THE ongoing political stalemate between the government and Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri has brought the entire working machinery of the nation to a halt, resulting in political uncertainty, economic instability and social insecurity. The structure of all the pillars of the state are being thoroughly exposed.

From top to bottom there is lack of an effective leadership to tackle the present crisis. Political maturity and seriousness on the part of the government and the protesters would not have resulted in a situation leading to the intervention of the army chief.

It is a failure for the champions of democracy that a non-political actor had to be asked for ‘facilitation’. The army should not be dragged into politics, otherwise there is no need for any judiciary, parliament and all civil sectors to run the country.

All stakeholders need to work together in order to maintain the credibility of parliament and judiciary.

The government needs to show that it really is functioning, otherwise external and internal non-state actors may take advantage of the situation to disrupt the machinery of the state. The future of democracy is at stake.

Ahmad Shehryar Sikandar

Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 31, 2014