Their failure, despite the initial upwelling of popular support they could create, was because they were appealing to the baser side of the patriotic sentiment... enmity to India. It is like riding a tiger. Once you mount it there is little you can do to dismount. Unless the leader is farsighted enough to foresee a jump off point from where to take the country in the path of real development which really matters in sustaining popularity. Because there is only that far anybody can continue to ride the tiger without getting eaten. All of them, if one studies their tenures closely, systematically undermined the country's institutions accelerating the downward spiral.
There was always a case of limited elites trying to take the control of the country starting with the migrants from India with deep pockets, who largely formed the bureaucracy and the business community, if we dig this a little further, the 20 business families and their off-shoots who had a strangle hold over the economy, to later on the army elite, which when tasted power, wanted to be a part of it, to now a stage where they are pretty much the center of the power structure, and in the political domain, either
jagirdars not letting the leash go to a case of personality worship, which then became a cult figure for some and when this supposed cult figure failed them, then a hated figure by most as has happened with pretty much everyone who has governed this country in the last 40 odd years.
In this elitist power struggle, and the hollowness in the leadership, they never let the institutions take sahpe for that would have brought about accountability and objectivity and so the fake Persian identities had to be created, distorted history was to take precedence, Hindu bashing, to anti India rhetoric had to be pushed, the fairy tales of 1 Islamic warrior of the PA can take on 10 infidels of the IA, and more such narations so as to galvanize the mass support. All deviative tactics at play, and expected in a way, I think. When one does not have much to offer, beating about the bush seems the best policy, so the question of dismounting the tiger never rose.
Even if the case of IK gets taken, it does look more a case of fanfare turned to personality worship, he is who will rid them of all the ills, the miracle man.
Pakistan is yet to understand the true meaning of democracy per se, but Pakistanis do get considered as the most emotional people of the sub continent, so it should reflect in their judgement as well.
Yes Najam Sethi does speak his mind. Another Dawn columnist I like is Irfan Hussain. Also Cyril Almeida.
Yes, some very objective chaps these are, and good balanced views.
