The Nation has Awoken

Introduction: A Question on Everyone’s Mind

Every Pakistani has asked or at least thought about this question: What is the future of Pakistan? What political system suits us best? Should we adopt full-fledged democracy, return to dictatorship, or continue with our peculiar hybrid setup?

Let me walk you through my perspective, based on ground realities, history, and a practical look at what Pakistan truly needs to move forward.

Option One: A United Democratic Front – A Beautiful Illusion

There’s this romantic idea often floated by our so-called champions of democracy — that all political parties should unite and push the establishment (read: military) out of politics. Just like the 2007 Charter of Democracy between Benazir and Nawaz.

But let’s be honest — this is a pipe dream. It’s never worked in the past. Political parties have always taken turns riding the establishment’s shoulders to topple each other. Remember Nawaz Sharif wearing a black coat to bring down Gilani? Or Maryam calling Zardari and Imran “brothers” in 2018?

Pakistan’s political elite is dominated by opportunists — feudal lords, pirs, and landlords who consolidate power in their local areas, suppress education, and dominate elections with the help of the establishment. Why would they ever choose principles over personal power?

Expecting them to unite against the very system that enables their dominance is naive at best, and delusional at worst.

Option Two: Pure Democracy — Ideal But Unfit for Our Geography

Hold elections, let the one who gets votes form the government. Right? This is how it works in the West. But Pakistan is not the West.

This region, where Pakistan is located, has very different realities. Firstly, the historical perspective is unique — this area has always been under threat and has functioned as a buffer zone to counter western invasions. The divided area we received after partition is narrow, with threats looming from both the east and west.

Being extremely difficult to defend, this region evolved into a security state. In such a state, national security concerns dominate all aspects of policy and governance. Military and defense are prioritized over societal needs, often leading to surveillance, repression, and concentration of power in security institutions — sometimes at the cost of civil liberties and democratic processes.

This is why the military’s role in Pakistan has become not just important, but unfortunately essential as seen by the mililtary. And this importance will not diminish unless the geopolitical conditions around us change. Until then, the military’s role will remain a harsh reality.

This situation is further consolidated by the Western imperialist system. Global powers often find it more convenient to deal with the military than elected politicians. For their strategic interests in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and the Arabian Sea — they prefer consistent military coordination, regardless of civilian leadership.

The army justifies its economic footprint by pointing to the budget gap. India has an $80 billion defense budget. Pakistan has only $10 billion. The western border is porous, plagued by smuggling, mafias, and external interests. The adage “absolute power corrupts absolutely” applies here too — the military, at times, turns a blind eye or even facilitates illegal networks for monetary or strategic gain, including corruption and money laundering.

To self-sustain, they justify business ventures, citing the constant risk from terrorism in the west and India’s massive military on the east. But when the military enters business, it enters the economy. And once in the economy, politics follows — because economy and politics are intertwined.

All of this loops back to the same tragic origin — our geography — and the tragic justification for Pakistan’s transformation into a security state.

My Solution: A Realistic Hybrid Framework with Mutual Respect

So what’s the way out? I propose a solution that recognizes Pakistan’s unique reality: a hybrid system where the army and an elected civilian government work in tandem.

My solution is not new — it has been proposed before. But here, I am putting it forward in my own words and nuances.

Here’s how:

1. Free and Fair Elections: Let elections be held without interference. Whoever wins — Nawaz, Imran, or anyone else — should get full control of governance. No manipulations, no midnight engineering.

2. Civilian Leadership with Popular Mandate: The elected leader must have people’s backing. Only then can tough decisions be made — on foreign policy, economy, and internal reforms. The leader must form a competent cabinet, including experts who collaborate with the military for national security matters.

3. Army’s Permanent Role in Security — Not Dominance in Politics: Yes, the army’s role in security should remain unchallenged. Given our geography, that’s non-negotiable. But their involvement in politics must remain limited, at an advisory level.

4. Economic Involvement as a Secondary Role: We can’t ignore reality — the army runs businesses, owns DHA housing, and contributes to the economy. That’s acceptable — even necessary — as long as it’s transparent and doesn’t clash with civilian policymaking. It helps generate their own revenue and justifies their budget requirements.

5. Joint Decision-Making on Security Matters: Security decisions must be made jointly — by the civilian government and the army. Neither should dominate. Think of it like the U.S. model, where the military advises but the final call rests with the elected leadership. That balance ensures coordination without control.

Conclusion: Nation Building Needs Partnership, Not Power Struggles

Pakistan has everything it needs to become a great nation — land, resources, human talent, nuclear deterrence, and strategic location. What holds us back is not capacity, but corruption, opportunism, and power struggles.

We need a system that acknowledges our military’s essential role without letting it overshadow democracy. We need leadership that rises from the people, not from manipulation. We need a unified vision for Pakistan — not just four provinces pulling in different directions.

It’s time to stop chasing impossible dreams and start building a workable reality.

The hybrid system — done right — could just be the answer we’ve been ignoring for too long.