Key Learning from the current crisis: 1. Despite emergence of key liberating institutions in the last 10 years, the Military stands out the most powerful and decisive political force in Pakistani politics. 2. Just few years back, we were celebrating the emergence of at least four IRREVERSIBLE institutions (free media, democracy, independent judiciary, civil society). Today we have almost lost the efficacy of at least three of them. 3. At least among the major political forces, a consensus has emerged on the prevalence of democracy as a political system. Yet this remains only a conceptual consensus. They still do not have the vision, the capacity and the framework how to safeguard it from the military intrusions in various ways. 4. In the last 30 years, for the first time, the Jamaat-e-Islami has shown considerable improvement in its democratic credentials. Through out the 1990s, the JI was at the forefront in destabilizing political system. This time it has opted for a more pro-democracy position and this is commendable. 5. The invisible forces have still found new religious forces to work with and to launch them as destabilizing force. 6. Imran Khans current moves has hurt many of us. It seems his democratic credentials were questionable. He fell prey to the very forces of status-quo that he deemed to change. 7. Almost all TV channels and a considerable number of their anchors have proved that the prevalence of FREE MEDIA was a myth. It has proved to be an avenue for the Survival of the Loudest. 8. Conservative political forces with an exclusive focus on Muslim League, have shown their inability to govern a deeply divided society like Pakistan. There are few good things related to their mega projects, yet they lack an overall political vision and capacity (perhaps intention!) to run a problematic federation like Pakistan. At least in the foreseeable future, the PPPP seems to be the only probable option to at least protect Pakistan from further fragmentation. Will PPPP re-organize itself to meet this challenge?
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 05:14:37 +0000