Our country is in the grip of multiple problems that are crushing the public. Most of the problems being faced by our country are a manifestation of consistent wrongdoings of past and present governments. Unfortunately, our leadership never truly put the country first. They rather followed self-focused policies that benefited them than the country.
However, people are also part of the problem as they never stood up to inflation and unemployment in a way that would force the government to stay away from poor policies. Neither did the people use their power of the vote in large numbers to force the corrupt and underperformers out. We keep betting on the same people and expect a different result every time. There is a select group of families and individuals who keep showing up under different guises and slogans to woo the public. These people flock to the party that seems to be gaining steam and start promising people that they will change the fate of the country after winning the elections.
People don’t realize that it is the same group of people who created the problem in the first place while being in the other party and are now promising to bring about change being in the other. If people really wanted to change their fate, they would never elect such people. They would also stand up strongly for their rights. History is witness that when people stand strong, nothing can come in their way. Unfortunately, it seems that we ourselves are corrupt and are only interested to see those in power who would let us keep doing what we do. No wonder Pakistan stands among the lowest per capita tax collecting countries in the world. If we want to see the change, we will have to change ourselves too. People will have to pay taxes and call out wrongs when they see it. Society should never respect people who have ill-gotten money, rather they should be outcasted. Only if people decide to stand strong against corruption and use their right to elect wisely, will we have leaders who work for the country and people because they will genuinely be afraid of a backlash if they do not perform. Otherwise, I am afraid the circus we are witnessing will continue in perpetuity with the country drifting toward complete destruction.
RAJA SHAFAATULLAH
Islamabad
