Many anchors and political commentators seem surprised to see the stark disparity between the reaction of people of Pakistan and Brazil, Iceland and UK etc., with regards to the recent scandal, the Panama Leaks.
They are owned by the spontaneous reaction of the people of these countries by coming out on the roads against the corruption of their rulers, so for so that they have forced their rulers whose names were found in these leaks to either prove they are innocent or resign from their post.
When we look at the situation in the Muslim world particularly Pakistan we see nothing of such sort happening. There is virtually no one protesting on the streets as spontaneous reaction against those whose names are in Panama leaks, despite the fact that around 200 from amongst the ruling elites from Pakistan are found to be involved in it, including the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his Family.
However, what most of these commentators and analysts are missing is the fact that direct Tax is not being paid by overwhelming majority of the people of Pakistan, hence governments impose repressive indirect taxes upon people. Hence people consider it a financial oppression from the elites upon the poor.
Moreover, they don’t consider it some revered thing as appose to western nations where tax is being taken, if they like it not, from overwhelming majority of people, both directly and indirectly and therefore, is considered the “Zakat” of capitalism. Hence, the spontaneous reaction to such scandal is pretty much understandable in these countries. While on the other hand the reaction of the people of Pakistan too is very much understandable.
Some other major reasons why the people of Pakistan are so oblivious to such issues is because they have been witnessing skyrocketing corruption by their so called leaders on daily bases that they have become numb when it comes to such scandals. One could ask a simple question; what has the judiciary done to those cases that is known to even street kids? And the answer is nothing. Hence, the level of trust that if they come out on the streets something substantial will happen is next to Zero.
Moreover, people have completely lost trust upon the system of Pakistan. They are of the view, and rightly so, that the powerful elites who have robbed billions gets protocol even in Jail, while the poor and those who are exposing the oppression of the prevailing system and the ruling elite are kept in prison or even kidnapped by the law enforcement agencies. When they are certain that there is no accountability possible of the powerful under the prevailing system, and that they have been used time and time again by the political imposters, why would they come out just to fulfill the agenda of another statuesque party?
For instance, a country where around 20 innocent people were killed in broad daylight in the streets of Lahore but nothing happened. Not even a single responsible person was punished. A country where a huge scandal of of child molestation and rape was unearthed in Sakhar, yet nothing whatsoever happened. And a country where a US spy Raymond Davis killed two people yet he was escorted by the ISI chief to a private plane and see offed him with a hug.
How on earth in the presence of all this, would someone come out on the streets and protest against Panama leaks, when they have no hope whatsoever from the statuesque parties they will be able to change something for the better. I am including all secular, semi-secular, religion and nationalist parties.
Lastly, there is a huge disconnect between the ruling elite and the people on the ground. The issues of the ruling elite is nothing but a power struggle, incentives, foreign tours etc, while the issues of the lower and lower middle class is basic needs i.e. food, clothes, shelter, health, education and most importantly a leadership that could represent their aspirations, which is to take them out from this dire situation imposed upon them by the successive corrupt regimes through this corrupt system.
Since, they don’t see any party that could represent them and resolve their issues, they have lost trust upon the present ruling elites and most importantly upon the capitalistic Democracy, dysfunctional judiciary and self-serving policies by the subsequent governments.
Indeed, people would respond to issues like Panama leaks when they will have trust upon the judicial system and political leadership of the country.
Blogger: Tariq Naeem
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