For 77 years, we have been ruling through people who have shown arrogance and not humility. Politicians, military, judiciary, or bureaucracy, have preferred the interests of Pakistan to Pakistan.
As a result of this unpredictable self -protection, there has been a systemic massacre, where institutions have been weakened, corruption has flourished, and people have been suffering. The reason we are in crisis today is because of this basic failure of leadership – not ready to admit that power is temporary, and that real greatness is in service rather than governance.
Throughout history, politicians have come to power on the promise of public service, just to strengthen themselves, and to manipulate institutions to maintain control. These individuals use power to prevent accountability, to collect wealth, promote Iqbal Puri and Crunism.
Nevertheless, when they lose office, they go to stay relevant – some seek refuge abroad, and try to gain power through backdoor issues with other establishments. Instead of building institutions, politicians have played politics as a game of survival, and have used the state as a personal development tool, dispute between dictatorship and hunting.
The establishment is no different. Often, foreign policy is accused of ordering, controlling the economy and silenced the disagreement, they think they are untouchables that are beyond the law. In the early 2000s, a leader determined every aspect of governance.
At its peak, it renewed the institutions and determined the destiny of political opponents. Yet when his time was over, he had to survive his last year in exile, away from the land he once controlled. Secondly, before and after, those who once showed a lot of power, often assuming that they are beyond accountability, they have to deal with irrelevant, ambiguous and merely to go to the foot notice.
The judiciary has also seen the Chief Judges who, while in office, formed the national dialogue with clear rules and political discipline – some of which worked at the height of their power, as king makers and formed a political scenario.
Nevertheless, the day they retired, their influence ended. A former chief justice who once considered himself a law, is now struggling for compatibility. Another, which was once considered the face of judicial activity, is now remembered for controversy than justice. Their inheritance is not reforms but the limit is exceeded, because the use of force was lacking humility.
In Pakistan, the power should come with accountability.
This problem is not limited to a higher level of government. Even from our bureaucracy to district commissioners to municipal officers, from the police chief to the station house officers, the power is considered as a source of personal gain – when they are lost by the elite, they work as kings in their time in their time. Each of them has participated in the fall of the nation.
On the contrary, the developed world follows a model where leadership is equivalent to responsibility, not entitled. Power comes with accountability, ensuring that no leader, judge, or officer is beyond testing. Highly respected politicians, judges, and government employees do not rule with arrogance. They guide them with humility. The culture of accountability ensures that it is accessible, foundation and aware that governance is a privilege, not a right.
This is exactly the opposite because humility in leadership is a fundamental principle in Islam, yet Pakistan – an Islamic Republic – has completely ignored this value. The Qur’an has warned against arrogance and reminds leaders that real power is in humility. Nevertheless, in Pakistan, the leaders have tried luxury rather than worry about the plight of a nation due to economic instability, corruption and wrongdoing.
Leadership without Pakistan’s economic struggle, institutional failures, and social injustice. A nation cannot develop when its rulers consider themselves the source of enrichment rather than the responsibility of the people.
With self -serving politics and power, hungry officials have left Pakistan on the verge of collapse. No country can survive when people with affairs are not disturbed by its destiny.
The path forward is clear. In Pakistan, power should come with accountability, with the idea of ​​service together, this is a lesson that embedded deeply in our beliefs and history.
If Pakistan is to be recovered, it will have to re -discover the lost qualities of humility in leadership. The choice is clear: Continue the path to destroy yourself, or embrace the principles of service, integrity and humility.
The future of Pakistan depends on whether those who live in power can eventually learn this lesson. The question is: Will they do?
The author is the Supreme Court lawyer.
Dawn, appeared on March 16, 2025
