1

SOCIAL EQUALITY
Introduction
1. Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned that Pakistan would be a state where all citizens would enjoy equal rights irrespective o

caste! creed! sect! or place o birth. "t is! however! ironic that the dream! in essence! could not come true! nor has the vision o the Quaid ound its practical mani estation. #urs is a highly polarized polity! ragmented into as many splinter groups as one could conceive. $he divide is ethnic! sectarian! regional! political! linguistic! economic and social. $he ederation projects a very ragile structure. "n act! Pakistan came into being as a state but could not be trans ormed into a viable and cohesive nation 1. %. $he new nations like ours are marked by horizontal and vertical cleavages in their social structure. #n the horizontal

level! linguistic! ethnic and regional diversities create problems in the political system. #n the vertical level! there is a wide gap between the westernized elites and the illiterate masses! between the rich and the poor %. &. As with most other new societies! Pakistan's history is replete with con lict! violence and disintegration. (ommunal!

religious! ethnic and social con licts have kept this state in a continuous crisis &. $he multi-ethnic integration and societal cohesion process in Pakistan can proceed only and a ter winning the con idence and consensus o masses and re orm o the social justice system. ). "nternal security o Pakistan is in luenced by many actors such as economic! social and political conditions! di erent

ethnic groups! the level o education! and the literacy. $he political instability and socio-economic disparities in Pakistan also make it most suitable target or e*ploitation. "ndeed! in Pakistan the economic problems create many social problems and injustices! which can a ect the internal security. "t there ore makes it mandatory or all o us to tackle the problem be ore it starts decaying the very iber o our national cohesion and integration.

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ABSTRACT

Social-equality is highly valued in present day Western society and a major goal of social policy. It is generally agreed that welfare provision by the state is a suitable mean to that goal and all Western nations are in fact welfare-states. Yet opinions differ on the level of state-welfare-effort Required in particular whether an e!tended welfare-state breeds a more equal society than a "odest one. #his difference figures prominently in the current discussion on slimming the Welfare-state. .It compares $% first world countries on &change in' social-security-e!penditures and &(hange in' social-inequality. Social-inequality is measured in two ways) #raditionally social-inequality is measured as difference command over scarce Resources typically socio-economic resources such as income wealth and social prestige. (omparison of income-inequality between the countries shows less inequality in the most *!tended welfare-states. Rather than as differences in such pre-conditions for a good life social-inequality can be (onceived as the difference in actually +reali,ed+ quality-of-life and measured by dispersions in Satisfaction with life &as observed in survey-data' and by dispersion in length-of-life &as observed In mortality statistics'. #hese latter two measures are not related to state-welfare-effort) neither In a cross-sectional analysis nor in a longitudinal one appear. It is concluded that high state-welfare does involve more money-leveling but does not equali,e and chances for a good life.

Aim
+. $o analyze the e*isting social injustices and their e ects on internal security o Pakistan with a view to suggest measures

to overcome these.

1 % &

PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL INJUSTICES General

,. -hat are the social injustices. $his is the question! which needs to be addressed irst to see the genesis o the whole

problem. A peace ul social li e depends on the balance between the elite and common people. $his balance is based on care and compassion on the part o the elite! and respect and obedience on the part o the latter.

Commonly Found Social In u!tice!

+. A ew commonly ound social injustices in our society are/ a. b. c. d. e. 0nequal distribution o resources 1estricted access o common people to the quality education 2onopoly o rich class in the political system o the country 3ack o basic health acilities to poor 4on availability o necessary commodities to major portion o the population

