Daily Times

“For my own part, I openly declare that I am not convinced, and that I do not believe injustice to be more gainful than justice, even if it were uncontrolled and allowed to have free play. For, granting that there may be an unjust man who is able to commit injustice either by fraud or force, still this does not convince me of the superior advantage of injustice, and there may be others who are in the same predicament as I.” — Socrates in Plato’s “Republic”

We are living through a season of task forces which are debating the ways and means for bringing about improvement in the state of governance in the country. A credible undertaking, indeed, but must we continue living under the illusion that the purported improvements can actually be realised through the mechanism recommended, and that we may yet bask in the glory of justice returning to a society, which has been systematically ravaged of the very roots of its life cycle, and the rationale of its creation.

Dialogue reflects the essence of the growth of a society into becoming a vibrant, just and formidable entity. It is in expanding the scope and enhancing the reach of this key constituent that we can strengthen the process of undertaking unceasing engagement within various echelons and ranks of the people, deliberating means and mechanisms of integrating disparate and variously-endowed sections into a functional and cohesive unit.

Looking at it from another angle, a smooth and equitable functioning of the society, would be principally dependent on the trust, that its constituents would repose in its working, and those who are entrusted with the task of doing so. It cannot come about through the issuance of diktats which remain inherently unjust.

Now there is a realisation that the system has rotted to an extent of rendering it visibly dysfunctional; and needs to be seriously reviewed. We must also be clear that it is not through incorporating cosmetic changes that we can alter the way this country has been administered. And, if that were the idea behind the undertaking, it would be better not to proceed any further as the exercise would be a sheer waste of time and effort.

Whatever has filtered out of the deliberations of the committee, which has been entrusted with the task of suggesting reforms, in the way civil services operate in the country is strewn with the malady that, yet again, superficial changes will do the trick and nothing substantive is required to be done. There are people sitting on the committee who, besides a few inane changes, are promoting the continuation of the system as it has been through its multiple phases dating back to the creation of the country.

On occasions when you are among a bunch of such people who have all retired after rising to the highest positions within their respective domains, one is struck with this nauseating feeling that this lot sees little or no wrong in the way the civil services have functioned in the country. The arrogance they exude emanates from an assumption of them having descended from an unknown and out-of-reach celestial formation. The repeated assertion they take recourse to is that they are perfect: they do no wrong, they can do no wrong.

The ‘Gora Sahib’ is no more who ruled by dividing.The ‘Brown Sahib’ is here who rules by pretence, chicanery and bluff. I am reminded of Plato’s dilemma: “Is the holy loved by the gods because it is holy? Or, is it holy because it is loved by the gods?”

When pressed in a discussion to come up with corroborating evidence in support of their often ludicrous contentions, a typically repetitive argument they often regress to is “but, you don’t know”. This comes as a testament of the ultimate reality of their ill-gotten authority. Beyond that stretches the domain of the unbeknown. As one of my friends from the committee tells me, what is planned is to administer this lot with cosmetic doses of some miracle drug and then sit back praying for them to transform.

The ‘Gora Sahib’ is no more who ruled by dividing. The ‘Brown Sahib’ is here who rules by pretence, chicanery and bluff. I am reminded of Plato’s dilemma: “Is the holy loved by the gods because it is holy? Or, is it holy because it is loved by the gods?”

While there are multiple other factors which have contributed in no small measure to the existent shape of the state, the part played by the bureaucracy has been a key one. It has cunningly re-defined its role from being servants of the state to becoming servants of the ruling elite, thereby furthering their financial and consequent political interests.

Not only do they establish partnerships with those winning the elections, they play a role in their electoral victory also. They join hands with the political elite to become players in a game of power; which would prolong their career beyond the stage of retirement. From being the baboos lording over policies and their implementation, they become advisors and consultants post-retirement to ensure that these continue ad-nauseam.

So, it is not a question of a few people who need to be reformed. It is this mindset stressing on their celestial ancestry – their pretence of being the smarty-pants and the know-alls – which needs to be addressed. This is no easy task. It cannot be undertaken by a committee comprising people of the same clan.

There is a need to dig deeper into the malaise we know in this country as the civil services. If some people feel that, by replacing the existent brown with some other colour, we could address the malady and that people from this community would, thenceforth, begin doing their job in complete conformity with the spirit and requirement of the service they represent, they are in for a torrid shock.

The ailments are sunk in deep which are directly linked to making substantive profits, alongside enjoying the perks of power. Such benefits are never voluntarily surrendered. These have to be taken away by devising a system that would, on the one hand, stress on the induction of professional merit alone and, on the other hand, ensure that there is no misuse of authority, by formulating and implementing a mechanism of sustainable checks and balances.

Another important step that the government needs to take immediately is to incorporate drastic improvements in the existent judicial system for ensuring expeditious results.

If the first few days of the government are any indication, we are in for a long and arduous slog with little hope of any substantive change for the better. The bubble of reform may burst even before assuming any definitive shape. Sad, indeed!

The writer is a political and security strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think-tank. Email: raoofhasan@hotmail.com. Twitter: @RaoofHasan

Published in Daily Times, October 2^nd 2018.