August 1947 brought freedom from foreigners who ruled India and exploited its resources to enrich the British. Indian politicians insisted they must rule their native land. The British, who built roads, railways, schools and hospitals, left India. Had the British been defeated in 1857 and independence came a few decades earlier, would we still have all that railroad and infrastructure that carried us until now?
Nation-states, that replaced dynastic-empires, went through transformation rather quickly. Two states that separated a culturally homogeneous nation Germany, became one. A state that united multiple nationalities broke into smaller units. The Czechs and Slovaks parted ways and Yugoslavia broke after bitter genocidal wars. Cultural-identity related fault lines decided the fate of some conflicts but the new states desire integration on an international level. Globalization and Internationalism is an irreversible reality that inspires participation or precipitates inclusion.
The two states that British Empire delivered in South Asia, India and Pakistan, imbibed the same desire of nation-building but experiments carried out in each of them were quite different. India adhered to a pluralist democracy despite bitter conflicts between communities. Pakistan ventured on creating one nation. Jinnah prescribed one language. Religious identity had already been the binding force for the movement of secession from India.
Building an army must have been a hot trend. The eternal pacifist, great leader of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi’s views were reported in The Times, on September 27, 1947, under the headline “Mr. Gandhi on ‘war’ with Pakistan”:
“Mr. Gandhi told his prayer meeting to-night that, though he had always opposed all warfare, if there was no other way of securing justice from Pakistan and if Pakistan persistently refused to see its proved error and continued to minimise it, the Indian Union Government would have to go to war against it. No one wanted war, but he could never advise anyone to put up with injustice. If all Hindus were annihilated for a just cause he would not mind. If there was war, the Hindus in Pakistan could not be fifth columnists. If their loyalty lay not with Pakistan they should leave it. Similarly Muslims whose loyalty was with Pakistan should not stay in the Indian Union.”
Soon after its inception in August 1947, Pakistan sent a rag-tag militia into Kashmir. The army became the most important pillar for survival in Pakistan’s ideology, besides Islam and Urdu. Class and ethnic rivalry flared conflicts that were doused by military power. The army became the care-taker, direct-ruler and ultimately the owner of Pakistan.
Democracy never flourished and the majority opted out after a genocidal operation in 1971. The remainder Pakistan kept up with the high cost of maintaining a big army. Impoverished citizens were squeezed and international bidders solicited. Everything else, education, police, infra-structure, rights of smaller provinces and minorities were shelved for keeping the boots of the soldiers shining. The civilian elite helped the army in this exploitation. Urdu gave way to the language best suited for international aid-collection and religion became deceit, thievery, oppression and murder.
Millions of Pakistanis were made destitute by the floods and thousands perished but the international community is reluctant in coming forward to help. The money they give could end up in grooming Islamist militia that strengthens Pakistan’s army in lording over a country of 180 million.
Pakistan has declined into no-governance. A communal anarchy could be seen in the largest city Karachi. Skills of deception and corruption are displayed with pride. Society has fallen apart. Without international-aid this nation-state will perish.
A self-rule, based on global-ethic, at the local level, has become necessary at this time.
Freedom and religion were abused like another false promise of food and shelter in Pakistan.
The following poem by Dr. Shams Hamid glances through some realities of the sub-continent that I tried to explore in my article above.
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
[...] Malik Rashid on governance in Pakistan. [...]
Every year we wait for the monsoon season to come and beat the heat of summer’s spell. The lovely rains that blossoms the trees and lightens up the atmosphere, the wonderful weather where romanticism revolves in the air for 2 months atleast. It’s altogether a lovely feeling throughout July and August.
But all of a sudden, this year’s monsoon actually brought sadness over the faces; it became a wrath of God. Every single province in Pakistan got traumatized due to the rains. As this year’s rain brought in a huge Flood, shattering houses, taking away lots of lives. From the top to the bottom, Pakistan is all under water. Killing Water!
What is happening? Such destruction? So much rain that not even dams can stop them? Did our Meteorological department know about such heavy rain falls and disaster caused by it? Was our irrigation department prepared? Did our ecological department plan about it? Did people have any idea how worse it can be? Did people prepare? Did people get time to think over it and prepare?
Obviously there is no answer.
The rains started, the sewerage system got occupied. People started running towards their home to take their families to a place where it’s not raining heavily. They are on their way to other cities/areas, the bridges collapsed, roads broke into pieces. Even the mountains loosen up, huge rocks started to fell on causing road blocks. One to another, people got caught into problems, where there was No way out.
The people who went on holidays, vacations, honeymoons etc got trapped in the beautiful northern areas of Pakistan. Up on the hills, where there is no food, water, access to any store; they are stuck up in their own realm of problems. Where helicopters and government officials will have to go there to help them but due to heavy rains, they couldn’t go there even. It’s a distressing & painful state.
The flood started from Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, entering Sindh via Baluchistan and parts of Punjab.
As always our Forces are always there to take care of us, to protect us and save our lives. Army along with Air Force and Navy rescued many affected people but still several died and drowned in the water. Still Navy and its Commandos are trying to save lives in flooded areas of Sindh, though it just entered Sindh but created a mess there too.
