New International Feudalism
By Khalid A.
London, UK
It has been reported in Daily Telegraph (Oct 10) that UAE is imposing strict pre-conditions as a price for giving any financial assistance to Pakistan. Their demands include:
*Lease/sale of large areas of agricultural land in Punjab and Sindh, to UAE
*Agricultural produce will be sent direct to UAE. Pakistanis will have no share in it.
*UAE will not pay any taxes to Pakistan.
If one ponders over these conditions, the following scenario would emerge:
*This will be a return of medieval 'sahu-kaars', who used to lend money to poor land-owners and eventually grab their land.
*This will create new 'jagirs' that will be mini-states within our state.
*It will be difficult to apply Pakistani laws to anything happening within the new mini-states.
One shudders to imagine what could take place in terms of forced labor or even virtual slavery and creation of 'harems' as well as violation of laws protecting wild animals and rare birds etc.
* The UAE will acquire a political clout that could affect future elections in Pakistan.
Pakistanis must be very cautious and wary. They have been complaining about strings attached to Western aid. They thought it would be easier to get aid from 'Muslim brothers'. But there is no 'free lunch' in this world.
Let us learn to stand on our feet by dint of hard work, sweat and toil.
