Suhail Khan Mandokhel
We are living in a country which is stewed with trust deficit. Both externally and internally; we are flanked by distrust, enrages and embitters inasmuch as leitmotif of our pre-independence struggle was ridden with absurdity. Eventually, Jinnah-guided movement fructified in the shape of separate country meant to actualize the principles of Islam. However, soon the very nub of struggle was abandoned by power-holders and Pakistan was brutally tinged with provincialism and religiosity which have been spoiling social skeleton since inception. These facts provide us a ground to raise a question that what is wrong with Pakistan? And who is responsible for these problems?
Most besetting problem in our dear country is ill-shaped parliamentary system. Senate, majority-constraining legislative body, is based on flawed principles of representation. Humbugs-fraught mode of indirect elections does countervail the favorable outcomes of said body and resultantly, truest representatives can’t make their way to Senate. In Balochistan a politician, who failed in winning local-body elections, nonetheless made his way to senate through political maneuvers. Hence, it will be fair to admit that so far, senate couldn’t have channelized the needs of smaller provinces. Consequent to this, minority complex is prevalent among people living faraway from mainland of Punjab. Hosing up this complex, newly-elected PM has reconstituted CCI on flawed lines. Hitherto two members of Balochistan has now been curtailed to one. It is obvious that such distasteful misstep by elected PM will enhance sense of deprivation present in Balochistan.
Another much-regurgitated problem with Pakistan is caustic ‘civil-military relations’. Since independence, powerful military has been playing a vital role in building national identity mainly on the basis of religion. Inept and risk-averse politicians oftentimes provide military a misplaced space to make a populist move that in aftermath, produces damning issues for country. This political commitment of military purposefully uses religion to propagate its existence in national politics as meatier and people-friendly one. Such glorified image of military in Pakistan has in turn inculcated a bizarre point of view into the minds of civilians. They abhor politicians and whenever, country faces a sort of crisis; they make clarion calls to Army and entreat it to quell their problems. In this purview, religion is appropriated as a catalyst and religious leaders are used as agents. This militarized politics brings infamy to country image and international world frequently comes out with a rhetorical typical that Pakistan is a failing state due to its ever-pliable democratic system. People abroad argue in a posh voice and even paradoxically that Failure of Pakistani state is due to irresponsible military and mosque.
Furthermore, International world considers Pakistan to be a crazy-dangerous country and dubs it as “incubator of terrorism”. Due to this misperceived image in world, Pakistan has been left far behind in race of regionalism. Even its neighbors dither to carve out with it a friendly relationship. However, China is bit comfortable with Pakistan owing to vested economic interests. Joint venture of CPEC has made Pak-Sino ties more amicable and viable. Pakistan has hitched its wagon to China and is confident to regain respect in world arena. Although China is pressing Pakistan to sever alleged connections with terrorist outfits, partnership is rallying momentum with passage of time. This establishes that unlike other countries, China is unmoved by so-called notorious image of Pakistan. Following this, people have clung hopes to CPEC and assume it as corrector of flawed Pakistan.
Last but far from the least, Pakistan needs corruption-free system. Unless Pakistan achieves transparency, it can’t be deemed as a progressive and best-connected country. Moreover, Country must be yanked out of absurd frenzies of religion and false patriotism.
Writer is a Student of Law at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Follow him on twitter @SuhailMandukhel
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
Share your comments!
