DAWN Editorials - 2nd May 2025

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Defiant unity

THERE are times when one is struck by the remarkable resilience of our people and their ability to rally together despite the country’s many internal contradictions and divisions. The developments over the past days and Pakistan’s measured responses to them have served up one such reminder.

Accosted with irrational belligerence by an unusually ornery neighbour, Pakistanis have not lost their calm. Instead, they have set aside their many differences and put up a united front. Hardened by years of overcoming setbacks and seemingly insurmountable challenges, they have learned to keep their head while others are losing theirs. Even with the threat of war looming over their heads, ordinary Pakistanis have gone about life as usual, confident that they will see this crisis through, like they have so many others. This attitude, perhaps, is what continues to give the nation the strength to face every adversity head-on, sometimes while mocking it to its face.

But it should not be taken for granted. This is a time for both political and institutional leaders to reflect deeply on why this country’s people continue to offer their unquestioning support in times of crisis, and whether it is appropriate to continue to paint opposition, dissent and dissatisfaction with certain perspectives as ‘disloyalty’ to the nation. It is normal for people to disagree with each other, and sometimes to disagree strongly. It is merely a symptom of a healthy and passionate sense of national identity. Differences in worldviews should never be taken to suggest that opponents do not agree with the basic principles on which this nation was founded. It is harmful for leaders, civilian or otherwise, to frame internal conflicts in these terms, especially when what they are really trying to do is to silence opposing viewpoints. As Pakistanis have demonstrated over the past week, their differences are quickly overcome in the face of a common crisis.


Forces inimical to this nation must have been hoping to exploit its internal differences to weaken it from within. The united response from the people of Pakistan has demonstrated that they will get no satisfaction. However, this is also an opportunity to rebuild bridges and bring people closer together. The state has an opportunity to capitalise on the prevailing sentiment and address outstanding social and political crises, ensuring that no obvious vulnerabilities remain for enemies to exploit. The sooner issues are settled, the better.

Meanwhile, New Delhi’s act of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty needs a strong response, and the Modi regime’s hate-filled rhetoric and aggression need to be checked in every domain before it grows any bolder. Irrational though it is, the intent next door seems crystal clear. Pakistan needs to focus all its energies on protecting its interests. This fight must be won on every front.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2025


Points to ponder

FOR the people of Pakistan to successfully confront the multiple crises the country faces, it is important to honestly acknowledge what ails us. That is what the HRCP’s State of Human Rights in 2024 report seeks to do by highlighting the major rights violations and anti-democratic trends that affected Pakistan in the past year. As the report notes, democracy, federalism, the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence were all “under heavy strain” in 2024. It can be argued that these and all other crises are interlinked, as a lack of political legitimacy and concord following last year’s general elections have exacerbated the existing problems. The report also underlines the fact that militancy shot up last year, with KP and Balochistan the worst affected. The report lists at least 24 deaths caused by vigilante mobs, with some linked to blasphemy allegations. The number of alleged police encounters in Sindh and Punjab alone — close to 5,000 — reiterates the need for urgent police reform and accountability. Crimes against women and children are detailed, while the report also mentions the impact of extreme weather events. It succinctly sums up the major challenges confronting Pakistan thus: “political engineering, economic precarity, religious extremism, gendered violence and ecological collapse”.

Instead of alleging that this document — and other reports like it — besmirch the country’s fair name, as many amongst the ruling elite usually do, there is a need to calmly consider the points raised by such studies. The fact is that without addressing the numerous problems — chief among which are the rapid erosion of rights and the growing authoritarian tendencies of the rulers — the country faces, it will be next to impossible to deliver social and economic justice to the people of Pakistan. The country cannot prosper unless the masses are guaranteed full constitutional protections, and the state uses compassion as a compass instead of trying to be ‘hard’. The HRCP report rightly urges state institutions and political parties “to place human rights at the heart of public policy”. And for those who claim to know all about patriotism, they should remember what Mohammad Ali Jinnah has said regarding fundamental rights: “We fought for Pakistan because there was a danger of the denial of these human rights in this Subcontinent.” Therefore, the ongoing struggle for basic rights is very much a national duty.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2025


Protesting doctors

THE stand-off between the Punjab government and protesting doctors and nurses has now entered a critical point, with serious implications for patient care. Over two dozen have been dismissed and several others penalised after striking healthcare workers shut down OPDs across the province for nearly a month. Punjab’s actions are clearly intended to break the momentum of a dangerous situation: over half a million patients — most of them poor — were reportedly turned away during the last 10 days alone. This is a failure of both sides: the state, for not engaging meaningfully with the protesters earlier, and the doctors, for abandoning their professional duty in pursuit of their demands. The doctors’ objections stem from recent reforms that outsource administrative powers — for example, over salaries, transfers, and pensions — from the health department to newly empowered boards of management. While public servants have the right to voice workplace grievances, resorting to strikes that block care for vulnerable patients is ethically indefensible.

At the same time, the state’s approach must be questioned. The use of police to forcibly clear protest camps, arrest scores of healthcare professionals and even reportedly terminate the postgraduate training of some doctors will only lead to more indignation. Pakistan already suffers from a healthcare vacuum. With just one doctor for over 1,200 patients, it can scarcely afford to shed skilled personnel, especially in public hospitals that serve the poor. However, it is equally important to underline that no doctor — no matter how justified their complaints — has the right to deny treatment to those in need. The right to protest must never come at the cost of patient welfare. The way forward lies in balancing accountability and negotiation. The government must resist the temptation to punish en masse, and instead, engage with the healthcare professionals. The protesting doctors must uphold their Hippocratic Oath — even while agitating for their rights. It is not a zero-sum game.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2025