PART " #

SOCIAL INJUSTICES IN PA$ISTAN

General
5. 6ocial injustices in Pakistan can be urther sub divided into two main areas/ a. b. 7. a. 6ocial injustices in the sphere o government. 6ocial injustices thrust upon by social system. Social In u!tice! in t%e S&%ere o' Go(ernment Poor Ju!tice Sy!tem. "n Pakistan! justice is completely denied to the masses because police and courts are under heavy in luence o eudal lords and local 8amindars due to which poor masses are compelled to subdue in avour o their local lords. b. Feudali!m. 2ore than 59: population o Pakistan lives in rural areas where the big landlords owe &%: o the privately cultivated land. "n our country where literacy rate is very low! the capitalist and eudal modes o e*ploitation o ten coe*ist. $he 8amindars and ;agirdars have been allowed to loot the country and su ocate the process o development. c. Corru&t )emocratic In'ra!tructure. $here are no sa eguards or a socially clean democratic in rastructure in

Pakistan. $he sa eguards require honest persons to operate the system and remove the de iciencies o the democratic institutions. #ne o the e*pectations o the people that democracy would yield equitable distribution o resources and opportunities or the bene its o development has been time and again denied to them.

& d. Center"Pro(ince! )i!%armony. #ur political system ailed to create harmony ) in center-provinces relations. $hat disharmony was created due to neglect and deprivation o the smaller provinces. $he province o 6indh in general and <arachi in particular has been a victim o deliberate policy o neglect! inter erence and discrimination. 6ince 1=55! there has been a reverse low o resources rom <arachi. $his is amply proved by the act that 6indh contributed 5, per cent to the ederal revenues in 1==9 and about 79 per cent in 1=79. $his has now declined to only +9 percent in %999. e. Lac* o' In!titutionali+ed Con!ultation,)eci!ion -a*in. . $here has been no institutionalized process o

consultation! decision-making! and implementation o policy or monitoring in the country. $he Quranic injunction on 2ashawarat is clearly laid out> ?consult them in matters o state ,? and @blessed are those who submit to the will o Allah! observe their prayers! and conduct their a airs by mutual consultation +A. . Et%nicity. $he unequal distribution o wealth! denial o equal opportunities and pre erence given to one region over

the other are ew o the worst enemies o national integration which lead to ethnicity. 1e erring to Bast Pakistan's e*ample! @$he economic gap! which e*isted between the two wings in 1=)5-)7 increased substantially by 1=,7. Per capita income increased in west rom rupees &&9 in 1=)= to rupees &5& in 1=,= whereas in Bast Pakistan it declined rom rupees &9, to rupees %77A. $his promoted and continues to promote regionalism and ethnicity. h. Unem&loyment. "t is a central problem because when unemployment is high! resources are wasted and peopleCs

incomes are depressed> during such periods! economic distress also spills over to a ect peopleCs emotions and amily lives. "n Pakistan about %.) million persons o labor orce were estimated as unemployed in %991. $his indicates that rate o unemployment has increased between 1===-%991 by 9.5 percent o icially but uno icially unemployment is much larger than this rate. k. Une/ual )i!tri0ution o' Re!ource! . $he eudal! industrialists and corrupt bureaucracy have e*ploited the nation's resources through unequal and unjust distribution and have ailed to deliver on their promises. $he poor and impoverished have lost their sel -respect! patience and pride o being a Pakistani. l. )i!criminatory La1!. -ith the decay o social system and rise o elitists in politics! laws also started to serve the

in luential. Dut the poor on the other hand! had more to his miseries in the hands o corrupt police and biased judiciary. 3aws! in this land o pure! are a tool to serve the interests o rich and a noose or the poor. m. Co!tly and )i!criminatory Education2 $he gul in the li e-style o rich and the poor also started to be visible in the

system o education. -here a son o a rich had a lot o opportunities to go to the costly Bnglish medium schools! poor's son still goes to the Eovernment 6chool! whose pathetic environment and sub-standard education speaks volumes o the apathy on the part o Eovernment. n. Poor 3ealt% Facilitie!. Fealth in the modern era is both a sensitive as well as a comple* issue. "t should be

understood that the health o a nation depends not simply on the provision o doctors! hospitals and sophisticated equipment. "t depends on the e*istence o basic health concepts! not only in the minds o individuals but also in the mind o those who rame policies and enjoy the power o implementation.

