Serving The People.

Every political leader makes tall claims about serving the people yet nothing changes on the ground. Growing up in the good times we were taught that performance speaks for itself. It was the age of purity; food was eaten fresh, mostly pure and organic.

There was a popular saying, 'Desi Ghee is never advertised'. As the first-born free generation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we have lived through various formative phases of the new land. There have been only two periods of 'Khidmat' (1947 to 1958 and 1971 to 1977). In the first decade, the founding fathers and the bureaucracy realised their responsibility in providing relief to the people.

The challenges were gigantic in the settling phase. Refugees had to be settled, and institutions had to be rebuilt, but the sense of direction prevailed. In the words of my late father-in-law who retired as Secretary Railway Board, 'We had to keep the trains running despite an acute shortage of drivers and the technical support staff. 'Help Wanted' posters were posted at stations. The trained staff on the arriving refugee trains were immediately put to work.'

The Government of Pakistan was established in barracks and tents with hardly any furniture. From ground zero, a new republic emerged mainly because of the honesty and grit of the founding generation.

After the first martial law in October 1958, most of the gains of the first freedom decade were neutralised. Control replaced khidmat, and those who opposed were punished. Our brothers in the eastern wing where the All-India Muslim League (AIML)...