Daily Times

Even 70 years after our independence, the people of Pakistan still expect a messiah to appear, and help revolutionise the country overnight. However, it is high time, that we as a people must realise that no such personality is forthcoming. We already had a messiah in the shape of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and he helped us achieve our freedom. The rest, I’m afraid, is up to us.

Revolutions are a thing of the past. There are no shortcuts in the quest for greatness and if we want to be successful in the future, then we have to learn to evolve gradually in order to keep pace with the world. Evolution helps a country grow and mature over time, and this process is facilitated within democracies which provide the perfect environment for this development.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the some of the most prosperous and progressive countries in the world were once facing the same problems that we do today.

Yet, they kept working on themselves and went through a gradual evolution, which at times may have even taken decades and centuries. In the end it is their collective persistence and constant need for improvement that led them to their exalted status today.

Throughout our 70 year history, the equilibrium of political power has kept shifting between the civil government and the military establishment. While democracy has had a tough road in our country, the blame cannot be placed on the military alone. The incompetence and greed exhibited by our politicians has also played a major role in the collapse of our political system, and will continue to do so, until a lasting solution can be found. Even though recent trends have been encouraging, there is still a long way to go.

May 31, 2018 marked the completion of a democratic decade, after two consecutive democratic parliaments completed their five-year terms.

Despite all odds, this continuity in our political system was heartening to say the least. It is a welcome sight to see all major state institutions agreeing on the importance of preserving democracy in the country, and doing their best to strengthen it even further.

The Pakistan Muslim League — Noon (PML-N) managed to complete their term on time, albeit with many bumps along the road. They had to deal with the lifetime disqualification of their leader, prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Additionally the country was going through an energy crisis, inflation was going up and we also experienced rising foreign debts. There were several more problems to deal with as well, although to be fair, it wasn’t all bad. They did manage to make some progress on the economic, security, diplomatic, and social development fronts.

Without a doubt, the growth experienced by Pakistan during the last five years has been incredible. We are well on our way to becoming one of the most promising emerging economies in the world, with CPEC being one of the biggest contributors to this success

Without a doubt, the growth experienced by Pakistan during the last five years has been incredible. We are well on our way to becoming one of the most promising emerging economies in the world, with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being one of the biggest contributors to this success. Rapid infrastructure development has further aided the economy, while initiatives like the Metro Bus, Orange Train Line and motorways, etc. have served the public’s purpose.

The contentious security situation in the country did not really help matters, as General Musharraf’s war on terror contributed in destabilising the region. However, during all this turmoil, the civilian government managed to do quite well, and enjoyed landmark successes during this time. With them in charge, the army was free to focus on their own objectives, and they conducted several successful military campaigns against the nefarious forces threatening to take over our country. The decision to put Pakistan first, and make the world aware of our interests helped our reputation in the international community immensely as well.

Although we remain focused on the shortcomings of civilian governments, and blame the system for all the problems in our country, it is imperative that we as a nation acknowledge the good work that has been done as well. The advantages of democracy certainly outweigh its liabilities, and even though it still has a long way to go, it is important to remember that these kinks can only be fixed with time.

With a caretaker government set to take charge soon, as the 2018 general elections get closer, it will be interesting to see how our democratic institutions fare during this exciting time. As long as democracy prevails, so will Pakistan.

The writer is an Islamabad-based freelance opinion writer and columnist

Published in Daily Times, June 7^th 2018.