It is not collapsing or failing but we are not a nation either.
Seventy years is a long time to find our moorings. But we are still not a nation. We dont have a national character. A national curriculum that produces Pakistanis who are proud of their heritage and know their history. We are a mob.
If we were a nation, looters and killers like Nawaz, Zardari and Alftaf would not have been our leaders. We are a mob thats why we support such people for our petty self interests, our parochial & ethnic biases.
We had ingredients of a nation when we gained independence. But as structures that build a nation were not erected and interest groups like military, landed aristocracy and politicians jostled for power grab, the nationhood floundered. Today, we are provinces, cities and ethnic units. We are not a nation.
Today after 70 years, we are still on IMF and World Bank crutches. We have known money launderers,bank robbers & tax evaders as our accepted and celebrated leaders. Chances are even in free and fair election, they will win majority.
Out literacy rate is among the worst in the world and all human indicators point to a very dismal state of affairs.
I m not a pessimistic. But for a nation like us, August 14 should not be a song and dance day. It should be a day of introspection. If we put structures of a nationhood today, it will take at least two decades to come to fruition. But are nation in a hurry. We want mega structures built and we call it 'development'.
Nations are built on rule of law, on justice and free education. Which leader, political or military, has tried to inculcate such values or systems in the country ?
If you havent, come see nations on display in the West. Their society cornerstone is justice and rule of law. This is why West is strong and countries like us feed off their crumbs.