Pakistan Is Facing a Political Crisis, Not
an Economic One
By: Nusrat Khan
The adverse effects of the ongoing war in the Middle East continue to take their toll on Pakistan. The unprecedented increase in petroleum prices has multiplied the hardships of ordinary Pakistanis. However, the government’s justification that inflation has become difficult to control because Iran and the United States are confronting each other has failed to convince a large section of the public. The majority of Pakistanis argue that even before the current crisis in the Middle East, the government had been pursuing a policy of periodically increasing petroleum prices, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
To address the challenges facing the country, a large number of economic experts believe that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) must work together to bring about substantial reductions in government expenditure and improve the national economy. The fundamental grievance of ordinary citizens is that whenever the country faces difficult circumstances, those in power expect the public to make sacrifices while exempting themselves from the same responsibility. One of the major criticisms of the existing system is that it was not formed through the genuine mandate of the people. For instance, it is no longer a secret that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured the largest share of votes in the general elections, yet the PML-N and PPP came to power.
It is essential to understand that Pakistan is fundamentally facing a political crisis, the consequences of which are now manifesting themselves in the form of an economic crisis. The absence of genuinely elected representatives in the corridors of power remains a significant problem.
One perspective is that Pakistan should have set conditions for its participation in the Makkah Peace Agreement that would have directly benefited the majority of its citizens. Our history bears witness to the fact that whether it was the Soviet Union’s intervention in Afghanistan or the United States’ military presence in Afghanistan following 9/11, our rulers failed to give due consideration to the interests of the people.
Nearly 80,000 people in Pakistan have lost their lives in acts of terrorism, while thousands more have been left permanently disabled. Among those who lost their lives in these heartbreaking incidents were individuals who were the sole breadwinners of their families. In these circumstances, there is an urgent need to find an answer to a fundamental question: How long will ordinary Pakistanis continue to pay the price for the policies pursued by the ruling elite?
In light of the ruling elite’s past policies, another question is being raised: Will the Makkah Peace Agreement bring any relief to the hardships of ordinary Pakistanis in the foreseeable future, or will their difficulties continue unabated?
Unlike in the past, Pakistanis today are more aware and informed. Modern technology has provided them with unprecedented access to information. Educated Pakistani youth compare the country’s circumstances not only with those of neighbouring countries but also with those of other nations around the world.
Therefore, they have every right to ask those in power a simple yet fundamental question: When will Pakistan finally emerge as a peaceful, prosperous, and developed nation?
Undoubtedly, if not today, then tomorrow, those governing the country will have to provide an answer.