Many vital issues remain unresolved in Pakistan today and this makes it one of most uncertain places on earth. Violence, suicide attacks, unrest have gripped this South Asian country now for more than seven years since it joined the US-led global war against terrorism.
First and foremost issue in Pakistan remains the respect for the law and the constitution. Military has ruled this country almost half of the period since its independence from British rule in 1947 and repeated martial laws and untimely ouster of elected governments has contributed to this uncertainty that now haunts the only Islamic nuclear weapons state in the world.
People of Pakistan had pinned great hopes that after February 18 elections, old guards would leave and a new democratic era will begin to end their sufferings. But after years of deprivations with regard to rights and justice, now they are faced with a back-breaking price hike of essential items, shortages of wheat flour and electricity have added insult to the injury. Moreover, people of Pakistan feel betrayed by the new coalition which had promised to reinstate the judges who had been sacked and locked up by a dictator to save his fraudulent election to grab a second five-year term in presidential palace.
General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf promised to give this nation a new deal when on October 12, 1999, he kicked out elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government which enjoyed massive support in parliament. He had absolute power for the past eight years, but could not bring an inch of improvement to the polity of Pakistan, instead Pakistan stands battered and wracked today.
On top of it, the new government seems to be clueless about how to deal with the monster of rising petrol prices, electricity shortages and all time food inflation. The only thing visible is dropping of corruption and criminal cases against government members and appointment of controversial figures on key government posts.
It seems that Pakistan People's Party of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto has married the devil and sold out the votes and confidence which the people of Pakistan had given to it in February 18 elections.
Talks with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan seems to make no headway as the American masters of our rulers are not happy about it. The result is that a new wave of suicide attack has started to afflict the poor people of Pakistan.
Is the 168-million strong Pakistan heading towards a break down? God forbids, but the symptoms are showing. There is growing unrest among middle and low income groups for whom maintaining a modest lifestyle is not now possible. The repeated power outages in hot summer months has also risen the tempers.
One glimpse of this growing unrest was demonstrated earlier this month in the southern port city of Karachi where an angry mob set on fire three "bandits" they had caught during an attempted robbery.
When poors do not get justice from police and courts, what else they would do?
The seeds of anarchy that repeated military interventions in Pakistan have sown have now become a ready crop. Does anybody have an idea what to do?
First and foremost issue in Pakistan remains the respect for the law and the constitution. Military has ruled this country almost half of the period since its independence from British rule in 1947 and repeated martial laws and untimely ouster of elected governments has contributed to this uncertainty that now haunts the only Islamic nuclear weapons state in the world.
People of Pakistan had pinned great hopes that after February 18 elections, old guards would leave and a new democratic era will begin to end their sufferings. But after years of deprivations with regard to rights and justice, now they are faced with a back-breaking price hike of essential items, shortages of wheat flour and electricity have added insult to the injury. Moreover, people of Pakistan feel betrayed by the new coalition which had promised to reinstate the judges who had been sacked and locked up by a dictator to save his fraudulent election to grab a second five-year term in presidential palace.
General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf promised to give this nation a new deal when on October 12, 1999, he kicked out elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government which enjoyed massive support in parliament. He had absolute power for the past eight years, but could not bring an inch of improvement to the polity of Pakistan, instead Pakistan stands battered and wracked today.
On top of it, the new government seems to be clueless about how to deal with the monster of rising petrol prices, electricity shortages and all time food inflation. The only thing visible is dropping of corruption and criminal cases against government members and appointment of controversial figures on key government posts.
It seems that Pakistan People's Party of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto has married the devil and sold out the votes and confidence which the people of Pakistan had given to it in February 18 elections.
Talks with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan seems to make no headway as the American masters of our rulers are not happy about it. The result is that a new wave of suicide attack has started to afflict the poor people of Pakistan.
Is the 168-million strong Pakistan heading towards a break down? God forbids, but the symptoms are showing. There is growing unrest among middle and low income groups for whom maintaining a modest lifestyle is not now possible. The repeated power outages in hot summer months has also risen the tempers.
One glimpse of this growing unrest was demonstrated earlier this month in the southern port city of Karachi where an angry mob set on fire three "bandits" they had caught during an attempted robbery.
When poors do not get justice from police and courts, what else they would do?
The seeds of anarchy that repeated military interventions in Pakistan have sown have now become a ready crop. Does anybody have an idea what to do?
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