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It’s been sixty three years of differing views. Many people argue that the country was built on the basis of Islam and that is how it should be run; and chants such as ‘Pakistan ka matlab kiya?, La Illaha Illalah’ are a common hearing during protests, even now. Others argue that Quaid-e-Azam wanted it to be secular and hence made it quite clear during his inaugural speech as the Governor General of Pakistan. The first constitution was signed in 1956, and its rapid demise into the history books is a testament to its failure to successfully incorporate a mixture of Islam and democracy. The 1970’s saw the PPP manage to wrestle into power and with them came the separation of Bangladesh and our first ‘working’ constitution. Socialism was thrown into the limelight as a means of administering the nation’s affairs, with Bhutto advocating for a concoction of Islam, Socialism and Democracy; aptly captured in his speech a few years earlier.
Since his upheaval by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and his selective Islamization policies; our political system has been thrown from one deep end into the other. It has managed to experience dictatorships on the one hand, to a ‘working’ democracy on the other and utter chaos in between. But credit should be given, where credits due; we as a nation have refused to lose hope and still believe that something good can come out of this confusion. We might still be a ‘young’ nation, but the fact remains that it is about time we decide on our future.
Every option from capitalism to communism to Islam has been voiced as a possible solution, yet not a single one of them has been able to materialize. We have examples of successful nations before us following these very systems, with socialism to an extent being the exception. The problem therefore, does not lie with the systems or its ideology but with its implementation and discharge. For any system – whatever might it be- to be properly executed it is imperative that the people living under it, believe in it and more importantly unite behind it. Pakistanis, unfortunately have been unable to do either one of the two.
We have been jumping from set of principles to the other all our life. It is about time that we conclude on what we really want; and tear away this charade of double standards. Unfortunately, we are part of a nation today that is full of contradictions. Where people argue ‘Islam is eternal’ and at the same time question if it can really be applied in the twenty first century. Where stories of valor and bravery of our forefathers are narrated to the young, while the country bows down to international pressure. Where our politicians happily quote the first line of our constitution as an integral part; and then formulate laws that deny the very foundations it is based on. The list of contradictions might be never ending but that does not mean the dilemmas can’t be solved.
The choice is simple. What do we really want? Not as a developing economy, neither as an Islamic republic nor as a NATO ally; but as Pakistan, a country for which our ancestors gave their blood and sweat; just so we could have a better future. A future where we could be able to decide our own fate, live by our own principles and prosper according to our own wishes. We at least until now have been unable to fulfill their dreams.
Today, Pakistan stands at an edge with no particular solution in sight. The moment has arrived to finally decide on what we want for this country and the future of the generations to come. The decisions made today will have a lasting impact on where this country goes and what our children grow onto become. Leave no doubt, our failure to act now will mean only one thing; someone else will and we will be left behind to face the consequences. It is time for us choose; and to unite under that banner in order to ensure that we remain in control. Let us not forget, the last time we decided on something, we produced a nation it’s about time we do the same again!
Zain Iqbal is a Professional Accountant and a Free Lance journalist.
Since his upheaval by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and his selective Islamization policies; our political system has been thrown from one deep end into the other. It has managed to experience dictatorships on the one hand, to a ‘working’ democracy on the other and utter chaos in between. But credit should be given, where credits due; we as a nation have refused to lose hope and still believe that something good can come out of this confusion. We might still be a ‘young’ nation, but the fact remains that it is about time we decide on our future.
Every option from capitalism to communism to Islam has been voiced as a possible solution, yet not a single one of them has been able to materialize. We have examples of successful nations before us following these very systems, with socialism to an extent being the exception. The problem therefore, does not lie with the systems or its ideology but with its implementation and discharge. For any system – whatever might it be- to be properly executed it is imperative that the people living under it, believe in it and more importantly unite behind it. Pakistanis, unfortunately have been unable to do either one of the two.
We have been jumping from set of principles to the other all our life. It is about time that we conclude on what we really want; and tear away this charade of double standards. Unfortunately, we are part of a nation today that is full of contradictions. Where people argue ‘Islam is eternal’ and at the same time question if it can really be applied in the twenty first century. Where stories of valor and bravery of our forefathers are narrated to the young, while the country bows down to international pressure. Where our politicians happily quote the first line of our constitution as an integral part; and then formulate laws that deny the very foundations it is based on. The list of contradictions might be never ending but that does not mean the dilemmas can’t be solved.
The choice is simple. What do we really want? Not as a developing economy, neither as an Islamic republic nor as a NATO ally; but as Pakistan, a country for which our ancestors gave their blood and sweat; just so we could have a better future. A future where we could be able to decide our own fate, live by our own principles and prosper according to our own wishes. We at least until now have been unable to fulfill their dreams.
Today, Pakistan stands at an edge with no particular solution in sight. The moment has arrived to finally decide on what we want for this country and the future of the generations to come. The decisions made today will have a lasting impact on where this country goes and what our children grow onto become. Leave no doubt, our failure to act now will mean only one thing; someone else will and we will be left behind to face the consequences. It is time for us choose; and to unite under that banner in order to ensure that we remain in control. Let us not forget, the last time we decided on something, we produced a nation it’s about time we do the same again!
Zain Iqbal is a Professional Accountant and a Free Lance journalist.
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