Who has to take blame? Government or the People?

This is in reply to email of someone Farrukh Abidi, who, I am sorry, is unknown to me. He seems to be sincere activist of some religious party. Peculiarities in political and social life of Pakistan make people enormously fuss over the uncommon situation there but in fact state of affairs in many other Muslim countries is not different. Like the disputations first the hen came into being or the egg, debates arise after all who has to be charged guilty for all turbulence and troubles faced by the people-the state authorities or the people themselves?

As, the man has very simply, exonerated the government from all its failures and reproached the people for all their sufferings. Everywhere there are two different opinions. Some religious circles conclude that this all is torment in result of heedlessness and evil doings of the people themselves. This approach of some religious elements is common in almost whole of the Muslim world. There are examples in history that incompetence and corruption of the government caused subversive and seductive attitudes in the people, in spite of their ideological, political and moral awakening.

Sociological and political history tells us that not only in the modern times but for last thousands of years, perhaps since structure of authority in any type was contrived, protection of lives, honours and properties had been on the government's shoulders as its sheer responsibility. Almost all the famous Muslim theologians are of opinion that along with the duty of defending the territories of the Muslim state the rulers are bound to watch over the lives, properties, faith, moral values and furthermore protect the citizens from the things causing their mental disorders and loss of wisdom (as it happens in use of drugs).

  Look what the Quran says this case: "And those (the rulers) who, if We give them authority in the land, they admonish for (cogregational) prayers and paying Zakat and they enjoin what is right (Ma'ruf) and forbid what is wrong (Munkar). And with Allah rests the end of all matters." (Al-Hajj: 41)

 Ahadith of the Holy Prophet, be peace and blessings upon him, make the matter more explicit. The man who becomes in charge of the matters of the Muslims as a ruler and he neither shows any effort to address their problems nor any sign of being their well-wisher, he will not enter in Jannah with them. Even he will be deprived of smelling odor of Jannah.

Rooting out all the social and moral evils in public and spreading all constructive and healthy traits is always and everywhere thought to be the duty of government in all the existing societies. The government has to unburden the people and rid the economy from manipulative and hungry nature of those who are running entire usury system and letting not Islamic laws coming in practice to get the economy out of the clutches of modern banking based on interest.

 Education system develops a high social sense in the young generations and has to be given the task of inculcating invaluable moral traditions into the minds of young people. It is the government who has to set the directionsof education  in accordance with the ideological requirements.

Bribery, undue intercessions and recommendations, favouritism and nepotism are the evils causing a big injustice. Is not the government to implement strict laws to stop such practices? Developing law and order situation and bringing the ghost of terrorism under control is the matter only in the realm of the government. Are rising street crimes on their high not in the government notice? Of course they are but it fails to bring the culprits to account and get them punished from the courts. The crimes of kidnapping for money, extortions and target killings are done when either eyes of the authorities are closed or all happens on the patronage of the influential persons under the wings of governments itself.

Weapon and drug mafias are on the loose to haul innocent and helpless people who are already suffering from unrealistic acts of hoarding, price hike and food adulteration. Corruption has plagued almost every section of the society. Highest ranking govrnment figures are much more tainted with this evil. Tax payers in upper ruling and political circles are near to zero. Who has to come forward with remedial measures except the government?

 Unchecked freedom of media pulling together with multinational companies are rapidly increasing immodesty and impudence and it is happening under the nose of the government. The government is doing nothing rather than witnessing the mess. Is it fault of the people? Because of unwise economic and foreign policies of our governments we are hostages to World Bank and IMF and also subject to evil designs of big powers of the world. So, blaming the people for the calamities is unreasonable thinking.