Adil Najam
Pakistan Day is a day of celebration. But it is also a day of reflection on what we have been through and what lies ahead of us.
In this, the second in our series of special posts to mark Pakistan Day 2009, we want to focus on what lies ahead in terms of the biggest threats to Pakistan’s future. In the next post in this series we intend to focus more on the opportunities.
It is an understatement to say that Pakistan is floating through an especially precarious time in its precarious history. Indeed, Pakistan is passing through a defining time.
There is no dearth of threats facing Pakistan. But in this special ATP Poll for Pakistan Day we would like you to think ahead and respond to the question: “What, in your opinion, is the single biggest and most important threat facing Pakistan?” THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
Our ATP Poll gives you eight major options to choose from. If you think there are others that are even bigger, do let us know. Also, please comment on which of these is the most important one for you, and why? If, by any chance, you have suggestions on what to do about these threats do please share your views. That, after all, is the most important question of them all. THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED.
Once bitten, twice shy. I believe that the biggest threat to Pakistan is the rift between its provinces. In a federation like Pakistan, justice must be done when it comes to provinces like Balochistan. I must tell you that we are underestimating the depth of alienation plaguing the Balochi speaking parts of Baluchistan. Just division of resources between the federal components based not only on population but also on the need for development will give rise to a strong Pakistan. No amount of defence spending can keep a country safe if the own people are not happy with their fortunes.
http://real-politique.blogspot.com
Adil Bhahi, you have asked the most sensitive question, In my view is the biggest THREAT to PAKISTAN is the Pakistani itself.
Every one knows that slow and steadily our conscience, inner soul, Khuddi, self respect, culture being given sleeping pills/destroying in many ways especially in the name of Entertainment Media believe it or not.
Look at the History whenever the Khuddi/inner soul was being let to sleep or kept aside, then the centuries of Ruling, while governing million of miles area, having mountains of Treasurers, with millions of population couldn’t stop the downfall of the Muslims.
So have to keep awakened and awake the KHUDDI of our Generation (for which Allama Iqbal has been trying and telling through out his life), otherwise many many obsitcles, problems and troubles are waiting in line (GOD forbid).
In the beginning the thirteen years of training (611-624) A.D, at Mecca made the Sahaba Karams that much perfect and obedient, when in next 10 years at Madina shareef almost all laws of Quraan, revealed by Hazrat Jibraeel, obeyed insistently at once.
So here we have to wake up the KHUDDI/self conscience/inner soul as soon as possible. Then you won’ be afraid of anyone, any culture, any army or from any ISM.
We have seen:-
The most Literate the Country is Sri Lanka=condition in front of you.
The most advance Country of Europe =Every fourth child does not know his father name.
(once only Electricity gone in New York, everyone knows what happened)
The most well mannered nation considered of U.K=and the Kashmir issue is product of it.
America advising and concerned about Atomic weapons=is the only country who Used atomic bombs.
In America they are spending 1000$ per month., on their dogs=and millions innocent killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan
All of the eight categories of threats listed are intertwined
I wanted to go for “USA and the ‘west’ “, because an overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence shows that they’ve been the central theme, involved in and causing many of the other problems we face that this poll highlights.
I’m talking about the US backing “military interference in politics”, fueling “corruption and bad-governance” by propping up “incompetent political leaders” which, in turn sell out “economic & resource” infrastructure assets like steel mills, PTCL, and Balochistan coal mining rights to western and west-approved/accepted corporations. Heck, even according to Iran’s Ayotalla, Pakistan’s not behind the “religious extremism & violence” that’s causing problems for Iran’s Balochistan border, it’s the US. And of course alot of people believe the US also propped up “India” against Pakistan, and they do have a history of using “ethnic & provincial faultlines” to their advantage, in many different places, to the detriment of millions.
So it’s difficult to decide what to poll for though, because all the options make sense to a degree, and the degree to which they make sense, is a personal and subjective thing. People who get their homes blown up by accidental army shelling or whatever, would think the army’s the biggest problem. People shot at by drones would think the US is really bad. It depends on how deep you look, and what you percieve to be the real cause behind other problems. Choosing to squarely blame the US would be a very disempowering belief, because they’re an external factor and not something we directly control. So I don’t know what the biggest threat is, or what the main problem is, or what causes such problems to persistently plague us for sixty years. Could be any of these factors, could be the lack of political, intelectual, spiritual, or moral awareness in our masses.
In the end, I spent about twenty minutes thinking about this, because this is an important question, but decided not to poll. I don’t have the requisite knowledge required to make an objective judgement. So I decided I’d jot down what I thought instead, in case it’d help someone else figure out an answer.
The list is missing a very important option, especially given the focus during the past three years: inaccessibility to justice. It sounds cliche, but accessibility to justice is usually the primary determinant of a society’s failure or success.