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o.

Lac* o' -erit. 2erit is seldom the criterion or acquiring positions in our schools! universities! legislatures and most other institutions and pro essions.

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Social In u!tice! T%ru!t U&on 0y Social Sy!tem a. Place o' 4omen in Society,Gender 5iolence. -ith the erosion o social values! the place o women in our society has also been lost sight o . "t is most regrettable that gender violence is a common norm o our social culture> more so in backward and less educated segments o our society. b. -arria.e Sy!tem. #wing to lack o education and ollowing outdated traditions! the system o marriage in Pakistan is being run on the primitive terms o ignorance. Place o women in society makes her rather a scape-goat or any matrimonial a air. 6he does not have any liberty to make decisions or her li e partner less to decide about others. c. 5iolation o' 3uman Ri.%t!. Pakistan's record o human rights does not make her quali y to stand high in the comity o civilized nations. Gue to lack o education! poor social system and backwardness! violation o human rights is a common norm in Pakistan. And the worst a ected o this are the women! children and the poor masses. d. Cla!! )i(i!ion o' Society. Pakistani society is highly polarized and divided into various castes! classes! religious

a inities and political a iliation. $his makes it highly vulnerable to be e*ploited by the elements working against Pakistan. e. Intolerant Society. -e are an intolerant society. $his intolerance mani ests itsel in our social! religious and political activities. #ur relationships are characterized by unthinking support. $here is little sense o accommodation or rivals or competitors or those who belong to another sect! region or ethnic group.

CAUSES OF SOCIAL INJUSTICES

19. )ecayed Education Sy!tem. $he literacy rate is still alarming! especially in emale population which orms more than ,9:

o total population5. $he most important problem being aced by our educational system is that o quality education. $he major actor being over-crowding in the classes. $he teaching sta is also unable to pay individual attention to their students> this naturally leads to indiscipline and deterioration o standards in the class. 7 "n a nation wide study in Pakistan in %999! teachers with less than 2etric level education could not answer &9: o questions based on grade our te*tbooks. = 11. Ju!tice )elayed , )enied. Perhaps ew things are as important in uni ying the country as dispensing o justice. "n

Pakistan justice largely begins and ends at the police station> one should not be begging or it! as at present. $he corruption in the police ranks is endemic! though in judiciary it is somewhat lesser. Police! ;udiciary and the Dureaucracy still dwell in the realm o colonialism.

6#2 -ilitary In(ol(ement in Ci(ilian A''air! . -hat a society gets rom its armed orces is precisely what it asks or H no more and no less19. Irom a civilian perspective! army has been losing its pride and prestige rapidly. Irom the military perspective its over involvement in a airs ranging rom governance at higher levels to running the cricket board are not well received by the personnel.

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, 1&. Ine''icient and 7ia!ed 7ureaucracy . 6eparate lists o major problems identi ied in the civil services o Pakistan by Bgger!

(ornelius! and other commissionsJcommittees are given in the ollowing paragraphs/K)L K,L K+L 1). Giscrepancy in promotion policies. 3ack o career planning. Authority o the elected representatives is being e*ercised by the administration.

Royalty o' Natural Re!ource!. Blectricity is produced in 4-IP and gas rom Daluchistan but these have not been widely

distributed in these very provinces. Bven the royalty promised to the provinces has not been paid! especially to Dalochistan. According to the constitution! all wealth! minerals etc under the land belongs to the state! there ore no share could be legally paid to the people. $his legislation in reality was counter productive and brought in the element o blackmail and corruption. 1,. Pli.%t o' Judiciary a. A&&ointment o' Jud.e!. "t is carried out keeping in view their political a iliations or connections with certain party. $hat very actor negates the true sense o justice there ore system o checks and balance is compromised. b. Corru&tion 4it%in Judiciary. $he corruption charges in judiciary cannot be ascertained because supreme ;udicial (ouncilCs decisions are not made public. Dut the act cannot be over ruled because this important institution remained connected with B*ecutive. $here ore corruption crept in with the passage o time. 1+. Unem&loyment. 0nemployment is a central problem because when unemployment is high! resources are wasted and

peopleCs incomes are depressed> during such periods! economic distress also spills over to a ect peopleCs emotions and amily lives.

