Well, here a reality check is necessary to wake up from our obsessive dreams, despite of having seen many ups and downs in the Pakistani history, we as a whole have been failed to achieve commendable progress and success in any sector or institution.

Just when life begins its journey towards stability, we are taken aback yet again with shock and horror. 2011 since its beginning’s been bringing horrifying happenings from around Pakistan. Tragic murder of Salman Taseer, worst sort of deep rooted religious bigotry, terror attacks almost every other day in North West Pakistan, US drone strikes, abduction and killing of God knows how many number of citizens and activists, then Raymond Davis saga and his flee of course! Energy crises, economic crises, education crises, and continuous downfall of country’s international image. Before we could even think to get out of the trauma, this US operation in Abbotabad, terror attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and the unforgettable terror attacks in PNS Mehran base happened. And today, this news of brutal murder of prominent Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad who attempted to expose alleged links between Al Qaeda and Pakistan’s armed forces. And God knows how many are yet to come!

What are our institutions doing? Media, Army, Agencies, Government, Judiciary? OK, let me break it down for you;

Media; Well, little sanity you can expect from majority of the Pakistani media and this ever growing difference between English and Urdu media is also worth mentioning.

Military; Well, I am not brave enough to articulate my opinion here. But I, being an ordinary Pakistani citizen, don’t feel safe here any more.

Government; Ah, again, our current “democratic” government makes me realize what BB meant when she said “Democracy is the Best Revenge!” I feel the nation is being revenged by the politicians and the conditions of our economy and of an ordinary Pakistani can very well articulate that.

Judiciary; the “free” judiciary isn’t really free. People often ask what did I get after campaigning and supporting Long March 2009 which resulted into the restoration of sacked Chief Justice of Pakistan. And I don’t have anything to say in response. Period!

I am really in a trauma at all this mess happening! And despite of having enriched with the blessing of huge natural resources, we are continuously failing. So if I, being a Pakistani, look at the speed of the progress of the world, I get curious how on earth we are going to achieve such a level? In fact what is going to be a starting point? Where and when are we going to start?

1. Judiciary and police reforms:
This can be broken down into the following:
a. Getting rid of all new judges appointed after Nov 3 and ensuring that new judges are appointed through a proper process which prevents any political party from inducting its own chamchas. This is a very crucial but yet unfinished part of the lawyers’ movement’s agenda.
b. Developing a proper method of accountability for the judges because the existing SJC structure is flawed.
c. Reforming the lower judiciary.
d. Police reforms

2. Devolution:
This is very important because devolution has the potential to open up opportunities for ordinary citizens to enter electoral politics. Union councils are small, and you can contest elections even if you are not filthy rich. Once you have been a union councilor, you can gradually go on to contest elections for bigger constituencies and move up in politics.
Things to do: convince the media to have more constructive discussions on devolution, and promote the idea to the people at large, so that it becomes increasingly difficult for any government to roll it back.

3. Intra-party democracy:
This requires engaging with the media and political party workers at the grass roots to highlight this issue.

4. Demanding live debates on local radio:
Due to the wider reach of radio, and considering the fact that TV channels can generally only talk about national issues, there is a real need for local city/district radio stations to come up and hold live debates on local issues. During elections, the election commission should even arrange for regular structured debates at the local level for all constituencies.
We need to highlight this issue and press the govt to remove unnecessary restrictions and give live debates proper air time on govt-owned local radio stations.

5. Corruption:
Highlighting the need for a constitutionally independent NAB, which can investigate and prosecute corruption cases against anyone including those in power without political interference.

6. Provincial autonomy:
A first step should be to make an attempt to understand what people outside Isb, Lhr and Khi think and want. Eventually, we also need to figure out whether we need more provinces (example: there is a demand for a separate province in Southern Punjab)

7. Constitution revue:
Understanding our constitution, and then determining whether it really serves our needs even if it’s restored to the original 1973 form. Then figuring out the kind of amendments that are needed for the genuine empowerment of the people. Some of the earlier points related to judiciary reforms, devolution, NAB and provincial autonomy would automatically be a part of such an effort, but here the goal would be to have a comprehensive review of the constitution rather than a single issue focus.

8. A political party Watchdog:
Looking at things like
a. The extent of intra-party democracy. This should include how party tickets are awarded.
b. Whether the parties have proper think-tanks for policy formulation.
c. Whether the parties have competent people and intra-party mechanisms for bringing such people forward.
d. whether there are any intra-party mechanisms for accountability, how many members of the parties have criminal or corruption cases etc.
e. How many of the MNAs and MPAs elected on party tickets are lotas with a history of switching loyalties.

9. Media watch:
This can include things like
a. keeping an eye on the political connections of newspaper and TV channel owners, and making knowledge of such connections well known to the public;
b. keeping track of whether journalists are consistent in applying the same principle. Example: if someone said that Iftikhar Ch should be restored when he was first removed by Musharraf, then did they continue to propagate the same position when the PPP came into power or did they suddenly do a ‘lota’ on this?

c. rating various talk-shows on the diversity of guests they invite, so that our national discourse does not remain monopolized by a very small group of people.

d. Pointing out instances of yellow journalism.

10. Other watchdogs:
Watchdogs on the judiciary, parliament, executive, police, NAB, or for that matter, any regulatory authority, like PEMRA or SECP.

However I believe that there are few certain things that should be on the priority, one of them is independent inquiry of Benazir Bhutto’s murder case, Those who ruined the future of our nation and dictators like Musharraf should be taken to the courts and be given the exemplary punishments so that no one in future even dares to follow their footsteps. 2nd thing I believe to be added in the list is to assure quality and affordable education to everyone. Another thing is to take steps to strenghten the most developing IT sector of Pakistan.

Now those so called Bhutto jiyalas should listen to their Shaheed Quaid Mohtarma and should stand up to participate in the Long March as Benazir herself vowed to participate in the Dharna(sit-in) as well.