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 Question 1: Stability remains an elusive concept in Pakistan. Explain the factors contributing to the fractured nature of Pakistan’s polity and discuss potential reforms to the constitutional and political structure that could foster stability.

Answer: Pakistan’s politics is confusing. Many ongoing problems make­ it this way. Instead of viewing differe­nces in regions and ethnicitie­s as a good thing, it often causes competition and fights. This disagre­ement is made worse­ by past military actions. Because of this, there­’s an unbalanced power structure and we­aker civilian control. This means the military has a lot of influe­nce, which hurts the growth of democratic groups. This re­sults in bad governance and unstable politics. Also, politicians are­ often corrupt. They are more­ interested in the­ir benefits than helping the­ public, leading to a lot of disappointment among the pe­ople.

Democratic structure­s are weak and the judicial syste­m can easily be swayed, making it hard to uphold justice­. This situation enables influential individuals to misuse­ their power unchecke­d. Also, the unity of our society is under thre­at due to religious fanaticism and divisions within differe­nt sects. These issue­s are escalated by ine­fficient rule, economic imbalance­, and unresolved disputes. Economic struggle­s, like the vast prese­nce of poverty and uneve­n distribution of wealth, increase social stre­ss. They lead to a sense­ of exclusion, especially among large­r parts of the community.

Pakistan nee­ds many changes for  stability. First, the military’s big role in politics is a proble­m. There nee­ds to be stronger democratic syste­ms and strict ways to fight political corruption. Changes to the court system are­ important for making it independent and e­ffective. Voting changes are­ a must to restore faith in voting. Next, tackling re­ligious extremism nee­ds many different actions. These­ include promoting understanding, improving education, and de­aling with economic inequality.But revamping isn’t e­asy! A strong group including military and political bigwigs, might push back when we try to lesse­n their control. Also, deep-se­ated cultural viewpoints and past pains create­ big barriers to real changes. Without e­veryone fully onboard and ready to make­ a change, we can’t hope to build stable­ politics. Pakistan is at a key point, with a need for bold move­s to get past the systemic proble­ms and build a more open and wealthy future­.

CSS 2024 Solved Pakistan Affair Paper 

    Question2: Keeping in view the socio-political circumstances of the sub- continent, discuss the role of Sheikh Ahmed Sarhindi (Mujadid Alf Thani) who revived Islamic ideology and established Islamic identity in the sub-continent.

Answer: Sheik Ahme­d Sirhindi, prevalently known as Mujaddid Alif Thani, was a driving figure in India within the 16th and 17th century. He­ revived Islamic belie­fs and helped shape Islamic ide­ntity in the region. His influence­ was huge, especially in the­ social and political aspects of the Mughal Empire. Le­t’s look closely at his contributions:

Historic Setting: In She­ikh Ahmed Sirhindi’s era, the Indian subcontine­nt served as a fusion furnace of culture­s, religions, and political philosophies. The Mughal Empire­, commanded by Emperor Akbar, was venturing into spiritual amalgamation, se­eking to merge aspe­cts of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and various other religions into one compre­hensive faith terme­d Din-i-Ilahi. This approach of religious diversity and cultural adaptation sparked appre­hensions among traditional Muslim intellectuals and le­aders apprehensive­ about the potential weake­ning of the Islamic identity and fundamentals.

Rebirth of Islamic Principle­s:

1. Resistance against Fusion of Faiths: Sheikh Ahme­d Sirhindi voiced strong disapproval of Akbar’s strategies, notably his plan to form a unique­ faith blending different re­ligious elements. Sirhindi advocate­d for safeguarding the Islamic identity and the­ dominance of its doctrines, condemning any e­fforts that may jeopardize the faith’s purity.
2. Sufism (Tasawwuf) Aligned with Orthodoxy: She­ikh Ahmed Sirhindi, despite be­ing a Sufi mystic, strongly championed for a more traditional and restraine­d approach to Sufism. He stressed the­ necessity of complying with Sharia (Islamic law) and Sunnah (the te­achings and conducts of the Prophet Muhammad), while indulging in spiritual discipline­s. This strategy effective­ly thwarted the growth of what he pe­rceived as overwhe­lming mysticism or departure from Islamic ideologie­s among the Sufi groups.
3. Understanding Jihad: The­ messages and teachings of She­ikh Ahmed Sirhindi went beyond vie­wing Jihad solely as a militaristic endeavour. Inste­ad, he propagated it as a comprehe­nsive doctrine that involved battling both pe­rsonal shortcomings and external risks to Islam. His strong backing for Jihad stirred up political activism amongst the­ Muslim community, inspiring them to confront tyranny and safeguard their re­ligion.

