THEO-DEMOCRACY: The debates related to democracy in Pakistan need to be seen in the right context. By passing the Objectives Resolution, the founders of Pakistan expressed their vision for the future of the country. That model is basically theo-democracy; not democracy. The Pakistani model takes the sovereignty of popular will out of the picture. People in Pakistan generally discuss the challenges facing the country and treat Pakistan as a democracy, without realising the difference between democracy and theo-democracy. Since the current political government is criticised as being ‘illegitimate’, the point the fellow countrymen often miss is that legitimacy comes from the state in the Pakistani model.
Malik Atif Mahmood Majoka
Melbourne, Australia
CHANGE FOR THE GOOD: This refers to the article ‘Winds of change to where?’ (Aug 19), which was averse to the idea of creating more provinces in the country. In particular, the article believed that division of Sindh may cause an ‘uprising’ in the province. However, it did not tell us who will lead the ‘revolt’ against the state and how. Poor governance, deterio-rating law and order situation, falling education standards and absence of development work have been the hallmark of governance in Sindh. If new provinces are formed, they will compete with each other with respect to better governance.
Shaista Anwar Kirmani
Karachi
THE BUGGY RIDE: The prime minister did the right thing recently by reprimanding the chief commissioner and inspector-general of Islamabad for coming in a horse-driven carriage to a function on the Independence Day. The excuse that they were only officiating for the chief guest, who could not come at the eleventh hour, does not hold water. The two officials could have substituted for the chief guest, but they should have come to the venue in a more modest manner. Politicians are generally perceived to be the most unscrupulous segment of our society, but they, unlike the bureaucrats, also happen to be the most accountable segment.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad
Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026
