ANJUM IBRAHIM

In US there’s greater sense of namak halali

“I reckon the US President is mirroring a lot of things our leaders have been doing for…forever.”

“The US has strong institutions unlike us.”

“Which is precisely why Donald Trump has had to fire so many! In this country there is a greater sense of loyalty, what we term as namak halali – or giving unto one’s benefactor with interest…”

“Interest defined as whatever is requested – be it legal or…”

“Indeed, because that is how we define namak halali.”

“But seriously, isn’t the Republican party’s over whelming support for Trump the same as the namak halali displayed by the Nawalas defined as Nawaz Sharif loyalists who would do anything for one bite more.”

“That’s unfortunately true. So what do you suggest?”

“I propose we start to do what the US media is doing.”

“What, the fake news people!”

“Don’t be facetious – yes there is a bias of news organizations in favour or against any head of government, partly linked to economic interests of the media organization, but the media has begun to do a fact check of everything that Trump says now and I think we should do the same.”

“Mian sahib says the growth rate is over 5 percent and…”

“He must re-evaluate the calculations of that thoroughly compromised Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, granted that it was also compromised by his predecessors but the Nawalas took it to such lengths that it is very easy to now disprove their calculations.”

“So you reckon a growth rate of what? Four percent?”

“Maximum.”

“Alright, then Nawaz Sharif says he has built roads and electricity generating plants and PML-N is the only party in power that does this sort of thing and that he built the Karachi airport and…”

“Two things, first he builds but does not keep aside any maintenance expenditure so the infrastructure is wrecked in time…”

“Ah so more development next time he wins elections.”

“Don’t be facetious in any case the money is not his, it’s the taxpayers and the cost of each project has an inbuilt corruption component and…and I reckon if he had invested in education and health and law enforcement we would have been realizing growth much higher than in India and China….but lets not get involved in all this. Let’s just do a fact check every time he speaks – be it from a legal perspective, after all he still has not provided any money trail for untold wealth stashed in the UK, or claims of development or indeed claims of raising the quality of life…what about the massive increase in borrowing, what about the continuous slide in exports, what about the…”

“Stop, you will see the people will vote him in to power again.”

“I give up.”