Constitution supremacy remains a distant dream
Prof Dr Waheed Ishrat
LAHORE - A new Pakistani nation has emerged out of the current crisis which is sensitive towards supremacy of Constitution, sanctity of human rights and safeguarding democracy and its values. The journey started from zero when Pakistan did not have a common pin for its offices, is now a nuclear power. It has a vast infrastructure of development, natural resources, highways, motorways, means of communications, trade & industry. The persistent threat of Russia’s access to hot waters looming large in earlier decades has since been averted, Afghanistan was liberated from Russian yoke and as a result of Afghan jehad, central Asian Muslim states became independent. The emergent conscientious Pakistani nation is united on many issues. It unites within no time as it did on the issue of judiciary’s honour and linguistic feuds. The nation has shown its commitment to Islam and universal laws of justice. We have also shown interest in higher education and now a network of universities and colleges have emerged. The media has also emerged as a strong, viable, independent entity having its commitment to the national causes. The black uniform has shown its mettle against khaki.
However, we failed to make Pakistan a real Islamic, democratic and welfare state. The Army ruled the country on one pretext or the other. It never accepted the role of politicians. Ayub Khan even defied the Quaid’s orders and was suspended. Later he enforced Martial Law. The supremacy of constitution and the parliament remained a distant dream. The reasons behind separation of East Pakistan were lack of continuity of the political process and a deep sense of deprivation among Bengalis which was exploited by India and Soviet Union.
Instead of eliminating feudalism and jageerdari system, it was strengthened. The dictators took shelter behind jageerdars and feudal who provided arms to them. Pakistan failed to eliminate feudalism as India did. The Army also used bureaucracy and the unholy tripartite alliance of Army, jageerdars and bureaucrats usurped democracy and rule of people by the people.
Another setback was the failure to resolve longstanding Kashmir dispute while it could be liberated. In reply to Kashmir dispute, Khalistan was in the making but a civil government secretly provided lists of Sikh militants and maps to India and thus frustrated this movement.
The Army’s image has been tarnished. It lost confidence of the people as it enjoyed in 1965,
the fruits of independence could not reach to the common man nor the people could attain economic welfare except a few people in the Army and elite class. The people are committing suicides. The beggars population has increased and crowd of beggars are seen pouncing on every crossing. Pakistan has also failed in promoting the national language Urdu while national language was identity of the nation. Urdu was badly ignored while English was promoted forgetting that a child better learns in own language. Contrary to that other nations preferred their own languages. British scholars like Thomas Moor and Francis Beacon studied in Muslim universities in Arabic but translated the Arabic literature in their own language English. Pakistan was created on the basis of an ideology but it stuck amidst prejudices of linguistics, sectarianism, regionalism etc. The Mohajirs who migrated to Pakistan in the name of Islam preferred to call them as a separate entity of mohajirs. They should have been organised under Muslim Qaumi Movement instead of Mohajir Qaumi Movement. They tread on the path of facism and goondaism forgetting that ideology and thought are the real strength of a nation.
We also detained our hero and nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan while India coronated its nuclear scientist Dr Kalam in the coveted office of President of India. We daily hurl threats on Dr Qadeer. The rulers forget that Pakistani nation is still alive and won’t allow anyone to lift Dr Qadeer for interrogation abroad. We have battered our benefactor. Nobody would dare now to become Dr Qadeer. Pakistan also has been kept hostage by the multi-nationals. The rulers have become agents of America. We chase to kill Osama and Mullah Omar when they say kill them. They drop idea of enforcement of emergency on a phone call from US State Secretary Rice. Our foreign policy is a failure and American specific. We must have taken along all. Our alliance could have been with China, Iran, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Turkey and Central Asian and OIC countries. Our foreign office could not create a balance in foreign policy.
Our rulers let loose unprecedented tyranny on Lal Masjid inmates. They were brutally killed. Their bodies were burnt with use of gases and phosphorus. Our clergy wanted to enforce Islam through Army while they forget that no ideology can be implemented through force. They also forget that a dictator cannot develop a country. Under the pretext of war against terrorism. Militancy is a reaction of their misdeeds, violence and oppression. Instead of resorting to violence they could have talks and debates.
As told to Rana Latif
Prof Dr Waheed Ishrat is a distinguished educationist. Currently he is visiting Prof of Philosophy, Government College University, Director Iqbal Academy and Dy Director Iqbal Inte-rnational Institute of Research. He is also the author of 25 books on philosophy and literature.
The Nation