Declining Politics and Civil Society

Malik Muhammad Aslam Awan
Politics in Pakistan is a most cursed and maligned subject. The underlying reason is dilapidated norms of Politicians. Being virtuous, upright and sincere is the cardinal feature of every arena of life and same is the core principle of politics. But unfortunately after the creation of Pakistan, those who posed themselves as politicians were devoid of human traits and their selfishness staved off the ship of state and the ship went rudderless, without goals and destination to be arrived at. Selfishness has a
destroying effect on the whole civil society. Politicians had drawing room meetings with each other and in these behind the curtain meetings made planning and devised ways and means maneuvering to illegally snatch power from the then existing clique in power corridors. Societies based on principles of equitable norms, Justice, fair play, forbearance honesty had formidable foundation to stay for long and move rapidly to achieve goals of accelerated prosperity, harmony, peace and tranquillity. Honest Politicians are a guarantee of civilized society, Justice and peacefulness. Crooked politicians have
overturned the whole strata of civil society. It is a dilemma with Pakistan that the decoits have worn mantle of leaders but in reality they are enemies of civil society as well as of the country. When we recall the democratic system, we always refer to UK and USA. Politicians of these two countries come forward to hold the reins of state, only to serve, not to fulfil their vested interests. Pakistan is a country where politicians spend 50 to 100 million in their elections and after having won the seat first satiate and replenish their thirst and from beginning to end leave no stone unturned to benefit out of shabby resources of the country. Analysing the politics of Pakistan one would have to face disappointment,
since the freedom of Pakistan, we cannot refer to a single politician, who proved his mettle and earned the title of dead honest politician. After Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-Millat Liaqat Ali Khan Pakistan had not the honour of having a single honest leader. Fearlessness is the outstanding trait of an honest leader but selfishness make leader, compromising and bowing before pressures of disgruntled elements. Fearless, honest leaders make nations move forward with undaunted zeal and fervor and achieve national goals even at the cost of their life. Life has no other meanings, motives but
to earn the Will and Blessings of Allah Almighty. Those who lost their life in the way to earn the pleasure, blessings of Allah Almighty have a great reward, one can dream, and called martyres.
Unfortunately condemnable practices and norms have developed in politics and civil society of Pakistan. People don’t have the strong realization of the fact that their vote is going to make change or bringing total annihilation to the country, as a whole. Civil society in Pakistan is fragmented and don’t have the sense of their collective responsibility to vote to the honest and sincere person. A large number of government servants are involved in making embezzlement in national exchequer. Almost all departments make tendering and promoting the practice of embezzlement and foul play in awarding contracts. In same way government contractors execute sub-standard work, having life less than one
year which is a dilemma with the civil society. It has been observed and experienced that 1/10 is spent on construction work and 9/10 is distributed between the supervisory officers, Engineers, SDOs – XEN’s and a large portion goes to the vault of MNA, MPA, in whose name funds are released to build roads, buildings and other infrastructure. Even Police department, which has been established by Hazrat Umar (R.A) for maintaining law and order amongst citizens has been made a tool in the hands of politicians to
liquidate their political opponents, to make the writ of law null and void and establish the writ of their own hegemony while implementing the whims and wishes, the police officers, cross the limits of law and make embezzlement in the police funds. To curtail the lawlessness and observe the law and order situation safe city Projects were initiated but the cunning police Officers made embezzlement of billions and third class cameras were installed, whose vision is either blurred or totally inefficient to give clear
image, in the search of criminals after any sad incident and occurrence of serious crime. Billions are allocated to police department to maintain law and order but a big bite goes to the stomach of big wigs of the department. None has the guts to unearth, rake out and highlight the police scams. If a Journalist or patriotic citizen will exhibit the mettle his existence will be in high risk because the police gang may make assassination attempt on his life or implicate him in numerous false, baseless and vexatious cases
to make his life a bed of thorns. To sum up the system is so rotten and fatigued that it will take long cumbersome struggle to bring reforms to the benefit of common citizens. Synopsis of the above malpractices of politicians and civil society reveal that politicians as well as a large part of civil society is responsible for the decline of politics and civil society. We will have to make hectic efforts to execute a change in civil society and for the fulfilment of this sacred mission, Justice and police system require a
radical changes, to award stringent punishments to those involved in criminal, social offences, irrespective of the consideration of their political affiliation.