Three questions to ask from every leader

(Umair Hashmi, Toronto, Canada)

I am following the latest episode in Pakistani Politics with great zeal. Initially, I thought the new wave of political activism may bring some good for the nation and in the long run people will see a better and prosperous Pakistan. I thought the emerging leadership will soon topple the monarchy of low wisdom and incompetent politicians but unfortunately it proved otherwise and we have seen ego vs. ego instead of good politics vs. bad politics. Given the numerous conspiracy theories its difficult to identify what the reason of sit-in was and what it has achieved, who was the script writer or if there was any(?) but as a matter of hindsight it is safe to say that the peek is over and whatever, that could have been achieved it hasn't been achieved.

For the last twenty years or so Pakistani society is experiencing a horrible downslide. It has become more materialistic than before. Education system, judicial system and even the literary sense of its people have seen the rock bottom. The reasons are quite obvious and the top most is the governance style. Even after about 70 years of independence and in the presence of a constitution we are still discussing a very basic thing... democracy or dictatorship? I would like to invite your attention and offer you to look around and decide what is best? There are many countries who still enjoy absolute Monarchy, those countries are progressing. There are quite many countries who have democracy and they are progressing too. Similarly there are countries who have democracy and some have dictatorship but they are in crises. Have we tried to determine the reason? The reason is simple its good governance vs. bad governance. Building a system takes time. Do your best to improve a system while living in that system. Every system comes with its pros and cons, however, the best strategy is to understand the pros and cons and apply the best of the capabilities to get the most.

If we want to save Pakistan and make it progressive, we need to stop worshipping our leaders blindly. We need to ask them three basic questions every time they try to sell an idea.
Question 1: Explain the idea?
Question 2: What is the plan?
Question 3: If the Plan A fails what is the plan B? in other words how we can control the damage?

Lets take an example: If the leader in his election campaign is saying that he will improve the education system. My Question #1 will be to explain what is your idea? He will explain that there will only be Government schools and every child either poor or rich, living in city or village will go to school. My next question will be what is the plan. He will give a detailed plan in writing to the nation that in first phase it will be in cities, in the next phase it will be in villages. The funds will come like this e.g. 10% of GDP over 20 years etc. At that point I will fire Question 3: What if this plan fails or you get just 10% of the G.D.P or the Wadera, Malik, Chawdheries and Khans didn't allow students to attend school? The leader has to explain his broad policy points at that time. Only then I will vote him if I buy his idea or at least find it sensible on the grounds of logic.

In a nutshell, if we started thinking practically and logically, our leaders will have no option except to speak rationally. This is how we will find the depth of their leadership and ability to rule.

Umair Hashmi
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