A Muslim Caliph of middle ages in disguise of ordinary person used to visit the cities and villages of his domain, by this way he used to collect direct information regarding the plight of his subjects, and was in habit of providing instant help to the poor and needy by himself. His name was Hazrat Umer (Razi Allah Tala Anhu).
He was the one whom had created a model welfare state of his times. Now Muslim rulers of present age behave like ancient ruler of Egypt whom was defeated by holy prophet Moses (peace be upon him). A modest man like president Asif Ali Zardari when had issued orders to cut the expenses of presidency, and had stopped government departments to launch expensive publicities in newspapers to congratulate him on his success, the touch of a Muslim Caliph became visible in his modest self. During premiership of his Sheheed wife Muhtarima Benazir Bhutto he was blamed by his opponents for making his horses eat jam and other precious foods while the common people in Pakistan were having nothing to eat.
His father in Law Chairman Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto once had a spinach dish and bread in home of his party worker in Kohat district, once I had met that party worker of him he proudly narrates the story when Bhutto had taken his meal in his home, Bhutto was in habit of visiting the downtown areas and villages of Pakistan, millions of ordinary people knew him directly, when his opponents had started terming him as drunkard, teeming millions in a public meeting started shouting slogans in favor of his alleged drinking habit, such was a love of people for him.
On Wednesday after receiving complaints from different people regarding high prices and shortage of flour I came out from my resident to confirm the information, after checking two shops where flour was not available I had reached a nearby flour mill on my sports cycle, on the gate two bearded peons were standing to stop people from entering into the mill, I inquired about flour prices and its availability, a bearded peon had started making a speech, according to him people of Pakistan unfortunately are born in a country where some of the powerful people want to earn millions over nightly, this is the reason behind price hike and flour shortages.
Within next few minutes owner of the mill and prior to him another rich and powerful resident of Kohat had arrived the gate, I was cordially invited to visit the mill when I finally had given my press card issued by Associated Press of Pakistan to peon to present it before the manger of flourmill. I was sitting with manager when flour mill owner had entered in his office, I told him regarding my concern, he had confirmed that prices are quite high to confirm further I had bought one flour bag from him at price of five hundred rupees the manger had asked for 550/rs for 20kg flour bag, but then owner of the mill had directed him to sell the bag on me at the cost of 500/rs only.
The moment I came out from the mill with a flour bag laden sports cycle a commoner while coming out from his near by house had recognized me and after saying Asalamu Alaikum he had laughingly enquired about the price of flour bag, I asked him to determine the real affordable worth of flour bag which he and others like him can afford to buy, he had told me straight away its real worth shall be only two hundred rupees.
On my way back from flour mill a shopkeeper along with his customer was found complaining high rates of electricity, a customer on his shop after knowing the price of flour bag which I had just bought from flour mill had suddenly said angrily now the only option before us is to cut our stomachs away from our bodies.
Finally when I had reached back home another dreaded news was conveyed to me that a four-year young Ali student of a school located in Paracha town was hit by public transport vehicle while crossing the main Kohat Pindi road to reach his home.
Submitted by
Abdur Raziq
Blog: http//raziq1.blogspot.com