Three questions to ask from every leader
(Umair Hashmi, Toronto, Canada)
I am following the latest
episode in Pakistani Politics with great zeal. Initially, I thought the new wave
of political activism may bring some good for the nation and in the long run
people will see a better and prosperous Pakistan. I thought the emerging
leadership will soon topple the monarchy of low wisdom and incompetent
politicians but unfortunately it proved otherwise and we have seen ego vs. ego
instead of good politics vs. bad politics. Given the numerous conspiracy
theories its difficult to identify what the reason of sit-in was and what it has
achieved, who was the script writer or if there was any(?) but as a matter of
hindsight it is safe to say that the peek is over and whatever, that could have
been achieved it hasn't been achieved.
For the last twenty years or so Pakistani society is experiencing a horrible
downslide. It has become more materialistic than before. Education system,
judicial system and even the literary sense of its people have seen the rock
bottom. The reasons are quite obvious and the top most is the governance style.
Even after about 70 years of independence and in the presence of a constitution
we are still discussing a very basic thing... democracy or dictatorship? I would
like to invite your attention and offer you to look around and decide what is
best? There are many countries who still enjoy absolute Monarchy, those
countries are progressing. There are quite many countries who have democracy and
they are progressing too. Similarly there are countries who have democracy and
some have dictatorship but they are in crises. Have we tried to determine the
reason? The reason is simple its good governance vs. bad governance. Building a
system takes time. Do your best to improve a system while living in that system.
Every system comes with its pros and cons, however, the best strategy is to
understand the pros and cons and apply the best of the capabilities to get the
most.
If we want to save Pakistan and make it progressive, we need to stop worshipping
our leaders blindly. We need to ask them three basic questions every time they
try to sell an idea.
Question 1: Explain the idea?
Question 2: What is the plan?
Question 3: If the Plan A fails what is the plan B? in other words how we can
control the damage?
Lets take an example: If the leader in his election campaign is saying that he
will improve the education system. My Question #1 will be to explain what is
your idea? He will explain that there will only be Government schools and every
child either poor or rich, living in city or village will go to school. My next
question will be what is the plan. He will give a detailed plan in writing to
the nation that in first phase it will be in cities, in the next phase it will
be in villages. The funds will come like this e.g. 10% of GDP over 20 years etc.
At that point I will fire Question 3: What if this plan fails or you get just
10% of the G.D.P or the Wadera, Malik, Chawdheries and Khans didn't allow
students to attend school? The leader has to explain his broad policy points at
that time. Only then I will vote him if I buy his idea or at least find it
sensible on the grounds of logic.
In a nutshell, if we started thinking practically and logically, our leaders
will have no option except to speak rationally. This is how we will find the
depth of their leadership and ability to rule.