The Pakistani Spectator

The weather is changing in Pakistan, and the scorching summer is giving way to chilling cold, and that also means that there will be less load-shedding of electricity. But the mind inevitably turns towards the state of affairs of the country and desperation prevails.

Why we even discuss that in case this government fails, the system will collapse and the democracy will be a thing of past, with a new dictator sitting in Islamabad screwing the country. Why is it that the present head of state blackmails us that if he is forced to leave, then he would take system with him, as was mentioned by his close crony Salman Taseer, another shady figure.

Why is it so that the democracy is so fragile in Pakistan? We need to understand that there is world of difference between the government and democracy. Governments come and go but the democracy prevails. Elected government doesn’t really mean that they have got a free pass to do anything they like and they cannot be touched and they are accountable to none. The way this present regime is making a mockery of constitution and rule of law and the way there is no governance at all shouldn’t be threatening the democracy, but only the government itself.

Here is the role which our military establishment needs to play. Their role should be of spectators. That’s it. They shouldn’t be taking over, and they shouldn’t even think about any coup. They must  not take it on to themselves that they are the saviors of democracy and they are needed to rule the government. They are there to keep vigil on borders, and to fight a war in FATA and a proxy war in Baluchistan, and they need to secure the internal security of the country.

Will the constant bloodshed and asinine statements of hopeless government bigwigs stop ever? We cannot tolerate that in the name of democracy. But that doesn’t mean we want army take over. What we want is the continuation of democracy. Governments come and they go.