Finally, complete anarchy has descended on our beloved country. The parliament, executive, and judiciary – which our ill-fated masses have been nurturing out of their sweat and blood – have finally made it happen. They’ve done it without even thinking about the people of the country, who have been footing their fat salary bills, perks, perquisites and a luxurious way of life. All of this while citizens themselves suffer from hunger, malnutrition, stunting, illiteracy, abject poverty, and a low quality of life devoid of honor, dignity, and self-respect.
While they commit suicide due to poverty, they pay Rs. 7 trillion ($34.6 billion) to the ex-chequer, including Rs. 1.5 trillion ($7.4 billion) for defense to keep the country safe and secure. In return, they get alleged abductions; missing persons; audio-video leaks; legislative, political, executive, and judicial meddling and maneuvering; a rising wave of terrorism; and propping up their favorites in every pillar of the state – effectively buying their conscience, ego, and pride.
While their own children cannot attend school, they pay Rs. 1080 billion ($5.3 billion) to the civil administration and what they get in return is an ineffective and inefficient bureaucracy; political polarization; and a corrupt system in which government officials routinely and shamelessly engage in bribery, embezzlement, misconduct, and overstepping authority while violating the constitution.
This administration engages in authoritarian practices such as censorship, surveillance, or dissent repression. The people get its inability to manage the economy effectively – resulting in inflation, recession, or other economic crises that harm citizens’ livelihoods. Inability to provide essential public services such as healthcare, education, or infrastructure, resulting in public dissatisfaction and unrest, as well as actions that result in international isolation, sanctions, or other forms of diplomatic pressure – as a result of human rights violations, aggression toward other countries, or other factors.
Citizens pay Rs. 3.28 billion for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and what they get in return is a non-transparent Election Commission in terms of its operations, decision-making processes, and electoral procedures. These are perceived as biased towards a particular political party, are unable to conduct free and fair elections, are unable to provide funding, personnel, and equipment to conduct elections, and are unable to provide security and safety of voters, polling stations, and electors.
They pay Rs. 3.81 billion to the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court (IHC), as well as Rs. 640 million to the district judiciary. Citizens also bear costs such as Rs. 5.137 billion to the NAB, Rs. 494 million to the Federal Shariat Court, Rs. 140 million to the Council of Islamic Ideology, Rs. 210 million to the Federal Judicial Academy, and Rs. 77 million to the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat.
In exchange, they get a judiciary that has devolved into a battleground of vested interests, with judges being removed or appointed to benches based on political considerations rather than qualifications, experience, or adherence to the law. Where the entire judicial system has been tainted by corruption and misconduct – unable to perform its functions effectively, resulting in long delays in case resolution and a backlog of unresolved cases. Where the poor are unable to access the courts or receive fair treatment due to financial or other barriers. Especially where the judiciary is subject to interference from other branches of government, such as the executive or legislative, undermining its independence and impartiality.
The people pay Rs. 510,000 million to the parliament yet what they get in return is a truncated, dysfunctional parliament with most of the opposition sitting out of the assemblies; senseless, vulgar, and obnoxious speeches; laws made to advance personal agendas, protect vested interests, and benefit individuals while causing rifts and anarchy in other pillars and organs of the state. A parliament that is no longer representative of the country’s diverse population, is deeply divided along political, ideological, or regional lines, and is incapable of reaching agreement or passing legislation that serves the common good. Members of parliament are unable to effectively legislate due to internal or external pressures, disregard the rule of law, and engage in unethical or illegal behavior, such as violating the constitution or human rights.
In short, the state has displayed all of the classic signs of impending collapse. Inflation is high. Prices for goods and services have been rapidly rising, eroding consumers’ purchasing power and causing economic uncertainty. The currency is losing value by the day, making imports more expensive and lowering the country’s economic competitiveness. The unemployment rate has reached an all-time high, resulting in poverty, social unrest, and crime. Trade volume has decreased due to decreased exports resulting in lower income and economic growth.
The budget deficit has necessitated austerity measures, increased taxes, and increased public debt. Investors are withdrawing their investments – causing a drop in foreign direct investment, a reduction in credit availability, and worsening of economic conditions. The economy is contracting, political instability is increasing, civil unrest is multiplying, political violence has become routine, and economic collapse has been exacerbated.
Because the government is unable to provide stable leadership, there is a breakdown in social cohesion, which invites other countries or international organizations to intervene and dictate their harsh terms to provide aid. As the state is unable to provide basic services to its citizens, widespread suffering and humanitarian crises such as famine, disease outbreaks, and suicides occur. The state’s military forces are thrashed at every level, including in political rhetoric, public discourse, and media discussion, undermining the army’s popularity, morale, and ability to deal with external threats or internal unrest.
The entire nation was however, accustomed and used to periodic collapses of governments either due to allegations of corruption or through military takeover,. They were used to low quality speeches and laws made to protect vested interests in the parliament and periodic low and high popularity of the armed forces. However, perhaps this is the first time in its history that the nation is witnessing the total collapse of Pakistan’s supreme court, which was once considered the strongest institution in the country. The entire Supreme Court is divided; justices are passing orders against each other’s decisions, preventing even the Chief Justice from hearing certain cases; benches are formed and broken based on personal whim, liking, and party lines. The courts are publicly threatened with dire consequences for making or not making decisions in their favor, and state institutions refuse to accept or obey court orders.
Unfortunately, the elements involved in making the Supreme Court a political battleground are not considering the long-term consequences of collapsing the judicial system. The judicial system, as an essential component of a well-functioning society, assists in upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, resolving disputes, promoting social cohesion, fostering economic development, and holding government officials accountable.
This system ensures that laws are enforced and that those who break the law are held accountable for their actions. It promotes social order and stability by instilling trust in the government and its institutions. It safeguards citizens’ constitutional rights, such as the right to a fair trial, due process, and legal representation. It provides a mechanism for resolving disputes between individuals, organizations, and the government; it promotes social cohesion by providing a common framework for resolving disputes and upholding the rule of law; it provides a stable legal framework that allows businesses to operate and grow; and it ensures that contracts and transactions are enforced fairly and transparently.
Winston Churchill, the British statesman and former Prime Minister, once said, “The independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our democracy. It must remain independent, impartial and fearless in the face of all authority, including the government of the day.”
Our hard working citizens do not deserve the treatment they are receiving. They are the masters of every pillar of the state. All elements of power must save the country from their own vested interests and collectively repay people for what they have taken from them.
Instead of coaxing the institutions, they should begin strengthening the legislature, and executive and above all the judiciary, to create a functioning state capable of promoting economic development, fostering social cohesion, providing basic services, combating corruption, promoting democracy, promoting free and fair elections, and empowering civil society organizations. This is necessary for the establishment of a state that is fully functional and delivering; and is accountable to its citizens who are its ultimate masters. (Edited by Khadijah Kamili)
Opinions in this piece are based on personal observations of the writer.
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