Prediction is that this situation will calm down by mid August 2010 but will not end until September.
But one must appreciate the spirit of Pakistanis; everybody is there to help their native brothers and sisters. People are collecting & providing clothes, money, medicines, food etc all what they can think of, to the camps created by Armed Forces in different localities, as people cannot return to their homes due to no electricity, gas and major necessities of life.
Electric supply, Gas and all such pipelines were closed to avoid fire and current in water, which could have lead to several deaths. Already a great number of people have already died within a week’s time.
Well, one can take preventive measures always. People should avoid travelling, whether it is through any mode. People should store lots of food & medicines in their home. But then again, can one stop flood coming into their homes? Gosh NO!
Although these Disasters being Natural are not without Human Involvement!
..
This is a humanitarian crisis, and one should really not consider the nationality of the families dieing due to such a crisis. It is so unfortunate that people are considering nationalities when giving aid to individuals including little children. I think this is an opportunity for people, regardless of race, religion or color, to unite.
SWO is working in effected areas of Sindh from the first day with its team of Doctors and Caregivers but we need help, we urgently need following items:
1. Mosquito nets.
2. Snake Bite Injections.
3. Food stuff.
4. Tents.
5. Drinking Water.
6. US Dollars 70000
We are looking towards International Community for their support and help. Remember, God loves those who love humanity.
Appeal by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
The 2010 Humanitarian Appeal contains strategic humanitarian action plans for 12 of the world’s most severe crises. It is the culmination of an extensive process of analysis and planning involving hundreds of aid organizations, affected governments, donors and other stakeholders across the world.
The global recession has raised inevitable concerns that humanitarian funding may decline in 2010. I urge Member States and private donors to keep that from happening. Next year’s will be at least as great as in 2009, as we continue to cope with climate-related disasters and the conflicts which cause so much human distress.
The international humanitarian system is designed to help governments help their own people. Even the largest and most powerful countries sometimes see a useful role for specialized help from friends and neighbours, fully coordinated with the national response. It is a sign of responsibility to call for such help when needed, and to accept it when offered.
Indeed, Member States should not be thought of as either “donors” or “recipients”. A growing number of Member States which have turned to friends for help in past disasters are today in a position to offer help and to support international humanitarian aid in its many forms. Such a broadening of substantive support for relief efforts is crucial as the world responds to rising humanitarian needs.
Recent tragic events have shown that we cannot take the safety of aid workers for granted, and that humanitarian personnel are not always allowed the free access to affected civilians that they need to deliver life-saving aid. We must reinforce respect for the neutrality of humanitarians.
On behalf of 48 million people in 25 countries needing urgent help, and on behalf of the 380 organizations that have come together to devise these plans, I appeal for 7.1 billion US dollars to be provided without delay and as a common sense investment in global stability and well-being. Our aim is to help people survive the coming year, and start working their way out of vulnerability towards the dignity, safety and self-sufficiency to which every human being has a right.
Ban Ki-moon
November 2009
The monsoon induced flooding in Pakistan constitutes an evolving crisis on an unprecedented scale. The impact of the flood has varied: The flash floods in the mountainous north (KPK) were intense and highly destructive.
This was also largely the case in parts of Balochistan. In flatter areas of Punjab and northern Sindh, riverine flooding has been a very destructive phenomenon, although with a slower onset, affecting densely populated and cultivated areas. In lower Sindh, the ongoing riverine delta flooding may have longer lasting effects due to soil saturation of these low lying areas.
To date, this assessment identified at least 14.1 million people who were directly affected by the flood across Pakistan. Other estimates may be higher and include indirectly affected populations. More than 1.1 million houses were completely destroyed or made unliveable and more than 2 million hectares of standing crops were damaged or lost.
The people most severely affected were predominantly small farmers and unskilled labourers. They are among the most vulnerable in Pakistan and almost all live below or just above the national poverty line. More than 60 percent lost immediate access to their primary livelihood and are faced with a drop in their already low income by more than half. The significant increase in food prices in flood affected areas is exacerbating the situation.
More than three quarters of the affected population have access to less than one week supply of food. Livestock was severely impacted with on average 40% of livestock lost by flood affected households. Almost half of the affected population have unacceptable food intake, in spite of the efforts by government/army, NGOs, UN and the general public. Nutrition measurements indicate that the malnutrition situation is deteriorating.
Based on the number of destroyed and unliveable houses as well as the extent of crop losses, 10.1 million people are in need of immediate assistance. Within this group, considering current food consumption levels and displacement status, at least 7.8 million are particularly vulnerable to lasting food insecurity.
Longer term food assistance requirements for recovery and rehabilitation programmes amount to 3.6 million people living in highly food insecure area.
Please Donate, remember God Loves those who love Mankind. Your one Dollar can make change.
President
Saharo Welfare Organization (Regd)
http://www.saharo-pk.com
Phone: +92-021-37677933
“I will never forget the destruction and suffering I have witnessed today. In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this.” – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon