Extremity in all its forms and manifestations is antagonistic to establishing a coherent and stable social order — extremity in politics is perhaps the most lethal. All civilized political systems and democracies always create albeit leave adequate space for dialogue and discussion to resolve even the most intensely contested issues of vital significance to the country. Ill luck would have it, we in Pakistan have miserably failed to establish that tradition primarily due to the insolvency of the morality and the value system of our politicians and fragile political order. The frequent and incessant praetorian excursions spanning at times for more than a decade into the political arena further aggravate the situation and stifle the evolution of robust and stable political institutions.
If, however, one were to apportion the major responsibility, squarely and unequivocally, it is the political myopia and unbridled avarice of the politicians to gain and retain power which seem to have perpetuated the current state of imbroglio and political frailty which we confront perennially. There is a huge contradiction in what the politicians profess and practice. Even the charter if democracy signed between the two leading parties i.e. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party on May 14, 2006 in London which represented the highest political will and resolve and was a landmark agreement to establish a true democratic order in Pakistan and rid it of the hegemony and predominance of establishment was more respected in breach than compliance when these parties successively assumed the reins of power.
The Charter talked of “…economically sustainable, socially progressive, politically democratic and pluralist, federally cooperative, ideologically tolerant, internationally respectable, regionally peaceful..” sovereign Pakistan and reaffirmed, inter alia, a commitment to undiluted democracy, independent judiciary, a neutral civil service, rule of law and merit, a free and independent media etc. But what the post-Charter period reveals is a sad and sordid saga. Inclusive and sustainable development continues to remain a distant dream with more than 39% of people afflicted by poverty based on lower-middle income rate; our ranking on Human Development Index (2021) is 154 out of 189 countries; we are 152 out of 153 countries as regards economic participation and opportunity, 149 out of 153 countries on health and survival; our socio-political divisiveness is at its peak with political rivalry and discourse characterized by profanity, indecency and even obscenity; religious intolerance, sectarianism and fanaticism continue to find frequent expression of which the worst and most tragic was the recent mob killing of Sri Lankan man.
