IT is surely a billion-dollar question no more a million-dollar question, mind you as to what is the way out of the prevalent political-cum-economic crisis.

In fact, is there a way at all? No one seems to have a magic wand to take the country out of the quagmire. However, one also has to acknowledge that things cannot be allowed to continue like this for an indefinite period.

Before we try to take the bull by the horns, let us do some soul searching so that we may not commit past blunders again. As a student of political science and senior citizen who has witnessed many political and economic upheavals, this is my understanding that a mushroom growth of political parties has always been detrimental to the promotion of democracy in the country.

The stalwarts of democracy, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), after passing through their own trial-and-turmoil phase lasting decades, arrived at a two-party system which is functioning well in a harmonious manner.

Even though there has been a third party for a while in the UK, the main battle continues to be fought between the two major players.

We, in Pakistan, after lot of political disorder and several martial laws, were settling down with a two-party system of our own. Had that experience been allowed a bit of more leeway, stability would have come with the passage of time.

Notwithstanding the above, the concept of a `third force` was floated by some to counter the two parties. Some local versions of Plato in the system decided to perform an experiment of creating a `third force`. Unfortunately,for the creators, the local Platos could not visualise that it is easy to get the genie out of the bottle, but it is tricky to put it back in.

As if people in power have decided not to learn from the past, there is talk goingaround of a`fourthforce`after the frustration caused by the `third force`. Needless to say, any movement forward on this slippery slope would be an even bigger blunder, which will likely take us to the search of a `fifth force` and so on. It will be a neverending process highly detrimental to the political and economic stability of the country.

So, then, what is the way out? Unfortunately, no one has a ready answer. It is not mathematics, where two plus two always make four. In politics, it can be anything, even a zero.

As such, we have to be very cautious and watchful before taking any steps to resolve our issues.

What we need to do without doubt or debate is to stop repeating the mistakes made in the past. On the political front, we must aim at promoting a two-party system, with the resolve to shun the habit of conducting experiments on the whims of a few.

There canbeno denyingthefact that despite having various shortcomings, Pakistan has been able to make tremendous and highly visible progress in many fields. The progress is tangible andcanbe seenonthe ground.

It has become a fashion to say that nothing has been done after the passing away of the Quaid-i-Azam. This is factually incorrect, and, in fact, a great injustice to those who over the years contributed to the progress of the motherland.

The difference between where we were in 1947 and where we stand today, both individually and collectively, speaks for itself. Yes, we have had our share of charlatans, but that takes nothing away from the great leaders we have had over the course of our history.

To keep our charlatans-to-be in check, we should seriously consider initiating posthumous legal proceedings against some who are no more. Symbolism, we all know, does have its advantages. World history is replete with such examples.

Lt-Col (retd) Syed Iftikhar Ahmed Karachi