Five pillars of Pakistan

Zafar Alam Sarwar

Pakistan is a state, not a colony owing its existence to any foreign power. There should be no doubt about it. As a student of history and political science one would say that the term ‘state’ refers to an assemblage of human beings (not beasts only), occupying a definite territory (not jungles only), under an organised government, and subject to no outside control and interference. Hence, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, strictly in the scientific sense, is a state with a constitution in action – a self-governing, dynamic country adjusting itself to the needs of time. The idea behind the struggle for Pakistan, as its architect told officers of the armed forces, was that we should have a state in which we could live and breathe as free men and which we could develop according to our culture and where principles of Islamic values and economic justice could find free play.

It is generally agreed that power is divisible into three broad categories: first, the legislature, which formulates and expresses the will of the state; second, the executive, which sees that laws are duly obeyed by all and there is no infringement; third, the judiciary, which determines whether or not the law is applicable in a particular case. Being a representative assembly, the legislature in a democratic government enacts general rules of society in the form of laws. If the executive acts in excess of the power vested in it by law, the judiciary may declare that the order issued by the executive is ultra vires. The judicial power determines “the manner in which the work of the executive has been fulfilled, and it sees to it that the exercise of executive authority conforms to general rules laid down by the legislature.” The Constitution of the state guarantees a wide range of rights and privileges to its citizens. There are provisions regarding equality before law; personal liberty, rights to freedom of expression, assembly, movement and religion.

It goes without saying that people’s welfare can be obtained only under conditions of an orderly society; that it is the function of the state to secure these conditions so that every citizen may get an opportunity to pursue his activities; that economic activities precede the rest; and, last but not the least, that all human activities will be fruitless if the state is not well-defended against any foreign aggression and/or internal disturbance. Can a state remain content to provide mere conditions of peace and order? The purpose of the state is to create such atmosphere that is conducive to the good life of man and to give an equal opportunity to all for their growth and development. For the realisation of this purpose the state has to perform certain functions.

Three organs of the government – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary – may be regarded as the three pillars of the state. However, there are two more pillars that cannot be sidetracked as they are of great significance and vitally needed for the integrity and survival of the state and its economic uplift, socio-political solidarity and advancement in science and technology. These are the media and the armed forces, both known for their positive interaction and intercommunication directed against the enemy before and after the establishment of Pakistan. Did Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Mazhar Ali Khan, Ehsaan Daanish and even Z A. Suleri not join hands with the army out of patriotism in Second World War? Working journalists and intellectuals, including poets and writers, set an example to revolutionise the public opinion in defence of the homeland and boost the morale of soldiers, who repulsed malicious attacks of the enemy in 1948 and 1965. Responsible journalists Mahmood Shaam and Munoo Bhai, and many like them, earned fame on that account also.

All five pillars of the state have to perform their functions in high spirits separately with honour and dignity but in an atmosphere of harmony, patriotism and devotion to the cause of the homeland, which means making Pakistan impregnable with sound economy and internal security. Who will not agree to the fact that the media is a great power and that it can guide and instruct public opinion in accomplishment of the great task of national build-up if it does not shun responsibility? In the same vein one can say that the country’s army men and women, right from a naib subedar to a general who form the institution, are of vital necessity not only for the state’s defence but also for the all-round progress and welfare of the nation. It is worth pondering that an individual mistake should not be translated into collective punishment to an organisation or institution, for such savage practices in the past brought about the fall of imperialist empires.

In times of peace the soldiers rushed to rescue flood and earthquake victims and worked for their rehabilitation. In 1973, the army battled against the flood fury to save Faisalabad and Rahim Yar Khan. A similar job was performed by troops in 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir. The federal government discouraged criticism of the armed forces and introduced in 1973 a bill in the National Assembly in that context.

Some stalwarts and interpreters of religion, who claim to be learned in theology, are bent upon enforcement of shariah of their choice by force in some parts of the country, for instance Waziristan, Bajaur and Swat. With arms in hands these religious fanatics have taken recourse to militancy aiming it at the US who, they say, is using Pakistan as a partner in the war on terror for its own benefit.

Pakistan, as a matter of fact, is paying for religious extremism and considers the war on terror its own problem and seeks no dictation from the US. There seems no good reason to hope that the army alone should grapple with militant radicals and extremists. The new government, the media, civil society and the army together will have to take the war on terror to its logical conclusion by democratic means. This is all the more necessary for all-round development of the state, which covers the tribal areas as well. All moderate-minded people, civil and military, will be doing a great service to the nation if they transform the scenario into a progressive environment by legislative decrees to realise ends of social and economic justice compounded with educational reforms. What has manifested the resolve of the new army chief in this direction are his words in regard to the sanctity of the Constitution, defence of the state and cause of the common man whether he is a soldier or a common man in the street.

Link: http://www.thepost.com.pk/OpinionNews.aspx?dtlid=153423&catid=11