چاہئیے چاہئیے

Ashfaq Ahmed باجی
کہا کرتے تھے کہ تم ‘چاہئیے‘ کے چکر میں نہ آنا بلکہ کچھ کر ڈالنا، وگرنہ
تم ‘چاہئیے چاہئیے‘ ہی میں ڈوب جاؤ گے اور ‘چاہئیے‘ کا سمندر بہت گہرا ہوتا
ہے۔ وہ بڑی خوش نصیب قومیں ہیں جو یہ بات جان جاتے ہیں کہ اس ‘چاہئیے‘ میں
صرف باقی لوگ ہی نہیں، میں بھی شامل ہوں اور میں اپنی حد تک اپنی ذمہ داری
... ضرور پوری کروں گا۔(زاویہ۔٢)

This brilliant quote reminds me of an experience that I had during my recent visit to Pakistan. I visited a distant relative who happens to be a director in the social welfare department. This gentleman was lamenting the current situation in Pakistan and the negligence of the goverment in solving the current problems. This gentleman reiterated that Pakistani awam had reached the pinnacle of frustration, and there should/would be a revolution just like the French revolution in near future to bring about some major changes. I was very impressed with this gentlman's strong views but my feelings didn't last very long after my sister on our way home told me the director's story. Director Sahib, a goverment servant, had a reputation for always been away from his office. He was never found on his desk and had gotten paid while staying home from last thirty years. Social welfare department is the most ignored department of the government, so this gentleman manages to stay under the radar and continue his eloquent speeches about " Pakistanion ko kia karna chahiye" while smoking cigarettes and sipping tea in his comfortable drawing room.
I felt sick to my stomach.