Pakistan has just completed six decades of its existence despite political upheavals and crises of the sorts every now and then. With the blessings of Almighty Allah, it will remain on the world map and the national flag flying high and higher for centuries together, Insha Allah.
One of the factors responsible for ups and downs, derailment of democratic process and resultantly two steps forward four steps backward is lack of political leadership as such. There has been virtually mushroom growth of the political parties which are neither easy to be counted nor remembered except for those few represented in the Parliament. Lack of adequate political leadership can easily be blamed on the political parties which in most cases are personified and there is no growth of political leadership..
The need for growth of political leadership and induction of democratic process within the parties themselves has been quite rightly emphasised by President General Pervez Musharraf in his meeting with PPP (Sherpao Group) office-bearers.
According to the newspaper reports, General Pervez Musharraf urged all political parties to bring democracy within themselves for consolidation and strengthening of democracy as well as democratic institutions in the country.
General Pervez Musharraf, while pointing out the critical circumstances through which the country is passing, said the political stability is quite inevitable.
I would like to ask all political parties to seriously consider the question of inducting democratic process in their own ranks and file while clamouring all the time for restoration of democracy while a democratic set up is in place since the last general election.
Indeed, there is dire need for growth of political leadership from top to bottom for ensuring political stability. It is rather unfortunate that the political parties outnumber the political leaders most of whom exist only in the media and are not even represented in the National and provincial assemblies.
Media, both print and electronic, also has to play an important role in the growth of political leadership in the country for consolidation and strengthening of democratic institutions. There is no harm in heeding to some good advice irrespective from where it is coming, please.