PATHWAY TO HELL

Our country may have set a new record; the amount of turbulence would have made the Mongol proclivity towards violence seem paltry if it were to be juxtaposed with our very own. The unbridled law and order situation in Pakistan has made a name for the country, an achievement that its establishment was never capable of. Pakistan’s image has been marred by acts of terrorism that have left the indelible mark of a failed state on its denizens. If you happen to be a patriotic citizen, the current plight of the nation would leave you aghast and apprehensive. A wave of indignation sweeps me as I muse over the multitude of problems that have like an inferno, besieged a nation that has all the resources to transmute itself into a paragon of democracy, freedom and economic self sufficiency. Such a state would commensurate with the political ideals our founding father had envisioned over 60 years ago. That being said, it is an irony that we are the antithesis of such a definition. Amoral, rapacious and disorderly are apposite ways to delineate the plight of our society. Considering the fact that Islam enjoins none of these egregious values, explanations for such devious behavior are difficult to find in a god-fearing nation. Small wonder that our country lags behind in every realm, ranging from economic development to political stability. It goes without saying that one item that thrives is corruption, a blatant aspect of our society that has found a safe heaven in this country. An accepted part of conventional wisdom is that discrimination engenders a situation that is not viable for the development of a nation. Much of the blame rests on the sanctimonious leaders who have allowed personal interest to supplant those of the nation. A discerning eye would point out with alacrity how these inept leaders have squandered the opportunity to set their country on the right track. The ease with which they still manage to manipulate the common man, who is not cognizant of their stratagems, has allowed these affluent people to remain in positions of ascendancy. It would be wrong to hold the impoverished, illiterate man on the street culpable of not being able to read between the lines. It is no secret that the masses are gullible by nature and promises of food and shelter during the election campaign are enough to delude them of the ground reality. This, in turn, means that the onus falls on the media and the educated class, who should ensure that the rights of these weak beings are not condoned during the decision making process.