!We have a
dream
Mohammad Jamil
On 14th August 1947, Pakistan emerged on the world map as the biggest
Islamic country. But Congress leaders and brute Hindu majority did not
reconcile with the new reality, and planned to destabilize the nascent nation.
Thousands of Muslims were massacred, women raped and abducted, and unprecedented
exodus of Muslims towards Pakistan ensued. Once again in 1971, India through an
international intrigue disintegrated Pakistan first by training Mukti Bahini
cadres to create turmoil and later direct invasion of the then East Pakistan.
Of course, Pakistan proved its resilience against all odds and after 65 years
of its emergence as an independent country, Pakistan today is an atomic power
with the credible delivery system.
Allama Iqbal had dreamt of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the
sub-continent and his dream was converted into reality by Quaid-i-Azam with the
backing and support of the vast majority of Muslims. As envisioned by the
Quaid, Pakistan was to be a modern Islamic welfare state where a free and
independent people would enjoy equal rights without discrimination on the basis
of religion, sect, ethnicity or gender. Though 14th August is the day to
rejoice, as on this day we got freedom from the British Raj but it is also the
day for introspection, self-accountability and evaluation as to how far we have
been able to live up to the ideals set by the founding fathers. Quaid-e-Azam
had envisaged a free, progressive, humane, and modern Pakistan, ruled by just
laws, rooted in the eternal values of Islam, and at the same time responsive to
the imperatives of constant change. However, our ruling elite have brought the
resource-rich country to the brink. Pakistan has indeed all the ingredients to
make it a welfare state, yet majority of the people are living below the
poverty line. The question is where did we go wrong?
Unfortunately, Pakistan lost its Quaid and other founding fathers too
soon, and conglomerate of privileged few, feudals, bureaucracy and new-rich
industrial robber barons devoid of political acumen and vision took over the
state. The only redeeming feature is that Pakistan is now an atomic power, and
its people and armed forces have the ability to meet any challenge posed by
internal and external enemies of Pakistan. And they have the capability and the
will to defend the integrity of Pakistan. The problem is that many an element
is out to create confusion, and we still are obliged to listen to the debate as
to the purpose for which it was created, though it has completed 65 years of
its existence. The fact of the matter is that on 14th August 1947 we got rid of
the colonialism but fell a prey to neo-colonialism due to flawed policies of
various governments in the past.
Since 1950s, we had to depend on the West for our development and
defence, and the dependency syndrome was evident after 11th September 2001
events when Pakistan was coerced into altering its foreign policy. The
internecine conflicts amongst political parties and lust of power of the
politicians and some power-hungry generals had resulted in three martial laws
in 1958, 1968 and 1977, and another military dispensation in 1999.
Unfortunately, the people got a raw deal during Martial Law and suffered in
equal measure during the tenures of democratic governments. It was because of
internecine conflicts of political parties and then formation of alliances
demanding of the military to overthrow the elected governments. Another reason
being, the degeneration had crept in every stratum of society with the result
that the nation faces spectre of terrorism, corruption, nepotism and
lawlessness. However, the people of Pakistan have not lost hope their spirit is
alive and kicking, and their dream lives on.
The question arises as to what should be done to rid the society of
inertia and corruption? Can Plato’s managerial meritocracy help? It may hold
good in services but political exigencies demand far greater than what is
provided in that discipline. Leading the people in their pursuit of political
freedom, self-governance, economic independence, evolution of a vibrant society
and progress in the fields of science and art requires different categories of
leaders. Pakistan needs a type of leader that first believes in certain
principles he practises what he believes he upholds those principles and is
accepted as an exemplar for others. Such leadership only could reach the hearts
of the people and bring about psychological changes in their outlook towards
life. It inspires them to unite with a view to transforming the society and
changing the system for their social, material and spiritual well-being.
Unfortunately, our political parties are being run as personal fiefdoms, and
their leadership remains in the family members of the founders of the party.
In Pakistan, barring a few honourable exceptions, most leaders lacked
political acumen, leadership qualities and sense of direction that brought the
country to the present pass. Pakistan today finds itself at the crossroads. And
to meet the internal and external challenges and threats to its security, it is
imperative that the nation is united. Moreover, all pillars and organs of the
state should work to convert moribund society plagued by corruption,
immorality, inertia, factionalism into a progressive, vibrant and dynamic
organism brimming with vitality and creativity. Allama Iqbal had given the clue
as to how to achieve this laudable objective, and underscored the need to
reinterpret Islamic thought and assimilate its eternal principles to overcome
centuries-old stagnation with a view to launching the nation on the path to
revival and build a future worthy of its glorious past.
Despite many odds, we, the people of Pakistan, have a dream that one
day this nation-state will exert to implement the concept and the ideals of our
faith --- Islam.
We have a dream that one day the legacy of British Raj will be
eliminated and bureaucratic and aristocratic classes will merge, through system
of socio-economic justice, into one class of people simply known as Pakistani
nation.
We have a dream that one day our nation-state of Pakistan will assume
the actual meanings of its configuration, as envisioned by the founding fathers
and will not be identified with one of the most corrupt but with civilized
nations of the world. We have a dream that one day this nation-state of
Pakistan, sweltering with the heat of injustices for over half a century will
transform into an oasis of freedom and justice. We have a dream that one day
this nation divided on various lines will grow into a garden depicting unity in
diversity.
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