WE generally tend to blame politics and the politicians for all our problems, as if the people and the other professions in the country are functioning just fine and sans any blemish.

Our politicians are not aliens from other planets who have been thrust upon us. They belong to the very society just like everyone else. Their actions and acts of omission and commission represent a version of the collective nature of our society. We may be too proud to admit this, but this is the undeniable truth.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “as you shall be, so shall be given to you.” To quote French philosopher and diplomat, Joseph de Maistre, “every nation gets the government it deserves.”

We ought to ask ourselves whether we deserve better than what we have got.

M. Rustam Parwez

Hyderabad, India

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2018