THE best soap opera writers could not write a script matching our political on-goings. Our politicians are carrying out serious backroom negotiations about party alliances, contemplating crossing the floor for personal gains, while reminding us of their ethical values in their undying support for their party.

The media has done a wonderful job of reporting whose car was spotted in whose driveway, and which drawing room hosted members from another party. This at a time when the country stands at a dangerous crossroads.

Our posturing with India for more and yet more evidence may well have been a stance aimed at underlining the absence of any government involvement. Do we really need more evidence for undertaking an exercise in self-evaluation? A cursory glance at the current state of affairs shows a dismal, deteriorating picture.

The basic problems of infrastructure aside, we are facing a serious social breakdown in many areas. Chief among these is the proliferation of guns. Add elements such as tribalism, abject poverty, lack of education, ethnic tension, and antiquated systems, and we have the makings of a perfect storm.The horrible images imprinted in our memories, just over the past year, include bombings and violence witnessed in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan — did each name bring back a dreadful memory? I remember seeing the carnage that followed soon after the American invasion in Iraq. It was sickening at first, and splashed across the front pages of newspapers.

After a few months, the coverage moved to the second page, and reading about suicide

bombings and sectarian violence was not even news to me anymore. It was almost as if I had gotten used to it, and it saddened me deeply to think that I had become so impervious to tragedy. The news coming from Pakistan is starting to feel the same way.

Government officials are quick to show that they are dealing with the aftermath, and working on apprehending those involved. They are only focusing on dealing with the mayhem currently at hand. What is desperately needed is a comprehensive strategy to tackle the underlying problems. It may sound a bit clichéd, but the solution lies in strengthening institutions dealing with law and order, education and re-aligning our political house.

There are some steps which the government can take which will go a long way towards a solution, such as truly dismantling militant groups (be they Lashkars or Jaishes), systematically confiscating and removing guns and weapons from society (whether they belonging to watchmen or hoodlums), and transforming the Federally Administered Tribal Areas into provinces. The case for each is easy to make.

I ask the politicians, would they encourage their sons to join a clandestine Jaish or Lashkar? I think if we are all true to ourselves, we would like to see our country defended by a strong disciplined army, and do away with clandestine militant groups. The point goes beyond whether India`s accusations are true or false. The time has come to move beyond the rhetoric of banning them, as ex-President Musharraf did only to see them re-group under different names, and dismantle them completely.

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are facing a warlike situation unprecedented since the partition of the subcontinent.

It is high time we moved to create provinces such as North and South Waziristan, with provincial capitals, elected provincial officials, set up provincial institutions, and collected federal taxes. Yes, traditionally, they have lived in a tribal system, and until today it has served them well. Change is neither easy to acknowledge, nor implement. But at times it is necessary. It is time to split Fata into provinces and set up provincial legislatures.

Time is not on our side. A burgeoning population, dwindling basic resources such as water, acute power shortages, the rising cost of living, unemployment, under-employment, illiteracy and failing healthcare are all leading to a dangerously volatile situation. The little lines of text running swiftly across the bottom of our television sets are showing the tip of the iceberg. This is going to get worse before it gets any better.

It may sound simple to remove guns and add more provinces, but the truth of the matter is that such undertakings require immense political commitment. They require a leader with a vision and resolve to fulfil it. Anyone out there?

`Hazaroen saal nargis apni benoori pay roti hai, Bari mushkil se hota hai chaman mein didavar paeda.`