The Season of Subtraction
This poor innocent nation is now used to getting lost within the labyrinths of the politicians’ latest slogans. The nation had anticipated to enter the new Pakistan the day after they had cast their vote. But this new Pakistan is moving increasingly further away from us. To enter into the new Pakistan, we require Taliban’s permission, which it still hasn’t given yet. So how could we enter the new Pakistan? Initially, we didn’t even have their permission to hold the election as according to them, it was against our religious doctrines. Elections were only allowed for those few parties who are slightly more religious than the rest. But the public ignored them and came out to exercise their right to vote, publicly disagreeing with the Taliban.
Congratulations to all those who succeeded in the polls, whether it’s their first, second or third victory. But nobody is prepared to tell us what they plan to do about the katoti. Will we ever see a day without its torment? Apparently, the katoti is now going to spread to other sectors as Pakistan is in dire need of budget cuts in most sectors, with the exception of the defence institutions because nobody has the guts to consider cutting their budget as it would be tantamount to treason. But it’s okay to implement budget cuts in all other areas.
Every new government begins its term to find its coffers empty. The previous government spent a memorable last day in power emptying out the coffers so now the new government would have to support the economy from scratch and exempting the defence institutions. Mian Sahab must take each step with great caution. He has already gathered those people around him who settle down wherever they find a corpse. And these people are still not finished. Sometimes they change their names and sometimes their parties (ideologies don’t matter to them anyway). They must get as near to the living corpse as possible anyhow so they can gnaw as much flesh as possible off it.
It’s still possible to breathe life into this living corpse. The passion, dedication and sincerity with which the public cast their votes on May 11 could make the corpse walk again. The katoti should be done where it’s needed the most. Instead of cuts in basic amenities, electricity, water and gas, the katoti should be made to the profits that enable these profiteers to have their head up in clouds. The number of ministries should be cut because the nation can easily operate with fewer. After the army of ministers in the previous government left, the country was run by a small number of caretaker ministers, so therefore, it can continue in the same way in the new government.
The last government was in the hands of plunderers and looters. For God’s sake, let go of these plundering habits now and adopt some economising measures. Instead of emptying the pockets of the poor to line your own, empty your own pockets instead because you have stuffed your pockets enough. Now it’s your turn to put in some individual contribution into our economy. We get electricity bills when our electricity hasn’t even been restored. The bills aren’t for the electricity we have used but for the amount you use in your houses. If we can’t pay our bills, our electricity connections are cut, even if our bills are a few thousand rupees, while you can get yourself exempted from paying utility bills worth lacs of rupees. Either that or there’s a new connection waiting for you.
Mian Sahab! It’s time all of this stopped and you discarded all the rubbish you’ve collected around you, just to increase your numbers, as it’s not going to help you. They will take you down, just like they took everybody else down with them. For once, believe in your vote bank and the sheer strength you possess. We have already heard the tune of reconciliation and have seen its consequences. By all means, feel free to complete your numbers but please don’t repeat the same game. It would be better if you don’t. You have gotten your third turn so you can give something back to the people, instead of taking everything from them again. You’ve already taken much from the masses, so it’s better if you give something back to this nation this time.
There is a lot more than roads, bullet train, metro bus or bomb blasts that you can give to this nation. For instance, education, employment, commerce and most importantly, you can deliver the masses from all the plundering, hooliganism and terrorism that has flourished with the consent and assistance. If you can stop them, many things can be prevented from happening. Let the poor earn their bread with dignity. At first, they weren’t safe outside their homes, but now they aren’t even safe inside. At least implement measures that would make a decent person safe inside his or her home.
All the votes you and Khan Sahab received this time weren’t for you but for this country. Those votes were cast for ending the katoti; they were cast against the looters and those who rob us of our votes at gunpoint. The votes were cast in resistance to the hooliganism and terrorism, as well as against those who used nationalism, religion and sectarianism to divide this nation and considered the divided masses their vote banks. By now, all of them should have become aware of this and especially you, as the burdens on your shoulders are by far the greatest as compared to the burdens on your colleagues’ shoulders.
If nobody understands the public’s vote and its voice this time and continues to consider the country their private property, things would go on as they always have and these 100 days would be not enough. The public has voted extremely cautiously this time and I hope you would also exercise great caution in fulfilling the promises you made to the people. The people came out of their homes on May 11 to cast their votes and will come out again too because now they know the consequences of waiting for hours in scorching heat to cast their vote. I am sure you are aware of Bhai Sahab’s condition!