A 13-member Full Court SCP Bench, headed by CJ Qazi Issa, has given a judgment, and irrespective of our individual likes or dislikes, we must accept it graciously. A country cannot afford perpetual polarization at the level, this country has been embroiled in. The drums of war, in what has become a tribal feud, must stop beating. Every political leader and head of state funded department or institution, must take a step back and dismount from his high horse. This country does need such distractions. Pakistan is far more important for collective welfare and security of over 240 million citizens, than the egoistic pursuits of a few, in their game of thrones. While the print media is regulated by their editorial boards, the electronic media, as yet, has not been able to regulate itself. Anchors of private channels need to understand their role as moderators, while journalists and reporters should report facts, to keep their viewers informed.
Analysts on these Talk Shows must give an unbiased opinion and not assume role of opinion makers and lobbyists. People still remember the leaked, off camera, conversation of two such analysts, receiving instructions for a fixed interview, of a powerful Land Developer, who has been facilitated by every government (civil and uniformed), in his irregular acquisitions of hundreds of thousands of acres of state, forest lands and holding of poor individuals. It is the role of investigative journalists to unveil such gross illegalities, instead of choosing relatively soft targets. The ease, with which they openly take name, of one of the most powerful constitutional office holders (CJP Pakistan), while not daring to take name of powerful few is embarrassing. They should refrain from indulging in sensationalism.
The SCP was hearing a petition filed by SIC, which sought its right on reserve seats. In their wisdom their Lordships went beyond, what petitioner sought, to give relief to PTI. Earlier Peshawar HC 5- member bench had upheld the ECP verdict denying SIC claims on reserved seats. Article 187 States that “If a question arises as to which High Court shall give effect to a direction, or decree of the Supreme Court, the decision of the SC on the question shall be final”. The Judges have spoken through their majority judgment and we must accept this whole heartedly. In the words of senior counsel Mahmood Awan “They may approach important questions with certain biases, or approach preferences, but in the end, they are only dispensing justice, without fear and just a little bit of favour”. The fact is that only 39 elected members of NA, had in writing, mentioned their affiliation with PTI while submitting their papers to ECP, while the others left this column blank.
It is hoped that sanity will now prevail amongst all political parties, including PTI, PMLN, PPP, JUI, JI, MQM, ANP etc and the Establishment of this country. They must focus on addressing monumental problems faced by people of Pakistan, rather than being engaged in this Snake and Ladders game, which has been going on for decades. In this nation of over 240 million citizens, only 5.2 million filed tax returns in 2022. With a lot of arm-twisting by IMF, the number has barely increased to 6.1 million, which is not enough to sustain expenditure, leaving no space after debt servicing for public sector development, salaries and pensions of government employees, both civil and uniformed. This deficit is met by taking more loans, embroiling this country in a debt trap and is a recipe for disaster. State sovereignty gets compromised when a country is hammeraging under pressure of debts, with no realization by ruling elite of the gravity of crisis.
The Wholesale and Retail sector constitute almost 15% of GDP, yet paid a paltry Rs24 billion in taxes during period July to May 2024, which is just 0.001% of the tax due from them. Yet even a nominal levy of 2.5% Withholding tax on all sales is being resisted by them, with the help of their facilitators amongst all major political parties, without any exception. There was not even a single prominent Opposition parliamentarian, who raised this issue during the 2024-25 Finance Budget in NA. As of now, even the FBR has not included imports in its taxation proposal. The entire trading chain from manufacturers to retailers, and the big landlords must be brought within tax-net. This country must focus on providing subsidized primary education to all citizens. Funds need to be diverted to achieving this constitutional obligation, instead of distributing Electric Motor Bikes etc. High-cost projects, like glass floored trains, need to be held back for the moment.
There is no place for politicians with arrogance and stubbornness in any nation. We need to emulate Quaid’s politics, whose unbending commitment to the struggle, succeeded in carving out from undivided India, a separate homeland where Muslim majority could live in peace and harmony with members of others faiths. In Jinnah’s Pakistan, all citizens were to have equal rights, with liberty to practice their faiths, in accordance with their beliefs, as long as they do not infringe upon rights of others. When he had achieved this objective in 1947, he included all those who had been elected from their respective constituencies, including those who had opposed him as members of First Constituent Assembly.
Unfortunately, those who had no role in AIML political struggle (including the paid civil and uniformed servants of the state, trained by Colonial Raj to serve interests of Britain), and majority of religious parties who opposed AIML, became self-assumed custodians of its ideology. Pakistan has suffered because of this distortion. The politicians need to take a lead in austerity. When Bullet Proof cars with Electronic Jammers are at their disposal, why should there be a fleet of protocol cars. If Chinese officials can use their affordable smart phones, why cannot our bureaucrats follow suit. Men slave to their misplaced egos have no place in Pakistan’s hierarchy.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
