They left this world. Their images, empty chairs, and misdeeds stayed. The scars of injuries they inflicted on the nation stayed in the pages of books, and the memories of men and women. The vacuum left by them was filled by others – really not much different from them. Pattern was the same with an added apathy towards public concerns. The human acquisitive traits were more pronounced; the grab of resources was more widespread; the rule of law, autocracy; human rights violations and suppression of press and interference in judiciary was worse than before. They stayed, ruled the roost, accumulated wealth, earned infamy, and flew to their eternal abodes. What they left behind in this land could not travel along with them. Their good or bad deeds were already recorded in the accountability court of the Creator. They went with a piece of cloth shrouding their lifeless body.  

Mortality prevailed; they lost; they hurt Pakistan but could not take away its vitality. Their ambitions were buried in the same pit along with their mortal remains. They left images of mauled democracy, abrogated constitutions, abuse of law, human rights violations, inequality, deprivation, criminal negligence of the people’s basic needs. Strong images of autocracy, dictatorial decisions, and ruthlessness, an audacious sense of impunity, aversion to rule of law, representative governance were associated with their persons. They left behind broken promises, repulsive plethora of lies, travesty and shame.  These images are on the screen of history - recorded and preserved. Everyone can see them, write about them, analyze them and infer results. These images cannot be buried under layers of falsity.      

The country is there; the nation is there; our resilient people are there keeping the rhythm of life, struggle, battling with poverty, deprivation, ignorance and........

© The Friday Times