CHITRAL: Needless to point out that Pakistan is in dire straits. It is in a tunnel which has virtually no light to be seen at the end, as long as we continue like this. We have elections to form governments in all the provinces and the center but every election is marred with irregularity and lack of authenticity. Reason being that the underlying consideration in these elections are not issues or any agenda but the objective is to secure votes by hook or by crook and the biggest crook being money which is blatantly used to grab the vote of the people or even to grab the ballot boxes as a ‘wholesale’ deal. Earlier money was paid to individuals but now elections are contested on ‘contract’ basis, the big contractors being those who are supposed to preserve the sanctity of a vote. No amount of elections or so called democracy can better Pakistan which will remain in the afore mentioned tunnel with no light at the end.

The solution to this problem, may not be democratic, nor may it seem ethical, it may rather sound radical and crazy, but it certainly is practicable, and a panacea to solve Pakistan’s perpetual problem of the proverbial cat and mouse game in a ‘circle of no joy’.

The outside of the box suggestion is that all public offices which are hitherto filled through elections be put up for open auction. From President to PM to Ministers to Senators, MNAs MPAs even down to the district mayors and councilors should all be filled with the highest bidder of these positions in respective constituency. This way there will be no confusion and expenses of elections, no hypocrisy of politicians, no wastage of the nation’s time, no nonsensical riff raff that the country is engaged in;  it will be a smooth and viable system. Now, some readers would question the fairness of this system saying that being rich does not ensure the candidate would be suitable for the position. The answer to this is “what qualifications do people who hold these positions through elections now, possess”? Look around and be truthful about it. At least the people who would have deposited hundreds of billions in the exchequer would be possessing qualities of acquiring wealth which is the most important feat in the (rat) race now. With the hundreds of billions deposited in the treasury, Pakistan can repay it’s loans as against billions being spent now on elected representatives who are part of the problem of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s biggest problem is it’s economy and everything revolves around money here. Even the religious preachers by remaining silent on the issue of money making irrespective of the means, tacitly approve of it. So, when money is the demigod in Pakistan why not think of a solution to our problems from that angle.

Pakistan’s cancer is something out of the box, so an out of the box solution can only cure it. According to an old Chitrali adage “Shha kuchhaio te Renio richh vez” .. CN report, 12 Sep 2024