Introduction
I have described in this chapter isolated incidents, at times in clusters, leaving an impression on me which I could not get rid of. These are neither subject wise nor chronologically. I have tried to group them together where possible. Excuse me if anyone feels dissatisfied
We understand foreigners better than our own people
- A foreign government gave a lot of money to a province that fully deserved it for schools to be built and run. Halfway the money got exhausted. A team arrived, reported that half the money at least had been diverted to personal ends. A strong Governor who later was blown up by unknown forces, appointed one of the most competent judges / Chief Justice who was thrown out by equally strong unknown forces and hunted at times by the same forces throughout the country was appointed to inquire. His report did not see the light of the day. I do not know whether it has any connection with what our Eradication of Corruption Commission noted on page 148 of its report that eight cases of Ministers, Chief Ministers and Governor, ( I have left out all others) all over were withdrawn from Corruption courts.
- Another country in Europe used to reimburse its citizens even of foreign origin expenses which they incurred on the education of their children anywhere in the world. They felt that from central Pakistan, an affluent area, a disproportionate number of claims were coming. They sent a team to verify. The team found in most cases neither the schools were in existence nor the teachers nor the students. Hence the term Ghosts schools, Ghost teachers, Ghost students, all to be found and found only in Pakistan.
- The latest, an event of December 2017 made me greatly optimistic about our recovery, soon, quick, at little cost. Interpol reported to our security agencies in Rawalpindi /Islamabad that we see a man blindfolded being cared for by two persons on a motorcycle. Please check. Security forces did find and got him released. In spite of so many tiers of specially trained personnel, as is usual, the kidnappers succeeded in escaping
Guidance from abroad
Long back when the same political party was in power as recently as last year now, its senior members had an interview with the most successful Prime Minister of Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew). It was published in the popular vernacular daily of north Pakistan. It must be in their archives. They asked him can Pakistan progress ever be like Singapore. The blunt answer was never. They were shocked and asked him why he was saying so. He said for three reasons
- You are all the time looking forward to the rewards hereafter, almost totally ignoring what is happening around you on earth
- The second, that you do not believe in reconciliation. You want the controversies go on forever, generation after generation. This fact is borne out by two events. Our Soofi Judge has mentioned in one of his books, “I asked a colleague (name not given but likely to be a CSP) why you don’t believe in reconciliation and compromise. His reply was then there remains no thrill in life. For the second event look up the longest pending case of the sub-continent. A case of Doshipura, Banaras town of my of birth. The case is between one Shia and one Sunni over two acres of land instituted in 1878 reaching the Indian Supreme Court in 1981. The order of the Indian SC passed in 1981 is still awaiting implementation. The UP Govt saying it will raise communal disputes if implemented. The Sunni claim is based only on the fact that Mumtaz Mahal was buried here till her body was taken to Agra where Taj Mahal was built
- The economy and politics of your country is run by Armed Forces to the acclaim of everyone.
Conclusion: All the three causes remain valid even today to thwart our progress. Add to it the fact that three dynasties are headlong in competition to take over and remove the assets of Pakistan from the top. Extremely competent and ambitious bureaucrats are collaborating on their own terms in advancing the dynastic race. They are provided a suitable protective post to keep them out of sight and ostensibly, out of reach of Inquisitorial Authorities. For all the details please read with care and attention Business Recorder dated 12th June 2017 article by Mushtaq Ghuman. The copyright warning prevents me from reproducing any other portion of it.
Experiences of a Lifetime 