Memories stand as the exclusive and enduring treasures of every human being. Many of us, who received our schooling from government schools up till the mid-1970s, hold cherished memories of the carefree days of our youth. The government schools were then lodged over large spaces having capacious buildings, playgrounds, and staffed with dedicated disciplinarian teachers.
During working hours, the schools functioned effectively; however, selected students were obliged to return in the afternoon to play sports and attend additional classes at no expense, particularly as they neared the final examinations. Students engaged in extracurricular activities such as sports competitions, debates, and Boy Scouts often traveled to other cities and schools free of cost for inter-school competitions. The headmasters of these schools were treated with respect like father figures to everyone. The memories of those days fill me with a profound longing. Unfortunately, population explosion and poor governance have gradually ruined the government school system and culture in Pakistan. Honesty and earnestness must be upheld without compromise, especially when it concerns providing education for our children.
During the 20th Century, West Pakistan was renowned for being one of the finest regions in the world, boasting state-of-the-art railway, canal, irrigation, postal, and forest systems. The gradual deterioration and turmoil can be attributed to multiple factors such as corrupt management, political instability, ethnic tension, military interventions, and economic difficulties.
The assassination of the first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, in 1951, created a power vacuum and multiplied gradually to the existing political uncertainty. Ayub Khan ruled Pakistan from 1958 until 1969 when public discontent and protests forced him to resign. General Yahya Khan took over but faced a major political crisis during the 1971 War, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh. In 1972, the governance was transitioned to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, initiating a comeback of civilian rule; nevertheless, his administration encountered accusations of authoritarianism.
Population explosion and poor governance have gradually ruined the government school system and culture in Pakistan.
General Zia-ul-Haq governed Pakistan until his demise in a tragic plane crash in 1988. Under his military regime, the implementation of stringent and conservative laws led to a conspicuous repression of political adversaries. The Zia era intersected with the Afghan War, where Pakistan played a pivotal role in assisting Mujahideen against the Soviet Union.
Regrettably, the aftermath of the ‘Afghan Jihad’ had a significant impact on the socio-cultural landscape of Pakistan, fostering the culture of increased radicalisation within Pakistani society. Subsequently, Pakistan transitioned into a period of civilian rule, lasting for approximately a decade. Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of esteemed leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, broke barriers as she became Prime Minister on two separate occasions, becoming the first woman to achieve this monumental feat in the Islamic world. Bhutto’s tenure was succeeded by Nawaz Sharif intermittently. However, allegations of corruption marred the governments of both leading to their dismissals.
In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a military coup, ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and ruled until 2008 when political challenges and public pressure forced him to resign and step down. During this period, Pakistan experienced increased involvement as a coalition partner in the US-led War on Terror. Since 2008, Pakistan has witnessed a return to civilian rule, but political instability continued to persist. Governments led by the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz confronted problems such as financial corruption, political gridlock, and challenges from the insurgency along Afghan borders. In 2018, Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, took over the reign of power in Islamabad. While elected through the democratic process, Khan’s tenure faced similar criticism for financial corruption, poor administration, nepotism, and enhanced military influence in the governance.
In 2021, when the Taliban finally achieved victory in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s religious and political leaders were overjoyed. They saw it as a success in the Afghan jihad, as India was expelled and the plans for a smooth withdrawal of the USA were foiled. The celebrations after Kabul’s fall and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ecstatic remarks about breaking free from slavery were unforgettable. The media was also thrilled, praising the Pakistani-trained fighters who were flabbergasted by this long-desired concept of strategic depth. However, this initial excitement quickly turned into disappointment and sadness within the next few months. For this reason, it is extremely essential to regularly refresh our memory on the methods and reasons behind Afghanistan’s persistence as a failed state, continuously causing trouble and headaches for Pakistan.
Our national security heavily relies on effectively managing and fortifying our borders with India, Afghanistan, and Iran,; the contentious issue of Kashmir amplifies the complexity of maintaining stability; various nationalist groups are demanding more autonomy over the resources of the province of Balochistan; the challenges related to the radicalisation of the segments of the population persists as a serious threat to the future of Pakistan.
Several factors can contribute to the deterioration of systems in a country, and these factors can diverge over time. Frequent changes in government, policy inconsistency, and corruption always undermine the development of a robust political system. Financial corruption at all tiers of governance and society always leads to mismanagement of resources, inefficiencies, and a lack of trust in public institutions. In a region where security is of a significant concern, it becomes crucial to ensure stable governance as a means to address political challenges for an assured future.
“Corruption and bribery are like poison and a horrible disease, which needs to be put down with an iron hand.” M.A Jinnah
The writer is a retired Pakistan Army Officer and can be reached at nawazish30@hotmail.com