Media watch: Democracy and change

There is a lot of talk going on about change, and one of the changes under contention is democracy

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

Winds of change

How can you build a strong case for democracy in Pakistan, if it has repeatedly catapulted corrupt leaders into power that are willing to sell their souls to corruption and all such vices. By all measures, this is indeed a bleak situation, and if at all, a chink to let in some light has to be found, it would be possible only by revisiting and refurbishing the existing set-up. Editorial (brecorder.com)

High price for democracy

What seems to be driving this demand for change is the angst among the chattering classes, whipped up by the media.However, there is a difference between being critical of Zardari and wanting to get rid of him at any cost. Putting up with him for the rest of his term might seem a bitter pill to swallow, but nobody said attaining a working democracy was easy. Irfan Hussain (dawn.com)

The roadmap for a democratic, peaceful change everyone wants

The reality today is that if the politicians pick up the courage to remain within the constitution and start correcting the democratic process, every hidden hand will help them achieve their goal. The hidden hands also realise that for too long they have been used, and misused, to dislodge the system but if now there is an opportunity to work for correcting the system, without getting exposed, what is so bad about it? The roadmap is thus here; only it needs to be adopted. The change will be smooth and peaceful, requiring no ambulance. Shaheen Sehbai (thenews.com.pk)

The change-pushers

Regardless of their rhetoric enshrining lofty political ideals, the new entrants don’t really want to shake anything; they just want their piece of the pie. While striving for a positive change in the society is all very good, those talking of bringing about a change need a closer look at how it really comes about. It would be advisable to take the change-pushers with a pinch of salt. Regardless of their rhetoric enshrining lofty political ideals, the new entrants don’t really want to shake anything; they just want their piece of the pie. Jalees Hazir (nation.com.pk)