Many a times, in a moment of sheer anger to a gross injustice, one hears someone uttering the sentence that Pakistan is a failed state.
And in response, one gets a reaction equal in emotion to it. The response to Pakistan is a failed state is always anger and allegations of treachery.
But at the risk of being labelled a traitor, let us dig into this assertion. When is a country a failed state? When there is no hope of protection from law enforcement authorities? When citizens take the law in their own hands? When citizens descend as a mob on someone and end that person’s life? When police stands by helplessly as they see the law being grossly violated. When citizens become the judge, jury and executioner? When politicians utter their usual comments of condolence and make promises of justice and then move on with their day? When violators of laws are released on bail? When such incidents keep on repeating like clockwork? When citizens become so desensitized that the attention they give to such incidents extends to a couple of days or at most a week?
If the answer to the above questions is mostly in the affirmative, then yes, the state in question is a failed state. Does this sound similar to a state that you are familiar with? If yes, then keep the answer to yourself, lest you be labelled a traitor.
Mustafa Ali | Lahore
