Resilient leader

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To have a flourishing nation is the dream of all, and the dream is the force capable of transforming vision into reality. Martin Luther King Jr dreamt of African Americans – who had long been victims at the hands of whites and left in the corners of injustice – to have equal participation in America. "I have a dream," a 17-minute speech comprising 1,667 words, by Martin Luther King Jr, revolutionised the aspirations of Black Americans to achieve an egalitarian nation.

His dream speech is tantamount to the fundamental rights of the people. He spoke eloquently to a crowd of thousands in Washington on August 28, 1963. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream!" This was not merely a lucrative speech by a restless leader but a step towards transformation, emancipation, liberalism, equilibrium, and, last but not least, a step towards an everlasting history that would be documented for generations to come.

The famous saying goes, "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk. Martin Luther could walk so Obama could run. He ran, ran, ran and reached the White House and ruled the world." If the struggle of Martin Luther King could alter the unjust setup of America, a single vision with consistent and firm steps can also help Pakistan flourish.

Jinnah once said, "Failure is a word unknown to me." These six words explain the resilience and assurance of our founding father in his faith and vision. By visualising a separate homeland for Muslims, he was assured of never failing at the hands of the British. His vision, along with the freedom movement, motivated the youth, men and women to achieve a separate homeland at any cost. Quaid left a legacy upon which future leaders were to build a thriving nation. But do our leaders dream today like King Martin and Jinnah? Every Pakistani envisions a thriving nation with a robust economy, quality education and a mainstream society within Pakistan's boundaries. (I hope I am right in this regard.)

A peaceful and prosperous Pakistan: a democratic setup where constitutional norms flourish; where there is freedom of expression as envisioned in the constitution; where quality education is ensured and innovation thrives; where there is a robust economy that generates employment opportunities; where men and women are provided with equal opportunity to learn, earn and contribute; and where there is an egalitarian society with no polarised or marginalised classes. This is the Pakistan I dream of.

Moreover, there should be a united Pakistan in diversity, where people from all backgrounds come forward to celebrate their differences and work towards common goals. A country where harmony prevails, people feel valued and secure, and deprivation does not exist. This is the Pakistan we should aim for.

When Jinnah addressed the nation on 11 August 1947, he stated: "Thank God we are starting in a day when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community or another, no discrimination between caste or creed. We are starting with this fundamental principle: that we are citizens and equal citizens of one state."

Currently, the situation is contrary to Jinnah's vision. We face gender discrimination, religious discrimination and human rights violations. The win-win game of our current leaders, focused on demoting contemporary rivals, lead to biases, hatred and chaos, leaving the nation into lurch. Are we all safe on this land? The answer we always hear is a big 'no'.

The need of the hour is for Pakistan to have a dedicated and resilient leader like Jinnah who can uplift the nation irrespective of personal whims. A visionary leader with relentless and unwearied struggle can alter the fate of the nation. A leader with one motto and a firm stance eradicates the differences between the masses and the state, while pursuing and abiding by democracy, which is the only solution to our crisis-ridden country.