KARACHI:
Restraint, respect, and tolerance towards each other and a commitment to uphold the rule of law are what is currently needed instead of drawing battlelines for confrontation. It is the sanctity of the Constitution and submission to it by individuals, groups and institutions, which can guarantee the restoration of the modern democratic welfare state, with a functioning economy that Jinnah envisioned.
The spirit that motivated the political struggle for the creation of Pakistan must be revived. Politicians must not venture into populism. Parliament alone has the right to legislate and amend the Constitution, and this must never be infringed upon by any other institution. Today, Pakistan desperately needs statesmen like Nawabzada Nasrullah who can mediate this highly polarised political environment through compromise and without banning political parties so that democracy can function, and the economy revives.
Individuals on both sides of the political divide, including Imran Khan, Maryam Nawaz, etc., must take a step back and refrain from polarising an already charged environment. The elite capture of our economy must be rescinded and replaced with a functional economy where the state collects revenues through direct taxation on all sources of commercial enterprises. Investment in science and technology should be prioritised to boost exports, promote healthy competition, and reduce reliance on imports. Agricultural yield must be revived to ensure food self-sufficiency.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.
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