Feudal culture in Pakistan

Muhammad Ramzan

More than half a century has passed since Pakistan came into existence, but in spite of abundant resources, including manpower and mineral wealth, we are under-developed. This is an irony of our fate. On the other hand modern China, which acquired freedom two years after the establishment of Pakistan, has made exemplary progress in every field. Similarly, South Korea, taking guidance from our 5-year plan, has surpassed Pakistan in the field of economy. There is certainly food for thought for those in power. We need to identify the impediments in our way. This article is meant to make an identification of the primary cause of our backwardness which bars us from going towards our cherished goal of development and prosperity. The British Colonial system worked successfully using the strategy of controlling and dominating its subjects through faithful Rajas, Maharajas, Nawabs, big landlords, waderas, tribal chiefs and Sirdars, who were awarded vast lands for the services they had rendered to the British. When Pakistan came into being, these jagirdars, waderas, tribal chiefs and sirdars, using their hegemony
in the political field, entered assemblies by means of their vote bank of haris and tenants. Thus a feudal culture established itself in the government. These feudal lords, who were now provincial/central members, ministers and advisors/ consultants connived with bureaucracy and administrative machinery to shield their wrongs. Thus crime and corruption flourished unabated and feudal culture became rampant every where. Commissions and kickbacks assumed the status of a right especially in awarding contracts, appointments, postings, transfers, admissions, grant of bank loans and their re-scheduling etc. A realisation of the gravity of the situation at the government level even at this belated stage is welcome. As regards recruitments, the presence of placement bureau, quota system, PM's, CM's, Ministers', MPA's and MNA's quota, which defeated the very concept of merit. The quota system has again been legitimised by the former government for another 20 years, which has nothing to do with the
vociferously proclaimed merit and transparency. That's a sheer and clear favouritism and nepotism. This is how the feudal culture is all-out to safeguard vested interests.  This social behaviour that has developed during the last 52 years by leaps and bounds is now deep rooted in every sector of our society. The logical result is that most of our political leaders whether
in power or in opposition, big bureaucrats, administrative machinery, law enforcing agencies, financial institutions, industrialists, businessmen/ traders, nation building departments and excise and taxation/ revenue collection departments down to the grass-root level of a patwari fall prey to this vicious circle. 'Self interest is the best interest'. Thinking of national interest/ patriotism is the priority of somebody else. Without contributing anything towards the development of the country, every body is interested in becoming a multi-millionaire overnight. This attitude has brought the wheel of economy to a sullen jamming. The privileged class has amassed boundless wealth, built up fat bank balances and huge properties worth trillions of rupees within the country and abroad. Using an iron hand, if this booty is taken back from the plunderers, the entire World Bank Loan can
be repaid. But how is it possible in the present feudalistic system? In the recent past when Sirdar Arif Nakai was CM Punjab, police hauled up a spoiled son of an MPA, Sirdar Nakai himself rushed to the police station and got the culprit released from the police custody without allowing the legal process to be completed. Then in a provincial assembly session, this police action against that law breaker was severely denounced and condemned as (presumably) the mandate of an elected member was not honoured. The gulf between the elected and the electors, between the "haves" and "have nots", between a Jagirdar and a common man is too wide. There are now only two classes in our society: the rich and the poor - the middle class no more
exists. Feudal lords, in order to safeguard their vested interests have come forward with a concept that there is no limit to private ownership in Islam. This seems to be mis-interpretation of Islamic injunctions. There is a Quranic injunction whereby the land belongs to him, who cultivates it. The land reforms promulgated during the regime of Ayub Khan and Bhutto must be implemented and no leeway be allowed. In India the maximum ceiling of agricultural land holding is 18 acres and the farmers are enjoying free electricity and other facilities, which has made India self sufficient in food. Pakistan in contrast has to, at times, import commodities of everyday use like chillies, onion, pulses and sugar from India to meet its domestic requirements. If Pakistani farmer is released from the shackles of feudal system and is afforded relief and facilities as are being given by India to its farmers, Pakistan can become a heaven on earth. We will then not only be able to meet our own requirements of food and raw material for our industries but will also be very much in a position to export our products to earn foreign exchange worth billions of dollars. Moreover, this only sector is big enough to provide employment to 60-70 per cent of the country's work force - unskilled, semi-skilled as well as skilled labour and educated. The improvement in the situation in the country is only possible if awareness amongst the masses about the dignity of hard work is created, feudalistic/ VIP culture and procrastinating attitude in government offices are done away with and merit and transparency are allowed to prevail over all
other considerations.