Karl Marx said, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. If history repeats itself and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience?” On many counts, successive governments in Pakistan have been living in a consistent state of denial since 1948. Consequently, the vicious cycle of history repeating itself with ugly and unexpected happenings has never ceased, with sham democracy by the corrupt being the worst outcome. When people at the helm of affairs are confronted with this reality, the often repeated cynical response is, “It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.” Although the refusal to believe until proof is given is a rational position, denial of all outside of our own limited experience is absurd. However, with the rise in political status or bureaucratic pay grade, the tendency to adapt to a blurred vision and indulge in denial of stark reality becomes a way of life with unending pitfalls. One wonders as to what will convince the ruling elite in Pakistan that “you will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously; and you will find peace not in denial, but in victory.”
A brief look at our state of denial is considered imperative to underscore the moot point. At the time of the birth of Pakistan, both the military and the civil bureaucracy........

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