General public yet to reap fruits of democracy

[Naveed Yaseen]

Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Common people are yet to reap the fruit of democracy as they had voted in the February 2008 general elections with the hope to get some sort of relief.

The ever-increasing prices of essential items, food and energy crises coupled with worsening law and order situation have literally made life miserable for the masses. Fed up with the long dictatorial regime of Gen ® Pervez Musharraf and his handpicked prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, the poor masses were expecting from an elected government the relief in prices of at least commodities of daily use. But they got disappointed when the incumbent rulers gifted them with increase in oil prices, flour shortage, electricity loadshedding and hike in natural gas prices.

After the recent increase in power tariff, the consumers’ hue and cry forced the government to announce 40 per cent interim cut in electricity tariff till the decision of a committee constituted for fixing the tariff, but common consumers see little hope of relief keeping in view the rulers ‘people friendly’ decisions in the recent past.

Of course, the financial crisis hitting the whole world, including the US and Europe, and increase in oil prices in the international market affected Pakistan. The government was prompt in following the international market to increase oil prices when it touched $138 per barrel, but it did not cut the price when rates declined by more than 50 per cent. Ironically, the prices were doubled then, but the proposal to bring them down now is not more than Rs5 to 8 per litre.

Another bad news for ordinary people is that cut in kerosene oil rate has been proposed at just Rs2.5 per litre because it is being used by the poor and not by those having luxurious cars and sprawling bungalows.

Had the PPP-led government that claims to be people friendly shown sympathy with masses, it should have ensured provision of kerosene oil on cheaper rates for being used by common people, believe the observers.

Next in the line is diesel that should be cheaper as compared to petrol as diesel is consumed in vehicles used for transportation and has a direct impact on prices of goods as well as fares. The masses are justified to doubt how electricity shortage and flour shortage hit them a few months after the departure of Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz from power. They definitely ask wherefrom the past rulers were managing the power shortfall and why loadshedding was avoided for almost a week after the election of Asif Ali Zardari as the president.

The worsening law and order has also worried the people, as they do not see any improvement with the change of faces in the corridors of power. Unemployment and price-hike are the main factors that are damaging the image of the government and are forcing the masses to take to the streets.

Political analysts believe the rulers will have to ensure easy availability of essential items on cheaper rates instead of relying on rhetoric if they want to stay in power and keep their vote bank intact.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=144324