Democracy is the Best Revenge?

My mother said ‘Democracy is the Best Revenge’, said Bilawal Butto Zardari at a press conference soon after Mohtarma’s death. While Mohtarma’s death is certainly one of the biggest losses Pakistan has ever seen, her death also brought Pakistan to a new juncture. Pakistan today stands at a crossroad where challenges of increasing terrorism, rampant inflation and disgruntled judiciary could literally tear the nation apart. It is hard to find a period worse than what has been seen and experienced by the people of Pakistan since 2007.

Is Democracy really a revenge? Against who? Who is the real victim of revenge? Pakistan? People of Pakistan? Establishment?

Since the clouds of democracy prevailed the sky’s of Pakistan very recently, I see the revenge being taken from the masses. Is this what democracy means? Playing the blame game that we’re perfect and the fault lies elsewhere is only resulting in confusion and not providing any solutions. Mr. A says Mr. B messed up everything – Mr. B says Mr. C should be held responsible - and .. and .. and – Mr.Y says Mr. Z is the trouble maker. Oh, how can we forget Mr. N. Very soon we wont even have alphabets left to name the protagonists … neither do we have the nerve to stand this anymore … The history of Pakistan has repeatedly shown that Democracy is no silver bullet – The corruption scandals of the Aziz’s, Zardari’s and Sharif’s has become a long list, Yet the NRO (National Reconciliation Order) provides shelter.

Revenge with the Poor:

Since the last few months Pakistan is dramatically short of food – UN categorizes Pakistan among the few countries where a civil movement can be triggered by the food crisis. Is Pakistan headed towards a civil war? I think we have pretty much started our journey on this track. Every time I stop on a red light, someone knocks on the glass for money, is this the destination of our vast majority while many of us sit comfortably listening to Mujhe Aazad Karo … Is this what our people have and will continue to do? Rights as we call them – I think the one’s shouting Rights are signaling the direction not hope.

Revenge with me:

For me the mosquito’s are doing as much damage as the various Mrs. (so called leaders). I don’t have light, I don’t want to buy a generator because its too noisy, I hate the UPS because its expensive, all I do is love this country while I sweat. In the capital I feel that I’m being given a local anesthesia every night at somewhere different than yesterday when the little creature bites it hard. My Minister Sahib tells me on TV that on 14th August 2009 there will be no load shedding. Yah, sure, in his house? Raja Sahib living in F-8, a posh sector of Islamabad facing the Margalla forgot to tell the media and the nation that in his few streets, bijli just hides for an hour a day – playing dirty with the Raja Sahib …

Revenge of the Rich:

This cadre, they’re busy taking revenge - in their style, of course. Jeenay do Geo. My neighbor who is apparently much richer and a more blessed soul than I am, takes revenge from me every night when the blessed Sahib sleeps and the Baba Ji turns on the Diesel Power generator to annoy 5 neighbouring houses by its noise. Every night, while I’m busy either playing with my mobile phone or enjoying a mosquito bite at the roof top, I realize how deprived I am of both, the Sahib Style sleep and the Standby Baba Ji.

Revenge – which has more of an injurious role than a harmonious one, is the worst that can be done to this country in any way – even if that revenge happens to be democracy. What we really need is Justice – for common people like me and many others, democracy means very little. Ultimately, it is only "Justice for all" that will feed us, it is honesty in our public services that will groom us and it is fair-play for all that will make our nation stand up.

Pakistan does not need a fractured democracy – what is needed is justice and fairness. Rest will follow. Democracy is an outcome of a "just" society. Until then, we are only chasing an elusive dream.

My Mother said, ‘Try getting home early and bring some aata, if by any chance you find it. Also bring Ghee and Cheeni before prices shoot out of the roof …’

Pakistan has been in a state of turmoil ever since it was founded in 1947. As a state founded on ideology - an Islamic ideology - justice, fairness and equality is clearly mandated by the ideology. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is devoid of the basic Islamic sense. Islam was never a religion of force in any way – Islam prescribes democratic norms and governance through benevolence.

The period of 2007 – 2008 will certainly be remembered as one of the most historically significant and turbulent for Pakistan with unprecedented public protests and mass revenges. While talks with India have reached a pure diplomatic channel and what was yesterday known as the fore front issue of Pakistani Politics are now pretty and decently the lentil soup on the back burner, which no one wants to have. Kashmir Day, once bringing back the memory of our lost part of Pakistan now let’s us see deserted roads and rushed restaurants.

While people are engrossed in trivia and sitcoms, important time is being lost. The poor majority of Pakistan, the rural souls are crushed under the feudal lords of yesterday, today and tomorrow – for them democracy would exist if the feudal masters gave them basic rights and they were given basic choices. A democracy where feudal lords are the nation builders is never going to work. That is the democracy we have today.

These are the problems that surround us, this is the type of revenge we need to take. In a world where nations compete on technology and economics, we must make a name for ourselves. As a nation, we must react in our capacities, ensure implementation of democratic ways of living in ourselves, our homes, our work, our relationships … Our time to change is now – Our time to implement the change is now – Our time to evolve as a nation is now … We need revenge from no one, we have no score to settle and we have no time to waste. It is time that we stood up vigorously and immediately - we may not have another chance.

Ultimately it is the people of Pakistan who have to make a difference and not Uncle Sam - let us start there.