17.

Middle Class Non Representation. Middle class plays a very important role in strengthening of political system. Amongst

this class there is always a desire for more opportunity to participate in a democratically based political system. In case of Pakistan it was the upper class i.e. the military elite, civil services and selected civilians who always participated in political decision making.

EFFECTS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICES ON T3E SECURITY OF PA$ISTAN

E''ect! o' Social In u!tice! 17. Political In!ta0ility. 4o stable political system has prevailed in Pakistan. Politics have remained the domain o ew selected

amilies o eudal elite. "ncompetent and sel -centred political leaders politicised the language! ethnic and sectarian issues or their own interests. 1=. 4ea* Economy. A strong economy enhances the power potentials o a nation to ace e*ternal threat and creates an

internal cohesion. $he weak and deteriorating economy has ollowing e ects/a. b. c. %9. "ncreased rustration and discontentment has increased the law and order problems. 0nemployed youth is involved in crime and anti state activities. $he available resources do not match the population growth> there ore! the resentment is increasing.

Sectarian Alienation. $he sectarian issues have pervaded a nation body with the virus o discord. $his leads to serious

security implications or Pakistan's territorial integrity! internal harmony and social polarisation.

+ %1. Lac* o' Forei.n In(e!tment. Bconomy o a country! besides other actors is also dependent upon peace and serenity.

Bthnic violence in 6indh and Punjab had badly a ected the economy o the country as oreign investors are reluctant to invest in Pakistan due to law and order situation. %%. E8&loitation 0y Forei.n 3and. A sect! which is oppressed or eels being oppressed can easily all prey to the enemies o

Pakistan. 6abotage activities! selling o state secrets and spying against the state could be a probable outcome. %&. 4or!enin. La1 and Order Situation . 6ocial injustice! unemployment and rise o ethnicity have given rise to

discontentment! which results into law and order situation. %). Poor International Ima.e. #n one side! social injustices o our society have de-generated our social canvas! while on the

other> these have badly eroded the image o Pakistan on international level. $oday! Pakistan is not known or its vibrant economy but it does have recognition o a country ranking high in corruption. %,. )e(elo&mental Slac*ne!!. 1ise in militancy! interrupted policies and poor image abroad have led us to a position where

whole Eovernment machinery seems to have been taken hostage by a ew privileged ones! which has resulted into developmental standstill. %+. Social In u!tice! and T%reat! to t%e Security o' Pa*i!tan a. Greater 7aluc%i!tan T%reat. Ereater Daluchistan means union o "ranian and Pakistani Daluchistan as an

independent state. $he genesis o the concept that appears to have originated in 2oscow is the strategic importance o the area with its scant population! which is dispersed and very backward and is cruelly dominated by a ew 6ardars o the area! and vast hidden resources o mineral wealth that it contains 11. b. Indirect E8ternal T%reat. A scenario o economic strangulation! coercion on diplomatic and media ronts coupled

with 3ow "ntensity con lict along with e*terior maneuvers is the most likely threat or Pakistan.

