WE frequently quote the sayings of the great Quaid-i-Azam. We make speeches in front of his portraits, listen to accounts of his life and repeat passages from his historic first address to the Constituent Assembly. Seminars, television programmes and newspaper columns regularly remind us of his vision. Yet we have failed to practise the values he represented. We discuss what kind of leader he was and what kind of governance he aspired to establish, but we have struggled to translate those principles into national conduct and public policy.

Our inability to govern with national spirit and patriotism has left Pakistan behind many regional countries. We may face external challenges, but one of our greatest problems has been our own failure to maintain discipline, work hard, build consensus and put national interests above personal and political considerations.

When I speak of the incompetence and misgovernance of political leadership, I refer not merely to individual governments but to a broader culture of extravagance, weak administration, poor management of bureaucracy and failure to perform the role of genuine representatives of the people. Civilian governments have made controversial and, at times, undemocratic constitutional changes. They have also frequently taken unpopular decisions without adequately addressing the needs of the provinces or creating harmony and unity among people from different regions.

The separation of East Pakistan remains our greatest national tragedy. Political alienation, mistrust and grievances in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should have taught us that national unity cannot be imposed; it must be built through justice, representation, dialogue and economic opportunity. Unfortunately, religious extremism was also allowed to grow by........

© Pakistan Observer