THE Quaid said that Pakistan was an intellectual and moral achievement of the people. What then led to our decline as reflected by the terrible mess we find ourselves in at the present time? There appears to be a free for all situation while the ultimate sovereign is watching helplessly, unable to assert its sovereignty.

Pakistan came into existence in a geostrategic location but we have failed over the years to capitalise on this strategic asset.

We have good neighbours in China, India, Iran and Afghanistan but the entire concentration of our foreign policy has been to become an ally or partner with the US instead of forging good relations with our neighbours and working with them for common good.

Pakistan has armed forces which are among the best in the world but the ambition and ideology of a few generals led them to a clash with our democratic process and dispensation which resulted in destruction of our institutions.

Politicians, including those who are campaigning for a mass movement for ‘change’, trade allegations. Solutions are in the distant future. No one thinks of providing the ultimate sovereign with a credible plan to bring this country out of the current national and security crisis. No political leader has any credible policy or solution to the other crisis facing this country with several state-owned institutions collapsing under their own debt burden and shortage of fuel, power and financial resources.

We have no credible policy on education and health, population control, industrial development and trade, export import, Afghanistan, internal security, finance and fiscal policy and foreign affairs.

Discussions and decisions take place behind closed doors, not in parliament. The ultimate sovereign remains a captive to media reports and speculation to learn what is going on in the country.

What is the ultimate sovereign to do except wait for an election and then exercise its sovereign right to have a representative government of its choice.

Coming out into the streets is not the answer because there will be no Arab Spring scene in Pakistan. Anarchy which we can ill afford will be the result. We saw a glimpse of this in Kasur. Political leaders must roll up their sleeves and work in unity to save this country from disaster. National unity is the order of the day. Strengthening our national institutions is the order of the day. All decisions should be taken in an open and transparent manner so that the people know what their political leaders are doing and then extend support to national interest by knitting themselves into the fabric of the state and make it strong and stable.

Is this scenario possible in Pakistan? Time will tell.

LIAQUAT H MERCHANT Karachi