RECO--EN)ATIONS
%5. )e(elo&in. Pa*i!tani Nation%ood . $here is need to develop Pakistani nationhood which should give people the eeling

that despite di erences they are people destined or common statehood. Giverse groups may also combine in a common state or reasons o economic and other advantages. Dut i the advantage is dubious and solidarity missing the state will have to rely mainly on coercive power to maintain itsel . $he more the state resorts to coercion the more it will alienate its citizens rom itsel . $he concept o "slamic nationhood has received a death-blow with the emergence o Dangladesh. $he need o the hour is inter-regional solidarity through negotiations bargaining and compromise. %7. Re(i(in. True 5alue! in !ociety. A ew steps recommended in this regard are/a. A healthy dialogue be conducted between people rom di erent ields o li e and social scientists on the media to understand the psycho-socio environment o the country. b. $ransparent and clear approaches be adopted to various sectors o national development! beyond personal bene its and political a iliations. c. An in rastructure is build to improve the quality o li e o common man in terms o education! health! wel are! poverty alleviation and workJjob opportunities.

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5 d. Ereater participation o the people be made certain in the development o the democratic systems rom the grass root level. e. 2a*imum community participation be encouraged in developmental projects at the local level to promote the sense o possession o the people! o such acilities. . g. h. j. %=. 4ational resources be appropriately used to eliminate dependence on oreign aid. 3et the political institutions be mature by the political process. 2ore media coverage be given to promote the true culture and social customs in consonance with the "slamic values. 2ore unds be allocated or the development o psycho-social sector. Erant o more provincial autonomy should provide a chance or smaller provinces to sa e

-ore Pro(incial Autonomy.

guard their common interest as per their desires. "t should not become a norm to misuse this legitimate right to provoke the masses against ederation to achieve the ew individuals' interest over the national unity. &9. I!lam 9 7a!i! o' Social Structure. Fistory proves that religion is an essential element o national integration and a symbol

o unity. #ur ounding athers had an ideology! a philosophy which stressed that "slam is able to tackle the problems o modern times! and "slam gives us a system that can bring about a universal just order! which envisages equity and air play on a universal level. &1. Economic Inter 9 )e&endence. -ith the passage o time! where socio-economic cleavages appear to have dominated the

narrow provincial e*clusiveness! economic inter-dependence has orged a better understanding o each other's problems. -ith more Pashtoons living in <arachi than in Peshawar! Pashtoon o today has stake in one Pakistan. 1ural 6indhis ind their uture linked to the economic prosperity o <arachi. 2ohajirs' economic stakes lie in a peace ul <arachi. &%. Im&ro(in. Role o' -edia. "n order to enable the media to play a more positive role in promoting national unity and

highlightingJremoving social injustices rom our society! some structural changes are required to be initiated. $hese changes would include the adoption o a policy o openness! greater accessibility to in ormation! allowing o debate on social problems and broadening o the media terrain by promoting closer liaison between the masses and the media. &&. Quality,Uni'orm Education 'or All. Faving analysed the issue! it is elt that there are basically ive major ields in the

education system! which need close attention which are/a. b. c. d. e. &). Bconomic 1e orms. 6tructural changes. Qualitative "mprovements. 6ocio-Political! Bthical and (ultural Gevelopment. Geclaration o 4ational Bmergency or education

Social 4el'are. An integrated amily oriented and community-based strategy should be adopted to plan and design social

wel are services to children! women! youth! the disabled! the senior citizens! the illiterate and the unemployed people! with a view to making them active and productive members o the amily! community and nation. &,. Im&ro(in. 3ealt% Care. #ne o the social targets or the Eovernments should be the attainment by all people o a level o

health that would permit them to lead a socially and economically productive li e. "t should be the irm belie o the Eovernment that

7 the nation can not make any tangible progress unless the people are healthy and it to contribute their best! both physically and mentally! towards the country's development. $his awareness was based upon the consciousness o the act that every Pakistani has a right to good health. &+. E!ta0li!%in. 4rit o' t%e Go(ernment . $he irst and the oremost requirement to rid Pakistan o its evils is to establish the

writ o the government and the rule o the law. 4o country has ever lourished on the map o the world unless the writ o the government was made supreme. &5. Ste&! to Eliminate Corru&tion. 4eed or uprooting the menace o corruption rom our society cannot be over-emphasized.

