ELECTIONS are around the corner and every political party is striving hard to grab the reins of power. Pakistan is about to enter another democratic phase but the concerns of the Pakistanis are still there.

The people don’t know what democracy is, all they know is that they are deprived of the basic rights guaranteed to them by law. They also face a declining literacy rate and poor health and education sectors, lack of employment opportunities, lack of clean drinking water, fear of getting killed in a terrorist attack — the list goes on.

We want all the parties to stand by their claims and manifestoes and give relief to the common man when any of them assumes power.

James Freeman Clarke rightly said: “A politician thinks of the next election, a leader thinks of the next generation.” This time, we want leaders in power, not insensitive politicians.

Tayyaba Israr
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018