Cry my Beloved Country

This country needs 25 years of a benovolent dictatarship which will root out corruption, curb illiteracy, stamp out deception, and increase industrial/economic growth. After 25 years of the dictatorship, democracy should be kicked in. Only way forward. There are no short-cuts.

These anglo-saxons, europeans and their cronies are on our necks all the time. They must be told that democracy can`t just come in this country over night. We need a proccess which will be effective.

The military has the power to teach the feudalists a lesson. The military needs reforms in it`s own ranks and corruption in the military must end. After that is done, a united military can root out the feudals once and for all. After that, a good deal of the we-are-superior attitude will be knocked out. Also, the corrupt politicians will be EFFECTIVELY marginalized which will pave the way for more open-minded, merit-based politicians.

We can not afford to run around in circles like monkeys and play musical chairs for the rest of our lives.

An excellent article on the state of affairs in Pakistan in relation to the needs of a democratic polity. However, scholars of Pakistani state and politics need to go beyond the level of experience and identify the structural causes of the following (other relevant) questions:

Why there is so much chaos in Pakistan? Why the economy of Pakistan is doing so poorly? Why do we rely so much on foreign-aid and debt-financing? Why the state institutions are so inefficient and unresponsive? Why do the rich, powerful, corrupt, and unresponsive politicians continue to control the electoral politics? Why do we have so many political parties? What overt or covert links do these parties develop with the ruling party in periods of both relative stability and crisis? Why do we lack visionary leaders in our country? Why can`t our existing leaders educate themselves over time? Why don`t the politicians chalk out their visions and share them with the people of Pakistan? Why do the people of Pakistan tolerate such politicians? Do the people really have confidence in them? Is the so-called defense establishment a part of Pakistan`s problems?

In response to Nissa (Reply #3).

Good observations! Well written statement. Nissa has said: ``People of Pakistan have to wake up!`` Any suggestions, how?

For my solution, please see my article on ``Citizenship Rights for a Better Future.``

Nissa, keep it up. You are on the right track.

when I read this article I felt as if you were giving a voice to my own feelings toward the situation in my country. Whilst I was in Pakistan I felt so helpless in changing the plight of others around me. It is hard to be an intellectual in Pakistan, for hypocrisy rules there. In my personal opinion it is because the masses are not educated and neither are most of the politicians, it is a case of the blind leading the blind. I do hope and pray that one day the people will rise and just say to the leaders ``we`ve had enough.`` I am waiting for the day when Pakistanis will stop seeing themselves as ethnic or religious factions and start seeing eachother as Pakistanis. How can we question the loyalty of the minorities, didn`t they also choose to stay as a part of Pakistan after partition? that in itself should be enough to prover their love for the country.

Politicians use our ethnic and religious beliefs to gain their means. they are more then happy to have us bikkering between each other because that gives them free reign to do as they please. Each that comes into power is more concerened with accumulating personal wealth and making sure that they are seen as the sole authority and not as elected individuals who are there to serve the ones who elected them. People in Pakistan have to wake up!

Pakistan was never ready for democracy, the answer to our problems can only be now answered in 2 ways:

1. Present Govt making a sincere effort

2. A technocrat Government

3. Revolution

I think if the first scenario doesnt happen soon we will find an upsurge amongst the exploited people of the country who will take matters into their own hands. This is of course a very dangerous scenario with serious implications for national security.

The only way Pakistan can wriggle out of its serious problems is by good governance, if the present government still wants to do its duty than nothing has been lost, some fast and radical steps

can take the country forward by leaps. I would like to list a few:

1. Collection of taxes from the rich

2. A total destruction of feudalism

3. A massive Literacy programme

4. Austerity at all levels

I dont know why but even in the midst of gloom Iam sure that our country will survive and attain geat heights of success and honor, lets do all we can for our country, our Pakitsan.

I am sorry but you have dissappointed me after your fabulous article ``Saving Pvt. Ryan``.

Go through your article putting yourself in a reader`s shoes and see if you are saying anything new here.

I expected the proposition of a solution around the lower middle to the end of the article. We all know what the problems are, I think it is time to think about solutions. Reiterating over and over that untill somebody in the govt. straightens his/her act Pakistan will not get anywhere, truly does not get us anywhere.

This is like gathering up on an occasion, shaking heads at whatever is going on and getting up and about the usual business. I am sorry but I expected morte than that from you.

Also the troika is formed by the very upper middle and upper-upper class in Pakistan. There is practically no MIDDLE class left in pakistan to speak of anymore.