WHILE it is great that the country is going to have elections soon, and people will have a chance to express their opinion hopefully in a free and fair electoral exercise. However, I am not looking forward to the opportunity as it is obvious that the same old lot, the same old parties and their so-called leaders will be the only ones from amongst whom somebody will be declared the winner.

Regardless of one’s own position across the political divide, the tried and tested lot has nothing to show as an indicator of their performance. This country was not poor. It is not poor. They, the politicians, have made it poor.

Would it not be foolish of the people to entrust them with the governance of our land once again? It would, indeed, be foolish, but what choice do we have? We have no choice. None.

All I can do in my agony is to quote from Persian, Azmuda da Azmudan jehal ast (Most foolish to rely on those who have betrayed you time and again). And, yet, we will vote. Poor me. Poor you. Poor Pakistan.

Justice (retd) Sajjad Ahmed Sipra
Former Punjab Ombudsman
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023