Muhammad Zaman
VIP culture in Pakistan exported Covid-19, but still Pakistani elite did not bother to get rid from this culture. Pakistani students studying abroad, particularly in China, were not permitted to travel to the country after the outbreak of the Covid-19 in the beginning of this year. However, pilgrimage from two brotherly countries were allowed to enter Pakistan due to the political pressure of the Pakistani elites on 26 February 2020. At the end of February only two positive Covid-19 cases were identified but no one was restricted to move and get quarantine. On 25 June 2020, the pandemic outbreak reached 192970 positive cases with 3903 deaths. A single day positive covid-19 cases reached 4044 adding 148 deaths. This pandemic started with exponential growth, but it turned to territorial growth. Sooner or later, millions of Pakistanis are or they will be victim of the pandemic but no one is held responsible for this outbreak due to the prevailing elite culture.
Pakistani elite considered themselves above the country laws and the state institutions either support or turn blind eye. One can find a series of cases of the reflection of the VIP culture. Every day, the Pakistani streets and roads are eyewitness of this culture. Either powerful people, their families, relatives, friends (even friends of a friend) or colleagues show their power with a word “tenu nahi pata main kon hon” (Don’t you know who I am)? Started from bureaucrats to politicians and the three pillars of the state’s representative enjoy a high level of elitism. Severity of the issue is not limited to these people, the academics (which are perceived to be intellectual of the society) and even the agent of social change are also “prisoners of VIP culture”. They hardly considered the law to be implemented on them. Some of the persons even are not allowed to mention and we are not allowed to point either. If one mention them, it will bring bad luck, criticism, contempt and even on the verge to cost one’s own life. Meanwhile, if some people know the tricks to play with the VIP culture, they may get real insight into this social phenomenon. If one can creek or peep in, he/she can see the naked reality. With the chip of VIP status, one can breach the security of any institution in the country or bypass every line. For this, only a few tips and resources are needed.
VIP culture is so penetrating into our indigenous culture that human values are becoming secondary. Masses are getting humiliation on roads, Government offices and public institutions. Everyday, we are watching video clips from all walks of life with the reflection of the VIP culture. Starting with the government vehicles number plates, bureaucrats, security personnel, politicians to the private persons are using vehicle number plates and enjoy the VIP status. These persons wanted to show that they are superior creature and rest of the public is inferior. The country is for them and they are born to rule. This is the colonial legacy that has historical transition since the British master entered in the Indian Sub-continent and it has indigenized into our tradition and value system. Those who have power or upper-class status perceived inherited right to enjoy the VIP culture.
It is high time that the State of Pakistan should decide to make every citizen equal as per the Constitution of 1973. No one should be above the law and every citizen must be considered an equal person irrespective of their clan, ethnic identity, caste, creed, colour, race and belief. They should be given equal human respect, honour and social status. The first step could be to abolish all the symbols of the colonial legacy. Using green colour, red and blue number plates for vehicle should be banned. Those elected or bureaucrats place their name plates on the development projects on the cost of the public money must be highly discouraged or they should pay for it. Anyone who claim superiority must be discouraged in the state institution and state offices. Every kind of VIP protocol must be banned because they are the source of insult for a common man and to the taxpayer. We gave examples of the Western countries and ideal Islamic culture but hardly anyone practises in Pakistan to abolish this curse. Once we have equality and no VIP culture, we will be promoting best practices for every public sector organization. We would have less chances of future viral diseases (like Covid-19). To abolish the VIP culture was the agenda of the current Government, but perhaps it is forgotten agenda. Government should realize that it must fulfil its promises to the common man. Once the VIP culture is abolished, the gap between the state and society can be bridged. Emerging dislike against government and public institutions can be reverted. Public hormone and sense of ownership to the country be enhanced by abolishing this obscenity.
—The writer is Chairman, Department of Sociology at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.
