SINCE its birth, except for short intervals, Pakistan has been in perpetual crises. There are many reasons, but for me the list is topped by the lack of an honest and able leadership. Unfortunately, we lost the Quaid-i-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan very early. Bhutto, though flawed, tried to prove himself the messiah of the nation but his fate is part of history. Now, all eyes are on Imran Khan, soon to be the prime minister.

Notwithstanding some flaws, Imran Khan is Pakistan’s hope. Everyone voted for him believing that he will stay neutral towards multi-ethnic Pakistan. We hope that he, with his team, will salvage the nation from poverty, injustice, and terror. If that happens, the day he takes oath will in future years be commemorated.

Finally, I want to say that we Pakhtuns, especially the tribal people, love Pakistan more than anybody else. Peaceful protests must not be viewed as anti-state activities; in fact, the people in charge ought to pay attention to and address the core issues. If these are addressed, then following in the footsteps of our forefathers, we will leave no stone unturned in making this a strong and prosperous country.

Irfanullah Maseed
South Waziristan

(2)

A WAVE of change is imminent. A nation which had lost hope has started to dream again. Moribund foreign relations have started to thrive again, the economy is trying to come back to life, and the democratic system has breathed a sigh of relief.

`Every Pakistani will be thankful to Imran Khan for his efforts. After decades of a dreadful rollercoaster ride, the nation has geared up to change the system. It gives me immense pleasure when people today stand against social evils.

It took decades of struggle for the Quaid-i-Azam to bring Iqbal’s dream to shape and it took decades for the nation to raise its voice against a broken, corrupt system. Imran Khan alone cannot win the battle against the malevolence engraved deep in society; neither has he a magic wand. Every Pakistani will have to pool in and contribute to making prosperity a reality. I pray for the green passport to regain its lost respect.

Riddha Azhar
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2018