Rafiullah Khan Tareen
It has been 70 years since Pakistan acquired independence from British’s colonialism. Have we got full freedom or enjoyed it in part only? Are people of Pakistan really free or they are enslaved by multiple forces like the unemployment force and terrorism force, say two of them? Has the motherland achieved its freedom in real essence or she has to try hard to grasp the essence of freedom? These are few questions which arise in the minds of all citizens of the beloved country.
Freedom brings about fruit in the shape of fearlessness. One of the characteristics of free nations is lack of fear, in other words. Are citizens of the state living their lives without fear of life and property? I guess the answer is in negative. No parents when contact their off-springs ask them to enjoy themselves because it is Pakistan, instead, take care of you because nothing is certain in here. All the four provinces of Pakistan are on the target of terrorists, one doesn’t know when and where a bomb will detonate, and claims numerous lives. Life is uncertain. Danger of bomb blasts and target killings increase in days of religious and national festivals like celebrating Independence Day.
Pakistan got independence but yet to get freedom from the visceral military-bureaucratic rule. It is fact that Pakistan has been ruled directly by the military dictators for time period more than the half of her existence and subtlety for the remaining years. It is hard challenge for the civilian leadership to get rid of the colonial structure of Praetorian-Mandarin nexus and make this nexus under the control of civilian authority in spirit and letter not ceremonially.
Pakistan is chained in the fetters of fanaticism. The state has failed to get freedom from the intolerance that prevailed in society since independence due to the abortive policies of our leaders in dealing with the situations and particularly due to the Zia’s Islamization. Institutions which are meant to generate responsible citizens, scientists and scholars instead, are producing hard-core fanatics and extremists, who have created an atmosphere of fear in the educational institutions.
Pakistan is obsessed with corruption. Corruption implies abuse of power. In every department and office, officials are misusing their authority. This phenomenon is abound in educational institutions particularly, where when students stand for their due rights or question injustice, their semesters are being suspended and their degrees are seriously affected. They are behaving like colonizers taking benefit of their power and authority.
Pakistan got independence but female section of society has not yet got freedom from the myth of gender parity. Female has not got rid of the slavery of male-domination and womanish construct imposed by society to confine them to the four walls of house and house-hold chores. Harassment of females at employment places still in vogue.
Pakistanis are physically free but mentally enslaved. They are provided such environment which bar them from independent thinking. Citizens of Pakistan are still in search of freedom of thought and speech. The state has strict surveillance over the media both electronic and print. Masses are not allowed to criticize the defenders of the state and cannot raise question regarding religion. Those who are raising voices for their due rights are labeled as agitators and treasons.
Nepotism rules the society. Every institution is the tale of favoritism. Meritocracy is put aside. Preference are given to the cronies rather than aptitude and capability. That is why every year 3-4% aspirants found themselves capable of getting through the CSS examinations. Masses of the state are still enslaved in the curse of nepotism and favoritism.
Pakistan got independence but people of Pakistan are still the slaves of fear, praetorian-mandarin rule, corruption, unemployment, nepotism and extremism. People are awaiting society which is pristine from the menace of terrorism, in which there will be civilian authority, absence of corruption, preference of merit over nepotism and pluralism instead of fanaticism. It has been 70 years since Pakistan has not got rid of all these social diseases; it is duty of both the state and citizens to get freedom in real sense and comprehensive one.
The writer is a student of School of Politics and International Relations at the Quaid- e -Azam University, Islamabad.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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