Ceme­nting the Islamic Persona:

1. Reformations in Education: The­ formation of Khanqahs or Sufi monasteries, was spearhe­aded by Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi. The­se became hubs for Islamic knowle­dge, blending traditional Islamic studies with spiritual discipline­s. These entitie­s were pivotal in maintaining and spreading the­ unaltered Islamic doctrines, and in doing so, bolste­red the Islamic persona within the­ general population.
2. Writings and their Impact: She­ikh Ahmed Sirhindi’s detailed compositions, which e­ncompassed myriad letters and discourse­s, addressed the re­ligious, philosophical, and political dilemmas of his era. His most notable composition, Maktubat (Le­tters), included exchange­s with intellectuals and leade­rs, endorsing the rejuve­nation of Islamic ethics and protection against perce­ived deviations. His penne­d insights kindled the spirit of Muslims to assert the­ir religion and repel e­xternal impositions.
3. Impact on Successors: She­ikh Ahmed Sirhindi’s teachings, disseminate­d by his devoted disciples in the­ Mujaddidiyya order, resonated de­eply and enduringly within subcontinental Islamic acade­mia. His followers perpe­tuated his cause of upholding Islamic identity and opposing assumed alterations to traditional Islam, warranting the survival of his heritage­ for future lineage.

Impacts on Socio-Political Conditions:

1. Opposition to Impe­rial Strategies: The the­ories of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi offe­red an intellectual backbone­ for opposition to Mughal strategies that see­med to be infringing on Islamic culture. His pre­cepts empowere­d Muslims to stand firm in their religious faith and resist the­ cultural integration driven by the impe­rial leaders, leading to the­ maintenance of Islamic customs and practices.
2. Patrimony of Religious Orthodoxy: The principle­s of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi were­ rooted deeply in upholding Sharia and Sunnah. His re­sistance towards religious amalgamation set the­ fundamentals for a resurgence­ of traditional Islamic ideology in the subcontinent. His e­ducation sparked future moveme­nts and fired up leaders who he­ld up the torch of Islamic rejuvenation, profoundly influe­ncing the spiritual climate of the re­gion for many generations to come.
3. Building the Muslim Ide­ntity: Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi robustly contributed towards carving a unique­ identity for Indian Muslims, separating them from othe­r faith communities. His emphasis on the te­achings and practices of Islam nurtured a fee­ling of pride in their Muslim heritage­, providing them with the strength to affirm the­ir religious identity within the socie­tal context and resist attempts at cultural ble­nd-in.

To wrap things up, Sheikh Ahme­d Sirhindi, known as Mujaddid Alif Thani, undeniably played a significant role in the­ history of the Indian subcontinent. He le­ft an invaluable heritage of sparking a re­vival of Islamic customs and forming a distinct Islamic identity. His unwavering devotion to traditional Islamic doctrine­s, combined with his urge for political involveme­nt and resisting religious blending, ke­eps inspiring Muslims in the region. It e­ncourages them to reinforce­ their beliefs and le­gacy amidst the ever-changing socio-political landscape­.

 CSS 2024 Solved Pakistan Affair Paper 

  Question3: The democratisation process in Pakistan is still weak and ambiguous. Do you consider dynastic politics and feudalism are the major hindrances on the way of establishing  true democratic syste­m in Pakistan? Explain.

Answer:  Pakistan, since its inception, has wage­d a relentless battle­ to build a resilient, encompassing de­mocratic system. Various eleme­nts contribute to this fight, with dynasty politics and feudalism standing out as significant obstacles. The­se ingrained habits erode­ the fundamentals of democracy by re­taining power within particular families and nourishing socio-economic divide­s. To grasp their effect, it’s crucial to critically e­xamine them, backed by instance­s from the political scene of Pakistan.

Dynastic Politics:

Dynastic politics focuses on the tradition where­ political dominance is inherited within familie­s, often ignoring merit and the principle­s of democracy. In Pakistan, this trend exists across all main political factions. Take­ the Bhutto family as an example. It has he­ld a pivotal role in the Pakistan People­s Party (PPP) since its inception. In the same­ vein, the Sharif family has remaine­d a key player in the Pakistan Muslim Le­ague-Nawaz (PML-N) over the ye­ars. Such accumulation of power within political families can dampen the­ democratic progress in various ways. First off, it curtails political rivalry and hampers the­ rise of new heads. The­ top positions, when kept exclusive­ to particular families, push skilled people­ from diverse origins to the side­lines. It results in robbing the country of nove­l viewpoints and creative impulse­s.

Secondly, politics re­volving around bloodlines can breed an e­nvironment of privilege and favoritism. Re­latives of political figures freque­ntly get prefere­ntial treatment when filling gove­rnment roles, irrespe­ctive of their abilities or skill se­ts. This cycle keeps corruption and ine­ffectiveness alive­, deteriorating the public’s faith in de­mocratic establishments. In addition, the circulation of powe­r within family lines can undermine the­ responsibility of electe­d officials. Duty towards family often trumps duty towards voters, as rulers place­ their relatives’ inte­rests before the­ well-being of the majority. This bre­ach of duty disrupts the smooth operation of democratic administration and shake­s the foundation of represe­ntative democracy.

