Mohammad A Syed May 13, 1999

Tags: Nuclear , Freedom , Government , Feudalism , Colonial , Democracy , Lahore , Karachi , India , Pakistan

rel="tag" href="/tag/media">media. What were the results and when are we going to redraw our
electoral constituencies to take into account the undeniably altered
demographics of our nation?

Mr. Mustikhan has provided our gentle readers with an accurate and
succinct account of the origins of our beloved Pakistan. Very rightly
he points out the reasons for the legitimate birth of a new
state. First, an understanding based on the guarantees of the 1940
Lahore Resolution that constituent units would be "autonomous and
sovereign." Second, a perceived end of the colonial system and
accompanying evolution of institutions of self-governance. He wisely
recommends that our structure of governance needs to be decentralized
and strong local governments must replace a strong center.

I had argued similarly in an earlier article, published in "The News",
on September 12, 1995, entitled "Decentralization: Fact and Fiction."
Rhetorically I asked: "But is it not the case that in this proposed
overhaul, the surgeon is also the patient?" Apparently that has proven
to be true, and the rulers are hesitant to part with their ill-gotten
gains. If it is not so, then why have the census results not been
implemented?

At the risk of beating a dead horse, was it written in Lord Curzon's
will that the feudal landlords will have permanent power in Pakistan?
Is it not abundantly clear that the old system based on revenue
collection is now out-dated? Why do we still adhere to constituencies
that are based on out-dated demographics? Anyone who is not blind can
see that our population has undergone a dramatic shift towards the
cities. The cities have swelled, yet our power structure rewards the
feudals disproportionately. Yes, it is true that decentralization will
bring about a positive impact on our miserable state of governance,
but the very foundation of a democratic system is a regular
census. Either way, whether the system is decentralized or not, an
accurate representation of the populace must be based on a current
head count. This is a relatively simple task, and I do not see what
great obstacles could stand in its way other than insincerity.

I do not want to venture into statistics at this point, but a few
observations can be made. Who will deny that Karachi and Lahore have
both undergone a rapid surge in population since partition, but has
there been an accompanying increase in their share of seats in the
National Assembly? Last time I checked, there were some snags with the
census in Baluchistan. The Pakhtuns and the Baluchis were having some
problems in power sharing. There were reports of some bandits
attacking a census office and stealing their records. Similar problems
are cited in Karachi based on the presence of illegal Biharis
etc. Perhaps similar issues exist in the Punjab and Sarhad. It amazes
me, however, that a government that boasts of having taken Pakistan
into the nuclear era cannot conduct a simple census? Just string them
all out and count the sorry lot, how difficult is it? one, two, three,
four and so on.

Yesterday, I heard on Radio Pakistan that we are going to be importing
some wheat and rice. Are we not supposedly an "agricultural" economy?
Could it be that the feudals who hold a monopoly in land, a vital
national resource engage in anti-competitive practices? Supply is
kept low in the face of relatively inelastic demand, and monopoly
prices are charged from the starving populace. Cheap potatoes cannot
come in from India, because that hurts our national pride. So we
import from the West and burden our already debt-ridden national
exchequer. Everything points towards foul play.

A fair census might dislocate some from positions of power. Surely it
will bring our political structure more in line with realities and the
demands of the new millennium. With the break up of the political
monopoly of the feudals, we may see an efficient market in land. Only
then will we see a competitive agricultural sector. Only when the
Pagaros, Jatois, Chaudhri's and Malicks free up land which they now
use for Shikars, can we start producing competitively. We will then
not only be able to feed ourselves, but also export to other
nations. The "Landless Peasant Movement" in Latin American countries,
particularly in Brazil has demonstrated what rampant feudalism leads
to. Thousands of peasants simply took over land from feudal types who
were not making use of it. They are now living peacefully and earning
a decent living. The pressure on urban resources has been reduced, and
crime and other civil strife in the cities has gone down as families
are settled prosperously outside the cities. In the Brazilian example,
in some cases land was snatched away by force when those who owned it
held on too zealously. Obviously they had more than they needed and
the suffering of others was no longer tolerable. Are we waiting for
that to happen to us? Surely, those who stand against the waves of
liberty, freedom and democracy that are spreading the globe will be
drowned.

The Army has also played a curious role in the case of the census. Why
do they not make any noise in this regard? The COAS advised the PM
recently to give a fitting reply to India upon its testing of the
Agni-II missile. The COAS is so concerned about national matters that
he forgets that he is not supposed to make statements which are in the
realm of the elected representative of the people. He forgets again
and again that he is under the legal authority of the PM. His job is
to keep the "boys" in good shape and act under orders from the
political leadership. Yet, he gets carried away and makes anti-India
statements and the like. But it is curious why our COAS's do not get
carried away in other directions. Why do they remain silent against
the tyranny of the feudals? Why do the generals never say something
about the census? Is it because they have gotten so used to hunting
parties and other luxuries with the Waderas that they dare not speak?
When he can scream and shout about India, clearly bringing us closer
to rather than farther from nuclear war, why can he not scream about
more pressing issues? Surely it cannot be true what they say about
military men being "simple" and all that.

Unless our rulers decide to distribute power justly and according to
the established principles of modern democracy, the objectives of the
Pakistan Resolution of 1940 will remain a dream. The old colonial
system of divide and rule will flourish and the poor will be robbed of
the fruits of their labor. But, perhaps our dreams may still come
true. Maybe Nawaz Sharif decides to implement the new census before
the turn of the century and usher in a new era of democracy in our
beloved Pakistan.