So what do we do? One brain, even with a lot of knowledge, experience and insight cannot suggest a comprehensive solution for all pervasive ills. A collective effort by sane political segments (plenty in each party), the higher judiciary, top bureaucrats, the armed forces’ leadership, lawyers, businessmen, religious scholars and agriculturists should join hands in a roundtable arrangement on a platform collectively agreed by all, preferably (being practical) under the guidance and guarantees of the higher judiciary and arranged by the armed forces.

A grand national dialogue is immediately required, which acknowledges the blind alley we have been pushed into due to faults and intransigence of all parties and institutions, and the need to immediately remedy the situation. They honestly draft the terms of reference and a timeframe for themselves to suggest major economic, political, judicial and institutional reforms (including the armed forces), and decide upon a mechanism to ensure that it becomes a part of the Constitution and law.

Who will take the initiative? A group of big personalities or institutions, who care about the future of their generations and this country. Some of the suggested directions of their deliberations that may be considered:

Stop finger pointing, as everyone is responsible for this cancerous malaise. Repent and move forward, doing away with all the bitterness, forgetting and forgiving all. Ensure that intransigent, incorrigible and confirmed black elements do not again become part of the national exercise, as before. Shun all well-known ills that have crept into our politics, and draft stringent laws to prevent the forming of dynasties, the employment of money, guns etc in politics. All erstwhile commissionaires be suggested to form provinces to enable good governance. Elections should be held from the bottom upwards: Local governments, provinces and then federal. Taxation reforms through automation, simplicity, reasonable and flat rates, no exemptions etc. Collection and distribution mainly from the bottom upwards. Suggesting the implementation of agreed upon Islamic injunctions, like the abolishment of usury, the distribution of inheritance etc. Unearth fake pirs/dargahs making tons of illicit money and suggest exemplary punishments. Suggest ways and means to bring black and grey money into national circulation. Imposing a temporary fiscal and monetary emergency by the reduction of pay and privileges of top officials and enforcing an upper ceiling in the packages of CEOs, bank presidents, lawyers and consultants etc would help. Judicial reforms should be brought in to create an honest, impartial and efficient cadre of respected judges. Other institutional (in police, bureaucracy, forest, agri-research etc), educational (with special emphasis on social behaviour and the real spirit of religions) and media reforms are also needed. Foreign policy debates on vital issues must also be carried out. Strict laws that ensure prompt and exemplary punishments for heinous crimes, constituting special or military courts to bring the situation under control must be brought in. These laws should be enacted and enforced to bring about a change in social behaviours that waste time and resources in an ugly show of power and money.

This author is not competent enough to suggest the details of reforms in each area due to limited knowledge and only specific background experience. However, we have enough experts of each discipline, and small sub-groups may be formed by the apex dialogue group, giving a maximum time of three to four months to these specialists to come out with cogent, practical and inexpensive reforms, that ensure the eradication of flaws as mentioned in the above paras. During this exercise, an interim set up (as per the existing constitution) should be mandated to hold elections under the new laws (presidential ordinance) and all suggested constitutional amendments should be placed before the new parliament for approval; and the country starts moving on new paths of development and internal cohesion.

If all the above efforts seem difficult and non-practical, and no one takes the initiative to correct things, then we may face a great political upheaval or civil strife, which may create further chaos and obliterate all social and governmental structures.

Alternatively, if Allah is kind, a new political group may emerge with a new manifesto and appeal to the populace to enable that group to bring in drastic changes. Will this only be another illusion for the poor and hapless masses?

The writer has held various commands during his military career. For his services he has been conferred the award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (M). He has also served as the Defence Secretary. He is currently an Advisor at the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR).

A grand national dialogue is immediately required.