I have no doubt that our nation will emerge stronger from the events of the last two weeks. Everyone is bruised and hurt but eventually a balance will be achieved between institutions and state organs that will help them perform better. The need of the time is to wind up the crisis as quickly as possible so that economic, social and political life can come back to normal. For that:
- Military should make it clear that they are firmly standing behind the constitution and State. They do not favour any person or a party. Governments come and go but constitution and State are permanent.
- The five points of PTI will help the political institutions evolve. So a deal should be signed in which all opposition parties and judiciary should become the guarantor.
- Local government elections must be held as per the verdict of the Supreme Court. If these elections are held as per reformed system it will help test it.
- PTI MNAs should withdraw their resignations and serve as a creditable opposition.
- If judicial commission finds creditable evidence that there were gross irregularities in the general elections then new elections should be held.
- A parliamentary resolution should be passed defining red lines for parliamentarians and their rights of street protests. Rights of citizens to protest are different from rights of parliamentarians to protest. We must make this difference clear and binding on parliamentarians.
No one should take this situation as a loss of face by any one party. Everyone made gross errors that resulted in the current situation. The PML-N government was not interested in a political solution and delayed negotiations. They delayed filing of an FIR in Model Town incident. PTI changed its position from reforms to regime change. They should not have joined hands with PAT which came with an anarchic agenda. Military sent mixed signals about their policy to deal with the crisis. Media took sides and engaged in propaganda to support it. Protestors turned violent. Police was incapable and undisciplined to handle protestors. Everyone had their share of mistakes.
But I hope that a new dawn is emerging for Pakistan and the future of the nation is bright.
ABDUL QUAYYUM KHAN KUNDI
Islamabad
