Buck Stops with Leader of the House/Leader of the Opposition
By Rais Khan
Fremont, California
The emergence of Pakistan on world scene was not an incidental or accidental phenomenon but a culmination of sub-continent Muslims’ struggle to unchain themselves from the clutches of imperial snobberies and Upanishadic caste and class-ridden system.
Ingrained in that struggle was a deep-rooted sense of rejection for the British patronized class consisting men of ordinary blood line but exalted to high positions with their only qualification of being loyal to imperialist usurpers and traitors to their own clan. This class was knighted with honors and enriched with state largesse to enable them looking and becoming superior compared to not only their kinship but across the then prevailing social fabric. It was thus very natural that strong feelings of rejection of this class contributed to the general political creed of all freedom fighters of the sub-continent.
After independence India, being mindful of the aspirations of its people, kept Sirs, Khan Bahadur Sahibs and Rai Sahibs at bay from the corridors of power but the reverse happened in Pakistan. Yesterday “loyals” still remained loyals and yesterday “rebels” (freedom-fighters) still remained rebels in the land of pure. There was no trading of places or “change” at the political level and power was grabbed by the said privileged class while still holding the old pelf.
After the departure of the White Sahib, the people of Pakistan found themselves engaged in suffering the vagaries of its remnant in the shape of Brown/Kala Sahib. This politically and socially well-entrenched class, whose inter-marriages were also decided by their white masters, has denied the hapless gentiles of Pakistan the fruit of independence. After a long struggle, their first effort in 1956 was thwarted by praetorian brown sahibs, the people of Pakistan gave themselves a Constitution that depicted their collective wisdom through their chosen representatives and which serves as the embodiment of their socio-political aspirations. There can be no second opinion to the universal belief that a constitution having popular sanction should act as an instrument to remove the deprivations long endured by the hoi poi of a nation.
A parliament, by its very definition, is a place where people’s representatives speak. It also provides a platform where affairs of the State are discussed and laws are enacted according to the aspirations of the people. Lower house of the parliament, in the case of Westminster type, is of great importance as its members are directly chosen by the people. All its members are equally important but Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition enjoy an edge over them and are the custodians of people’s aspirations and rights.
Reverting back to the privileged class created by the Raj for the protection of its imperial rule, there exists a long list of the fraternity of this Imperial Breed but one would like to refer only to two cases that could be of prime importance to the two leaders of Pakistan lower house of the parliament. One would like to take excerpts from a book titled “The Punjab Chiefs” first written by Sir Lepel Henry Griffen, Chief Secretary of Punjab Province in 1880, about chiefs and families of note in Punjab. About some families of note in Multan District, Sir Griffen writes:
“ Major Herbert Edwards granted a sanad of protection to this shrine alone at the conquest of Multan in 1848 for loyal and valuable services rendered. Sir John Lawrence also granted a khillat of Rs. 300 and a sanad in 1859 to Makhdum Sayed Nur Shah in recognition of his good services during the Mutiny of 1857. (Muslim historians call it war of freedom) ----- Pir Sayed Vilayat Shah was acknowledged Chief of the Gilanis in 1876 and was appointed an Honorary Magistrate in Multan in 1877. ---------The present sajjada nashin of the shrine and representative of the family is Makhdum Sayed Sadr-ud-Din Shah who is a Provincial Darbari. One of his brothers is Munsif and the other an accepted candidate for the post of EAC.”
About Chaudris of Chakri he wrote, “At annexation Chaudri Sher Khan was the head. Sher Khan was conspicuous for his support of the British and after the battle of Gujrat Nicholson, on his return to the Sindh-Sagar Doab, entrusted several duties to him and found him useful…. He was rewarded by the grant of a pension of Rs. 250 per annum and the rent-free lands valued at the time at Rs. 492…….In 1857 he was again conspicuous for his loyalty; he gave valuable information from time to time , furnished levies, went with the Commissioner to Murree and rendered service during the outbreak there. He also assisted in the pursuit of some mutinous sepoys, who were killed after a desperate resistance and escorted life prisoners to Multan. His revenue assignments were increased from Rs. 492 to Rs. 750, of which Rs. 500 was granted in perpetuity and he received a Khillat of Rs. 500……. Chaudri Sher Khan died in 1875 and was succeeded in his perpetual Jagir, worth Rs. 594 per annum and his seat in Darbar by his son Ahmad Khan.”
It is worth reminding to the readers that a monetary reward for treacherous services of the then imperialist loyals or landed property bestowed upon them worth a few hundred rupees may not be taken on the face value. These are worth hundreds of millions (in crores) today and their descendants have been ruling over the rest of 99% with ascendancy provided by their ancestry through ignominious and most despicable acts.
Pakistan inherited the Augean Stable along with the beacon of independence. One is not prepared to buy the phrase that the century old mess cannot be cleaned. If Hercules could do it with two rivers, we need only one mighty Indus to flush out the fossilized stuff. If America could weed out the royals and their remnants from its body politics why can’t we do it? Who should undertake this pious task? The buck stops with Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition in the parliament lower house directly elected by the people. They are the custodians of the people’s rights and aspirations. They must deliver and initiate the realization of the true meanings of the proverbial phrase ”charity begins at home”.
Both leaders are requested to denounce the shameful activities of all such so-called nobles who for small personal and monetary considerations worked against the collective well-being and the virtue of freedom of their fellow compatriots and sold their souls to the usurpers and imperialist forces. They should work together to legislate law for the forfeiture of all such honors and assets in favor of State that were granted to these loyals by their masters of the British Raj.
