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Leaders, they emerge from within us. Thought to be the creme de la creme of our society, we select the best among us and choose them to lead and the arbitrators of our lives and tastes. We give them power, money and respect – and in return, all we demand is a good livelihood, protection, basic needs and the will to do better.
However, the definition of politics and leadership has changed in our part of the world. In Pakistan, for the last 70 years, we have failed to produce great leaders who do not think about themselves first, but the general public and strive everyday on making our lives better.
Last year, a picture went viral on social media all over the world. It was a picture of the Netherlands’ Prime Minister, Mark Rutte. On the day it was taken, the Prime Minister, who had been in power since 2010, rode on a bicycle to work in the Royal Palace and meet the King of Netherlands for a meeting. The picture showed him locking his bicycle outside the palace, while the Royal Guards looked over the front entrance.
A man, a leader of 17 million people and a booming economy, in power for almost 8 years, rides a bicycle to work. In Pakistan, even the smallest chosen Minister has a 30 car protocol, let alone the top brass which is considered to stake-hold 60% of the country. Mark Rutte did not even use a government car to go to work, let alone the multi-million dollar bullet proof car protocol our leaders do.
Why is it that our leaders, who we choose, tend to think they are above the law and the common man? What makes them so special when it is who elect them in the first place. While their prolonged protocols pass through the city, we, the common people have to wait for hours just so their ‘security needs’ are met. Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ PM, either does not care about his life, or he really thinks that the people elected him for a reason. The reason being trust, which he does not want to break.
The Dutch believe in hard work and thriving. They believe in helping each other out. They believe in humanity and remain humble. The Prime Minister is the epitome of simplicity and an example for the rest of the world, especially Pakistan, where a leader who once comes in power thinks he is above humanity.
This VIP culture that prevails in our society will take time to leave. But for that, it has to start somewhere. This comparison between the PM of Netherlands and any PM who has served in Pakistan is a huge example of why the West is where it is today, and vice versa.
