THERE is a lot of discussion these days about how the establishment has exposed a once-beloved politician and his party. It is a tale that highlights the nature of our polity; an idol was crafted, people were ‘made’ to worship it, and then the myth was destroyed. In Allama Iqbal’s words, Tarasheedam, Parasteedam, Shikastam (I fashioned, I worshipped, I destroyed).

This is not the first time it happened in the country’s history, and, as such, did not come as a surprise to those who are familiar with the past. The beneficiary in this case tried to fool all the people all the time, and, as could only be expected, failed.

This is sad at many levels, but it is not the end. This is a country of millions of people and a nuclear power to boot. It is not going to disappear just because of the unfortunate and utterly regrettable behaviour of a leader and his followers. That much we know for sure.

We can only hope that good sense will prevail and further destabilisation and destruction will be avoided at a time of great economic peril.

All concerned have to remember that justice needs to be done as well as it has to appear to have been done.

All is not lost, and with the support of the people at large, the country will surely once again rise from the present phase of crisis stronger than ever before.

Justice (retd) Sajjad Ahmed Sipra
Former Punjab Ombudsman
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2023