The most prominent sign of the mental state the Pakistani public is currently going through is its growing aversion to politics. The echo of rallies, the shouting matches on talk shows, politics based on accusations, and the game of humiliating one another are no longer a form of entertainment for the nation; instead, they have become a burden. People are now troubled by a simple question: after all this noise and chaos, what ease has come into their lives? Has inflation decreased, or has employment increased? Has education improved, or has access to healthcare become easier? If the answer to these questions is no, then politics will remain nothing more than drama and garbage in the eyes of the public.
The ordinary Pakistani no longer looks at politicians’ promises; instead, he looks at his empty pockets. The prices of flour, sugar, electricity, gas, and petrol have become everyday topics of discussion. Salaries remain the same, while expenses are multiplying day by day. In such circumstances, when people watch politicians hurling accusations at one another on television screens, only one thought arises in their minds: what have they gained from this spectacle?
Political parties, instead of solving public problems, are busy trying to prove one another traitors, incompetent, or corrupt. Parliament, rather than being a center of legislation, has become a hub of noise and disorder. The role of the opposition is limited to criticism, while the government appears focused merely on completing its term. Watching all this, the public feels that its problems are no one’s priority.
The reality is that people do not need slogans; they need results. They do not ask which leader is more popular; they need a leader who can keep the stove in their homes burning. They have no interest in who accused whom of what; they want to know when their children will receive quality education and proper healthcare. When these basic questions remain unanswered, hatred toward politics becomes a natural response.
At present, Pakistan’s biggest problem is instability. Unemployment is pushing young people toward despair and crime. Educated youth wander from place to place with degrees in their hands, while skilled workers fail to find suitable income. In rural areas, farmers are worried because they cannot recover their costs, and in urban areas, laborers struggle to secure two meals a day. Can the solution to these problems really be found in rallies or press conferences? Absolutely not.
The public now needs clear, practical, and honest policies. For economic recovery, long-term planning, tax system reforms, support for small businesses, and the promotion of industry are essential. In education, skills and research should be prioritized instead of rote learning, and in healthcare, public facilities must truly be made accessible to the people. Only through such measures can public trust in politics be restored.
Unfortunately, in our country politics revolves around personal interests, family inheritance, and short-term gains. Votes are taken in the name of the people, but once in power, the people are forgotten. That is why the common citizen now feels that if politics cannot improve his life, then it is useless-or even harmful-for him.
The media, too, has adopted the role of amplifying verbal battles, fights, and controversial statements on social and electronic platforms, with the result that real issues fade into the background and politics is reduced to mere spectacle. Instead of raising public awareness, people’s attention is deliberately diverted.
The time has come for politicians to stop testing the patience of the public. What is needed now is not politics of speeches and accusations, but serious efforts to solve public problems. If real issues are ignored once again, the gap between politics and the people will deepen further, and its consequences could prove dangerous for democracy.
The public is not foolish; it sees and understands everything. It has no interest left in political drama. It wants solutions to its real problems. If politics fails to deliver solutions, then in the eyes of the public, politics will truly become nothing more than trash-and then there will be no one left to pick up that garbage.
