Social and financial disparities to stay ….

Social and financial disparities are to stay in any society, and if it is checked, its first casualty would be struggle, and when the latter happens, every society would get stagnant and its individuals would lose the urge to be successful in comparison to others. Perhaps this was one of the basic reasons that communism breathed its last because of its own ideology though external factors did play an important role too. People who profess to bring equality in the society would completely fail since it would be against the law of nature though everyday one finds a lot of people, especially the politicians, sermonising people about bringing equality among the masses. However, societies prosper where everyone is treated equally whenever the question of law arises. Criminals, whether rich or poor, influential or statusless, should be meted out the same punishment in the courts and treatment in prisons. Whenever, disparity occurs in the judicial dispensation, societies become pervert, and the result is of people joining groups, which ultimately become mafias of all hues – business, land, religious and finally political. The same can be observed in Pakistan where one find grouping of all colours, and somehow they are respected in the society. Even national political parties are actually groups-from-groups, and consequently, our society, especially national politics, has become umbrellas shielding criminals, who join these parties to gather more mass. Also in the same manner, business tycoons have formed their groups, who are further supported by people having comparatively small business holdings, and this trickledown effect goes to the small shopkeepers in the streets of the residential areas. These groups are then further seen spiraling their support to the upper ladders, which are of political nature. Now these mafias have become so strong that no government either dares to control them or put a check on them since they are either part of the ruling coterie or are hugely funding these political parties. Now the ruling parties opt for specific policies which would benefit their coterie sitting in their ranks. Even Special Regulatory Orders are issued from time-to-time for a stipulated period so that the ‘targeted’ beneficiaries could become richer. Hence this has become a vicious circle, which grills anyone who comes to put either halt it or put a check on it. Nevertheless, any person sitting at the top position with little interests can tackle them provided he has a team willing to make amends.

Punjab wants Dr Aafia back in Pakistan

The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed resolution for constructing Kalabagh Dam, and asked the federal government for evolving consensus among the provinces to meet this end.
After suspending rules, the Assembly also unanimously adopted two resolutions relating to an earlier release and honourable return of Dr Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan, and Centre government’s diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmiris, while respectively condemning the US for handing down inhumane and unjustified punishment to the medic, and the Indian govt for deploying more troops in the Occupied Kashmir.
In a resolution, moved by Opposition Leader Ch Zaheer-ud-Din, the federal govt was asked to develop consensus among all the provinces for the construction of the KBD since the viable Dam was deemed to be of huge importance for the country. “In order to do this, the Centre should initiate reconciliatory efforts for generating consensus among all the federating units,” stated the Resolution, which was not opposed by the members, and Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah requested the Chair to constitute a committee, headed by Ch Zaheer and comprising Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed and others, for taking the first step in this regard. Ch Zaheer was critical of losing 41maf water to the sea in the absence of the Dam during the recent floods. He was of the view that other proposed dams were facing serious technical and viability issues. While offering himself for serious and honest effort, Ch Zaheer asked Rana Sana to get him a post in the federal govt for initiating the move for evolving consensus among provinces. Though the Law Minister had resorted to his usual mantra of quizzing the Opposition about its 5-year stint in govt and doing nothing for the KBD construction, it did not digress the debate, and the resolution was passed unanimously.
Opposition’s Ch Sher Ali presented a resolution about Dr Aafia and her imprisonment by the US. It was stated that the Assembly condemned 86-year incarceration by America on the flimsiest of grounds and a case based on a concocted story. “The House is of the view that the punishment speaks volumes about the emptiness of claims by human rights champion US, which has punished the Muslim Ummah and all Pakistanis, who are agonised immensely at this,” averred the resolution, while demanding of the federal govt for taking steps for bringing Dr Aafia back honourably.
Rana Sana read a resolution, which condemned the Indian govt for committing barbaric atrocities against the Kashmiris, who were rendering innumerable sacrifices for their just right of self-determination. “The movement for the independence of Kashmir is at its zenith. Now Pakistan should play its due role, and Kashmiris need its full diplomatic and moral support for which the Centre should play its role,” mentioned the resolution.
Moreover, three resolutions regarding free education till graduation, constructions on bypasses, declaring Arabic compulsory from Class-I, providing protection to doctors and teachers at institutions and developing civilian nuclear programme for energy purposes were pended by the Speaker upon Law Minister’s request.