Naveed Aman Khan
I am convinced that we, as a nation, should not pray for the country and the nation at all because our country and the nation don’t need it. If we want to make Pakistan a great country we will have to stop praying for it. I have been visiting many developed countries since long. During the last two years, I have visited different cities of China, Russia, Oman, Ireland, Scotland and England. Most of the people are atheist in Russia and China and don’t believe in God. They strongly believe in science and scientific education. They scientifically calculate and measure the universal dynamics. They are optimistic and practical. They have transformed themselves with the help of most modern education and digitized technology. They don’t believe in fantasy or imagination. During the last fifty years, with their practical approach, positivity and hard work they have touched glory of development and supremacy in every field. At the time of establishment of Oxford and Cambridge universities, the rulers of the then United India had been busy in fighting, keeping hundreds of girls and constructing tombs for their beloved ones and that’s all. Education had never been their priority. This is why when British East India Company reached the sub-continent it found the rulers and masses illiterate and uncivilized. This caused the rule of Britishers in the sub-continent.
Just let me know today who prays for Israel, Singapore, South Korea, China, Canada, USA, Norway, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia and many other developed countries? Countries are not built by prayers but with a visionary approach of leadership. Most modern education, sound health, attainment of sophisticated high and low technology, merit and justice-based policies and practices make nations twinkling. The Creator made His Universal rules and He would never break them no matter how long we merely continue praying. Universally might and glory is attained only with practical advancement in the right direction. If prayers could change the fate of a nation, Palestine would have been free and Israel would be begging for rights from the Palestinians. Pakistan would have been a superpower giving loans to China and the rest of the world. KSA would have been selling weapons to Israel. Iran would have been landing on the Moon. Egypt would have been leading the film industry ahead of Hollywood. Syria would have been the hub of world’s research & technology. Afghanistan would not have been a leading exporter of terrorism, narcotics and refugees. Issue of India- occupied Kashmir would have been resolved according to the will of the Kashmiris. Independent Kashmir and Northern areas of Pakistan would have superseded Switzerland in tourism. Bangladesh would have joined back and become united Pakistan. Nuclear India would have been destroyed by nuclear Pakistan. Donald Trump would have been hanged like Saddam Hussain. Obama would have been teaching at Quaid-e-Azam University as a Professor. Mark Zuckerberg would have been complaining about his visa refusal by Pakistan. But unfortunately what happened to the Muslim world especially Pakistan is disgusting and discouraging.
Please stop praying for Pakistan and start working hard for it. Let’s start with hard work, honesty, tolerance, merit, justice and perseverance instead of praying. We pray but we tell lies, we deceive others and brutally treat human beings. We need to think and review our behaviors. Please don’t chant mere hollow slogans like Pakistan Zindabad. Practically make it Zindabad. Prove the world how we can make Pakistan Zindabad and unexplorable. Prove how bravely we can take India-occupied Kashmir. We need to prove how we can make Pakistan politically and economically stable. Tell me how is it possible? Give me the way how can we become a civilized nation and harmonious society? Just let me know how we can practically touch the level of space exploration? Just tell me how can we end the miseries of the deprived masses? How can we forget our petty differences for the sake of the nation? There are many examples of the developed countries and civilized nations. Can’t we follow any example of any successful nation? In the contemporary world all the models of governance are successful. Kingdoms, Presidential and Parliamentary systems all over the world are successful. Here, in our country democracy and dictatorship both couldn’t deliver up to the expectations of the masses. Where lies the problem? Why don’t we understand the difference between an ordinary thief and a political and bureaucratic thief?
The ordinary thief steals our money or ornaments etc. But the political and bureaucratic thief steals our future, education, health and livelihood. This is so hilarious that the ordinary thief chooses whom to rob but our rotten system and we ourselves choose the political and bureaucratic thieves to rob us one after the other no matter who is who. The most ironic aspect of our filthy socio-political and bureaucratic system is that law enforcement institutions chase and nab the ordinary thieves but, the same institutions look after and protect the political and bureaucratic thieves of their choice. That’s the travesty and irony of our society and, we blindly say we are not blind. The stupid part of the whole issue is that people fight against one another for the political and bureaucratic thieves of their choice. Here, in our country thief runs after thief. It is not a mere matter of political and bureaucratic thieves we actually have long been surrounded by the power houses and mafias also. Other than the masses who decide who will remain in power for a specific period. On 12 May 2007 during Musharraf rule PMLQ leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi accompanied Musharraf in Islamabad power show bluntly stated that they will make Musharraf President of the country in uniform for several times. Recently, PTI Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry in the National Assembly has announced that Imran Khan will remain Prime Minister of Pakistan till 2028 knowing Parliamentary elections of 2023 and 2028 are too far. Tragically, none in the National Assembly interrupted Fawad Chaudhry’s rhetoric. If IK rule is decided and announced till 2028 then what is harm in continuing beyond?
—The writer is a book ambassador, columnist, political analyst and author of several books, based in Islamabad.
