Muhammad Asif
The recent increase in the privileges and protections granted to members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has once again exposed a reality of Pakistani politics that many people have sensed for years, though some were unwilling to acknowledge it. Time has stripped away every mask and laid the truth bare before the public. Those who once presented themselves as champions of change, accountability, simplicity, and public service have, upon entering the corridors of power, become part of the very political tradition they spent years criticizing. It appears that in this political arena, no one is truly different; once power is attained, principles, slogans, and promises are often replaced by privileges, authority, and personal interests.
Under the recently approved amendment to the KP Assembly Act, members of the assembly and their spouses have been granted lifetime blue passports, exemptions from toll taxes across the country, eight non-prohibited bore firearm licenses, special security arrangements, free accommodation in government rest houses, permission to display MPA plates on their private vehicles, and several other benefits. In addition, assembly members have been given the powers of a Justice of the Peace, while special penalties have been prescribed for certain offenses committed against them. Although these measures are presented as legal and administrative provisions, many citizens view them simply as another package of privileges for the ruling class.
The question is whether, at a time when ordinary Pakistanis are struggling to afford basic necessities, pay electricity bills, provide education for their children, and cover medical expenses, granting new privileges to public representatives should really be a priority. Is this the change that people were promised? Is this the “New Pakistan” in which rulers and citizens were expected to share the same hardships? The public is increasingly asking these questions, and this is one reason why confidence in political slogans continues to decline.
The reality is that Pakistan’s problem is not merely about individuals; it is about the system itself. This system is like a salt mine. Whoever enters a salt mine, no matter how clean their clothes may be, emerges carrying traces of salt. In the same way, Pakistan’s current political, electoral, and governance structure has evolved into a system that gradually absorbs everyone who becomes part of it. At first, politicians speak of change, revolution, accountability, and reform. Yet once they gain power, they often come to regard the same privileges, powers, and entitlements once the subject of their criticism as their rightful due.
Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has argued for years that the issue is not one party, one leader, or one government, but the entire system. His observation remains strikingly relevant today: “This system is such that even a diamond turns into coal.” When a system is built upon vested interests, privileges, and the concentration of power, even well-intentioned individuals can gradually become part of the same pattern. This is why every new political movement initially appears as a beacon of hope, only to be viewed a few years later as another component of the old political culture.
If some political supporters continue to defend every decision solely out of party loyalty or personal devotion rather than acknowledging facts, it raises serious questions about political awareness and judgment. In a democracy, supporting a party or leader does not mean treating every action as beyond criticism. The true democratic spirit lies in accountability, constructive criticism, and the pursuit of reform. Unfortunately, political affiliation in our society often transforms into blind devotion, causing facts and objective analysis to fade into the background.
For the past fifteen years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has largely remained under the rule of the same political party in various forms. This is a substantial period during which any government has ample opportunity to demonstrate its achievements. If truly revolutionary reforms had been implemented if governance, education, healthcare, employment, and justice had undergone remarkable transformation people might not question these new privileges so strongly. However, when fundamental problems remain unresolved and citizens do not experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives, announcements of additional benefits for politicians can seem like adding insult to injury.
Pakistan’s political history demonstrates that different eras have been marked by different slogans intended to inspire hope among the public. At one time, it was “Bread, Clothing, and Shelter.” At another, it was “Respect the Vote.” At other times, politics revolved around accountability or promises of change. Yet once in power, many parties followed the same path as their predecessors. This recurring pattern has contributed to growing public disappointment and diminishing faith in political rhetoric.
The fundamental question is: what is the solution? Will replacing one party with another solve these problems? The experience of the past seven decades suggests that simply changing faces does not bring meaningful transformation. If the system remains the same, the laws remain the same, accountability mechanisms remain ineffective, and politics continues to be viewed as a means of securing privileges rather than serving the public, then the outcomes are likely to remain unchanged. This is why systemic reform must become a national priority.
Real change will come only when public office is regarded as a responsibility rather than a source of privilege; when accountability is strong, impartial, and effective; when the law applies equally to everyone; when elections are based on competence and integrity rather than wealth and influence; and when the public interest takes precedence over the interests of the ruling elite. This is the transformation Pakistan truly needs, and it is the path that can lead the nation out of recurring political disillusionment and economic crises.
Today, the choice before the people is not merely between political parties but between competing visions of the system itself. If the nation continues to focus only on personalities and slogans while ignoring the deeper structural issues, the challenges facing the country may become even more severe. The need of the hour is to rise above personality cults and partisan loyalties and recognize that Pakistan’s crisis is fundamentally a crisis of the system, not merely of individuals.
Until this outdated system is reformed, one group will come forward in the name of “Respect the Vote,” another in the name of “Bread, Clothing, and Shelter,” and another in the name of “Change,” yet the public’s problems will largely remain the same. Genuine salvation will only become possible when the system is built upon public welfare, accountability, transparency, and justice. That, more than anything else, is Pakistan’s greatest national need today.
The writer is senior analyst and he cane be reached at [email protected]
