Political Instability in Pakistan
With the recent political instability in Pakistan, we are reminded how fragile our pursuit of world peace truly is. The Associated Press just reported that Sharif who had been previously exiled, was banned from political consideration when his nomination papers were rejected. Ever since President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule one month ago Pakistan has been in the news as he has tightened his rule over the country.
Pakistan, a low income country with a sizable population of approximately 132 million has struggled since its independence from Britain on August 14, 1947 to gain status as a moderate income country. Although it is the ninth largest country in terms of population it is thirty second in land size with its population being packed in to a relatively confined area. At present approximately 90% of its petroleum is imported leaving it even more vulnerable to changes in the world economy. This economic reality has left Pakistan’s government unstable and has resulted in the recent firing of Supreme Court judges, a crackdown on freedom of the press, and imprisonment of critics.
No, the sky is not falling nor is the world coming to an end. But we are constantly reminded of the need to plan. For whether we are making plans for our lives, our government, the military, or our business/family finances we constantly need to be building into them contingency scenarios for what might befall us. As life is what happens while we are making plans so it is as well with governments and our world alike. But unrest, although it also brings uncertainty, is an opportunity for us to learn anew from the lessons of the past resolving to work together to make our world a better place for us all.
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