"t should rather be taken as a irst step in the overhauling process o our society. &7. Indi!criminate La1! 'or All. $he root-cause o all social problems is injustice. As long as it stays in society! the dream o a

prosperous Pakistan cannot come true. "ndiscriminate laws should be made or all to establish the writ o the government and to give a required sense o satis action to the masses! be ore they embark on the course o developing their country.

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Eliminatin. Unem&loyment. "n order to alleviate the grievances o the masses and to give them their basic right to

earn or themselves to live! government should do the ollowing/a. Eovernment should make e orts to push economic growth process. Ior this purpose Bconomic 1evival Package should be announced or the revival o industries to stimulate production and investment. b. c. Eovernment should announce a package or the development o agriculture sector. 2ore $echnical and Mocational training acilities should be provided. "n this way unemployed people will get the chance to enhance their skills and become able to earn reasonable income. d. -ith a view to reduce educated unemployment> sel -employment schemes should be encouraged in true manners. )9. Accounta0ility o' Judiciary. ;udiciary must be made answerable to some elected body so that con idence o masses in

our judicial system can be restored and deep-rooted white-collar corruption can be eliminated. )1. Re'orm! in Police )e&artment!. "t is recommended that police department be given under the control o elected

representatives or ;udiciary so that e ective implementation o court decisions can be under taken and citizen's rights can be protected. )%. Sol(in. Et%no" Sectarian Pro0lem!. 4othing can be more important than to orge ethno-sectarian harmony in the

masses. $his way! a lot o e orts being wasted can be diverted towards right cause and many lives can be saved. )&. Remo(in. )i!&aritie! 7et1een Ric% and Poor . #ne o the most necessary measures to be taken is to remove glaring

disparities between the rich Kespecially Eovernment o icialsL and the poor. $he irst step that the state ought to take in this direction is to ban lu*ury items in its own o ices and o icial unctions. Pakistan cannot a ord carpeted loors! thousands o air conditioners! centrally heated and air-conditioned buildings! e*pensive curtains and costly dinners. )). )ecentrali+ation , )e(olution o' Po1er. $he constitution must have provisions to delegate responsibility at the lowest

level. 2ay it be village! municipal or district level. (ivic amenities and local services such as water! transport! health and area development should be le t in the hand o local governments. Gecentralization and division o power among center! province and

= local governments' needs considerable compromise but its adoption will de initely settle the e*isting discontentment. "ntroduction o Gevolution o Power Plan by the military government is a right step in this regard. ),. E/ual )i!tri0ution o' Re!ource!. $he requirement to remove social injustices rom the society should start with the

reversal o the trend in which poor gets poorer and rich getting even richer. Dridging o this gul will pay rich dividends.

CONCLUSION
)+. Pakistan is seriously beset with the undamental problems o basic needs and social justice. 6ince independence Pakistan

has unquestionably recorded impressive growth igure but distribution o wealth and resources not only amongst various classes! but also amongst di erent provinces and nationalities! has remained quite disproportionate. $his resulted into uneven development and certain groups always elt e*ploited by the others! like yesterday Dengalis had grievances against -est Pakistan and today 6indh has grudges against Punjabis. )5. Pakistanis instead o being a nation now appear to be a conglomerate o masses having divergent interests! pulling the

country in di erent directions guided purely by vested interests as well as mutual hatred. 6olution to the problem appears to lie in inding correct moorings or the country. $his necessitates establishment o a stable democratic "slamic state based on a just and participatory social system which is committed to strengthen democratic institutions! uphold sanctity o the constitution! guarantee civil liberties! grant autonomy as outlined in the constitution and respect cultural values o the masses. )7. $he political system! economy! education system! and other areas o collective li e should all unction in harmony with the

ideals o "slam. ;ustice! air play! equity! and tolerance should prevail throughout the society. $here should be no e*ploitation in any orm. Iundamental rights o the people must be preserved and rotated. $he closer we are to these ideals! the greater results we will achieve.