publicly. The “advise” to our
government is given through media, because the foreign power is not shy
to admit this intervention. Each time there was a deadlock on any issue
connected with “democratization” “reconciliation” or restoration of
judiciary to the 2nd November 2007 position a team of officials and
diplomatic corps become active.
The PPP and PML (N) were first trying to build up hope in the people
that as a result of the Bhurban declaration and its re-iteration from
Dubai, the judicial crisis will be solved and the moment Justice
Iftikhar Choudhry and others get back to their jobs democracy will dawn
upon us from the heavens. We want democracy? Yes, but don’t we want
first to eat and feed our families, to switch on the fridge’s, lights
and pankhas and see the many economic and social problems, which are
piling up in this country for last two decades are at least identified
and addressed on what our general used to call “war footing” to provide
instant relief to the common man? This was promised on assumption of
office as an ulti-sidhee gintee (deadline) in the first 100 days relief
package of Prime Minister Gilani’s government. Nothing like this has
happened so far, what people have experienced is twice an increase in
fuel which has led to twice rise in commuter fares by Rs. 2/- each time
– the rest is left to the readers imagination. What are the priorities
of this government? What are the priorities of the voters who voted this
government into power three month ago? In Punjab and NWFP PML (N) and
PPP both contested these elections with the main slogan of restoration
of judiciary and economic relief to the common man, but then,
three-month ago the economic situation hadn’t been yet so dramatic. The
voters who then thought all they need is the re-instatement of the
judges and thus voted for PML (N) and PPP, surely have changed their
opinion by now after seeing their leaders under pressure not only
because of such facts of life like rising prices for food and energy,
scarcity of certain food items, weakening law and order situation. But
also because of the interference of the American factor who seem to be
opposed to the re-instatement of the judges and the CJ in particular. A
broad based national consensus government without a transparent
declaration of its aims and objectives was not understood by the leaders
nor the led. What have the major coalition partners achieved so far?
Neither is there any progressing in the reinstatement question nor have
any positive steps been taken in the direction of solving or tackling
the economic and financial crisis of the country. This is a complete
betrayal of the people and their woes by a political class which is by
its financial situation and its social standing sharply divided and
alienated from the majority of the Pakistani population who are poor,
live under or close to the poverty line and are daily exposed to a
hazardous life consisting of rising prices in all sectors, decreasing
job opportunities and income, lack of clean drinking water, missing or
insufficient health care and educational facilities.
Coming into power for the third time the politicians of both parties
have proven as true what was feared from day one: they are old wine in
old bottles and no change, no relief is going to come from their side
for the common man although a battery of yes-men have been saddled in
top positions for their loyalty with the leaders. And this situation has
been expected actually since the cobbling together of this coalition, an
alliance of parties, which have nothing more in common than the quest
for power. Expecting the breakdown of this coalition on account of the
looming deadlock the PML (N) ministers are reported to have done nothing
in their respective resorts since their installation, obviously waiting
for the day of resignation to come. Especially precarious the situation
is in the economic and finance ministry where the demon has been let
lose to destroy the left-over in the shape of an unprecedented rise in
the dollar-rupee parity, an almost daily increase in the cost of atta,
daal and other items so much so that tariffs of utility services like
PTCL have been raised and rail and commuter fares increased. The
national budget is due to be presented for discussion in the assembly in
less than a month time. Who is going to prepare it? Again, in
expectation of the coalition to break the bureaucrats of the finance
ministry complain that they have been lacking support, guidance and
advice by their minister for several weeks before the actual
resignation. Is this the mandate, which the people have given to these
coalition partners in this election against the pro-Musharraf party,
which has been made redundant in a calculated manner? The inactivity of
the newly elected government in other sectors like measures to balance
the price hike, to avoid scarcities of food items in certain regions,
power crises in Karachi & Punjab, a major factor is complete neglect to
assist and revive the jammed wheels of productivity without looking at
the WTO requirements because industrial revival is our necessity and
textiles value added export is our lifeline, which needs government
support, and recently currency crisis has been criticized cursorily in
the Senate by both opposition and treasury benches. Actually nobody
dares to bring the facts to light, which have been causing the
precarious situation of today in the past. Often the same officials who
are responsible for this criminal neglect and failure in the past still
occupy the cozy cushioned seats of policy making in corridors of power
till today and results one can imagine, chaos all around.For instance,
the Worlds largest earth filled dam, the Tarbella Dam, was commissioned
to its half capacity in 1973-74, due to technical blunder, which has
remained under the carpet, when Pakistan was only utilizing 25% of its
hydro power generating resources and the per unit cost was as low as 12
paisa per unit, we were generating only 4825 MW as against a capacity of
20, 777 MW from hydel till 2000. The West masterminded a propaganda
drive that these dams are a threat to the ecology, these reservoirs
evaporate into clouds leading to untimely rains in Europe and elsewhere,
so put an end to it. The real reason behind it was that just because
these dams were labour intensive and the major cost was consumed locally
as work force fees the foreign donors were unable to siphon off major
portion of financial aid provided for the dam. Instead, the World Bank
decided to promote diesel and thermal power projects, and a line of
thermal and diesel power projects mushroomed just because more than 65%
of cost of projects would go back in purchase of machinery and
contractors, the pollution of gases was ignored, which is a major issue
of US election 2008.
All those problems, which we are facing, are serious enough to demand
the full attention of the ministers of the respective resort. Another
big mistake our rulers made was allowing these big multinationals to
open super and mega markets stores, which have wiped out even the small
vendors, now what is happening is these groups are the cause of hoarding
of agricultural produce and an escalation in prices. The English daily
“Washington Times” has revealed that there is a move of the powerful
nations to use aggressive policies to secure the required food supplies
from the source countries, through foreign investment in Agricultural
lands, while their Pakistani lackeys may spell this also as a life time
opportunity to sell out our agricultural land, which we have neglected
so far to these foreign companies to come and explore agricultural
produce and meet their own requirements and starve the local people as
has been seen in Africa and elsewhere. These neo-colonialists had gone
there as traders and later threatened their sovereignty. Beware of these
moves, try to identify who are the real gluttons devouring the world
resources for colonization in one way or the other, let’s protect our
sovereignty and try to stand on our own two legs instead of foreign
crutches. Vital decisions, which will pave the way of our economic and
financial management into one or the other direction, are to be taken.
The fate of this country and our children is decided here and now. The
wrong decision or a missed direction will reap fatal results long after
this government has gone and its members flown out to retire in comfort
or make their money somewhere else. But what about the country, its
hapless masses and their future generations? Even small mistakes and
omissions will have to be paid far dearly by those who come into power
afterwards. I am sure this was not the idea of the founders of this
country and this is not the object of teeming million who are living in
sub-human conditions and electing the same parties again and again. Time
has come when a revolution will steal the march and then you will see
Pakistan retaking its dignified place in the comity of nations. One
thing every political and social worker must always remember that
Sovereignty over the World lies with Almighty Allah alone and nothing
can change that order today or even tomorrow.
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