patā ab tak nahīñ badlā hamārā
vahī ghar hai vahī qissa hamārā
Unchanged remains our location
Same dwelling and also our same saga

vahī TuuTī huī kashtī hai apnī
vahī Thahrā huā dariyā hamārā
We still own the same broken boat
Amid the same static waters of our river

ye maqtal bhī hai aur kunj-e-amāñ bhī
ye dil ye be-nishāñ kamra hamārā
’Tis both a slaughterhouse and a soothing refuge
This heart, this worthless void of ours

kisī jānib nahīñ khulte darīche
kahīñ jaatā nahīñ rasta hamārā
The doors don’t open in any direction
Nor does our path lead anywhere

ham apnī dhuup meñ baiThe haiñ 'mushtāq'
hamāre saath hai saayā hamārā
We sit under the cover of our own light, Mushtaq
With our own shadow as our sole companion

Why is it so difficult to undo the legacy of dictators in Pakistan, even after clear mandates of the people given through elections? Why, every time in history, after getting rid of a military dictator, do 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, 3 March 2009.

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

NCA At 150: Colonial Legacies, Artistic Identity, And The Future Of Art Education

In 2025, 26 years after Musharraf’s coup and 48 years after 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 the 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 the people through elections, which was blatantly changed on the night of 8 February 2024. The legitimacy of elected (sic) governments in Pakistan no longer stems from the........

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