Pakistan's tragedy and salvation lie in whispers

Adding this aspect reveals that Pakistan's menaces are cognitively driven by whispers of self-interest. Its outcome demands somber reflection - to choose betterment or iterations of erosion.

Whispers are cosmic signals that surface in the unconscious mind, offering paths without dictating outcomes. They guide reflection and action as intuitions; ignoring them reduces life to fate shaped by personal, ethnic, religious, political or institutional mindsets, while integrating them leads to wholeness (Jung, 1968).

Science struggles to define them, but Divine revelation confirms: Satan's whispers lure us to wickedness (Quran 7:201), yet accountability remains ours - even an atom's weight of good or evil will be shown (Quran 99:7). These whispers collide with finite mind, shaping roughly 60,000 thoughts daily - mostly repetitive and negative, distilled to a single choice: act or not. That decision defines our deeds and realities they birth.

The realities Pakistan's state (legislature, government, judiciary) created for its citizens against global norms are truly despicable. "First Cause" emerged at Partition, when British Raj's ethnocentric loyalist web (Feudal-Military-Bureaucracy) invented in 1857 faced a new reality in 1947 - prevail or perish. They (or PakRaj nexus) chose to prevail, capturing state institutions after Jinnah's death in 1948, coercing the nation into compliance.

State and Governance

Legislature, dominated by feudal-rural interests, rejected Jinnah's whispers for land reforms. Power concentration nearly triples global average; democratic practices are poor and weakened by controversial elections. Political corruption near perfection, rights violations persist, leaving the country partly free and politically fragile (V-Dem, WJP, BTI, WB).

Government dominated by loyalists tilts towards authoritarianism restricting internet freedom (FH). It is supported by the Bureaucracy (PakRaj ally) that rejected Jinnah's whispers of merit for ethnocentrism, nepotism and self-interest. It executes virtual commands through policies and covers up misdeeds - ignoring Jinnah's warning against "personal aggrandizement within state institutions". This now defines governance.

Weak legislative oversight, poor press freedom and near-zero accountability led to governance dysfunction. Corruption exceeds global median, digital government stalls, and transparency fades (V-Dem, WPF, LPI, TI, EDGI).

"Second Cause" was judicial collapse, authored by Justice Munir's concocted whispers of "doctrine of necessity" that legitimised dismissal of elected government in 1954. Soon followed "Third Cause": Ayub's 1958 martial law, again validated by him. A black swan event sealed Pakistan's undemocratic fate - endless regime changes: 25 prime ministers and 2 military rulers since 1971, steering the country into chronic instability. Today's "hybrid system" under judicial acquiescence echoes the past with a new twist.

Trust in judiciary eroded due to external interference, politicised rulings and discrimination among superior court judges. Obscure handling of public interest cases, endless delays and poor rights enforcement place Pakistan as second-worst country in dispensing justice (WJP).

Security Paradigm

Jinnah's whispers on civil and military roles were crystal clear: "… executive authority rests with the government; … armed forces serve the people and perform designated duties - not policy making which is civilians' domain..." (Army Staff College, 1948).

Ayub rejected this whisper, as did successors, dressing up actions in national interest and sustained rule through US support. His democratic experiment failed but military commercialisation thrived, becoming a "mini-economy" that earns Rs1.1 trillion (almost half the defence spending) via 50 entities (EPBD). This distorts national policies and stifles innovation placing Pakistan in low global percentile (GII).

Externally, Pakistan is trapped in a conflict lens against India. Though nuclear deterrence ended wars but not hostility; now endgame lies between US and China. Security obsession elevated us to the top-15 global military power - a dichotomy for poor, debt-ridden state. Internally, group grievances across the country echo pre-1971 East Pakistan, fueling security risks at double the global averages, leaving Pakistan 10th most fragile state (GI, STI, FGI). Externally strong, yet internally exposed to chaos.

Economy

Political instability mirrors economic weakness. Over 25 years, real GDP grew only 3.83%, barely above population growth of 2.26% (ACGR). Agriculture lags, industry and manufacturing trail world averages - with limited infrastructure except textiles which has been constrained by cotton volatility. Economy remains repressed (IEF, 150/184), burdened by debt (~75% GDP) and its existence hostage to remittances (1/3 forex inflow). Nearly half the budget goes to debt servicing (46.7%) and defence (15.7%). IMF bailouts recur, while billions drain in circular debt, SOE losses and corruption (CPI,135/180).

Human Cost

PakRaj's gravest failure is betraying Jinnah's covenant that "prosperity is tied to people's well-being." Today, 45% population live in poverty (from 3.9% in Islamabad to 77% in Tharparkar); 22% barely survive. Pakistan faces one of the world's highest multi-dimensional poverty and a "very serious" level of hunger (GHI), with nearly 800/10,000 people homeless. Poverty worsens with limited opportunities: 85% of workforce trapped in low-paid jobs, 37% youth unemployment, and rising brain drain exceeding global average.

Education crumbles, as 77% of ten-year-olds cannot read and 34% remain out of school. Human development and human capital are eroding, meaning a child today will be only 41% productive as adult (WPR, HDI, HCI). Pakistan ranks among dirtiest countries - unsafe water, toxic air and poor ageing conditions. It is third-worst to grow old, with second-lowest income security (EPI, WQI, HCI, GAWI).

Future

Stated outcome is deplorable, and future remains elusive, lagging on SDGs 2030 goals. Today PakRaj's spread and power run wide and deep, extracting compliance at will. Admittedly, privileges devolved over 150 years will not vanish; feudals will not forfeit land; bureaucracy will prevail; and military will guard its clout.

How long will this continue? Salvation of individual and nation lies in whispers that nurture judicious choices. Janine Benyus (Biomimicry, 1997) reminds us: life's 3.8-billion-year record proves that choosing "what works for us" over "what works for whole" invites evolutionary failure - not a matter of if, but when?

Ironically, Pakistan is stuck in stationary reckoning - a pivoted pendulum oscillating in PakRaj's ecosystem, where time moves forward but gives only the illusion of progress.