GHOTKI:
In democratic societies, the executive and their subordinate institutions work within the ambit of the power or responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution. In the case of Pakistan, these responsibilities have remained only on paper as civilian supremacy has over the years been blatantly violated quite too often. Consequently, a hybrid regime prevails in the country.
In this regard, the opposition, in spite of having been the beneficiary of this status quo, has been working on its revival for the last three years. However, the recent exchange between the Prime Minister and the Army over the appointment of the DG ISI has laid the opposition’s double standards bare. The response of the opposition leaders to the issue has been purely self-serving, and falls in negation of what they have been preaching all along.
The moves that the opposition has made in this respect do not serve the essence of democracy; in contrast it weakens it. For democracy to flourish, our politicians will have to come out of their short gains. They need to set aside disagreements for the sake of the country and work for the benefit of the people. They will have to work together to keep the undemocratic forces at bay.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2021.
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