It is really interesting to watch very high-profile advisers talking to the media on various critical national issues. Let us take the case of lifting the state of emergency. Everybody expresses their personal feeling that the election cannot be held under the emergency rules. But, on the other hand, they fail to say when the ER would be lifted to create a democratic atmosphere for the election. This sounds very funny and reminds us the popular story of the ‘egg and chicken’.
   The above scenario has also forced us to think two vital issues such as:
   a. The government has no clear plan to lift the state of emergency, and is trying to keep the ball in the court of the politicians and people in order to make them responsible for the prolongation of the state of emergency, which is only creating fear, panic and uncertainties in the political arena and not providing any solution to our socio-economic and political problems.
   b. The government is consciously working on a political agenda, the success of which is dependent on the application of ‘carrot and stick theory’. My feeling is that neither the ‘carrot’ can fulfil the popular aspiration of a democratic order, nor it can suppress the same by using heavy sticks or else on the general masses.
   Therefore, if the government believes in democracy as it claims every now and then, they should immediately lift the state of emergency and create a free and fair political atmosphere and hold the general election as soon as possible. There is no viable alternative to this option if the government wants a respectful exit which is overdue.
   It is also high time to bring some qualitative and practical changes in the leadership of finance, planning and fiscal matters. The chances of big improvement in our economy is remote, but this is an option which can be tried with consensus.
   A reader
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