KARACHI: The president of Pasban-e-Pakistan, on the eve of World Day of Social Justice, warned that intolerance and apathy were on the rise, pointing out that social justice was vanishing.
President Altaf Shakoor said, “We have failed to give our citizens equality, peace, respect and safeguard their basic rights. There are virtually two laws in this country; one for the rich and other for the poor.”
“Government departments are shamelessly corrupt and incompetent, and their employees are virtually paid for their corrupt practices and for their willingness for not serving the citizens,” he added.
He further said, “The concept of uphold of law and constitution now seems dead and buried in this country. This situation has shaken the very foundations of our society and resultantly the level of intolerance and apathy has gone up.”
Referring to the recent incident regarding the desecration of limbs and bodily remains belonging to the Sehwan shrine blast martyrs, he said that it spoke volumes about the callousness of the rulers of Sindh. He claimed that they were undoubtedly the most corrupt and inefficient administrators in all of Pakistan.
He wondered what would be left behind if society even lost respect for martyrs. He remarked that this was how societies died, as their citizens gradually became apathetic and indifferent after long subjugation from tyrants.
He proclaimed that if the Sindh government had an iota of shame and self-honour, they would immediately resign, instead of shamelessly clinging to their positions.
Shakoor added that so-called politicians were only concerned with the issues around the Panama Leaks case, in order to cover up their corruption. He said that for them, the poor masses of Pakistan meant nothing except a handy tool, to be cruelly used and maneuvered to get their votes.
He noted that this was why the common people were losing faith in the constitution, law and parliament. He warned that this was a very dangerous path that would lead to the unavoidable death and decay of society.
Pasban leaders also criticised the United Nations and world community on their listlessness over major issues concerning social justice and basic human rights. He cited the kidnapping, trafficking and illegal detention of Pakistani, Dr Aafia Siddiqui, adding that her long ordeal questions the very concept and validity of the World Day of Social Justice.
Shakoor quoted the UN, mentioning that social justice was an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. “We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability,” he said.
He demanded that governments support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.
