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Pakistan a divided society

By Aslam Naru - posted Tuesday, 15 April 2008


There were many political prisoners in the Fort kept in inhuman conditions who went through nightmarish torture for 11 years of Zia’s regime from 1977 to 1988. Several were executed and many did not live long after their release.

Ms Benazir Bhutto, as Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988, threw their sacrifices in the dustbin of history and awarded medals of democracy to those who were their erstwhile tormenters-the perpetrators of worst human rights violations. Some ex-prisoners were harshly treated and baton charged while holding a rally in Islamabad.

I often wonder: how can those occupying the seats in parliament as the people’s representatives, who have not earned a single day’s bread in their lifetime, fathom and solve the real issues haunting the masses in their day to day lives? One needs life experiences to understand the common man’s problems.

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The election games that the ruling classes play among themselves are no more than gambling. No sincere and right thinking person has the courage and the money to jump into this kind of election fray, which is devoid of real manifestoes and has an absence of meaningful debate on issues directly affecting the lives of common man.

The political history of Pakistan is witness to the fact that, each time, when the people manifest their strong desire for a peaceful political change, the “mock” elections, which have nothing to do with people’s representation, are held. In this way the people’s wishes are subverted by both politicians and military rulers: then the countdown starts again until  the situation once more comes to a head and the rulers are challenged. So the cycle continues.

The system does not allow people to participate in the decision making process. Consequently, democratic culture cannot take root in our society and the people have no real choice but to elect the representatives they believe can bring the most urgent change.

It is unthinkable in 21st century that a teenage boy studying at Oxford and knowing nothing about Pakistan could be the head of our main political party. The people of Pakistan, no more than slaves, have been bequeathed to him. The media and the civil society activists should come forward to challenge the hold of a few families on our politics. The corrupt are carefully assembled in the top committees of our political parties and their rubberstamps approve all the undemocratic decisions taken by the party heads.

Working people rely on mirage-leadership time and again. It is relevant to note that Peeri-Mureedi culture (worshiping of graves) practiced by our elite and copied by the common man has deep penetration in our political culture. Historically, Pakistani society’s cultural traditions have reinforced its faith in power and authority as a solution of all problems.

This is reflected in our daily dealings with each other in the way we ask for favours directly from authority, or through our elected and influential people, rather than on our own behalf. The prevailing feudal value system of submission and loyalty in our society, which suits the ruling clique, needs to be uprooted.

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In conclusion, the concerned citizens of Pakistan need to wage a campaign to awaken the people from their slumber to realise their potential and to wage a struggle for their rights, under their own leadership and banner. Success appears to be certain as forces of change are fast emerging on the political horizon of Pakistan.

I challenge all the frontline leadership of Pakistan People's Party for debate on any TV channel questioning their ability to find a workable solution of myriad problems faced by the toiling masses whose wealth is being squandered by “Mandela” and his cohorts.

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About the Author

Muhammad Aslam Naru PhD is a Fulbright Scholar, a Prisoner of Conscience during 1982, Amnesty International Member Central Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto), an ex-member of the Central Executive Committee, Pakistan People's Party, and the Pakistan Delegate to the United Nations 31st General Assembly Session 1976.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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