When the monkey became king

Once the animal kingdom was worried about how to stop the lion from attacking their offspring. They decided that monkey should be king; he was swift, could jump from one tree to another and wasn’t a vicious animal. They all agreed and the monkey eventually became king.

One day the monkey was informed that the lion was on the offense. The new king sprang into action and vowed to stop the lion. He hopped from one tree branch to another to save them. The animals were impressed that the king was working for them. While the monkey was swinging in the jungle, the lion reached the spot and attacked their offspring and ran away. The animals were stunned and starting blaming the monkey for his inaction. The monkey came down from the trees and claimed to make all efforts with good intentions while the rest was due to fate.

A similar situation is being witnessed in our country. Maybe we are paying for our sins. We are elected leaders who act swiftly like the monkey but are unable to protect us when the lion comes roaring. If we look back a few years, Pakistan suffered massive floods and Sindh was one of the worst affected. The authorities acted swiftly but still the embankments of the River Indus and other major rivers have not been strengthened.

In Tharparkar, scores of innocent children have died due to malnourishment and lack of healthcare just like being mauled by the lion and the monkey is just springing from one end to another. There are rapid dogs roaming the streets and many children have been attacked but a rabies vaccine is not even available. Isn’t this the responsibility of the Sindh government?

The PPP has been ruling in Sindh for over a decade and Karachi – often called the City of Lights – has been turned into a ruin. The residents of the city now have to determine their own fate. There are heaps of garbage and we have already seen scores of diseases from malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. The PPP was in power during all these outbreaks.

Now the coronavirus pandemic has spread across the world and has turned towards Pakistan. As the virus spread, we saw how the authorities sprang into action receiving widespread appreciation. All across there were hymns of praise for the Sindh chief minister. The government claimed it had made ample arrangements for daily wagers affected by the lockdown and would provide free food rations. Such were the exalted claims as if not a single deserving person would be left behind. A month has past by and not a single person is even aware that it has distributed while billions have been usurped.

During the lockdown, doctors, paramedical staff, security forces, journalists, local bodies and even welfare organisations were told to step outside and help in the war against the coronavirus. They were not exempted from the lockdown and streets were shut down causing immense inconvenience. Those given exemptions are driving their own vehicles that cannot be repaired as mechanics are shut. Similarly, household items and electronics can’t be repaired causing trouble to families stuck at home.

These shops have been closed for over a month and people are getting desperate. Groceries, food items and essential items have been allowed but the prices have hiked. This is also the responsibility of the government. The district administration is more involved in usurping funds rather than the distribution of resources. The government should fulfill its responsibilities rather than merely springing to action like the monkey as it will not prevent the lion from mauling our children.