The shock wave of the Tunisian revolution is sweeping the Arab world, particularly the countries suffering from despotic rules for decades. Egypt is the worst affected, as the agitation is mounting, shaking the government from its very roots. The hour of decision has come. The Americans are perturbed because their most trusted man, Hosni Mubarak, who maintained peace relations with Israel and helped project Americas power and influence in the region, has lost his hold on power. Fearing the takeover of Egypt by Ikhwan-e-Muslimeen, the Americans are trying to transfer power to people like Mohammed Mustafa ElBaradei or Chief of Army Staff General Pantawi, who is a known loyalist. In fact, the Americans are repeating the mistake of 1990, when they tried to prop up the Fidaeen-e-Khalq against Imam Khomeinis revolution and failed. The turmoil in the Arab world is likely to have its 'domino effect on Pakistan also, because of the chaotic conditions prevailing here however, very different from those in the Arab world. No doubt, we have an elected government and a functioning Parliament, but the self-inflicted wound has reached to a dangerous level and quite explosive too. The main reasons are: Defiance of the courts of justice. Weakening the process of accountability. Failing to correct the economic drift and the price of food. Nevertheless, these failings are all within the power and purview of the government to correct and control. In fact, the opportunities are ideal, and institutional support is so willingly available, as I have reminded from time to time: The present democratic system, however, is fortunate that those, who trampled democracy in the past, are now reconciled to taking a backseat. For instance, the US now is in no position to install a government of its choice, because the military leadership is not prepared to play their game. The opposition, which in the past always relished a change, is committed to the democratic order, under the Charter of Democracy. Our higher judiciary has attained its legitimate position, discarding the notion of Law of Necessity. Thus, never before, a government has had such a favourable opportunity to deliver clean governance based on justice. The responsibility for change, therefore, lies squarely with Mr Asif Ali Zardari, who is the head of state, the leader of the ruling party and ironically controls Parliament. He must 'seize the moment and make bold decisions to extract the country out of the morass. Indeed, this is his rendezvous with destiny, calling him to act with courage and correct the course with regard to the following: Facilitate the implementation of the apex court verdicts on the cases concerning his friends and his own person. Such an attitudinal change would raise the level of peoples respect for the President. Ensure fair and free accountability at all level. Appoint an impartial, honest and upright person as head of the National Accountability Bureau. Listen to the advice of the Governor of the State Bank, and take immediate measures to correct the failing economy and lay down policies for achieving short- and long-term economic goals, mainly focusing on micro-economic gains and ensuring effective control of the rising prices of food items that is getting out of reach of the common people, who hardly make a square meal a day. Surely, this is the most explosive factor to act as the 'spark for a revolution, knocking at our door. The government has to control and contain the prices of three items mainly: Roti, dal and sabzi to ensure two square meals a day for the poor and the hungry. Furthermore, the handling of Raymond Davis case under pressure would provide a rallying point for the masses against the government. He has committed two murders of innocent Pakistani civilians not in self-defence, but with the criminal pride of a CIA operative. The US national entered Pakistan with the courtesy of our Islamabad Office, and is the same person who was externed from Pakistan a few years back, because of his anti-state activities. Thus, he does not enjoy diplomatic immunity. He has to be punished, in the same manner as the American court prosecuted the Deputy Ambassador of Georgia in 1976, for accidentally killing an American. Revolution is a romantic word, but not many revolutions have been a success in recent times. The example of Czechoslovakia and Hungry are worth examining, as both drifted into chaos resulting into a break-up, because there was no political leadership to guide the movement of a people - not fully integrated as a nation. Same is the situation in Pakistan now. God forbid, if a revolutionary movement starts, the Pakistan military would be the only institution to pre-empt the drift and the downfall leading to yet another military rule. Is that the choice to be relished by the self-respecting people welcoming democracy as the best revenge? We are here for change, Mr Zardari told me, when I rang up to congratulate him on winning the 2008 elections. Change is inevitable now, and its harbinger is the President of Pakistan. Destiny beckons him to rise above the self and act to bring about the change he promised. Remember: The war against hunger is truly mankinds war of liberation. The writer is a former COAS, Pakistan. Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk