The Saudi rulers' appeals to their people to help in flood-relief efforts in Pakistan have won them accolades across this country. Our friends China and Iran have for the first time proved to be unconcerned. Foreigners who left their comfortable homes to join the flood relief-and-rescue efforts have won the love of our people.
On the other hand, those Pakistanis who impede, embezzle, or steal the relief money or goods, or officials who have turned a blind eye to the tribulations of the millions, have proved to be the real enemies of this nation. Philanthropists like Edhi, Naimatullah Khan and Shahzad Roy and other countless and anonymous individuals and groups engaged in relief work are the real heroes. The Jamaat-e-Islami, the PTI and the Jamaat-ud-Daawah flood-relief workers and others spent sleepless nights to relieve the woes of the affected people. Media persons visited far-flung areas to bring home the pictures of devastation. Similarly, thousands of Pakistani solders and officers have won accolades for their rescue-and-relief operations.
Local and international figures have called the devastation unprecedented. Those who have themselves been victims of such tragedies can understand the woes and pains of the affected people. People's views about the state, the enemies and friends of this nation and the power relations among the elites and the affected people will definitely take a new shape. This reality has turned the calamity into a trial for the politicians, rulers, religious leaders, intellectuals, the media, the army, the neighbouring countries and the world community. Social divisions along ethnic, religious, political, ideological and class lines have taken a backseat now.
In this scenario, whoever comes to the rescue of the flood-affected people will win the hearts and minds of the people. All forces who spearheaded an unprecedented response to this unprecedented calamity will surely be winners. The apathy of political leaders and an active rescue-and-relief effort by the army offer a clear comparison. The rulers and the politicians can improve their image and thus strengthen democracy too. Asif Ali Zardari has a chance to prove to be a real president of Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif should turn words into actions to distinguish himself as a true "servant of the people." Amir Haidar Hoti, Qaim Ali Shah and Aslam Raisani should prove to be leaders of their respective provinces.
Failure on the part of the US and the EU will have consequences for the effort against Talibanisation and terrorism. The Western countries and friends like Iran and China have a real chance to earn the goodwill of the Pakistani nation. The field is open. The tragedy is enormous beyond imagination and needs an unprecedented response.
Pakistan is not corrupt to the core. The corrupt, though they may be occupying the seats of power and authority, are not a match for the majority of common Pakistanis, who are an honest and kind people. Politicians may have people like Zardari and Rehman Malik, but they also include countless people like Imran Khan. Bribery and corruption may be the currency in officialdom, but Pakistan is also home to thousands of welfare institutions run by private donations through people. During the earthquake in 2005 and the IDPs crisis, this nation had contributed immensely in terms of toil and assets. This calamity has seen many heroic people like the DCO of Lakki Marwat, Ayaz Manddokhel, and a youth from Daudzai in Charsadda, who fought valiantly against the raging waters to save the lives of others at the risk of their own lives. We may have selfish and mean businessmen, but Pakistan is also home to individuals who spent billions on rescuing benefiting the flood-affected people.
The media should continue to project the woes of the victims in this natural calamity. But this presentation should not go to the extent of making people lose confidence in the state. We must paint the true picture, but also educate people that the calamity is enormous, and unless every citizen contributes towards relief, the state cannot handle it alone. We must praise our army and criticise the politicians, but not to the extent of paving the way for another martial law. The well-to-do should be persuaded to contribute to this effort. For this purpose we must project the good work being done by welfare associations and individuals. All the prominent religious scholars are of the view that instead of Haj and Umrah this year, people should contribute that money to the relief efforts instead.
However, the welfare and humanitarian organisations will not achieve the goal unless they are supervised and led by the government. Unfortunately, this government is neither trusted in Pakistan nor abroad. The proposed national commission manned by persons of integrity would have served the purpose, but politics again played havoc with the idea. In this scenario, the current government is preparing the ground for another round of martial law in the country.

http://thenews.com.pk/08-09-2010/ethenews/e-3596.htm