Crisis of Society and State in Pakistan, by Intellectual Eqbal Ahmed

 (25) Intellectual Dr. Eqbal Ahmed on:

Crisis of Society and State in Pakistan

A Talk by Intellectual Eqbal Ahmed

12-2-98

by Fazeel Azeez Chauhan

The Council On Pakistan American Affairs (COPAA) has been holding gatherings to address important issues of our community. A few days ago, they illuminated Southern California with the presence of a great intellectual of our time, Professor Eqbal Ahmed, PhD. The event was hosted by COPAA president Masrour Khan and Dr. Nazir Khwaja. As evident in the pictures, several notable community activists were present with their support, including Safi Qureshi, Siraj Bukhari, Counsel General Tariq Khan, Ahmad and Parveen Ali, Rizwan-, Hamid- and Javida Malik, Hinna Rizwi, Hussain Rokerya, Amir and Nuzi Sadiq, Arif Shah and Zakaria Sattar. Also, to help the flood victims, Dr. Masrour Khan generously presented a check of $5,000 to the Consulate of Bangladesh on behalf of COPAA.

Professor Eqbal Ahmed currently resides in Pakistan and teaches in England. Palestinian scholar Edward W. Said describes fascinating leaders in his book "Representations of the Intellectual". An important trait of an intellectual is to Speak The Truth To Power. Such people who don't sell out are very rare today. They spend their lives struggling for the progress of humanity. Dr. Eqbal Ahmed is such a recognized intellectual with a truly impressive record:

Mahatma Gandhi mentored two Hindu and two Muslim children just before the time of partition. Gandhi would give people the example of these four children and say "If these children can manage to become friends and play together, then so can the adults". One of these children was no other than Dr. Eqbal Ahmed. He came to the U.S. at and early age and lived here for 37 years. He was a distinguished teacher of History and Political Science at prestigious universities like Princeton, for many years,. He was also: A revolutionary of the Civil Rights Movement, An anti-Vietnam war activist, Editor of "Race and Class" magazine and a Columnist for New York Times.

During Nixon's presidency, Professor Eqbal Ahmed was charged with kidnapping of Henry Kissinger and was defended by (former U.S. Attorney General and activist) Ramsey Clark. Of course the charges were proven false. From 1959-1964, the Professor was a part of the armed struggle for independence in Algeria. Two documentaries have been made about his adventurous life. United Nations Secretary General Cofy Annan said last week that "Dr. Eqbal Ahmed is a public intellectual and a famous thinker whom we need to listen to and learn from". He's trying to establish a quality university in Pakistan to be the training ground for future leaders.

The following are excerpts from Dr. Eqbal Ahmed's words which easily and clearly help us to understand the situation: Since its inception, Pakistan has had a 9 part crisis. These are not to be viewed separately and their solution is also interlinked:

(1) Legitimacy: Meaning title to authority or "Mulukiat". The public should feel that the state of affairs are what they ought to be. The Chinese call it "The mandate of Heaven". It should be a good state with not just power but also authority. Legitimacy of a state comes from the subjects feeling that (a) It's a JUST state (b) Equality is being observed including equality of opportunity, behavior and rights (c) There is participation of the people (d) Ideology.

Quaid-e-Azam said "You must now build a State in which a Muslim is not a Muslim and a Hindu is not a Hindu". Meaning we need to work together to build the country and get to a higher level. But a few years later, the 1956 Constitution made it the "Islamic Republic" of Pakistan, stating that no laws shall be passed which are (a) Repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah (b) The head of State shall be a Muslim. Two years later, General Ayub Khan had a military coup de ta. One of the greatest scholars of our time Maulana Fazlur Rahman was jailed. The country's downfall escalated with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who shouted slogans which were: Anti-American, anti-Indian, anti-Capitalism, anti-landlord and "Roti, Kaprra aur Makaan". Then we lost East Pakistan by our own mistakes.

