Jinnah and the janitors

Jinnah and the janitors

Sleeps here, in his monumental final resting place, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s  founder,  first Governor General,  a distinguished lawyer, an  eminent politician and someone who strongly believed that all citizens are equal before law.

Little did he know that while his mausoleum would be show-cased by visiting dignitaries, change of guards, shady politicians  and  tree planting NGOs, there would be nothing that will happen for the well-being of the ordinary people.

To clean and sweep the 131 acres that constitute Jinnah’s resting place is a fleet of abused, oppressed and exploited  janitors. They are paid Rs.10,000 per month for  an 8 am to 2 pm  job while some others  are paid Rs.15,000 for a double shift job of  8 am to 8 pm. This is not just cruel and inhuman but also unlawful as the minimum legal wage in Sindh is Rs.16200 per month.

Every morning, M A Jinnah is deeply disturbed as he sees modern-day chain-less slaves, sweeping his sprawling estate to earn Rs.10,000 per month.  Being an accomplished lawyer, he understands that the law of minimum wages is being trampled by his own government. If it was possible, he will refuse to receive all dignitaries and VIPs who rush to his mausoleum, first thing after taking oath.  “Go back”, he would say “and return only after ensuring that no citizen in the country is paid less than the minimum legal wages”.