Pakistan has been hurtling from crisis to crisis. Much against the prayers and wishes of Pakistan’s well-wishers, the situation, instead of improving, continues to deteriorate from day to day. Who is responsible?

Truth to speak, it’s a collective national failure. The blame lies on all sides. The country’s political leadership has shown a singular lack of wisdom and maturity. Moderate elements in all parties are cowering, while extremists rule the roost.

The rot began in April last year when the PTI government was ousted through a no-confidence move. The PTI did not take it kindly and continued to challenge the PDM government which has responded with very harsh measures, including against journalists critical of official policies. Large scale arrests of PTI leaders and workers have been going on ceaselessly. Two months ago the Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan was stormed with indiscriminate use of teargas and water cannons. More than 150 cases have been registered against Imran Khan and, to top it all, he was arrested in a high-handed manner from the Islamabad High Court.

We all know what happened after his arrest throughout the country. Protesters and hooligans attacked army installations and government buildings. The violent protests, arson and loot gave a bad name to the party and also tarnished the image of the country.

The PTI has not played its cards well. On many occasions Imran Khan has been careless and irresponsible about his remarks against his political rivals and also against military high-ups. He is a charismatic leader no doubt but he has not handled matters with wisdom and maturity expected at his level. After the no-confidence move, his decision to boycott the parliament was wrong and betrayed a lack of faith in the democratic process. It was an unwise political move which gave a free hand to the 13-party alliance to do as they wished, including adoption of legislation to terminate the corruption cases against their leaders. Also impetuous was the PTI’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and KP assemblies, a move that played into the hands of the PDM government.

The ruling alliance has been playing foul, too. It has adopted undemocratic methods to crush the opposition and prolong its stay in power. The PDM government’s refusal to hold elections within 90 days is an open defiance of the Constitution which does not augur well for the future of democracy in Pakistan. The PDM government has also been defying the Supreme Court and through devious means has tried to make the apex court controversial in the eyes of the public. The Parliament is now pitted against the Supreme Court.

What has added a dangerous dimension to the situation is the decline of the economy which is nearing a default. Inflation has gone through the roof and prices have gone beyond the reach of the common man. Due to restrictions on the import of essential raw materials, industries have closed down and thousands of workers have lost their jobs. It is a matter of concern that over a million Pakistanis, including doctors, engineers and IT experts, have left the country in the last one year.

The latest turn in events was the protest by the PDM coalition outside the apex court to demand resignation from the Chief Justice. This was akin to taking confrontation to a new level. Maulana Fazlur Rahman, the hawk in the PDM, said that if any harm comes to the protesters, “we will retaliate with sticks, fists and slaps.” The Maulana held the protest despite the fact that the administration had imposed Section 144 in the capital.

On the other hand, the PTI has also asked its workers to come out and hold peaceful rallies in support of the Constitution and express solidarity with the Supreme Court. The possibility cannot be ruled out that protesters from the opposite camps may come face to face and clashes break out.

As some analysts have pointed out, after 70 years the chickens have come home to roost and Pakistani society is collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions. It is a society divided both horizontally and vertically. Pakistan is embroiled in multiple crises, political, economic, social and institutional.

This is most unfortunate and unprecedented in our history. Needless to say, if we don’t step back, even Pakistan’s existence may be in jeopardy. The international vultures are hovering over our heads to pounce upon us at an opportune moment. It is time for all stakeholders to rise above their individual and group interests and start a negotiating process to find a way out of the present dilemma. The establishment has the power and clout to bring the warring politicians to the negotiating table to hammer out a compromise solution.