Respected Readers,
If you take a closer look at Pakistan’s political history, you will notice one pattern that repeats again and again: every constitution, every amendment, every system has been designed not to solve the problems of the people, but to secure the power of the rulers.
A System That Rules, Not Serves
We live under a system that functions — but not for us. The rulers enjoy luxuries, resources, and privileges without interruption. Meanwhile, the ordinary citizen struggles daily with problems that are never addressed. If the system was meant to solve these problems, why do they keep piling up, year after year?
The answer is simple: the system was never built to serve. It was built to rule.
Power Above the Law
It is a feature of power everywhere in the world that those who make laws often try to place themselves above them. But in Pakistan, this tendency has gone unchecked. Laws are written in a way that favors the elite. Constitutions are drafted by those in power with the aim of keeping that power. Accountability exists in name, but not in practice.
Why Other Systems Deliver
If we look at other countries, even where elites enjoy privileges, systems are often structured to still deliver basic services to ordinary people — healthcare, education, security, stability. Why is Pakistan different? The difference lies in intention and ability. Where the purpose is service, systems bend toward solving problems. Where the purpose is rulership, systems bend only toward protecting power.
The Way Forward
If we want a system that actually serves the people, then principles and laws must be shaped with the participation of ordinary citizens, not just elites. A real constitution must be built bottom-up, reflecting the values and needs of society, not the ambitions of rulers.
This is what Hallaqa seeks to create — a platform where citizens can come together, define principles, and begin the work of drafting a people-centered constitution. Only then can we shift from a system of rulership to a system of service.