Rigours of democracy

Several years ago, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said Pakistan was not an easy country to govern. Well, under the fourth PPP government, we are all discovering the truth of that statement as they stumble from one crisis to another. A melting economy, run away inflation, internal security issues and a deteriorating law and order situation is demoralising the citizen who has lost all buoyancy he felt after the elections last winter.

On top of everything else, US soldiers entered Waziristan on September 3 and killed 20 civilians. Since then, in spite of protestations from Pakistan, US predators have been firing missiles and killing people, the last attack being in South Waziristan today (Wednesday) as the US chief of joint staff is in the middle of a visit to this country. Let us hope that the government transcends wishy-washy comments and forges a determined reaction to this new development that is based on the feelings of the people. The government wishes us to believe that all these issues are beyond their control.

But who stops them from investigating Ms Benazir's murder, which is completely in their control, remains a mystery. The PPP government in power, less than a year down the road seems to have forgotten her, Ms Benazir's death nowhere in their thoughts as they go about dishing out positions, perks and privileges. All they have done is send the case to the UN for investigation.