Tahir Maqsood Chheena
Pakistan’s democracy, already strained and fragile, appears to have come to a complete standstill. The warning signs have been there for years: a creeping political paralysis, escalating polarization, and an increasing reliance on non-elected power brokers. Today, what many feared has come to pass—Pakistan’s political machinery has ground to a halt, and its democratic promise hangs by a thread.
For quite some time, it was evident that unless someone among the warring political factions chose to de-escalate and pursue a path of compromise, the country would stumble into a state of dysfunction. Now, with no meaningful dialogue in sight and no desire for reconciliation among key players, Pakistan finds itself at a dangerous impasse.
The system isn’t just gridlocked—it’s exhausted. Powerholders seem either too entrenched or too afraid to face the public, while those in opposition have squandered their popular support, failing to convert public sentiment into effective political action. In this vacuum, the reins of state power have quietly slipped into the hands of unelected and unaccountable entities. With this shift, the three pillars of governance—the judiciary, executive, and legislature—have been weakened to the point of irrelevance.
Ordinary citizens are left out in the cold. They have no real recourse, no voice, and no one to represent their interests. Pakistan is effectively being run for a select few, by a select few—leaving the rest of the nation to fend for itself in a system that no longer resembles the democratic structure it once aspired to be.
The phrase “a government of the few, by the few, for the few” sums up the state of affairs all too accurately. What we are witnessing is not just a political failure, but a moral and institutional collapse. The country’s political elite, regardless of affiliation, have allowed democratic values to wither away. Even the most ardent believers in democracy have grown desensitized, as authoritarian tendencies become normalized in the national psyche.
At the heart of the crisis lies a dangerous refusal to engage in constructive political dialogue. Instead of resolving differences through negotiation, political parties have chosen confrontation and exclusion. This has paved the way for an informal power structure—one that thrives on instability and benefits from the chaos.
Despite recent statements like those from KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, claiming that Imran Khan is willing to negotiate “for the country’s sake,” such overtures ring hollow. The truth is, neither side seems genuinely interested in talks. Khan’s reluctance to engage with fellow politicians only deepens the impasse, while his rivals dig in their heels, determined to hold onto power through force rather than consensus.
It’s a bleak irony: Pakistan desperately needs democracy, yet its political class appears to want anything but.
The coalition government currently in power has taken an approach that many see as overtly Machiavellian. It has pushed boundaries that should never have been crossed—silencing dissent, manipulating legal processes, and prioritizing self-preservation over public welfare. The criticism that it exists solely to protect elite interests is not unfounded. The damage caused under its watch is profound, and one day it will have to answer for its role in undermining the democratic framework.
However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the leading opposition force, is far from blameless. The party has repeatedly demonstrated a troubling lack of responsibility. Instead of acting as a constructive opposition, it has fanned the flames of division and instability. Its rhetoric and actions have contributed significantly to the toxicity that now defines the political landscape. PTI’s relentless aggression has left little room for dialogue, fostering a political culture where compromise is seen as weakness and rivals are treated as enemies.
This zero-sum mentality has taken a heavy toll on the country. When every issue becomes a battleground and every disagreement an existential threat, governance becomes impossible. Institutions crumble, the public loses faith, and democratic norms are swept aside.
What Pakistan needs more than ever is a moment of collective reckoning. Both the ruling coalition and the opposition must acknowledge their failures. Each side bears responsibility for the mess the country is in, and both must commit to a path of political maturity, mutual respect, and national healing.
Pakistan has endured far too much suffering at the hands of its leaders’ short-sightedness. Economic instability, social unrest, and international isolation have all been exacerbated by this relentless internal conflict. The people of Pakistan deserve better. They deserve a government that listens, a judiciary that is independent, and a legislature that actually works for them.
This is not just about politics—it’s about the survival of democratic governance in a country that was built on the hope of self-rule and justice. If Pakistan’s leaders continue down this path of obstinacy and authoritarian drift, the consequences will be far-reaching and difficult to reverse.
The time to course-correct is now. It requires humility, foresight, and above all, a genuine commitment to the democratic ideals that once inspired the nation. Dialogue, not domination, must guide the way forward. Reforms, not repression, must shape the political agenda. And unity—not unchecked power—must become the shared goal.
Only then can Pakistan emerge from this dark chapter and move toward a future that is more inclusive, stable, and truly democratic.