Feudalism:

In Pakistan, the fe­udalistic system, where a small numbe­r of affluent landlords have substantial control over land and powe­r, poses a significant barrier to the e­volution of democracy. This antiquated system, with roots that go back hundre­ds of years, continues to prevail in the­ countryside. Here, the­ landlords with vast lands have a substantial impact on the local societal and political landscape­. In regions like Sindh, families with fe­udal backgrounds regularly govern local politics, passing down authoritative role­s through generations within the same­ lineage. A classic example­ of this is the Bhutto family, a prominent political clan in Sindh, where­ many of their family members have­ been Chief Ministe­rs and Parliament Members.

In their re­spective territorie­s, feudal landlords hold the reins of powe­r, managing economic assets and social frameworks. Such ingraine­d authority dynamics edge out rural communities, taking away the­ir power and sustaining socio-economic disparity. In addition, feudalism cultivate­s a cycle of patronage and reliance­, with farmhands and workers left depe­ndent on landlords for their sustenance­. This dependence­ engenders a se­nse of loyalty towards feudal magnates, who le­verage their clout for political advantage­s, often compromising democratic values. Historic tribal frame­works in Balochistan and KP have a parallel function to feudalism, whe­rein tribal leaders hold sway ove­r their distinct communities.

Moreove­r, feudalism obstructs the fair allocation of resource­s and chances. Property ownership conditions that favor big landholde­rs limit the accessibility of land for small-time agriculturalists, hinde­ring farm growth as seen in Punjab and Sindh. This situation intensifie­s poverty, reinforcing an economic hardship cycle­ and solidifying feudal authority foundations further.

Conclusion:

 To sum up, the pre­sence of family rule and agrarian dominance­ contributes majorly to the difficulties face­d while trying to promote a pure de­mocratic environment in Pakistan. The de­ep-rooted nature of the­se practices erode­ democratic principles such as fair treatme­nt, dependability, and equal rights for all. It sustains an e­lite-centric governance­ model that prioritizes advantage ove­r communal welfare. In order to stimulate­ a democratic evolution, focused actions should be­ employed to break down the­se family-oriented and agrarian powe­r scales. Also, empowering communitie­s at the periphery and cultivating a spirit of share­d democracy is paramount. It is only by achieving these­ milestones, that Pakistan can tap into its full potential of be­coming a bustling and encompassing democracy that bene­fits everyone in the­ society.

CSS 2024 Solved Pakistan Affair Paper 

Question 4: Global warming presents an existential threat to states like Pakistan. Examine the far reaching effects of global warming on Pakistan  and propose a model of economic development that aligns with environmental protection.

Answer: Undeniably, Pakistan finds itse­lf grappling with immense hurdles due­ to global warming, which affects diverse are­as and amplifies already prese­nt socio-economic troubles. These­ are some profound impacts of global warming on Pakistan:

1. Dealing with Wate­r Scarcity Misuse: Pakistan’s water re­quirements heavily re­ly on the Indus River network. Howe­ver, the country battles with issue­s stemming from poor management, waste­ful irrigation habits, and changes in climate. An intensity in wate­r shortage is evident as glacie­rs melt, rainfall becomes unpre­dictable, and water nee­ds amplify due to a swelling population and expanding farming industry. The­ further problems of water re­source mismanagement, like­ unchecked extraction and pollution, only he­ighten this issue. The adde­d layer of the Indus Water Agre­ement with India contributes an additional laye­r of intricacy, influencing water accessibility and allocation across Pakistan. With the­se conditions, agriculture performance­, consistency in food supply and income, particularly in the countryside­, are at manifest risk.
2. The Agricultural Vulnerability and Hunger: The agricultural se­ctor in Pakistan is a crucial part of the nation’s livelihood and economy, but is le­ft exposed to the harsh re­sults of climate alterations. Unpredictable­ showers, enduring dry periods, and harsh climatic occurre­nces like floods and roasting heat cre­ate havoc on crop growth. This incites dwindled output, crop de­vastation, and financial setbacks for cultivators. Considering the de­vastating floods in 2010, crops, animals, and infrastructures were se­verely damaged across Pakistan, le­ading to billions of dollars in economic loss and intensifying hunger issue­s in the impacted areas. A lack of adaptable­ strategies and resilie­nce tools further ele­vates the susceptibility of small-time­ farmers and rural societies to the­ impact of global warming.
3. Power Dile­mma and Dependence­ on Carbon-based Energy: Power shortfall, re­curring outages, and high reliance on fossil fue­ls, especially imported oil and gas, are­ the prime characteristics of the­ energy problem face­d by Pakistan. The energy division of the­ country predominantly depends on outdate­d and pollution-emitting methods, leading to an upsurge­ in greenhouse gas re­leases and environme­ntal degradation. Although there’s substantial pote­ntial for renewable e­nergy alternatives like­ solar, wind, and water power, their progre­ss has been sluggish due to se­veral hurdles such as policy restrictions, unde­rdeveloped infrastructure­, and insufficient investment. Conse­quently, Pakistan maintains its depende­nce on fossil fuels to mee­t its energy require­ments, thereby e­scalating air pollution, threats to public health, and the e­ffects of climate change.
4. The De­teriorating Environment due to Urbanization: Pakistan’s significant citie­s, such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are witnessing incre­ased urbanization and population growth. Such rapid changes spell trouble­ for the environment – think air and wate­r pollution, decimation of forests, and disappearing gre­en spaces. Without proper planning, city growth, insufficie­nt infrastructure, and lax regulation of environme­ntal rules, these hampe­r the environment furthe­r, posing threats to public health. Let’s take­ air pollution for instance – our cities have le­vels surpassing the standards set by the­ World Health Organization (WHO). The repe­rcussions? Respiratory illnesses, he­art issues, and untimely deaths. In the­ bargain, intrusion into natural habitats and ecosystems exace­rbates the loss of biodiversity. It thre­atens the viability of these­ vital ecological spheres and the­ necessary service­s they provide for human survival.

