Indeed, you and
@Aspen are on to something. This is the crux of the whole problem.
When a system is dysfunctional, it is time to explore other options.
I would also recommend looking to our neighbors to the north and our tribals in regards to jirga system to resolve disputes. Throughout our history, the Qazi was one of the most important aspects of our Islamic culture.
Perhaps it is time that Pakistan lives up to its constitution and Islam takes center stage, not just as a state religion, but a political, economic, and social system.
I feel strongely that Imran Khan is the last chance for this system, if he failed, we have no choice but to accept military government to reform our society and hunt the snakes within.
If that fails, there is no choice except French revolution type of change.
I agree Majilis/Jirga and Qazi are something that is sorely lacking in today's Pakistan. Ironically, this is a common feature in authoritarian governments of the Persian Gulf.
One benefit of authoritarian governments is the fact that they can centralize power and silence any infighting to focus on a single objective. Democracies get so lost trying to fight other politicians that none of them can work together towards a single objective, let alone have a Jirga or Majilis type discussion where they can see others as human.
Frankly, Pakistan on its current path is doomed. There, I said it.
I like what Imran Khan is doing, but its not enough. It's seriously not enough. I feel like Pakistan is the Titanic and we're heading for an iceberg. Captain is trying to turn the ship but it's not working.
Imran Khan's reforms are nice but they're cosmetic. Pakistan has huge problems and he is not tackling these problems. Some judges in the judiciary are corrupt to the core and they need to be shot. Tax collection is a huge problem, gov't is still allowing people to get away with not paying tax. 90% of Pakistan's economic problems would be solved if they just fixed tax issue for God's sake. But Imran Khan surrounded by all his fools still can't realize this basic fact. It took a plane crash where almost 100 people died for gov't to wake up and realize that PIA needed reforms. Army is beyond incompetent with COAS Bajwa making calls to corrupt Shabbaz Sharif and Sheikh Rasheed instead of looking after front line in Kashmir. How the hell has Pakistan has not started using drones and cyber warfare against India?
There is extreme incompetence and jaw dropping mismanagement in the gov't, and if Imran Khan is the best we've got, Pakistan is in big trouble. Imran Khan is nice but he does not have what it takes to fix the desperate situation in this country. Look at the people IK has surrounded himself with. Pakistan cannot be fixed with these people.
Fixing Pakistan will require a leader who is not afraid to make enemies in the gov't and piss off powerful institutions like Army and Judiciary. There are a lot of people in judiciary and army who deserve jail time or death for how they have betrayed Pakistan so an example can be made to teach the rest of the country a lesson to wake up.
There are huge problems in Pakistan that cannot be fixed without a radical change in governance structure. Pakistan needs a leader who has unrestricted power to fix any aspect of the country because that is the only way to reform Pakistan in a timeframe that we will be alive to see the results.
Democracy is the ideal institution of choice for the elites and mafias of Pakistan. The corrupt class love democracy more than anything else because it is the easiest to exploit and raze the country to the ground. Democracy cannot enforce a thing, their laws are as weak as wet paper, the powerful can get away with anything, justice doesn't exist. An authoritarian state in Pakistan is needed so that people will fear and listen to the government or face consequences. Tax evasion needs a harsh punishment and corrupt judges should be shot on live TV to stamp this stupid mentality out of judiciary. If you do not enforce punishment, Pakistanis will never listen and exploit the weaknesses of democracy like they are doing today.
Power struggle in democracy distracts a single leader from carrying out reforms. You need a powerful leader in charge who makes decisions based on a view of the whole country. Pakistan needs somebody in control, in democracies, no one is in control since everyone is fighting each other. Having a strong and powerful leader is important, no country can succeed without it. If Pakistan wants to progress, we must accept this fact.
If you want to fix Pakistan, you can not fix it with democracy because there are too many enemies within Pakistan who want to hurt it, and democracy gives power to these enemies. An authoritarian Pakistan will not give any breathing space to internal enemies of Pakistan and has the ability to unilaterally fix these problems without resistance that a democracy does not have.
All the successful countries in the world developed to high level and then transitioned from authoritarian system to democracy when development was finished. Pakistan screwed up by doing democracy first and then trying to develop later. No country in the world can develop in less than 100 years with a democracy. Pakistan should’ve had authoritarian system since 1947, then when it is finished developing, then switch to democracy after 2047. Democracy slows everything down and does not allow any major reforms, real reforms to develop a country need very strong leadership and only an authoritarian system in the beginning of a country’s history can implement it in a feasible way. If you wait too long, it becomes very difficult, especially in a democracy where there is resistance to any kind of change. That is why all the successful countries in the world start with authoritarian system to rapidly develop the country in the beginning, then when development is finished, they switch to democracy when no more major reforms are needed. Pakistan has democracy first but not reforms, it is the worst situation to be in because you have not finished reforms and it is hard to start them in a democracy. Pakistan adopted democracy way too early before it was ready. Democracy assumes people can vote are educated, a lot of people in Pakistan are not educated and it results in people voting for things that are bad for the country. Pakistan should have followed the model of the rest of the world, finish major reforms under authoritarian system, when that is finished, transition to democracy when all the reforms are done.
I have no hope for the future of Pakistan as long as it is a weak democracy. Dark days are ahead. Pakistan needs a leader with self confidence who knows they can run the country to take control and do the job with an iron fist. There is no reason to wait for more failure and incompetence. Pakistan needs a strong and decisive leader to seize control by force and change the fortunes of this country for the better with real and decisive action in a completely new direction. Pakistan needs a new centralized power structure and biggest reforms since 1947 to fix the country and pick up where Jinnah left off after he died early. We need a visionary leader, I pray to Allah (SWT) that some future leader has the strength to eliminate the internal enemies of Pakistan and help lift this nation out of these dark and deeply troubling times.
