Lahore (HRNW)- Former federal minister and former Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has said repeated tampering with the Constitution and the pursuit of power by the country’s elite have pushed Pakistan into a deep political, economic, and governance crisis.
In a statement titled “Awaaz-e-Daroon” (Voice from Within) posted on social media, Saad Rafique said Pakistan had become a “land of endless problems” because of repeated violations of the Constitution, laws, and judicial and political systems, which he said had contributed to a serious governance crisis.
He alleged that the desire among sections of the elite and establishment to concentrate power, along with nepotism, dishonesty, narcissism, ego, and delusions of grandeur, had contributed to economic decline, lawlessness, and extremism.
Saad Rafique held several segments of society responsible, including those with a “martial law mindset,” power-seeking politicians, a judiciary influenced by the “doctrine of necessity,” clerics promoting religious extremism, an authoritarian bureaucracy, and a media sector that he described as shifting according to circumstances.
He said political forces had repeatedly compromised their ideologies, democratic principles, and public commitments, resulting in a severe erosion of public trust. According to him, only their hardcore supporters and “cult followers” continue to place confidence in them.
Warning that the situation could potentially spiral beyond control, Saad Rafique called for self-accountability by state institutions and political forces. He urged the country to move beyond “pleasant fantasies” and confront the realities of terrorism, political disorder, economic hardship, and widespread injustice through adherence to the Constitution and rule of law.
He further emphasized the importance of listening to opposing viewpoints and engaging in open, reasoned dialogue to resolve national disputes. Saad Rafique said civil society now appears to have an important role and called on educated and enlightened citizens to rise above party and factional affiliations, establish forums for discussion and reform, and present their ideas to the public without fear or prejudice.
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