Judging from Pakistan’s history since its birth in 1947, there can be little doubt that the struggle of the people of Pakistan is far from over. The ongoing political crisis is but only a chapter in the history of failure of Pakistan’s political system to evolve.
The betrayal of Pakistan by the politicians is a long and sad story. They have been so corrupt, created such confusion and chaos by manipulating religious, ethnic, provincial and linguistic issues and sentiments that to this date Pakistan has not come together as a united nation; it was this incapacity of the political leadership that led to the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971.
The paradox of Pakistani politics is such that though everyone is against army rule, there isn’t much enthusiasm for the alternatives. In fact looking at their past performance there are genuine fears about the ability of the others to deal with escalating violence and religious extremism, let alone their capacity to deal with the real issue of poverty, ignorance, feudalism and health.
Judging from Pakistan’s track record, the operating principle in Pakistan’s politics to this date remains “the doctrine of necessity”. This is a guiding principle for many politicians in their “horse-trading”.
“The problem now is that Pakistan is close to being a failed state.” I didn’t remember from when I am listening this. Now, I am use to it. And I want to change that to “Pakistan is a failed state”, Okay, something new. I think this is the best time to say this. What will be worst than this. There is a very famous saying that “History Repeats Itself” and I strongly believe in that. The problem is that Pakistani nation is used to forget everything very fast. We have reached again in the era, before Musharraf. People celebrated when Mr. Musharraf resigned. They are the same people and those were the same places, who witnessed celebrations, when Mr. Musharraf ousted, Mr. Sharif’s government.
In 60 years, it hasn’t found its bearings. Therefore the answer to the questions whether there is an alternative to Musharraf. Can the people of Pakistan hope to go about achieving democracy through the exercise of their vote?
It is unfortunate that the people of Pakistan have been historically indifferent to who rules them. This is mainly due to lack of development in the social sector on the part of every government that has ruled Pakistan, whether military or civilian. The wretched masses remain trapped in their struggle to gain food & shelter for their family & could care less whether they are living under a dictatorship or democracy.
More than ever, the ground realities in Pakistan, a nuclear state faced with religious extremism & increase of wahabism in the secular people of Pakistan is dangerous.
The people of Pakistan have suffered enough on account of corrupt civilian leadership & now the lawyers. What lawyers have to do with the governance of state, they are not the government. There only work is to stay by the side of justice. What they have to do with politics & power. This is ridiculous. First the landlords then the super rich then the criminals then the illiterate then the narrow minded people then the army & now the lawyers. Everyone in Pakistan, whoever gets a chance wants to rule Pakistan like it’s not a secular & democratic state, it’s a Monarchy. People of Pakistan should not expect any thing from democracy other than civilian dictatorship. All civilian governments treat Pakistan as their personal property & the people of Pakistan as their subjects.
The media of Pakistan has gone mad. They are also the followers & strong believers of democracy but they don’t understand that the people of Pakistan don’t know what democracy is. The media in Pakistan is working like the media of the west. Why they don’t understand that they can’t have a western kind of democracy. People here, are not educated as the west, they are not open minded as the west, they don’t know their rights. They don’t know anything regarding democracy. They only know how to be a slave to a particular family. We should not give up our visceral feelings against Benazir Bhutto & Nawaz Sharif.
As military leaders go, Musharraf may be better than most educated, cultivated & thoughtful. In the prevailing unrest & violence many in Pakistan feel that Musharraf may yet be the right man to bring things under control. As a civilian leader with the backing of the army he might be again able to begin the democratization process & systemic change as well as keeping the Bhutto & the sheriff families’ kleptocratic tendencies in check; having the corruption charges against them hang like a sword of Damocles over their heads.
It is a sad commentary on the situation in Pakistan that we have to ask what alternative there is to the prime ministerial candidates who took corruption to its greatest heights in the history of Pakistan.
In the end, I would say that if things keeps on going like this than you will not see, Pakistan on the map of this world. And as the time is passing by, now this thing is looking more realistic.
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