In many developing countries, politics occupies a complicated and often contradictory space.

It is celebrated as the core of democracy, a mechanism through which citizens shape their collective future. Yet it is also criticized for being driven by personal ambition, wealth and patronage. In much of the Third World, political life resembles a profession monopolized by a narrow elite pursuing personal gain rather than a public duty. This controversy between politics as public service and politics as a career driven by self-interest lies at the heart of many contemporary governance failures.

At a time of acute political instability in Pakistan, commentary from someone with a military back-ground may seem unexpected or even intriguing. Yet, having served in positions where nothing escaped scrutiny, it is difficult to watch recurring errors evolve into chronic governance failures. That concern sharpens when political trends appear to erode national security or echo narratives advanced by hostile powers. These reflections are drawn solely from my own experience; analysis of current fault lines is best left to those directly engaged in today’s political arena.

Democratic theory views politics as a system of representation, accountability and service to the common good, where leaders reflect and answer to the public will. In many developing nations, however, politics has become a professional career marked by privilege and economic reward. Access is often shaped by money, inheritance and elite networks, enabling a small class to dominate power while ordinary citizens have little real influence over decisions that affect their lives.

This shift did not happen overnight.........

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