fatman17
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Small men
Nauman Asghar
We live in an age of great events and small men. The gigantic challenges our country faces today demand a visionary leadership that will be willing to give top priority to public interest. One-fifth of the country's population has been affected by the floods while millions wracked by sorrows of poverty are waging a daily battle for survival. The dream of Pakistan's founders, of a progressive and democratic welfare state, has been shattered to pieces by successive inept rulers. Under the current lot things have gone from bad to worse.
A recent PILDAT report made the shocking revelation that the assets of members of parliament have increased three-fold in five years.
In the 2010-11 budget, the Presidency has been allocated Rs447 million, against the previous year's expenditure of Rs349 million, a hike of 14.615 per cent. The expenditure at the Prime Minister's Secretariat has increased by 13.08 per cent, to a total of Rs484 million. On the other hand, the already insignificant education budget has been slashed. (Sickening)
The government has approved a plan to erect a statue in honour of Benazir Bhutto. The construction of the monument will cost Rs400 million, while the land provided by Islamabad's Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the project is said to be worth above Rs500 million.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani gave the permission for the purchase of a Mercedes Benz for Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, costing more than Rs25 million. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spent more than $20,000 during his recent stay in New York while British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had come to attend the same meeting, stayed at the British consulate general. Amid the luxurious and pompous lifestyle of our rulers, 6,000 to 8,000 people commit suicides every year in Pakistan to escape poverty and the runaway inflation.
It is not surprising that the present rulers have lost the moral legitimacy to continue exercising power. Lack of transparency in government affairs has added much to the resentment of the powerless citizens. The president is the most controversial political figure in the country. The continuance of NRO beneficiaries in their offices gives an impression of a culture of legalised corruption.
Some months ago, a Bulgarian minister resigned after he was accused of choosing the more expensive of two offers for the delivery of a vaccine, which put extra burden on the budget. In Pakistan politics has become a dirty business in which only the unscrupulous and the corrupt can achieve the heights of power.
Our leaders have never learnt from history.
Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) is remembered as the most benevolent and wise ruler in China's history. He used to eat two meals a day and wear the most ordinary clothing. At one time during his reign, a part of the Great Wall collapsed. The ministry of public works discussed the reconstruction project.
The emperor told his officials: "When an emperor rules a nation, he relies on internal sources and does not solely depend on barricades. The Great Wall was built during the Qin Dynasty and constantly repaired during the Han, Tang, and Song Dynasties. Yet, this did not prevent foreign invasions. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, my ancestor led his army through it, destroying any obstruction. No one could stop them! Therefore, to defend a nation is to cultivate one's virtues and treat the people respectfully. When people are happy, the nation is in harmony and the frontier is fortified."
Email: naumanlawyer@gmail .com
Nauman Asghar
We live in an age of great events and small men. The gigantic challenges our country faces today demand a visionary leadership that will be willing to give top priority to public interest. One-fifth of the country's population has been affected by the floods while millions wracked by sorrows of poverty are waging a daily battle for survival. The dream of Pakistan's founders, of a progressive and democratic welfare state, has been shattered to pieces by successive inept rulers. Under the current lot things have gone from bad to worse.
A recent PILDAT report made the shocking revelation that the assets of members of parliament have increased three-fold in five years.
In the 2010-11 budget, the Presidency has been allocated Rs447 million, against the previous year's expenditure of Rs349 million, a hike of 14.615 per cent. The expenditure at the Prime Minister's Secretariat has increased by 13.08 per cent, to a total of Rs484 million. On the other hand, the already insignificant education budget has been slashed. (Sickening)
The government has approved a plan to erect a statue in honour of Benazir Bhutto. The construction of the monument will cost Rs400 million, while the land provided by Islamabad's Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the project is said to be worth above Rs500 million.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani gave the permission for the purchase of a Mercedes Benz for Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, costing more than Rs25 million. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spent more than $20,000 during his recent stay in New York while British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had come to attend the same meeting, stayed at the British consulate general. Amid the luxurious and pompous lifestyle of our rulers, 6,000 to 8,000 people commit suicides every year in Pakistan to escape poverty and the runaway inflation.
It is not surprising that the present rulers have lost the moral legitimacy to continue exercising power. Lack of transparency in government affairs has added much to the resentment of the powerless citizens. The president is the most controversial political figure in the country. The continuance of NRO beneficiaries in their offices gives an impression of a culture of legalised corruption.
Some months ago, a Bulgarian minister resigned after he was accused of choosing the more expensive of two offers for the delivery of a vaccine, which put extra burden on the budget. In Pakistan politics has become a dirty business in which only the unscrupulous and the corrupt can achieve the heights of power.
Our leaders have never learnt from history.
Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) is remembered as the most benevolent and wise ruler in China's history. He used to eat two meals a day and wear the most ordinary clothing. At one time during his reign, a part of the Great Wall collapsed. The ministry of public works discussed the reconstruction project.
The emperor told his officials: "When an emperor rules a nation, he relies on internal sources and does not solely depend on barricades. The Great Wall was built during the Qin Dynasty and constantly repaired during the Han, Tang, and Song Dynasties. Yet, this did not prevent foreign invasions. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, my ancestor led his army through it, destroying any obstruction. No one could stop them! Therefore, to defend a nation is to cultivate one's virtues and treat the people respectfully. When people are happy, the nation is in harmony and the frontier is fortified."
Email: naumanlawyer@gmail .com
