WHETHER in government or opposition, political parties make tall claims about saving democracy. But what kind of democracy are they saving? Accountability by the people is a must in democracy. Under this system the people are the priority and the protection of life, property and honour are ensured. We, however, confront a different situation. There is unending and harsh confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. …According to the opposition, democracy means overthrowing the ruling parties. It is astonishing how the people are missing from the agenda of all the parties and the powers that be. The parties have the agenda of defeating one another. The people have been deserted, and brave hunger, abject poverty, unemployment, inflation and terrorism.

…People want their problems solved. They have experienced all the various systems of governance: democracy, dictatorship and governments of technocrats. But what was the end result? An outgoing government leaves behind heaps of problems. That is the situation we are in today. During the Musharraf regime, the country was enmeshed in internal and external problems. After ousting Musharraf, all the parties ought to have strengthened democracy in letter and spirit. They had the opportunity to defeat the elements that have enslaved the country. Regrettably, this was not done. The two major parliamentary parties … took confrontational postures and repeated the past. This made the situation uncertain. Today the language spoken by the leaders is no way in favour of democracy. Those at the helm of affairs should think not twice but many times before they speak.This is not the time to bring each other low. … The country is burning in terrorism. Matters can only be resolved when we shun our differences and prioritise the people and democracy. Political parties consider the people a mere ladder to their rise to power.… — (May 20)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi