Naseebullah Khan
Have we ever peeked into our colors as to why a nation has been struggling for 75 years despite of abundance of natural resources, ecnomic potential, having remarkable strategic location, etc? That what went wrong? That, are we sincere with our country, with the people, and even with ourselves? The answers are certainly not. Every individual with except to some (equal to none) is hungry after getting more and more money and power by hook and by crook at any cost. Corruption, violation of rule of law, hypocrisy, theft, boarding, cheating, artificial price hike, and self interest have penetrated our minds and hearts. Every other person is in strive to pull the other fellow beings into deep wells. The struggle of mine and thine has resulted in societal degradation and brought it at the verge of devestation as if we have been living in the stone ages. The general concept of common good has vanished while humanism has been suffering for petty self advantages. Lust of power and money has bandaged our eyes. From public institutions to private organizations and family institutions___ a struggle of gaining more power and economic benefits are the orders of the day. For which, if we donot abide by law and dent human and moral values, we don’t care. Educational and healthcare sectors have become money earning machines and butcher houses. Not to talk of a poor, even the upper middle class family can neither quench the thirst of getting their children educated in private schools nor can even think of availing healthcare facilities in private hospitals. This distinction is a huge blow to the wishes of our forefathers who had dreamt of a social welfare state based upon the values of equality and fraternity. How pathetic the situation of governance and corruption is that with in a short span of 2 to 3 years many Dams have bursted along with myriad of bridges that have been swept away by current flood. Thousend of KMs of roads have been wiped out alongside many governmnet buildings during the current flood. This marks a black sting on the performance of the responsible departments. Shamelessly, in every religious festival or calamity, the prices of commodities are increased with a rocketing speed. The hoarding, decreasing the supply of commodities to the market so that to increase the artificial inflation and then compel people to buy at high costs are daily routine. During the current flood the price of a tent increased to 300 percent from an average rate of Rs 4000 to 12000. Being Muslim we are against Riba. Despite many reasons for denouncing Riba, one of the basic reasons is that through Riba the needy people are blaickmailed and that their needs are being spoiled by those Riba providers. In the case of artificial price hike and hoarding, are the needs and misiries of the people not spoiled? Regrettably, we are not accomplishing the basic norms, values, and even religious obligations. The menaces of lust of power and money have deeply penetrated us for which we have forgotten even humanism. There is a huge difference between what we say and what we do. Hypocrisy, tug of war, corruption, bad governance, theft, cheating, flattery, etc. are at their peak. Owing to which, we have been short of progress, peace, prosperity, tranquility, equality, fraternity, rule of law, and humanism since 1947. Truth in short supply will lead us to nowhere
