THERE is too much acrimony, polarisation and rigidity in the public stance of all major political parties and other stakeholders in the country. They must all understand the significance of harmony and tolerance without which neither political stability nor economic self-sustenance can be achieved.

The tendency to involve foreign powers into our internal affairs has never served Pakistan, or, for that matter, any other country. They are wedded to their own strategic interests.

Pakistan has been suffering on this count since 1956, because of the vested interests within its ruling elite who hijacked Jinnah’s vision of a modern democratic welfare state, and reduced it to a transactional state, performing services for foreign powers.

Any political party that seeks to come into power, riding on the shoulders of the world’s sole super power, will never benefit this country. It is the declared objective of the Western countries and the powerful Zionist lobby which controls them, to neutralise Pakistan’s sole defence deterrence capability. Pakistan was actually forced to acquire this capability to counter India’s hegemonic designs in the region.

We must realise that it is time to review the dual nationality policy for those who have pledged an oath of allegiance to another country. India has done this, and so have Malaysia, Singapore and several other countries. There is every reason for us to follow such examples.

Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2025