In a bustling Lahore chai khana, the air hums with whispers. “Asli taqat kiske haath mein hai?” a shopkeeper mutters, his radio buzzing with news of another policy U-turn—this time, a scrapped trade deal with India, reversed days after the PML-N’s nod. Pakistan’s governance feels like a cricket match with an unseen third umpire, and the Shehbaz Sharif-led government struggles to shake the shadow of military influence. The PML-N, long adept at navigating this dance, faces a restless awam questioning who calls the shots. When trust wanes, democracy wobbles—Pakistan needs civilian helm, not peeche se ishara, to sail steady.
The tension isn’t new but it’s raw. Public perception, fueled by history, sees the military as a silent partner in politics. The 2024 elections, marred by alleged rigging, deepened suspicions—PTI’s 93 seats dwarfed PML-N’s 75, yet the latter formed the government with a coalition stitched fast, raising eyebrows. Policy pivots add fuel: a 2024 ban on PTI rallies, lifted then reimposed, felt like orders from above, not parliament. Judicial delays—NAB reforms stalled since 2023—hint at unseen hands. The military’s role in security, vital with 1,500 terror deaths last year per South Asia Terrorism Portal, often spills into governance, from CPEC talks to media curbs. The awam, taxed and tense, wonder if their vote matters when sainik taqat looms large.
This isn’t about vilifying the armed forces—Pakistan’s shield against chaos—but about balance. Civilian supremacy, the Constitution’s cornerstone, falters when whispers of interference drown out elected voices. The PML-N’s coalition, juggling PPP and smaller allies, leans on backroom deals to survive, not shine. Economic plans—like IMF’s $7 billion loan—move slow, as if awaiting a nod beyond cabinet. Foreign policy, from Afghan talks to Saudi trade, shifts abruptly, undermining trust. When a Karachi clerk or Quetta teacher feels their leaders answer to GHQ, not them, democracy’s pitch gets sticky—voters lose faith, governance lags, and PTI’s protests swell.
The PML-N’s claim—“we’re in charge”—feels like a shaky cover drive. Shehbaz, a veteran of military parleys, knows the game, but competence, not compromise, builds authority. In 2024, circular debt hit Rs2.6 trillion, yet energy reforms crawl; inflation, at 12%, per State Bank, bites the awam, but tax relief stalls. Governance gaps invite meddling—when civilians fumble, others fill the void. The military, with 600,000 troops and a Rs2 trillion budget, holds sway not by force but by default, stepping in where policy fails. This isn’t conspiracy—it’s consequence, and it’s costing Pakistan’s democratic soul.
This imbalance isn’t just political—it’s a moral failing. The awam—drivers, weavers, nurses—vote for leaders, not proxies. It’s unjust when their mandate, hard-won in queues under Punjab’s sun, feels sidelined by peeche ka khel. Transparency is no luxury; it’s a debt to 240 million souls craving clarity. The PML-N, shaped by Nawaz’s defiance of 1999’s coup, should champion openness, not opacity. When a Peshawar vendor or Sialkot tailor suspects deals struck in shadows, trust frays—courts clog, streets simmer, and democracy shrinks to a slogan. Governance must shine, not shroud, to prove the people steer.
Here’s a question to spark X (share it!): “Why guess who runs Pakistan when votes should decide?” The path forward demands resolve, not rumors. First, strengthen civilian supremacy—it’s Pakistan’s shield. Pass laws mandating parliamentary oversight of security budgets—Rs2 trillion in 2024—via a public committee with PTI, PPP, and PML-N MPs, as South Africa does. Fast-track judicial reforms—appoint 50 judges by 2025—to clear 1,200 NAB cases, proving courts, not corridors, settle scores. A strong Assembly and bench, not whispers, set the crease for democracy.
Second, build trust with the military through results, not rasta bandi. Deliver policy wins—cut power tariffs 10% by 2026, add 1 million jobs via CPEC’s phase two. Competence shrinks gaps for interference. Form a civilian-led “Growth Council”—10 MPs, 5 economists—publishing quarterly plans: tax cuts, trade deals, terror checks. Meet the military halfway—joint briefings on TTP, not secret pacts—showing unity, not rivalry. When a Multan farmer sees his subsidy land or a Gwadar youth gets a port job, faith in civilians spikes, sidelining safarish ka tamasha.
Third, embrace transparent governance—it’s a moral must. Launch a “GovOpen” portal—budgets, tenders, outcomes—in Urdu and English, like India’s e-Gov. Stream cabinet meets live, cap them at 25 members to save Rs1 billion yearly, per PILDAT. Detail Rs600 billion in 2024 CPEC funds—rails built, jobs made. When a Hyderabad clerk tracks her taxes or a Quetta girl sees school funds spent, doubts of koi aur running things fade. Clarity isn’t risk—it’s power, proving the awam’s voice, not an echo, drives Pakistan.
This isn’t a jab—it’s a plea, born of Pakistan’s fire. We’ve defied 1971’s split, Musharraf’s grip, and terror’s bite—democracy can endure too. Picture a nation where parliaments hum, policies deliver, and chai khana talks praise leaders, not probe them. The PML-N can forge this, but only if they bat for civilians, not shadows. Legislate boldly, deliver cleanly, open widely. The awam don’t want riddles—they want reins.
Pakistan’s at a fork—people’s rule or puppetry? The government must pick: governance that stands tall or games that stumble. That’s what The News’s readers—vendors, coders, mothers, porters—demand to know. Not in murmurs, but in moves they can trust.
