At long last, the government has initiated a dialogue after a prolonged stalemate, thanks to the wise intervention of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. History will always judge him as a prudent statesman who helped steer the country out of a deepening crisis.
This development couldn’t have come at a better time, given the alarming uptick in violence against security forces and growing anti-army sentiments, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—a region that had overwhelmingly supported PTI in the last elections.
One hopes that wisdom prevails on all sides. As a starting point, releasing political prisoners, including Imran Khan, would be a smart and strategic move, provided that the National Assembly Speaker guarantees PTI will refrain from further anti – army rhetorics that does not speak well for the solidarity of the country under the given circumstances . Though the government continues to cling to its tenure by any means necessary, but it is advisable that they no more compromise the neutrality of Army as an institution – enough is enough because so far the unfolding political events had only the PML N as beneficiary at the cost of damaging image of the armed forces.
However, no matter the outcome of this dialogue, the army must draw a firm line, when it comes to political involvement. The institution’s credibility, built over decades, has suffered enough blows, and continuing to meddle in civilian affairs would be nothing short of quicksand—impossible to escape unscathed. In the wisdom of a Pushto proverb, “It is the duty of family and friends to bury the dead, but the forgiveness of sins rests solely with the Creator.” Similarly, the army has carried the burden of blame for long enough; it is neither its role nor its responsibility to make a failed political government survive through coercion and brute force aimed at silencing political dissent . It is high high time the army bury the politically dead politicians without carrying their corpses on its back anymore, that earned the institution bad name in the bargain.
In a functioning democracy, it is the opposition—not the military—that serves as the government’s check. The true strength of a democratic system lies in fair and free elections, where the people’s mandate determines who governs, not clandestine deals or external pressures. It is time for all stakeholders—government, opposition, judiciary, and yes, even the military—to work strictly within the constitutional parameters that define their roles.
This renewed dialogue is indeed a good omen, but it will only bear fruit if it leads to a collective understanding that Pakistan’s progress lies in strengthening institutions, respecting mandates, and giving the country and nation preference over petty personal or party interests. For once, let wisdom guide our steps to stability as Pakistan no more deserves self- inflicted wounds which is leaving behind ugly economic scars that will now takes decades to heal . Long Live Pakistan 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰
