A father in Multan, overwhelmed by poverty, attempted to bury his deceased son without a shroud. Others intervened and ensured a dignified burial. This incident, however, raises a deeper question: Is the real news the lawmaker's statement calling it a publicity stunt, claiming life is not that hellish in Pakistan? Or is it the systemic oppression that forces the poor to seek death as an escape?
The Death That Questions the System
While the death of the son and the poverty of the father are not new, the manner of burial challenges the system. The deceased, in a way, protests against the conditions that led to his death. For the poor, even death is not free; it demands a shroud, a piece of cloth that symbolizes the burden of life.
Life as a Burden
In a society where living is no longer a luxury, many see death as their only escape. The struggle for survival has become so dire that the poor solicit death, hoping to end their suffering. Yet, the system views this as a publicity stunt, a protest against the incumbent regime.
The Elite's Patent on Protest
The powerful and elite have exclusive rights to publicize their lives and deaths. The poor, the wretched of the Earth, are denied this dignity. The architects of the regime—bureaucracy, dynastic despots, clergy, media, corporate elite, judiciary, and feudal lords—own the patent to protest, funded by the disgraces of ordinary people.
Criminalizing Death
As the regime systematically criminalizes the rights of the poor, it now threatens to criminalize death itself. After stealing everything the people have, the only thing left is a tax on dying. Both life and death are made to serve the appetites of the elite.
The Future of the Regime
Short on trust and foreign direct investment, the regime may survive by squeezing lives further. But if it continues beyond that, the poor will be denied even the dignity of being noticed on their way out. The regime would tax the dying and buy itself another tenure until there is no one left.
