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Crossing the Rubicon

The imposition of an unelected ‘National Government of Technocrats’ is likely to do more harm than good.

By Justice (R) M. Shaiq Usmani | January 2024


Never before in the history of Pakistan, not even after the unfortunate assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, has there been such uncertainty on the political landscape even though the General Election date is February 08, 2024, is now fixed and as per the declaration of the Supreme Court is etched in stone. There are many reasons for this uncertainty, but the main reason is the emergence of unprecedented uncanny acrimony amongst the political parties during the last two years. Today, with the exception of Jamaat-e-Islami, each political party is either dynastic in nature or nationalistic in thinking and committed to advancing the interests of a particular ethnic unit.

There is also a recent development of a new phenomenon of cult of personality hitherto unheard of in Pakistan. Even Jinnah never espoused it, but Imran Khan of PTI seems to wallop in it through the dexterous use of social media by his followers. The cult following claimed by Imran Khan of PTI is a recent evolution, which, though not as gruesome as dynastic, is just as dangerous because of the harm that it can do due to its beneficiary beginning to harbour a false sense of self-importance, thereby leading to ego-centricism in the person concerned which can have disastrous consequences.

Coupled with the acrimony amongst political parties, the country is also faced with an acute economic problem resulting in runaway inflation. If Stand by Arrangement made by the IMF is not reviewed in March/April this year, Pakistan will be faced with a grievous default situation and may end up as a failed state. This is so particularly because none of the political parties have any concrete plans, nor do their leaders have the ability to set the economy right.

Meanwhile, because of the economic meltdown, the masses are facing prospects of abject poverty where a common man finds it difficult to feed his family three times a day, let alone look after the other needs of the family, such as paying bills for electricity and the education of his children. It would seem that the state has totally abandoned its people. The average income of people has fallen, and education and health facilities are at abysmally low levels. The civil services have become ineffective because of a lack of merit and corruption. In so far as the elite class is concerned, they have lost interest in the country. Practically everyone belonging to this group have their children being educated abroad and, after that, settling down abroad, helped in no small measure by the system of dual nationality, which our neighbouring country India, to its credit, does not permit.

The economy of our country has primarily suffered because of the state controlling all major and basic industries, which in time have collapsed because of bureaucratic red-tapism, inefficiency, overstaffing, nepotism, and corruption, and any attempt by any government to privatize these are resisted by the politicians because it leads to laying off their supporters, who are employed there purely for political reasons.

As regards the standing of Pakistan in the world, it is presently at the lowest level because of the aggressive fundamentalist posture that we have cultivated, as well as our overreaction to perceived incidents of blasphemy. Besides Pakistan’s usual supporter, the USA, for many decades, has lost interest in the country after they decided to abandon Afghanistan. Investment in our country by foreigners, even from Muslim countries, is now at the lowest ebb because if anyone wants to do business in the sub-continent, one would rather do it in India than Pakistan because of the liberal attitudes that prevail there and the better security situation that they have.

But by far, our greatest drawback is our hostility towards India and refusal to trade with them. Antagonist postures can be maintained in the field of diplomacy, but trade between antagonistic countries can still be continued to the mutual advantage of both countries. Continuing trade between India and China in spite of three wars that they have fought is an example. Similarly, there is no logic in curbing tourism between India and Pakistan when there is great cultural similarity between the people of the two countries. Need it be said, this on its own could have brought great dividends economically.


The state machinery is no longer effective. Complete lawlessness prevails in every sphere of activity. The police are thoroughly corrupt, and there is a general sense of insecurity amongst the people. The judicial system is moribund and more involved in sorting out problems of politicians arising from their turf war than giving Justice to people and deciding commercial disputes quickly. As a result, foreign investors are hesitant to do business in Pakistan. As a result, our state, despite its great human and natural resources, is slowly suffocating.

Finally, the breed of politicians who have hitherto governed us, barring a few, have nothing to their credit. On the other hand, those who are waiting in the wings to govern us have a murky past where they have misused government resources to their benefit, are laden with ill-gotten wealth, and have distributed jobs and services to their friends and relatives. Besides the rag-tag, political parties continue to remain tight family concerns. None of them are conscious of the challenges that are faced by the country, and their aim to get into power is purely with a view to perpetuating their dynasties. Those who do not have a dynasty to perpetuate, driven by a false sense of self-importance, use social media to develop their cult of personality to boost their already inflated egos.

Given this scenario, the General Election on 8th February, if these do take place, will be a suspect, and all parties, due to their hubris against other parties, will cry foul. This will only lead to more uncertainties and turf wars amongst the politicians and the rise of parochialism in the provinces. In any case, no party is likely to gain an absolute majority, resulting in a coalition government coming into office consisting of disparate groups with their selfish agendas, which will result in more chaos, to the detriment of any major reforms in the economic and social sector, which are absolutely essential at the present juncture.

There is no doubt that earlier in our history, we have been faced with similar situations, though perhaps not as grievous. However, we always had the powers that be waiting in the wings to march in to stabilize the situation and give some respite. However, due to the sudden increase in terrorism and the global ascendency of India and its acceptance by the world, the Establishment’s clout has considerably dissipated to the extent that one cannot now expect a forceful intervention by it in the political sphere. In any case, even if the Establishment does intervene, such an act will be criticized by the world at large. It will have an adverse impact on the already struggling economy, which is almost entirely dependent on foreign loans.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that we have no option but to hold elections as scheduled, giving all parties, including the PTI, the opportunity to contest the polls. Consequently, if there is any political engineering being contemplated by the powers that be to curtail discord amongst the coalition partners, which is bound to result in a digression from the path of concrete and effective reforms, it should be resorted to only after elections and not before and that too somewhat differently. This can be done by cajoling or coercing and even intimidating the members of the new Parliament to declare a moratorium and work to gather and evolve a political National Government consisting of elected members of the Parliament as democracies all over the world do in times of crisis as British did at the start of Second World War by selecting Winston Churchill to lead Britain through the War successfully.

The imposition of an unelected National Government of Technocrats forcibly, as is often suggested, is likely to do more harm than good because then the unscrupulous politicians would continue to indulge in intrigues behind the scenes to ensure the failure of such a government. If a National Government of the kind suggested is put together with the induction of Advisors, consisting of experts in their respective fields and someone who commands authority and has the support of the Establishment, perhaps a capable retired General or a Retired member of superior judiciary, after making him a Member of Senate, is found to lead such a government. It governs for at least two years. Perhaps we may cross the Rubicon without any harm coming to the country, or else there will be a deluge.

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