Pakistani society has been regularly witnessing slogans of revolution from parties like PTI for long and most recently from Dr Tahirul Qadri. It has been a historical fact that whenever a nation is deprived of her basic rights and the system fails to meet the expectations of people, the call for revolution instils in. But it’s important to maintain the difference between revolution and reformation, so to ensure a clear vision.
Reformation is an evolutionary process. It accepts the structure of present system and calls for legislative changes with the yardstick of existent system.
Revolution is the process of political birth and a hardline change but reformation is subordinated to established institutions. Political reform within the premises of state architecture never brings about the change in political principles but adhere to them.
If someone calls for changes in constitution, then he must know that it’s not the call for revolution because constitution is legislative expression of the existent state and idea, whereas revolution is overthrowing it with installation of alternate state and idea.
Working under the umbrella of constitution but rejecting the system means cutting the trunk of the same tree which you have climbed and is insane.
On the other hand, time has witnessed the French Revolution, the Communist Revolution and the Islamic Revolution in Madina. These insurrections didn’t go for gradual changes within the pre-existing system rather moved to collapse of regimes and installation of totally different model of governance in place.
In simple words, with partial legislative changes capitalist society can neither be transformed in to Communist nor Islamist society and vice versa.
Though there are differences between dictatorship and democracy but for 65 years both processes have implemented capitalism. If Pakistan continues to revolve or evolves within the same system, then the word “revolution” must not be politically exploited.
Second choice is a different ideological model of governance; the two most likely options are Socialism and Caliphate. Later fits the fabric of Pakistani society. Peaceful transitions are impossible if people in power refrain from standing with the people.
