ONE of the most enduring and uncomfortable truths of Pakistani politics is that democracy is repeatedly invoked, but rarely internalized. Political speeches routinely begin with phrases like “my people” and “my fellow Pakistanis.” Voters are courted, crowds are mobilized and citizens are placed at the front of rallies, marches and protests. Yet when it comes to acquiring and sustaining power, faith is placed not in the public mandate but in the backing of powerful generals. And the moment that backing is withdrawn, the same “people” are suddenly rediscovered.

This contradiction was once again on display recently in Islamabad, where a two-day national conference was held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House under the banner of the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan. Leaders from various political parties, lawyers, journalists and civil society representatives participated. At its conclusion, a unanimous declaration reaffirmed commitments to constitutional supremacy, judicial independence, transparent elections, human rights and democratic values. The conference demanded investigations into alleged rigging in the February 2024 elections, announced February 8, 2026 as an internationally observed “Black Day,” called for a nationwide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike and echoed a call attributed to PTI founder Imran Khan to prepare for a street movement.

On the surface, the conference’s rhetoric was forceful and its demands broadly acceptable, yet Pakistan’s political problem lies not in stated demands but in intent, continuity and credibility. Constitutional principles, justice and civil liberties are often ignored in........

© Pakistan Observer