When I read this in the paper the other day, I immediately thought about posting it here on Take Back Pakistan.. so here it is..

As the lawyers’ protest against the removal of the chief justice continues to hyperboles into mass agitation seeking change of government, the debate, has once again moved to the very basic question of who should run the country and how it should be run.

In a normal country and under normal circumstances people would prefer familiar difficulties to the possible benefit of the unknown. They would rather try to solve problems within the existing framework than confront a new system and new chain of command. But in Pakistan’s political history this proclivity has been challenged over and over again. During the last nearly sixty years, the country has had civilian rule for exactly half of its life. The frequency of change of civilian set ups has been much faster than the period involving transition from military to civilian governments, which has averaged a healthy ten years cycle.

How can one diagnose this prolonged crisis of the state? It is indeed easy to jump on words like ‘feudalism’, ‘institutional failure’, ‘colonial mindset’, ‘army’ etc but then which country does not have a ruling elite? Where do institutions, sometimes big monopolies, not fail? Which country is devoid of any historical legacy and of strong armies? It is not just institutions that fail, it is the failing relationship between institutions which cause failures. Read more »

Since we started this initiative, so many people have come to us, asking to be a part of Take back Pakistan (read “How to Get Involved”). A lot of them make suggestions for protests, or public rallies, or education plans to take this to the “common man” – the majority are excited by the idea of patriotism and loving Pakistan, something sadly missing from our mix. There has been some finger-pointing and Pakistan-bashing in the midst of it all, and while the site was born from a long, vicious tirade that could be classified as Pakistan-bashing, Take back Pakistan is resolutely against such activities.

Here’s the thing with all these suggestions: you haven’t understood the movement! There is a clearly defined manifesto for the Take Back Pakistan Initiative. This is not a political party, and we have no social or financial agendas. Its time to think outside the box for Pakistan.

For all those out there who want to be a part of this initiative: before you jump onto the bandwagon with your enthusiasm and your patriotism, UNDERSTAND what this movement means. The manifesto applies to YOU, not to the distant “common man” which we have become so fond of fighting for. If YOU are not Pakistan’s “common man”, then you are part of the problem. ACCEPT IT. CHANGE IT. This manifesto is for people who have the will-power and determination to CHANGE THEMSELVES, not others, and not the system. Until we change ourselves, the system will never change.

The manifesto is a list of simple philosophies and civic duties that we need to inculcate in ourselves. If you want to join this initiative, please understand that you have to be able to say that you follow, or are trying to follow the guidelines listed here. That you feel you can and will espouse these philosophies in your own life. That you understand the power of the individual, and are looking for a long-term solution, not another slap-dash, half-hearted attempt to change the system from the outside.

WE ARE THE SYSTEM. Without us, there would be no political parties, no riots, no mayhem, no corruption. Without us, there would be no class inequality, no injustice, no terror. Without us, there would be no Pakistan. If we choose, this country can be great. But we have to stop blaming the ‘system’, or the government for everything that isn’t right in this country. Take Back Pakistan is an individual’s initiative. It doesn’t make us superior, and just joining the movement doesn’t make you a patriot. You have to DO the things set out in the manifesto, not just talk about them.

A very good friend of mine sent me a wonderful quote that I think would be fitting for everyone in this group to reflect on:

 “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Your thoughts and comments….

By Ashfaq Ahmed, Gulf News Staff Reporter

Dubai:

“My work and my hobby are plants and I believe I cannot live without them,” said Mohammad Nazir, a Pakistani gardener, who won a Dubai Government Excellence Programme Award.

Nazir, 63, was among 25 government employees who were dubbed “unsung heroes”.

A composed and calm Nazir had never imagined that he would ever stand next to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to receive an excellence award.

“My joy knew no bounds when Shaikh Mohammad held my hand and raised it in the air. I feel so proud and elevated,” Nazir told Gulf News yesterday.

Initially, it was difficult to track down Nazir for an interview because he does not use a mobile phone, but the task became very easy because apparently everyone knows him - from gardeners to the higher officials of his department.

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“I have a mobile phone but don’t know how to use it. I keep it in my room and use it just to call my family. My colleagues dial the number for me to make a call, but of course I know how to receive calls. But I do not like to use the phone while at work,” he said with a broad smile.

He works from 6am to 2pm to make Dubai green. He lives a very simple and content life. “I get offers from people to work extra time at their homes for extra money but I always turn them down because I consider it dishonesty with my official work,” he said.

Nazir, who joined Dubai Municipality as a gardener 27 years ago in December 1979, was planning to resign in March this year but his supervisor advised him to complete his visa validity period ending in October 2008.

Nazir played an important role in landscaping

Nazir was selected for the award because he never shirks work, said Ahmad Mohammad Abdulkarim, Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department.

He said Nazir never missed work in 27 years and never used sick leave as an excuse to take off from work. He has played an important role in the landscaping and beautification of the city’s major roads.

“We will give him a promotion and will also award him,” said Abdulkarim, who yesterday called Nazir to his office to congratulate him. “It is a big honour for the department.”

Sometimes it takes a simple man to show us how to earn respect. Today, Pakistan is proud of Mohammad Nazir for working hard in the UAE and earning respect for the country we call home. If you get a moment, stop by the Gulf News website and see the wonderful comments for this Hero, but don’t let that stop you from congratulating him here also!