Democratic Revenge
Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto and PPP came into power in 70s with the slogan Roti, Kapra and Makan. Those were good old times–things have changed now–from roti, kapra and makan, our nation’s requirements have come down to Bijli, Atta and Cheeni.
It is only common sense that PPP needs to change its slogan too. PPP and all the other parties should feel easy–people are lowering their expectations, they are demanding now, what was readily available in 70s.
The new party slogan should be, we will keeping providing you what is available now, and also will work on providing what was available in 70s; Bijli, Atta, and Cheeni. When the rest of the world is moving ahead, we are starting to focus on the basics; Bijli, Atta, and Cheeni. Our government’s focus should be to not take away from people what they already possess now; although I can not name what that is–may be dall, and provide to them what was available in 70s.
It would seem natural that the government would focus on doing at least something regarding those new basic needs. But that’s too much to ask. The current government and the previous democratically elected governments never came into power to govern, to deliver; they came into power to enjoy, to have fun, to make money.
The democratic governments in Pakistan come into to power to take revenge; revenge on people who voted for them; revenge on people who did not vote for them; revenge on their opponents, and the line goes on and on–to quote President of Pakistan, “Democracy is the best revenge”.
You have got it wrong Mr. President, democracy is not the best revenge. The best revenge is deliverance. The best revenge would have been if you had delivered something; tried to deliver something; tried to provide some relief for poor and destitute. Mr. President, the problem is that you seem to think that people should be happy just by the fact that it is democracy and you are in power. That’s not enough.
It would be interesting if someone could ask President or Prime Minister, why did you want to run for election? Why did you want to come into power? There is utter lack of response from this government; it seems like people in government don’t care at all. They are sure that they deserve to be elected, no matter what they do, or don’t do. Our leaders want to come into power so they could be famous more; they want to come into power, so they could tour foreign countries on taxpayers’ expenses; they want to come into power, so they could tell the rival families from the other parties–that they have the upper hand at the moment. Our leaders come into power for all the wrong reasons, none of the reason involves serving people–serving country. The results are in front of us.
If people have set any hope on the opposition party, and in this case PML(N), they are bound to be disappointed. There is no difference between current government and opposition. The only difference is that one party is in government and the other one is in opposition. If the roles had been switched in the last election, when it comes to governance, the results would have been same after two years.
There is only one solution when it comes to dealing with these bizarre rulers–people should have their own revenge–come election in three years. They should have their revenge on both PPP and PML(N); they should go for something new, something not tested yet. May be MQM, may be PTI, may be some other party. Mr. President, that would be the best revenge of all.
Image Credit Abro @ Flickr
This post was submitted by Umar Tosheeb.
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