Leadership merits responsible conduct

The PPP Senior leader Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood has reiterated the party’s long-standing stance on the importance of adherence to constitutional limits by all institutions of the country. He emphasized that such adherence was crucial for democracy, economy, federation, and overall stability of the country.

Starting with the first Military intervention imposed by former President Iskandar Mirza and then Army Chief General Ayub Khan in late 1958, the state of Pakistan ever witnessed highly unconstitutional and self-centered conduct of its leaders including Politicians, bureaucrats, and military Generals throughout the past. Similarly, these top government functionaries disputed and corrupted the institutions they governed leading to overall dysfunctionalities of the system which we see all around in almost every sector of our national life from politics to governance, finance to education and healthcare, internal security to foreign policy. Whereas, all governmental affairs, trade, and businesses are influenced by the individuals, cartels, or global market manipulators whom our leaders often term as friendly countries.

Historically, the constitution of the country has set clear jurisdictions for each government leader and institution that needs to understand and respect their political, legal, and operational boundaries that guarantee smooth governance and could prevent constitutional crises like those that occurred in October 1958, December 1971, July 1977, October 1999, and on May 9. There is a dire need for mutual respect among politicians, media, judiciary, and other institutions, instead of resolving personal animosities and ego clashes through public offices that could contribute to addressing the nation’s challenges.

The economy is on the brink, society is politically polarised, terrorism is on the upsurge, as inflation soars ever higher, masses are struggling hard to feed themselves and their families. As the country suffers, the politicians have been pulled into a power struggle over who should rule the country. The current situation merits responsible conduct from across-the-board stakeholders by acknowledging past mistakes and fostering consensus on important issues including the national economy, democracy, electoral reforms, governance, and political system in the country. This is the only way forward to building the nation and attaining due prestige in the comity of nations.