AS my friends and I were walking home from school, we decided to take a different route that day. Along the way, we came across a magnificent brown-coloured house with multiple storeys. Curious about the owner, I noticed a nameplate on the gate that had the name of the owner along with the name of a political party.
Unfamiliar with local politics of Gilgit due to my five-year stay in Lahore in connection with my studies, my friend informed me that the house belonged to a local politician. I found it peculiar that even an unknown, local politician could afford such a palatial house.
This observation reminded me of a recurring pattern I have noticed among people associated with the government or roaming the corridors of power. They seem to dedicate significant time and resources embellishing their personal lives, neglecting the development and improvement of the regions they are meant to serve. This phenomenon has been going on for as long as I can remember. The desire to enhance their own comfort often, if not always, takes precedence over extending comfort to others.
Even during conferences, where people at the helm of affairs gather to discuss the country’s financial struggles and the increasing hardships faced by the citizens, I find it perplexing how these individuals manage to maintain an opulent lifestyle. They seem to have an abundance of lavish food, expensive attires and fancy cars. Is this because they feel compelled to maintain appearances, or is there some- thing else at play?
As a concerned citizen, these questions have been troubling me ever since I developed an interest in politics. My quest for answers continues, fuelled by a growing desire for a political landscape that truly represents the interest of the people, the commoners, who will always remain ‘common’ compared to these ‘conceited’.
Whatever the reason, the situation casts a dark shadow over our cracked hopes. The unending cycle of self-serving politicians and their extravagant lifestyles continue to prevail, while the commoners suffer the consequences of their neglect. It feels as though our pleas for a change are cries in the desert; unheard.
The stark contrast between the opulence displayed by those in power and the struggles faced by the ordinary citizens only deepens our despair.
It is a grim reminder that the system is rigged against us, the commoners, and that our dreams of a fair and just political landscape may forever remain a dream. The future seems to be bleak and the flickering candle of hope is growing dimmer with each passing day.
Rakhshanda Abbas
Gilgit
Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2023
