THE debate over the country’s ‘system’ is once again doing the rounds. As the nation celebrates the Independence Day today (Aug 14), it is worth recalling that the Quaid-i-Azam had given us the contours of a system at the very outset of our journey as an independent nation, and that we failed to build on it in its true spirit.

The Quaid had emphasised upon the importance and significance of adopting a Constitution as soon as possible so that Pakistan could quickly get out of the dark shadows of the imperial powers. He outlined his vision in his speech to the first Constituent Assembly. The Father of the Nation died in September 1948, and the democratic welfare state he had envisioned was soon reduced to the status of a ‘client state’, performing errands for its former colonial masters and their allies.

The country finally had a unanimously adopted constitution in 1973 — two years after having lost half the country in 1971 — which offered an elaborate system of governance, with due checks and balances, and clearly-defined boundaries within which various components were to perform their roles. The fact is that the ‘system’ does exist, but it has not been respected by the country’s decision-makers; both elected and paid. They have been largely driven by greed, obsessions and biases. The fault lies with them; not with the system.

It is essential that, regardless of the form of government — a genuine democracy that the Quaid visualised, or some hybrid version — political office holders must exercise restraint in their statements. Irrespective of the provocation by those in opposition, they must carefully choose their words. While it is understandable that opposition parties would like to rock the boat, the same being done by those in power is suicidal. They should avoid needless controversies.

The same applies to our politicians, like the one who recently kicked up a row with his remarks that tried to politicise the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs who laid down their lives defending the country’s geographical boundaries. He could have talked about the need for restructuring the perks and benefits of government employees to bring them within fiscal space for the welfare of the deprived sections of society, and the need to invest in human resource development by spending on education, health, provision of basic essentials and justice for all; things that were on the top of the Quaid’s priority list.

Our younger generation needs to be aware of the Quaid’s legacy. He was an educated individual, with an impeccable reputation for integrity and a leader who led from the front. If the young do that, they will be able to stay away from the country’s political and paid elite who owe every bit of their wealth and status to Pakistan, but have shifted their assets abroad.

Pakistan offered those at helm vast opportunities and many have gone from the proverbial rags to riches. The best way to mark the Independence Day is for them, and, indeed, for all of us to reassess our priorities and resolve to turn things around.

Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2026