THE whole political landscape in Pakistan has changed, and by the next elections, due in 2029, another group of young voters, almost 25Million, will be added to eligible voters list in Pakistan. Change we must, else changed times and expectations of the people of Pakistan will force exit of those who resist this. Time and tide wait for none. This group of young voters are disgruntled with what is happening in Pakistan. Their resentment, rightly or wrongly, is against all those who have been at helm. Anger, frustration and desperation blind a few to good work, that was certainly done by those who held important public offices in the recent past. Remedial measures need to be taken to restore confidence and win back trust of angry youth.
The younger generation must recognize the need for a collaborative effort between seniors and juniors to address Pakistan’s economic challenges. It’s time for the older generation to gracefully step back and allow fresh, more educated individuals to take the lead. This transition should be gradual but visible, ensuring trust in the system is restored. While experienced individuals can still provide guidance, they must acknowledge that prolonged incumbency can lead to a disconnect with the aspirations of the youth. Relying too heavily on outdated bureaucracy exacerbates this divide.
The vast technological changes that have taken place in the past decade or so have made this generation gap more visible. Pakistan’s economic challenges are so astronomical and serious, that the older lot, who were at helm, must understand this. In my humble opinion, it is the political elite, the bureaucracy and powerful stakeholders, who have to adapt to the changed environment for the sake of this country. Every individual who has held office, both elected and paid, has benefitted from vast opportunities offered to them by Pakistan, when it emerged as an independent sovereign state on 14 August 1947. We must remember that Pakistan was achieved as a homeland after a constitutional and political struggle led by Quaid-e-Azam and other pioneers of All India Muslim League.
This struggle started from Dacca (Dhaka) in 1906, a Muslim majority state, and in 1930 Allama Iqbal laid down geographical outlines of Pakistan while addressing AIML at Allahabad, where he elaborated on the new sovereign state in detail. MAJ laid down his vision of Pakistan, while addressing the First Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947, that it would be a modern democratic welfare state, where all citizens, irrespective of their faith, creed, sex or ethnicity would enjoy equal rights in the new state, with a Constitution as supreme law. Unfortunately, Jinnah’s vision was derailed by opportunists, and Pakistan has suffered because of this. The ruling elite of this country need to ask themselves whether they have delivered back to this country, what they owed it. I am afraid the vast majority has failed in doing so.
For the first time Punjab is having a lady as Chief Minister. It is indeed a welcome change. However, CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz, must ensure that she should accept ground realities. The composition and size of her cabinet will reflect whether she has, what it will take, to meet the challenges. PMLN, no longer enjoys the support of Central Punjab, South Punjab and Potohar region that it did in the past. The challenges for CM Maryam Nawaz are more complicated and demanding than what her uncle, Shehbaz Sharif, faced. Let us all hope and pray for her success. I am sure CM Maryam is aware of the political struggle by Madr-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah, who stood up against the tyrannical rule of Ayub Khan, against all odds. Fatima Jinnah struggled to restore Jinnah’s vision of a modern democratic welfare state, which was created under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and other pioneers of our freedom movement.
If the civil and uniformed establishment, which Pakistan inherited from British Raj, had not colluded with tin-pot dictator and likes of Wajid Ali Burki etc., the geography and political landscape of Pakistan would have been different. No female political leader has been subjected to such character assassination and humiliation than Fatima Jinnah was subjected to. She was called a traitor by a tin-pot dictator, who had himself violated the oath he had taken. Fatima Jinnah died under mysterious circumstances. To this day, none in power, has dared to investigate circumstances under which ambulance carrying MAJ broke down in Karachi during the hot and humid weather on 11 September 1948, when he arrived at Mauripur Airbase in Karachi on a stretcher. MAJ died that night. Reports that ambulance ran out of petrol are very disturbing. Whatever the facts, this incident happened in Karachi, which was the federal capital of Pakistan.
The whole state machinery was available and this criminal negligence cannot be excused. As a nation, we owe to both Father of Nation and his sister Madr-e-Millat that the circumstances under which they died must be investigated. Benazir Bhutto is another female political figure, who stood up against Zia. Pakistan must survive and prosper, because the destiny and fate of over 225Million citizens is wedded to it. We have no other choice. The humiliations that Muslims of India face daily must awaken us out of slumber. Events in Gaza are shocking. This is the bitter ground reality. The political elite, establishment, traders etc. must accept that the tax net must widen. The tobacco cartel, retailers, wholesalers, big landlords, traders, real estate developers, cartels owned by powerful foundations must all understand this. There can be no exceptions.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
