Pakistan has no servants?

Byline: Dr Farid A Malik

With a population of over 190 Million people, Pakistan has hardly any servants. It is indeed a sad state of affairs; no one to serve the motherland. From the choked, overflowing gutters to the paper stuffed secretariats nothing moves. There are no common agendas, everyone for himself waiting to grab and then run away with the loot. 'Nader Shahi' still rules in the land of the pure.

Engr. Shaukat Raza Mirza a great son of the soil, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of ENGRO from 1988 to 1997. He then went on to turn around Pakistan State Oil (PSO) where he was assassinated for taking on the internal mafia. On welcoming the visitors his words always were 'I work here'. He never introduced himself as the CEO of the company. He served both ENGRO and PSO with honesty, integrity and hard work till his last breath. He went with his boots on.

Liaquat Ali Khan the first Prime Minister made a pledge to the nation, 'he would only own a house when every Pakistani has been accommodated'. After his assassination in 1951 when the family had to vacate the official residence they had no place to live, finally they shifted in a rented house. By contrast, Ayub Khan the first Khaki usurper built his mansion on a hill top in Islamabad which his heirs then sold to Hashwani after his death. A four kanal plot was gifted to Justice A.R. Cornelius who lived in Fallettis Hotel all his adult life. Judge Sahib politely turned down the gift saying, 'I am very happy with my residential arrangements, don't need a plot, the allotment papers are being returned', he was indeed a servant of the country.

Pakistan started off well. All those who were elected in the 1946 elections considered themselves to be the servants of the people. Till 1958 the country had no debt, the state lived within its means there was simplicity and honesty of purpose. It takes decades for credible political leadership to emerge on merit which is based on service to the people. Ayub Khan's EBDO (Elected Bodies Disqualification Ordinance) wiped out the entire democratically elected leaders, to be replaced with third rate but subservient serfs. The pyramid of power was reversed with 'Khakis' on the top, 'Baboos' in the middle and 'Siasis' at the bottom. The elected representatives were required to serve those who were above them while ignoring the ones below them i.e the people of Pakistan.

The elected government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) tried to reverse the...