Zia-ul-Haq's coup de ta was next and he called himself "Islam ka sipahi". Over a period of 11 years, he promised 17 times that elections will be held in the next 90 days. Our political jokes are second best in the world, after the Egyptians. The Quaid said the base of a State is Justice and Democracy. But in the last 9 years, we've had a mish mash of systems. The 15th Amendment is one more brick taken off the legitimacy of the State

(2) Democracy: 23 of the last 50 years have been military and dictatorships. In the last 7 years, we've had four governments which are unstable, squabbling and quite corrupt. There's a total absence of local democracy. 90% of the time there is no Mayor. When there is a Mayor, he can't do anything

(3) Development: The 5% rate is too high and there is a labor intensive rate of growth. The country gets blood injections from the outside like expatriates' money, borrowing and financial aid. Two times more is spent on debt payment, than on defense. Rich classes, for example the landlords have never taxed themselves. The working class is denied the fruits of their labor

(4) Distribution: There is improper distribution of wealth because 5% of people own 75% of the country's wealth. The other 95% of the people have to live on the remaining 25%. Education is unequally distributed with 15,000 kids studying abroad. Health is also unequal and not accessible to working class people. There is inequality on Provincial lines with Punjab being the richest and Balochistan being very poor

(5) Integration: We've had consistent bad planning and bad mistakes. People don't feel united as if it's their own country. The skewed development and distribution which caused the breakup of Bangladesh still continues. Kala Bagh Dam has aroused emotions needlessly. The anti-Shia Taliban are a blight in the name of Islam and contribute to dividing Pakistan. Shias are 20% of Pakistan and a majority in Iran

(6) State: The State is (a) Fat: and can't walk or carry its own weight. It's obese beyond the capacity to operate optimally (b) Over Centralized: For example the Prime Minister has to get involved in some small tasks which subordinates should handle (c) Unresponsible: to the needs of the people. Why should I pay taxes when the State is not serving its citizens

(7) Culture: There is no national culture. The country is divided between people who speak English and those who don't, e.g. those who go to Urdu-Medium schools. For example in Lahore, Mall Road is the dividing line which separates posh areas like Gulberg and Model Town from the rest of the people. The education system is helping to divide the country rather than to integrate various classes

(8) Leadership: There's a consistent and permanent crisis in leadership. There has been a growing failure of leadership since Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan. More so since Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

(9) Education: There's nearly a total destruction of higher level educational institutions. There is no industry of Liberal Studies which is supposed to build leaders in law, teaching, and the army, etc. Thus there is no training ground for leaders. The top six colleges don't meet the standards of even the worst community colleges of the U.S. Those who do get educated are "freaks"

During the Question / Answer session, Professor Eqbal Ahmed made many important points: It will take a massive effort to turn the tide. India does not want to take over Pakistan. We started and lost the war of 1965. India did not break up Pakistan from Bangladesh, WE did it. Civil society must act as watch dog to give the lead to the government. Public should be tough and give a hard time to the leaders. Connect yourself to civil society and to people who are doing things. We shouldn't pay taxes because the government can't even collect trash except in Islamabad which is a wonderful place because it's only 10 minutes away from Pakistan. It's an American suburb.

Human rights organizations have discovered 22 private jails in Pakistan. Such tasks are the responsibility of the government, which is not doing its job. Akhtar Hameed Khan has one million people with him in Orangi. They have 85% literacy rate and 10% unemployment rate. Yet he was jailed, and mistreated, which caused him to have a heart attack. About the nuclear explosions: There is no linkage between testing and capability. Pakistan should not have done the nuclear testing. The weak [Pakistan] doesn't show its weapons. It keeps its powder dry to keep the other side guessing. We shouldn't try to match India's advances. Otherwise, like Russia trying to keep up with America, we will implode and destroy ourselves.

There is a shortage of leaders in the world but Nelson Mandela is a good example of statesman-like leadership. The Chinese are competent and effective. Clinton wasn't bad until he unzipped his trousers. Fidel Castro is remarkable even as a survivor. Miss Bhutto was a Kleptomaniac. Nawaz Sharif did some good work like keeping the traffic moving and ending the overspending on weddings. A Prime Minister of Pakistan has more power than a dictator. But Nawaz Sharif hungers for even more power. This is his downfall and destroys his sense of purpose.

With the loss of East Pakistan, the idea of Pakistan did not die. Ideas don't die, they change. The loss should have taught us something. States or countries break down by anarchy, revolution or defeat in war. Pakistan has the lowest literacy rate in South Asia. The administration has to be cleaned up. People have to be empowered by holding elections at the City level. There must be be a good program of land reform. We must take risks and make sacrifices. Fear is always the first obstacle. Achieving liberation is hard. it is like breaking rocks with eggs. You need patience and intelligence. And don't feel defeated.