Pakistan on the brink of revolution

Almost every leader seems to agree that major change is on the way - but every party has its own version of what that change is.

It is an undeniable fact that a revolution is coming in Pakistan. Almost every leader seems to agree that major change is on the way - but every party has its own version what that change is.

On a TV show PPP Senator Syed Faisal Raza Abidi said that he sees the Taliban taking over Islamabad. CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif from the PML-N said he sees a “bloody revolution” if current mismanagement, corruption and lack of interest to help the displaced continue to prevail.

According to MQM chief Altaf Hussain martial law-like steps need to be taken to 'save' Pakistan. He has also called for accountability against corruption and feudalism. This call is a warning which should not be taken lightly. The leader's earlier warnings to contain extremist forces in urban areas have already been ignored.

Right-wing parties like PML-N, JUI, and Jamaat-e-Islami were furious at that statement. But then these groups have been accused of of fostering links with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda themselves. When ones plans start to fail, the other cries foul. But no group can work alone. Officials who adhere to the same ideology and are vying for a Pakistan that like a 1990's Afghanistan in the 1990's may be lending their support as well.

The role of the ruling party

The PPP-led  government has failed to come up with solutions to most challenges the country faces. We have seen footages of banned outfits working openly in rural and urban centers for flood relief. This shows how effective our police and Rangers are. Ideally, the government should have come up with a concrete rehabilitation plan for the flood victims (or simply resigned) so that the international community could start generating funds Pakistan for the 20 million survivors - who could indeed be the main reason for a revolution.

Opposition and Revolution

While Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan plays up to both sides of the argument, the PML-N has started to spew hatred against the army by bringing up the uglier aspects of its past. It is discrediting the armed forces at a time of  serious geo-political crises.

The Pakistan Army is one the most organized and respected stakeholders in the country. It needs to identify and stop the growth of negativity in the country. This needs to be done within the Army as well. Justice must be brought to non-patriots who have dragged this country to its current state or are believe in different vision of Pakistan. The judiciary must use its authority to curtail crises from deepening into an eventual collapse of the system which will only benefit a takeover by militants. Anarchy will prevail and public anger will increase.

Approaching boiling point

The last few weeks have seen multiple incidents of terrorism in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Mardan, and Quetta. Hundreds lost their lives and many are still in hospitals fighting for their lives or are permanently disabled and scarred by the attacks. Thousands grieve for loved ones that they have lost. The cricket fiasco did not help much either. The only thing which united us has turned out to be corrupt on an international level.

Pakistan has had enough.This will be the turning point  This country has never before been in such a critical situation. There is no comparing the massive displacement and lack of planning for rehabilitation to anything in the past. The fact is that there is no money for reconstruction. A comparison with past military or political solutions is completely irrelevant. The floods need to wash away the current system.

What Pakistan needs is men of honor, at least temporarily to work towards recovery. The first step would be to ask for more aid and to gain trust by transparent disbursement. All the international community wants to know is that aid will be spent correctly and that someone will be accountable. This country is looking for a complete overhaul with the help of the youth for a better Pakistan.