Is this democracy I asked myself when I saw the by-election results of the country? Is this what we stand for? Is this what our image will be when it is carried forward and then is it not right that we, are treated by other nations the way we are? The winning candidate went with a vengeance against those that had lost and the general toadyism was a credit to no one.
What would a Good Samaritan do under such circumstances? The least that could be done was to show some compassion for the losers, something that we have lost even in sports. We are so full of ourselves when we win and so overwhelmingly abusive when we lose that it is a tough reminder to us that sports is not played for winning or losing but for its own sake. What the hell can you do when a nation is blind in the ears and deaf in the eyes - yes the organs of the body have lost their function? Over the years we have lost whatever decency we had. Do not show me the holes in your socks for I do not give excuses for my misdemeanours nor do I take one. One does not have to justify anything. It is better to own up to someone who does this sort of a thing.
As a Punjabi I accepted the role that we have played in the various distorted activities of the country but that does not place me in that category and I do not have to absolve myself of the sins of others. The elected representatives may be asked to explain their expenditure statements. They may be able to explain the beating that a presiding officer took from one of the female candidates. If this is the state of our mothers that stand for democratic rights then before the ECP takes any action why was action not taken by the party whose reputation was destroyed? Macho macho unladylike activities cannot be condoned. It is a crime under the election act. So we are seeing, we are watching...
What happened in the constituency of the PM where his son was standing and won? Why was there so much weaponry and why the hype and whether the police on duty checked the display of weapons. Are they allowed to be shown much less used? Should the sins of the constituents visit the election personal? In Mardan, I am told that the weapons were in full view, even three days before the Election Day? So why should a few hold the majority mortgage? Why may I ask should there be a rule if it is not going to be followed?
Now that the elections are over, shall we try and understand what stands up for us and to us. We have broken our land once, shall we try and break the land once again by our stupidities? Is this all that we stand for? The trust that stands fractured will be much more difficult to recover from its current low ebb. The Baloch will not stand for the people as have created mistrust. The 'bhondapan' has to end somewhere. Money cannot be thrown any more. Its utility has come to an end? Margaret Meade stands in the way through her anthropological studies where capitalism has managed to manage the tribal system? The use of capitalism is very subtle. It does so easily and well without disturbing the system as such. Well, Pakistan has tried everything and does not have to do anything more by way of oppressive behaviour towards the Baloch.
How does one recover freedom in our times? If you think that Pakistan and its people are free you have another guess coming. Scholars have gone before us to give off their experiences and their views on the issues that are at hand. The problem with Pakistan is its lack of scholarship in anything. We do not add value to anything that we touch, leave alone the mental side of things. The tongue wags but that is not the tongue of the head. For if it was, things would have been better for a tongue that operates from the head seeks reason and decency as its format. Are we a nation that has no value addition to whatever we do? The value of nothing may seem attractive but it is fatal for a country. It must grow horizontally as well as vertically if it is to keep peace and pace with its population's aspirations. For now rest a while and pray that we get somewhere without any more amputation [s]. The media plays its role as if it is the cat's whiskers and they have not done anything but well for their country. The visual pictures were anything but decent. What is news are the sordid happenings taking place in the nation. Is that any way to deal with the situation?
To build a nation do we need elites? Can these elites be from the pedigreed classes or should they be from the nouveau riche? Are the specialised cells able to do something for the nation? The perplexing aspect is that the singleton specialist is no longer able to do its job well enough. That controversy of the specialist and generalist has been laid to rest and it is no longer tenable. What is required are men of exceptional ethical context? Where are you likely to find such people and who is going to locate such people even if they were available. Search but who will search? Not these parochial persons that are sitting in exalted places. Can one look for the scientific elites? That horizontal and vertical knowledge grounding has not come to us. We are what we are, still living in a world where degree is all that is required for a job and no further grounding, no further education. Islamabad is an ideal place to see rich, very rich housing but very few houses have any love for books. The book trade is in shambles and no one seems to understand the value of knowledge. The Higher education commission was never on target and never will be, for it led to the siphoning off resources for the rich and the powerful.
The western way of life has added to the difficulties, for now one has to live as westerners. For centuries our ancestors lived where they were born and now the cities and institutions do not reflect indigenous ways but the ways of the west. The chaks and chakooks are evidence enough and yet no planner will stop at the powerful elites request for overhead bridges and underpasses. Multan, Lahore and other cities are full of them? Is time saved by these measures or are these only follies that we follow. Chicago has the most number of overhead passes and the place is lost to pedestrians. Is decision-making improved by having a rich infrastructure? Are your mental faculties more operative? Is mind a function of infrastructure? Infrastructure is about movement, it's about time saving and conservation and better utilisation of time.
Much was expected from the Pm but that has not been the case. Why? Is blame to be apportioned to him? Yes? Shall it be his staff? But then the argument is that he picked his own staff. Were they worthy of the trust that was placed on them? Cheat him in governance matters? What should be the punishment for lies and deceit? Inefficiencies created by wrongful placement of personal and of favourites? Was there an error of judgement or wilful neglect by the elites in picking the wrong horses? But then the PM never played the horses or did he? Do not rub your hand with glee, the CM's are not doing any better.
They are as guilty as any body in the federation. Choice is always difficult for one has to undergo metamorphoses. Looking for Greek and Roman elites. Even these nations had their bad times. It's a wake-up call for the Pakistanis for the rich have another option up their sleeves. Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz are enjoying these riches at our expense. The average Pakistani has had it. The poor average marginal people will be again taken for a ride. So what? Will there be a France-like revolution or a Khomeni-type? Keep guessing.