Pakistan has been facing many difficulties since its inception. These include political, democratic, economic and social predicaments. However, the country has suffered the most severe blows in almost every aspect in recent years. This multidimensional fiasco has led to the instability of society, thus infuriating people. A land with immeasurable natural resources, the fifth largest population in the world, valuable geographical features and much more to heighten its glory and grandeur couldn’t come out of foreign debts and loans.
Why, though? Why can’t democracy prevail? What has made almost every government surrender to the uncontrollable economy? Why has illiteracy surged to unprecedented numbers? Why are the ethnic peripheries frustrated? The answer to this is lawlessness. Inflation, corruption, joblessness, illiteracy, and many infinite problems exist, but a more profound and logical observation and study would conclude by blaming the country’s pathetic law and order conditions.
The political system in the country has seen significant upheavals in recent years. Politicians work to satiate their interests; for this, they deceive the voters with hollow promises and continue being deceived. The political leaders who are somehow seen as a ray of hope end up either being assassinated or exiled, even in jail. Politicians carry out their election campaigns, blaming others for deteriorating the country and not showing their progress. These problems have led to political instability in a country that needs a stable political system to start the ride of gain.
Democracy is nothing more than a daydream for the country. The democratic norms of free speech, elected representatives and public participation have ended, and the ones denying the new democratic norms end up in places unknown to ordinary men. This fear has made people even stay away from understanding political happenings, thus remaining unaware and being exploited. Moreover, Political offices remain concentrated in the hands of the elite, thereby negating the constitutional essence of free participation by ordinary people. Elections, as per the constitution, are to be held within 90 days of the interim government; in Pakistan, it took months even to get a date for the elections; their free and fair conduct is yet a question mark.
The economic conditions of the country remain one of the worst worldwide. Pakistan’s current account deficit is worsening day by day. Inflation has soared to record values, with November recording a 29.23 inflation rate and the World Bank warning that inflation could rise to 29.5 percent this fiscal year. Pakistan also remains under severe foreign debts, with interest rates rising exponentially. According to the World Bank, 128.1 billion dollars of external debt was recorded in September 2023.
The tax is unjustly taken out from small pockets, and the elites are not questioned for not paying taxes; if they are, the law remains only for the poor, and hence the big fish are freed quickly. And even the tax collected from ordinary people goes into pockets, where they are utilized for personal benefits, not the states. Corruption has eroded Pakistan’s economic opulence. Everyone is directly or indirectly corrupt, from the tiny scale to the largest. This has caused Pakistan’s plight in every aspect since money is an essential resource for many developmental projects, health, education, industries, agricultural activities and many uncountable advancements. No progress will be seen when there is no money for such initiatives. Corruption isn’t prevalent only in Pakistan. There are laws for those who engage in Corruption. But how many corrupt people have been convicted for their crimes, and when have they indeed been convicted? And if convicted, how many have seen the actual punishments? The answer to these questions justifies our condition today. If we carried out laws like China did in this regard, the country would be on a better pedestal today.
The social issues in Pakistan also rage as criminals, robbers, rapists, hoarders, smugglers, and many more involved in crimes know that they will never get the lawful punishment that the particular criminal should get. This gives them a free hand, and they continue to tyrannize society with their horrific acts.
The answer to all the above-presented dilemmas of the country exists in the superiority of law. Countries like China, the Scandinavian countries and many more in the West have ensured their progress by making everyone, richer or poorer, Political or non-political, government officials or private workers, and people from all walks of life answerable before the law. Hence, constitutional values and directions are given appreciable value and respect. If political actors owe their actions to the constitution in Pakistan, the country can see a mature political paradigm. If elections are done according to the body, democracy can be ensured. If corrupt people are dealt with lawfully, corruption can be eliminated to a good level. In a nutshell, a rational understanding of the country’s situation would unarguably demand the superiority of law, where everyone fears encountering the court no matter what sect they belong to, how much they earn or what political influence they hold.