Pakistan must plan for a bright future

Pakistan, a nation with great potential, celebrated its 62nd independence day yesterday with the usual fanfare and amid a bit of uncertainty. As the people were celebrating the occasion, major political forces in the country were tightening their grip on power against embattled President Pervez Musharraf who is facing impeachment. Although Pakistan's eventful history is dominated by its powerful military, it appears the civilian forces are gaining the upper hand in the current showdown in which its armed forces appeared to have taken a back seat.

It is, however, unclear if the country's political leaders have learnt from their past mistakes. The slain leader Benazir Bhutto and her former arch rival, Nawaz Sharif, switched their positions four times as prime minister and the leader of the opposition between 1988 and 1999. Corruption is taking a toll on the people and depriving them of growth.

While one would hope for a speedy settlement of the current situation regarding Musharraf's impeachment, it might not solve the country's problems. The future of this nation remains full of challenges. It is high time the government looked beyond petty partisan politics and announced a clear target and vision for the benefit of the nation and its people.