A Critical Juncture in the History of Pakistan

At our March Event, Professor Samina Yasmeen (AM) talked about how Pakistan is passing through a critical juncture in its history as an independent state.

Since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan was removed by a coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in April 2022, the country has been sliding into a dysfunctional state. Economic decline with prospects of debt default, growing inequality, and the threat of renewed militancy, require serious thinking by Pakistan's political leaders. But politicians have engaged in a war of counter narratives to either regain or retain power.  And this takes place against the backdrop of the Pakistan military's ever-present role in politics.

The nature of these narratives suggests either an inability or unwillingness of Pakistan's leaders to focus on addressing the issues that could determine Pakistan's future. The presentation will look at these dimensions and explore what could be done to bring Pakistan back from the brink of self-induced implosion.