Pakistan has failed to eradicate terrorism

With reference to the Pakistani prime minister chairing a meeting to review anti-terror plans recently, I believe the whole situation is an utter failure because of political parties in Pakistan. These parties are the reason for Pakistan being considered ‘unsafe and isolated’. Our political parties have failed us as they have not been able to build strong institutions. Similarly, the courts are equally responsible for this great mess.

Although years have passed, yet the decision-making process in relation to terrorism remains slow. India and other countries have strong institutions and their courts have supported all the moves of the government within the parameters of the constitution. However, in Pakistan, political parties lack democratic values, even within their own party system.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has rightly said: “Special courts are not the desire of the army but the need of extraordinary times”. Now the question is — who has created these extraordinary times? In my opinion, it is the political parties who have failed us and created these extraordinary times. For the past eight years, Pakistan has not had any local government system and the political parties have done nothing for the restoration and/or election of any local government. With a proper local government system, we may able to face the root causes of terrorism and in turn, fight it.

Children are now asking — are we safe in our schools? We are already facing illiteracy and now, with the closure of schools and an unsafe environment, it will further add to the misery. It is time that we rethink and rewrite our core values for the future as the country’s constitution of 1973 is almost in a coma.

- The reader is a Pakistani development consultant based in Karachi, Pakistan