Perhaps, we need to become more spiritual and less materialistic to overcome our addiction to power above principles.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has never had the good fortune of a peaceful transfer of power from one government to another. In reality, this transfer has been manipulated by visible and invisible forces and this has happened in almost all elections. The results of this electoral manipulation have been disastrous. Having learnt no lessons from history, hopefully we will cross the bridge when the nation goes to polls later this year or early next year.
Our intellectuals and civil and military leaders have no idea of the importance of elections generally perceived to be free and fair. The acrimony informing the current political debate does not inspire much hope for a peaceful transfer of power but one can still hope against hope. Perhaps, we need to become more spiritual and less materialistic to overcome our addiction to power above principles.
There is no limit to the progress this nation can make but not without free and fair elections. If, however, our respected leaders cannot agree on an independent election commission, we can forget about progress.
BA Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2012.
