Monday 1 October 2012

The Horrors of Our Modern Feudalistic Socitiey



It is interesting to note the current political standings of PTI and PML-N. A year ago we could see PTI gaining some fast ground, evolving as a convening point for the youth of this country while PML-N was staggering, befuddled by the so called Tsunami and the change in political climate it harbingered. PML-N being a party with a strong political acumen and a history filled with shrewd mass-moving ideology has, it seems, steered clear of the devastating effects of this political tempest. Building on the motor way made a decade back, the PML-N seems to believe that infrastructural developments are the easiest way to capture the eye of the public. Who cares about the educational and health policy of Imran Khan when it is not there in substance? Our myopic public seems to have decided that new bridges, laptops and a glittery new metro system are key indicators of a developed country. I believe that we have not let PML-N and its strategists down; we have once again proved to be materialistic whores who can be bribed into anything.
The feudal system of the past has metamorphosed into a far horrendous form in our ‘civilized’ cities. The status quo remains the same; the class difference has exacerbated over time. Our politicians seem to have resisted any change whatsoever to their feudal mindsets: if we educate them who will we rule? Therefore we, as a nation, have forever been denied education, those who revolt against this status quo, are crushed and discarded to be forgotten and in some cases to be made examples of. Imran Khan, is the most recent protagonist against this existing system, and the system is doing all it can to shun him away. When I went through the educational and health policies that PTI recently presented, my only concern was: who would allow him to implement these policies? They are good, no they are EXCELLENT! For a change these policies have been drafted by people who have strong educational backgrounds, superb professional experiences and the necessary political foresight to implement these policies and not by the usual failed politicians.
I am no expert but from what I have observed I believe that only education is going to help our country at this stage. Starting from today it would take an entire generation to run its course before we see any considerable improvement, it is an investment I concur, but a mighty good one. It would ensure our survival and would make sure that our economic and political future is secure. While infrastructural developments (read building bridges and metro bus systems) are signs of developed nations, they sure are just superficial if THOSE are the only investments a nation is making. Especially in a country like Pakistan, major investments have to be made on making sure that the public has access to basic necessities like education, health and food. Imran Khan has to resist these power-mongers and make sure that he does all he can to one day implement these policies.

Thursday 30 August 2012

The Paradox of Independence


It is so naive of us to think of our nation as being free, it is almost hilarious when i see our youth celebrating 14th August with the so called “riwaiti josh-o-jazba” and it’s insane when our leaders tell us that we are sovereign. Bound in the shackles of slavery, entwined in chains of servitude, we are nothing but a horde of animals being driven by external forces. It is saddening to see that even after 65 years of 'dependence' we haven’t learnt anything! Nations elsewhere are progressing rapidly; we are being driven in to the abyss of destruction. Call me pessimistic, call me ungrateful or call me unpatriotic my notions of celebrating are not limited to updating my facebook status, riding bikes or delivering empty speeches.
Instead of spending all that money on flags, we could have bought many starving a delightful meal, instead of burning all that fuel we could have gifted some poor person who travels miles in torn shoes a pair of slippers. But NO we have to make the world record by making the biggest flag! Independent nations don’t need to prove that they are independent; it is almost as if we are in some sort of complex and we try every year to prove to ourselves that we are free. It is of course healthy to come together and celebrate! But the question remains: celebrate what? 65 years worth of failed governments? Our millions of poor people? or the load shedding?
I am at a loss for words when I see our prime minister ‘assuring’ people that Pakistan is an independent country. You don’t need to assure that sir, the fact that you are there in that PMs Chair is proof enough of my freedom!
It has been almost three years and I have gone status-less on facebook, have stopped wearing a badge, stopped buying jhandis and flags because I think that this is pointless! Instead I believe a better idea would be to give away that money! Oh right! What good will a hundred rupee do to a poor person? I am sure that is a ‘valid’ concern for most of us, what we don’t consider is that
a)      A hundred rupee note buys 20 Rotis (surprise that can actually help a starving family)
b)      If we do this collectively it can actually help
As an economics major, one thing that attracts me about Islam is the Zakat/Sadqa system. There is a perfect trickle-down effect in the economy that helps with the rotation of wealth. Pakistan, I am sorry ISLAMIC republic of Pakistan, was supposedly a country based on Islamic principles, sadly we couldn’t even apply the most pragmatic ones. There is still time to reconsider our values and our priorities; else we will be celebrating a hundred years of our Independence with the same Josh and Jazba without achieving anything substantial! 

Friday 30 March 2012

SOLD! price: one laptop

An excellent ploy I say-giving laptops free of costs to the students of Punjab! I mean I am just impressed! There used to be a time when we used to buy entire villages for just a plate of 'daigi biryani' and bottles of coke! What has it come to now? Laptops! But yeah that's understood even the cheap whores standing on the roadside charge more with time and we are no less than them whores now!

give me a laptop, plaster a sticker of 'SOLD' of my forehead and move on- the line is pretty long you may have to sell half your empire to buy them all. But no wait! Wait! Wait! wait! They are giving us something that was always ours! RIGHT? But why would I want a laptop if my family doesn't even have access to the basic necessities? In fact where am I going to charge the damn thing! 12 hours of load shedding later? Why of course!

Inflation has hit the nation!

Even them politicians face the toll! Imagine! If my mom goes on shopping and instead of buying food for the month she buys a shiny toy for me I would be happy for a few hours but then eventually I will scream for food! You get the analogy? Why of course we are all so smart! We all get it but we will still be SOLD. No?

A better thing to do to win our hearts would be to actually give a DAMN about us! Solve our basic problems! Food. Water. Electricity. Education. Health. and yeah then if you have some left over funds you can buy us laptops. One major problem with our politicians today is that they are trying too hard. Imran Khan has such an impressive following not because he is giving out candies! It’s because there is substance to what he actually says! Others need to take a leaf out his book!

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Load shedding tears

Dil jis ko diya who england chali gayi

Pyar jis se kiya woh Italy chali gayi

Dil ne kaha khudkhushi ker lo

Hath switch mein diya tu bijli chali gayi





When the federal minister for water and power Naveed Qamar announced to the awestruck nation that there would be no more load shedding from 7th February onwards, I was one of very many to believe this farfetched remark. It is fascinating to note that from that day on, instead of there being no load shedding, it actually has picked up to an extent that was never seen before. Abbottabad alone, the city where I sit writing this seemingly frustrated piece, witnesses over 12 hours of load shedding each day. The capital of KPK, Peshawar, observes an outage for every alternative hour of the day.

Were it a true democracy and its Minister would have broken such a blatant promise, there would have been questions asked, the minister would have been held responsible for hoodwinking the people. But no! Welcome to Pakistan, welcome to country where we accept without questioning, welcome to a nation that can be swindled by anyone and everyone, be it the military, be it the corrupt politicians or be it criminals, welcome to Pakistan. The way this country is being run, the way it is being exploited is disheartening.

Most disturbing is the attitude of our people towards the entire predicament. Instead of going out on the streets, protesting, they laze in front of warm fires making up such forward messages as written above. True they are bored but they are not this helpless, no nation can ever demand their rights by ignoring the problems that they face. It is time that the nation should act in a way befitting a democracy. We will forever remain a developing country (read failed state) if we do not, ourselves, do something to save this country. Load shedding is one of many issues facing this country, united we can deal with them, but by ignoring and disregarding them completely we won’t get anywhere.