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The extent of military's involvement in our domestic affairs, the patronage that runs through these systems, the kind of benefits that accrue to people close to these power structures, the rents that are generated through such transactions... they're all always underestimated. https://twitter.com/faraz_lhr/status/1351595649041620994
Its not just DHA, Askari Bank, Askari Cement, etc which all of us know about - although it is quite obvious that these known entities have also, by themselves, quite a pernicious role to play for our overall political well-being. Its instances like this, the one Faraz sb
talked about. Its how a lot of important contracts for infrastructure building goes to entities like FWO which have practically no oversight. Its stories of billions of PKR of rents generated through smuggling on the Torkham and Chaman borders both of which are under the control
of the military. Its stories like how Gen Hameed Gul's daughter (or daughter in law, i dont quite remember) Uzma Gul or whatever her name was, in cahoots with Pakistan Post officials, systematically destroyed this prestigious public institution (Pak Post) to pave the way for
TCS's footprint in the courier business in Pakistan - you might remember how TCS had a near monopoly in this business 6-7 years ago, although much-needed viable competition has now emerged. Its how senior naval officers received millions of $ of commissions and kickbacks
during the submarine scandal of 90s. Its how our military men and their associates earned millions from the Afghan drug trade. Its all out there. Awain nai 3-star ki seat is worth more than a billion rupees. Also, just so we're abreast of the recent developments,
its how you can get to be the ambassador of as important a country as Saudi Arab without ever having served in any diplomatic capacity, and also how you get to run various important state institutions like WAPDA, CPEC Authority, PIA, etc just cuz you were or are a military man
even tho you have never even fought any real wars let alone have any experience of working on such technical posts. I can go on and on and on. This will never stop prolly.
My bottom line is that the military can be found in every nook and cranny of the rent-seeking underbelly
My bottom line is that the military can be found in every nook and cranny of the rent-seeking underbelly
of our economic system. The flow of patronage from the upper echelons to all the players involved is huge, and as I said above, always underestimated.
It is worth mentioning again that its not just the military itself, as as institution, that I am blaming here. Its the systems
It is worth mentioning again that its not just the military itself, as as institution, that I am blaming here. Its the systems
they have helped create. Especially the political, administrative and economic system they have engendered in our society; the system of these corrupt, rent-seeking siyaasatdaans, bureaucrats, property-dealers, businessmen, etc. Most of our top businesspeople, like all
those folks who met with Bajwa to complain about the economic situation back in 2019 i think, wont survive for long if they arent in some way connected to the military or pick a fight with them. I do grant that some of them may have even deeper roots of power in the country, like
puraanay 22 khaandaan, etc but most of them are still part of this system where the military runs the affairs and is the custodian of this economic structure which they all benefit from except when we run out of dollars every few years and have to go to IMF and undergo
structural adjustment programs, waghera waghera.
The ultimate refuge of an economically beleaguered awaam is politics. This has always been true. But our political system is so geared against any prospects of real change that an alternative seems impossible. Most of the problems
The ultimate refuge of an economically beleaguered awaam is politics. This has always been true. But our political system is so geared against any prospects of real change that an alternative seems impossible. Most of the problems
in our political system arise from the military's involvement - most of the current crop of politicians were bred in the Zia era - and this is the first and foremost contradiction that we have to resolve. Until and unless we permanently clip the wings of this praetorian oligarchy
we cannot hope to escape the clutches of this near-perpetual economic and political decay. Usk baad jitni marzi reforms implement kar dena. Aur yeh b sun lo usk baad reforms ka asar b nazar aye ga. Unlike in the current setup. Q k power will be more dispersed among all the elites
in that case. So most of them will have to abide by some kind of formal or informal rules to keep playing in the system. I must add here that I personally dont really believe in any sort of national salvation through these "reforms" because labour will still be in a precarious
situation - and we need to find a global solution for this dominance of capital over labour if we wanna succeed; yeh bht mushkil hai k ham sirf idhar ek revolution type kuch le aayen aur hamain baaqi sab nations chaayn se bethne b dain gi; the struggle of ultimate replacement of
capitalism with some sort of socialistic system will still be alive; at least we will rid ourselves of the bottlenecks that are inflicting our productive forces for now.
Khair, I feel like I have said these things a million times on this website. I knw that I am being quite
Khair, I feel like I have said these things a million times on this website. I knw that I am being quite
repetitive but kya karain, these things need to be said. Repeatedly. We need to emancipate ourselves from these contradictions if we want to survive and make Pakistan a better place to live in for all of its inhabitants. Otherwise it will always be an environment of suffocation.
