Why is it so difficult to undo the legacy of dictators in Pakistan, even after clear mandates of people given through elections? Why every time in history, after getting rid of a military dictator, we continue to face a civilian authoritarian ruler, who behaves in the same disgusting manner, desiring “total” control over all institutions of the State. These questions need to be debated for finding appropriate answers—‘Political impasse: issues and solutions’, Business Recorder, March 3, 2009

In 1992, The Herald (Karachi), while interviewing the great intellectual, Edward W. Said, asked him: “Why we must continue to turn to the Zias of the world?” Professor Said candidly replied, “So long those rule us believe in might is right”. He said, “[This] phenomenon in the global politics is reflective of the desire of the imperialists that want perpetuation of their control through handpicked cronies and lackeys in different countries”.

In 2025, after 26 years of Musharraf’s coup and 48 years of Zia’s, we are still faced with the challenge of undoing their legacies. Many say that control in Pakistan has always been with the mighty men in khaki, and only the form has changed—it is now “tacit” rather than “explicit”. It is from hybrid to hybrid plus, and plus will keep on increasing numerically.

This explains why it is so difficult to undo the legacy of dictators in countries like Pakistan, even after the clear mandate of people, through elections, which were blatantly changed on the night of February 8, 2024. The legitimacy of elected (sic) governments in Pakistan no more stems from the will of majority of citizens using their power of vote! Resultantly, the nation, especially the youth, is disillusioned about its future!

In today’s Pakistan, those possessing power dispossess the masses of their participation in the governance and force them to yield before the powerful unrepresentative forces installed by them—ready to even mutilate the supreme law of the land for them. It happened twice since 2024 in the form of Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2024 and Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 2025.

The powerful in the Land of Pure want even........

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