Pakistan is currently in a position that is best characterized as a house divided against itself. The country is in a state of disorder as the judges, the establishment, the politicians, the electorate, the media, and every sphere of society appear to be at odds with one another, each pursuing their own interests and agendas.
With inflation skyrocketing and the government scrambling to keep up, the economy is in a terrible position. Unfortunately, the current government is inefficient and the opposition too doesn't seem to have a clear plan for the economy, placing the nation in a condition of economic uncertainty. In the absence of a concrete plan or package to help Pakistan out of this situation, the IMF has been postponing an agreement, and friendly governments are reluctant to step in and offer assistance.
It's as if Pakistan is a sad play character, helpless in the face of an uncontrollable storm. We are to the gods as flies are to wanton boys; they kill us for their sport( amusement), as Shakespeare says in his famous play, King Lear. It appears as though some in positions of authority are tinkering with Pakistan's future for their own enjoyment.
The alleged fourth estate, the media, is equally fragmented, with each channel promoting its own viewpoint and objectives. That reminds me of Orwell's 1984, in which the government controls the media, and the truth is concealed or manipulated to serve the interests of the governing party. It appears that the truth is elusive, leaving the populace to make sense of contradictory information.
Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities" is a well-known literary work that depicts a similar dilemma of a divided community and the struggle to find a path ahead.
The novel, which is set during the French Revolution, shows the striking contrast between Paris and London at the time, with one city attempting to preserve its stability while the other is amid unrest. Two men, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, whose lives are entangled in the tumult of the revolution and who must find their way through the confusion to move on, are the subjects of the novel.
That was the best of times, it was the worst of times, the novel's famous opening lines, which also accurately describe the current state of Pakistan, reflect the dichotomy of the situation. Like the people of Pakistan, the protagonists in the book struggle to balance their needs for stability and independence, which leaves them feeling confused and hopeless.
Dickens demonstrates in "A Tale of Two Cities" that there is always hope, even in the most hopeless circumstances, and that nations can only advance by cooperation and solidarity. The book serves as a potent reminder that there is always hope for a better tomorrow, even in the midst of conflict and misery.
It is simple to give in to hopelessness in such circumstances, but we must keep in mind Dylan Thomas's words: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." We must maintain our optimism and carry on the struggle for a better future for our nation.
Read more: At a Crossroads: Pakistan's Uncertain Political Landscape
Read more: At a Crossroads: Pakistan's Uncertain Political Landscape
We must continue forward despite the length and danger of the journey, inspired by Kahlil Gibran's quote, "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." Pakistan has previously experienced difficult times, and each time it has come out stronger. Let's hope it will do so once again.
