The Aladdins and Genies of Pakistan

There was a story we would read as a child, about a young boy named, Aladdin, who found a magical old lamp. On rubbing it with both his hands, he releases a Genie. Bewildered at first and then intrigued, Aladdin tells the Genie to bring him three pieces of bread and some gravy to eat. He does. Aladdin then asks for a bed to sleep in. The Genie does as commanded. The next day, as the boy wakes up he asks for halwa puri, (at least that was the version we were told before Disney took over). A scrumptious plate of halwa puri then appears. And you get the gist. Aladdin’s only wish is to meet his daily, basic needs.

But if Aladdin were to be re-written today, in Pakistan, it would not make much of an enrapturing bedtime story. These days it seems Aladdin is roaming around, lamp in tow, trying to get the Genie’s attention.

I guess even for a powerful supernatural being like the Genie, there are limitations. If Aladdin were to ask for large amounts of money to appear out of thin air, would the old Genie comply? Maybe he will, maybe he won’t, we can’t say. But the Genies of today, who are part of the government, it seems, would.

Let’s look at a few examples. The Panama papers case is still being investigated.

Investigators are looking into how billions of rupees were allegedly taken out of the country without a proper banking channel. Just like that Poof! The Joint Investigation Team is probing properties built and bought on foreign shores.

Then there is Dr Asim Hussain, who is accused of amassing billions of rupees. Yet, this year he walked out a free man. Moving over to Imran Kiyani embroiled in the DHA scandal. Finally, Imran Khan, a leader who has rallied against corruption, is also these days in the court being asked to prove how he bankrolled his sprawling estate in Bani Gala. Those are big numbers being sloshed around, huge amounts of money being moved around without a trail, by Genies, I guess?

Here, the Genie also has a gaggle of smaller genies that work to protect him, like Talal Chaudhry and Daniyal Aziz. Or Fawad Chaudhry and Naeem-ul-Haq.

In the original tale, Aladdin had asked for small, basic, everyday items. If he were to tell his tale today, he would be a little confused. He would rub his lamp, but no one will appear. He would ask the Genie for water and food and electricity. Nothing would happen. No wish would be granted.

The Genies of Pakistan, who promised that they would deliver, are busy elsewhere. Maybe it is time for Aladdin to give up on the magical lamp altogether.

Raees Ansari is the bureau chief of Geo News in Lahore