Fools' paradise
Posted on 11 months ago
Zardari unveiled a precious gem from his repository just after the birthday of Shaheed BB. Yes, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is the new prime minister (PM) of the country.
It is mind-boggling that Zardari mafia could not find one suitable, honest and good-faith candidate to fill the vacant office of PM within their party. Perhaps, in Zardari's opinion and belief, the hapless common man may yet shoulder more back-breaking burden of false promises, load shedding, lawlessness, festering economy, and above all, corruption. If there was any faint hope of prosperity and welfare, it has vanished into thin air. The common man must brace for more blood-sucking leeches, this time with Raja Pervaiz in the forefront.
Who is Raja Pervaiz Ashraf? Do we not remember him as giving date after date before the flashing cameras to rid the poor man of dark ages? Yes, he held the portfolio of federal minister for water, and power. He was the main architect of rental power projects (RPPs) so that the average man can step into the 21st century leaving behind the dark ages. We are still in dark ages, but he has travelled at a lightning speed and illuminated his personal life with ill-gotten worldly benefits on the crutches of RPPs. Like his political master - Zardari - who was once "affectionately" known as "Mr. Ten Percent", he is now known as "Rental Raja".
"Rental Raja" as the new PM confirms the moral, ethical, intellectual and political bankruptcy of Pakistan People's Party (PPP). PPP was once the party of the ordinary man, and became the strong and unmatched symbol of democracy and constitutionalism. The unprecedented achievement of the party to date remains the formulation of the 1973 Constitution. PPP brought the most formidable intellectuals and well-respected political opponents of that era to the table for formulating the 1973 Constitution. Unfortunately, PPP's downhill journey began with Shaheed BB's marriage to Zardari in December of 1987. Since then, PPP has been blighted with the heavy clouds of graft, corruption and blatant disregard of rule of law and constitutionalism.
The former, discredited PPP PM, Gilani, refused to fulfill his constitutional duties. He failed to write the letter to Swiss authorities for two reasons: (a) PPP would not permit a trial of Shaheed BB's grave; and (b) he was protecting the Constitution as PM. The first was designed for political consumption on the streets to arouse political sympathy of PPP supporters to safeguard Zardari from his wrongdoings. The second was pregnant with legal contours. Its underlying motive was to brainwash the masses with the notion that "Mr. Ten Percent" enjoyed presidential immunity under the Constitution as long as he remained the President.
Is the new PM a cure for all the ills plaguing our beloved country? Given his past and present political performance, there is no need for fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, and astrologers for the answer. The common sense must prevail. "Rental Raja" is a political minion of Zardari's corrupt political fiefdom. He will neither work for common good nor will he recognise the gravity of the circumstances in the role of PM. "Rental Raja" will never write the letter to Swiss authorities requesting them to reopen money laundering cases against "Mr. Ten Percent" who is complacently adorning the office of President, the emblem of unity of the nation, riding on the coattails of "Bhutto legacy".
A tanking economy, rising prices of daily-use commodities, severe lack of opportunities for growth, and lawlessness are suffocating the masses. The once shining horizon is becoming darker with every passing moment because Jinnah's dream is turning into a mirage. The only silver lining in this dark cloud of despondency is Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) led by the well-groomed and Oxford educated leader -Imran Khan.
Imran Khan embodies all the requisite skills and credentials to be the next PM of Pakistan. He made the nation proud when he led the Pakistan cricket team to its zenith in 1992 World Cup played in Australia. He has built the state of the art Shoukat Khanam hospital to provide the poor and needy the best medical treatment. He has laid the foundations of Namal College and dreams of making it a knowledge city on the model of Oxford. If history is a witness to Khan's steadfastness, resolve and ambition then in near future he will successfully complete the knowledge city better than Oxford.
PTI and Khan Sahib have stood the rigours of political trials for more than a decade. Many honest mistakes were made in the face of political tribulations. The biggest mistake was when he welcomed the coup d'etat of Musharraf against the then PML-N government contrary to the norms of democratic and constitutional systems. Perhaps, he thought that the successful journey to the hallowed corridors of powers required unconstitutional means rather than the power of votes. Sooner than later, he realised his mistake and tendered his apology to the nation. Since then he has been working tirelessly to win the hearts of people through his political philosophy and ideology. He now understands that the barrage of political hardships must be overcome in the political arena by triumphing over the minds and hearts of voters. For that, he is wiser, more experienced and ready to lead the nation.
It may seem nostalgic, but even now after 22 years, if you catch a glimpse of the video footage of Imran Khan lifting the 1992 World Cup; it fills the heart with an intense feeling of pride and nationalism - rare in our history. There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that with Khan Sahib at the helm of affairs, the nation may begin the journey of conquering the moon and as a logical conclusion the land of opportunities as envisioned by our forefathers.
The next general elections are approaching fast. Are we going to keep whining that we just keep getting these fools - Zardari and his gang of thugs - over and over again? We are to blame for the present situation. Unless we muster courage as citizens and take a leap of faith, we will remain in this bondage.
We are slaves by choice - living in these fools' paradise. The fools are merrily drunk on the sweet blood of Pakistan.
"Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power."
— George Bernard Shaw
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