THIS is with reference to the article ‘Shadow of authoritarianism’ (July 17), which, among other things, correctly pointed out the consequences of banning any political party. We seem to have learnt no lesson from our flawed past.

Memories are still fresh about how a number of popular political parties were banned as well as charged with even treason. Such actions cannot remove any party from the country’s political scene. The decision to ban politicians and political parties tends to strengthen them even more in the eyes of the public.

Undoubtedly, any avid observer of the nexus between the United States and Israel knows that there is an ugly game being played. It has already affected the Middle East. The US has kept Pakistan under turmoil as per a policy that has been discussed in part by Daniel Seth Markey in his book No Exit From Pakistan: America’s Tortured Relationship with Islamabad.

The US government believes that turmoil will weaken Pakistan to the point where it would cease to enjoy meaningful political sovereignty. Militancy as well as turmoil will make governance impossible.

Unfortunately, years and years of gross incompetence and corruption have led to conditions that may be easily exploited by one or the other of our enemies.

Abid Mahmud Ansar
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024