A State That Cares

Much has been written about the Kasur Tragedy in newspapers and media over the last one week. No human being can deny the horror of the incident, in which a network of child abuse and the sale of its videos was unearthed. A number of myths were broken by this tragedy, one of them was the myth of rural areas being the hub of tradiditional values and simple living, while the fast growing urban areas were considered the cesspool of crime and the places where the erosion of our values was taking place. This incident shows that our rural areas are the breeding ground not only of inequality and injustice, but also of crime and depravity. It also shows that the erosion of values has been uniform in Pakistani society and that evil has no boundaries. Another reality unearthed is the superficiality of development and brought into sharp focus the lack of focus on rural development in our country, especially in the most developed province in the country. This incident and other like it, are symptoms of a grater and multifaceted malaise that afflicts our society and State. Human depravity and evil has been there since the creation of humankind, and evil cannot be completely wiped out, only controlled to an acceptable extent, so that human beings can live comfortably in the society. That is the main aim of governance, and the focus of the state. However, no debate is going on about the disconnect between the requirements of the contemporary Pakistani society and the state mechanisms available on the ground. One of the major problems is that our successive governments have continued with the colonial structure of governance, which was designed to control the natives, not to serve them. Police was an instrument of control, not of social service. After independence we have continued to rely on the existing paradigms, but there is a strong need to enhance and build the capacity of social welfare and services, as well as having an independent and coherent structure of human rights protection at the grassroots level. this is non existent in our districts at the moment. There is no forum where a battered woamn, an abused child, or a bonded labourer can go to for the redressal of human rights violations. Ombudsman is not for this. Police does not have human rights abuse as a very high item on its list of priority. then where do the people who are victims of abuse and injustice, go? We do not know at the moment. It does not befit a government of a nation with the majority of its citizens young people, not to have a clue about this. It is correct that significant legislation regarding women, children, and disadvantaged segments of the society has not taken place, due to various controversies. Reform is a dirty word in this country so overwhelmingly controlled by the proponents of the statue quo. We need not only relevant legislation but also an effective implementation mechanism at the grassroots level. but how do we do it? the truth is, this deeply divided nation needs consensus on most issues. The doctrine of reconciliation was a breakthrough in our political thought. We have now progressed to consensus on democracy and security, and people talk about a consensus on economy also. However, we urgently need consensus on social freedom and justice. We need discussion and legislation on personal and collective freedoms and also the translation of this vision into well organized and responsive implementing agencies with some authority and teeth. it cannot be left to the police or handed over to the military. Both are neither permanent nor effective solutions. The government has to take the first steps to make our State metamorphose from a state that rules and dictates, to a state that cares about its people. After 69 years of independence, this metamorphosis is long overdue. We should remember and talk about transformation rather than the usual cliches on this independence day. Please dont wait for the youth to grow up and transform the State. Give it to them as a legacy so that they can grow up safe and out of harm's way. In the current climate it sounds like a utopian idea, but a beginning is necessary to reach the end of the journey.