Our Pakistan is a unique and extraordinary country in the world. Undoubtedly, the partition of the Indian subcontinent was a startling event in modern history, resulting in the establishment of Pakistan. In this nation, established democratically for democracy, dictatorship has also been abundant, and the people’s love for democracy knows no bounds. Consider this: the nation has endured four military regimes with complete equanimity in the 21st century. The dedication to democracy is such that in the first half-century of Pakistan’s existence, it has seen half a dozen nationwide democratic movements. Additionally, there is a remarkable history of continuous struggle for the freedom of the press.
The majority of intellectuals and journalists adhere to the democratic philosophy that “a bad elected ruler is better than the best dictator” so fervently that they still welcome former corrupt rulers with open arms. Popular politicians have fit right in with all their corruption and civil dictatorship. Here, dictators can neither rule in peace nor can elected rulers, who from day one of their power to the end of their term, feel insecure. The opposition, frustrated with “democracy,” starts reminiscing about dictatorship, and when military rule appears, elections are seen as the solution to all problems. Then both the angels and the looters call for democracy together. In our beloved Pakistan, the military engages in politics, and politicians engage in trade. Our popular vote-bankers have even elevated politics to the status of an industry, which is why the friendly opposition waits for its turn.
Some pragmatic businessmen openly say, and many think, that just as trade is the best of all occupations, in trade, the most profitable business is politics. This business operates on the political-commercial theme of “Send money, send it quickly, as much as you can; the nation is with us” and never stops. To halt it, either the military has to be called, or it comes on its own. As for the public, their political fate is to flock to the polls, prepare feasts for military revolutions, distribute sweets, first rejoice, then die from inflation, or become martyrs in the democratic movement. This is the role of uniformed saviours and political traders in governance, and the 78-year account of public participation. The book of our beloved Pakistan, prepared from this account, is full of wonders. Each page is so astonishing that it compels one to exclaim, “This is our beloved Pakistan.”
In the cities, life and property are as insecure as feudalism is strong in the villages. Whether it’s Islamabad or Karachi, the diplomatic properties of global peace brokers are not safe, nor are the five-star hotels in Lahore and Peshawar. Feudal lords, cloaked as politicians, along with political traders and uniformed saviours, and the media that alternately glorifies and condemns them, have collectively crafted such a system of misrule for the beloved public that the most capable individuals are forced to flee across the seven seas. Those who remain are sidelined. The standards for measuring ability and incompetence have been changed. The unqualified and incompetent are elevated to the heavens, while the capable and sincere are made to sit on the floor.
Oh, democracy of Pakistan! In your reign, there are ghost schools in towns and villages, where teachers are absent yet drawing salaries (because what better arrangement could there be for free education?), and for the children of the “honourable elite,” there are schools charging five to fifteen thousand rupees in fees, where hundreds of masters are being trained to solidify their mastery. In our beloved Pakistan, there are splendid motorways for those with big cars and for the unemployed, practically every street is a “Thokar Way,” where they stumble and fall.
In this strange nation, those who have embezzled billions and secured them in foreign banks are, thanks to the NRO, once again occupying the highest positions in government. Meanwhile, those who have defaulted on millions in loans from Pakistani banks roam free of accountability, while individuals with loans of just four to five lakhs stand terrified in the banking courts, fearing the confiscation of their five-Marla homes by the state and the handcuffing of their guarantors. One major political party, claiming a substantial vote bank, boasts during its election campaign, “We have rid the nation of load shedding and darkness.” However, once in power, they have devoured trillions of the nation’s funds under the guise of rental power plants, benefiting their “IPPs” in the name of capacity charges. They have unleashed another atom bomb of corruption without any scrutiny, causing electricity bills to hit the public like a lightning bolt and sparking an endless wave of suicides. Over half of these power plants are mortgaged to foreign entities, ensuring that their private plants continue to operate under this cover. The poor people’s lives have been incinerated by this electricity, while their bank balances gleam with a new brightness and light. This is the state of Pakistan, which is beyond comprehension. Here, two plus two does not equal four; it sometimes equals ten, and at other times zero. Its founder is a historical figure like Quaid-e-Azam, and its creation is the result of the intellectual prowess of Sir Syed and Iqbal.
In our villages, petty councils issue orders for attacks on Mukhtaran Mai, declare innocent girls to be given in marriage as compensation (Vani), and under the orders of our tribal chiefs, helpless individuals like Tasleem Solangi are thrown to dogs. Yet, our governments cannot lay a finger on these perpetrators. However, not even ten Advani’s, twenty Vajpayee’s, or hundreds of Manmohan Singh’s and Modi’s can dare think of attacking Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan’s Pakistan (Thank God). Remember, this is the same Dr. Abdul Qadeer who was forced to apologize to the nation on television by the orders of a dictator. This is because we are a strange nation, and Pakistan is a strange country.
My dear Pakistani brothers and sisters! This is the month when we gained freedom from the British and Hindus, but after that, the black Englishmen took over this country. Think! How long will this account continue? It cannot go on forever. End the calculation that sometimes results in zero and sometimes in ten from two plus two. Close this book. Let’s come together to write a new chapter where the answer to two plus two is always four, so our children can write another chapter that is accurate, and then their children will become experts in arithmetic. This will be the time when the world reads our book. Let’s write this book, seeking guidance from Allah. Break the idols carved by our (voters) and media. Come! Let’s search for piety, virtue, sincerity, competence, and honesty, and elevate them to the throne while casting evil to the ground.
Wake up, Pakistanis! Allah is with us. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa Lillah-il-Hamd!!!
اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُاَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُاَللّٰہُ لَاۤاِلٰہَ اِلَّااللّٰہُ وَاللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُاَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُوَ لِلّٰہِ الْحَمْدُ
Allah is great, Allah is great, Allah is great, Allah is great, praise be to Allah SWT.
