KARACHI:
Those who fail to learn from history remain trapped by it. Pakistan’s political leadership would do well to remember that lesson. The guillotine, invented by Dr Joseph-Ignace Guillotin in 18th Century France, was introduced as a more humane method of execution. However, during the Reign of Terror between 1793 and 1794 it became a symbol of political repression. Under Maximilien Robespierre, thousands of people were executed. Ironically, Robespierre was later met the same fate under the guillotine, bringing the Reign of Terror to an end.
The lesson is simple. Laws created to silence opponents often outlive those who enact them. This lesson remains relevant to Pakistan. Successive governments have used laws to target opponents and suppress dissent. More recently, concerns have been raised about the Punjab Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026 because of its broad definitions and the possibility of misuse. History shows that laws designed to punish others can eventually be used against those who introduced them. Pakistan’s legislators should learn from that that. Instead of framing laws to settle scores, they should focus on legislations that serves the public interest and strengthens democratic institutions.
Jamshaid Kakari
Loralai
