Pakistan is in a state of constant decline. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted Pakistan to be a modern Islamic state where there were social justice, equality, and supremacy of law. He did not live long enough to translate his dream into a reality. Pakistan has been declining ever since the death of the father of the nation in 1948. Instead of becoming a modern and prosperous Islamic state, Pakistan has become synonymous with corruption, sleaze, nepotism, lawlessness and bad governance.
The death of Mr Jinnah and the resulting palace intrigues threw the country into an unending ‘critical phase’ from which it has not come out so far. It has perhaps become locked in an infinite time loop and gradually losing its capacity to break free. Perhaps there never was a normal functioning of the country. Out of one problem and headlong into another.
Once again we are hearing about the ‘most critical phase’ in the history of the country and there are reasons to believe that these cries are not without justification. Unbridled corruption, shameless nepotism, arrogant contempt for the rule of law and utter disregard for transparency in running the affairs of the country have sapped the lifeblood from the country. Business activities are taking a nosedive, investment is not coming and capital is fleeing from the country at a lightning speed.
Institutions after institutions are becoming bankrupt and there is not enough money to pay even the salaries and pensions of the employees. Pakistan Railways has become a dead horse. Pakistan Steel Mills is in an economic crisis and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has become a white elephant. It is feared that other institutions will take the downward plunge in the coming days.
They only source of income for the country is perhaps American aid, taxes from the salaried class and oppressively high indirection taxation on items such as petrol. The level of corruption in the government should be realised from the fact that the foreign countries did not even give any financial assistance to the government of Pakistan at the times of natural disasters such as heavy flooding due to torrential rains.
How long can a country survive on foreign aid, grants and loans from international donor agencies? Pakistan never pursued a national programme in order to fulfil the dreams of its founding fathers. We have always been playing second fiddle to the demanding foreign powers and set our own home on fire.
In the backdrop of falling business activity and failing national institutions we saw big public meetings in the country. Imran Khan took the country by storm when he organised a successful public meeting in Lahore largely attended by young and educated youth who roared at his voice to eliminate corruption from the country. Meanwhile, the MQM leader addressed a huge public rally in Karachi taken out in support of the beleaguered PPP and its leader President Asif Zardari. The thrust of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s speech was that change should be brought be peaceful and democratic means as extra-constitutional steps may harm democracy itself. Altaf Hussain has also been saying constantly that Pakistan is on the threshold of a public revolution and he has been exhorting the younger generation to get united for the revolution.
Is the country really heading towards a revolution as these politicians claim? PTI chairman Imran Khan lamented that a poor man burnt himself in front of parliament building but the incident did not stir the feelings of any parliamentarian. But he failed to see that tragic death did not weigh heavy on the conscience of the people of Pakistan as well. In Tunis one man burnt himself in his desperation against oppression and corruption and it jolted the country into a massive force that ushered a public revolution in the country.
Pakistan as a country is ripe for a public revolution and perhaps only a revolution can break the infinite time loop in which it is trapped. The French Revolution was precipitated by economic factors. The nobilities and the clergy were in possession of unimaginable wealth but they did not contribute in any manner towards the national exchequer. The common people had to bear the heavy yoke of taxation.
The situation in Pakistan is remarkably the same. The common people, particularly the salaried class, have to bear the burden of heavy taxation whereas the ruling feudal class does not contribute anything in terms of taxes even though they control political power and major economic resources in the country. This ruling feudal class has accumulated vast landholdings and amassed immeasurable wealth through corruption that may be described as broad daylight robbery.
(To be continued)
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