Pakistan is a country striving for democracy while declaring it self as an Islamic republic founded on the basis of a separate homeland

for the Muslims of the Indian Sub-Continent. From the very start ideology of Pakistan is flawed. I am not saying that Pakistan should not have come into existence, I am merely saying that either we should have opted (right from the beginning) for: a secular state that would provide a safe homeland for the oppressed minorities of the Indian Sub-Continent or we should have opted for a moderate Islamic state where religion would not interfere in the county's national affairs and all citizens would be treated equally or we should have opted for a pure Islamic state that would enforce Sharia law right from the beginning and only those people should have opted to join Pakistan who favored such a system and ideology. Rest of the people could have either stayed with India or demanded their own separate countries. Today Pakistan is a mix of many intolerant ethnic and religious groups and a rapidly shrinking moderate and tolerant group. Anybody who is afraid to speak against religious injustice is a minority no matter what his /her religion might be. You don't have to be a Christain, Hindu, Sikh or Zoroastrian to be declared a minority. Only few Muslims have dared to speak against Mumtaz Qadri killer of Salman Taseer Governor Punjab. This fear to speak against blatant injustice automatically makes us all an oppressed minority. Numbers don't matter anymore... hence the very foundation of a democratic system is violated here. The National and Provincial Governments have failed to gather courage to counter the menace of extremism while the judiciary has decided to completely ignore the heinous crimes being conducted against the weak by the militant religious extremist groups. This failure to enforce the law, carry out justice and eliminate the militants voids the claims of a Pakistan being a democratic state (although Pakistan is a Republic... an Islamic Republic) So where and how does democracy fit in in a country which is a religious republic. Pakistan is supposed to have a democratic government while its society is based on feudal and elitist culture. Pakistan is supposed to be a semi-secular state where religious intolerance is a norm and injustice against the minorities and the tolerant educated Muslims is on the rise. Democratic governments have failed to fulfill their promises, obligations and duties towards the country and the people and military dictators have always become more interested in staying in power at the

expense of destroying the national institutions and systems. Multiple political party system has resulted in the formation of weak political governments and political corruption. In short Pakistan is a failed democracy and a failed Islamic republic and a failed dictatorship... but it is not a failed country. It is a strong country with hard working intelligent people, a strong army capable of defending Pakistan against internal and external threats and wealth of natural resources. People of Pakistan will have to rise against foreign and local aggressors and demand a new system under a more capable and honest leadership. We have given the failed and flawed democratic system enough chances and we have allowed more than enough military dictators but neither system has worked. People of Pakistan must question why we need: a President and a Prime Minister? a Prime Minister and a Deputy Prime Minister? A Governor and a Chief Minister (For every province) 104 Senators? 342 MNAs? 728 MPAs? 79625 Union Council member?