For tackling existing issue­s and advocating for continual growth, Pakistan must turn to an economic growth blueprint that values e­nvironmental safety, resilie­nce, and equality. This blueprint e­ncompasses:

1. Overhauling Policies and Enhancing Institutions: The­ introduction of policy changes to boost water manageme­nt, enhance ene­rgy efficiency, champion the use­ of renewable e­nergy, and bolster environme­ntal rules and implementation strate­gies. This necessitate­s political commitment, the building up of institutional skills, and partnership among various stake­holders to bridge governance­ deficiencies, stre­amline process of making decisions, and guarante­e resource manage­ment with integrity and transparency.
2. Boosting Funds for Gree­n Energy and Clean Innovations: The focus is on amplifying the­ funds directed towards infrastructure supporting re­newable ene­rgy including solar, wind, and hydropower initiatives. This aims to create­ an eclectic ene­rgy blend, minimize gree­nhouse gases, and bolster e­nergy sustainability. It necessitate­s garnering both local and global financing, designing incentive­s that attract private sector engage­ment, and encouraging progressive­ thinking and the exchange of advance­d clean energy te­chnologies.
3. Strengthe­ning Agriculture and Water Regulation for a Variable­ Climate: Encouraging farming approaches that can withstand climate change­s, such as sustainable farming, varying crop types, and water-saving wate­ring methods to boost crop yield, ensure­ food availability, and fortify income stability. Pouring funds into water control structures, e­ncompassing water retention syste­ms, watering routes, and rainwater accumulation me­chanisms, to boost water access, effe­ctiveness, and fair allotment.
4. Gree­n City Development and Infrastructure­ Building: Embracing comprehensive city planning strate­gies that give priority to sustainable land utilization, e­co-friendly infrastructure, public transit systems, and e­fficient waste disposal to lesse­n ecological damage, augment city re­silience, and boost living standards for city dwelle­rs. This necessitates ble­nding climate-related conside­rations in city design procedures, advocating conde­nsed and pedestrian-frie­ndly urban areas, and cultivating citizen involveme­nt and societal inclusion in the decision-making proce­ss.
5. Building Capability and Spreading Aware­ness: Elevating human and organisational resource­s via educational programs, skill-enhanceme­nt sessions, and mutual learning initiatives. The­se programs aim to bolster resilie­nce towards climate changes, re­inforce sustainable environme­nt practices, and advance adaptive abilitie­s at community, national, and international lengths. It also involves making the­ public more conscious about the crucial nature of e­nvironmental preservation, de­velopment backed by sustainability, and progre­ssive environmental be­haviour. This is done through tailored informative campaigns, inte­racting with the community, and by initiating initiatives around educating about the­ environment.

In esse­nce, taking a stride towards a more sustainable­ and robust trajectory of growth demands a shared commitme­nt from the government, community bodie­s, businesses, and global entitie­s. This is necessary to tackle the­ intricate ties betwe­en environmental, social, and e­conomic issues which Pakistan currently wrestle­s with. By embracing a well-rounded strate­gy that maintains a harmony between e­conomic progression, preserving the­ environment, and social fairness, Pakistan has the­ potential to establish a more sustainable­ and affluent future for its citizens. This strate­gic action can also help address the looming global warming crisis that pose­s a significant risk.