Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
There can be no doubt Pakistan faces huge challenges ahead. The economy is unsteady, the government faces a myriad of domestic issues and concerns, and the ever-present threat of extremism hangs over the nation.
It is therefore tempting to see a major shake-up, even some sort of a revolution, as an answer to the current situation.
But this is where we must be careful, and look to the past for guidance.
Thirty years ago, Iran was in a similar situation. The way that country responded then leads us directly to where it is now: a claustrophobic theocracy, depriving its people of civil rights, freedom of expression, and in the last presidential elections, the right to vote. Is that what Pakistan wants to be? Absolutely not. We must avoid the pitfalls, especially when they are so predictable.
We must learn from history. We must learn that falling under the umbrella of hardliners to deal with the problems is never the answer. Going from a bad situation to a worse situation…well, that is unacceptable.
In the world we live in, journalists rant and rail against the government. While a free media is valued and respected in any democracy, one cannot ignore the fact that it is a profession that comes with much responsibility.
The Hamid Mirs and the Shaheen Sehbais must understand that to rip apart our fledgling democracy is to give power to the opponents of democracy. We have the makings of a solid democracy, we must stick by those principles.
Our system of checks and balances exists to solve our problems in a clear, rational manner. The recent NRO decision by the Supreme Court highlights the staying power of our democratic institutions. The President has remained impartial and respectful of the Court’s power, and now we will see the results play out. But again, all this must be done in the framework of democracy.
Any alternative option will be catastrophic for our future. Just look at Iran.
