THE new 12 months is a mere few days previous however 2026 already guarantees to be extra exhausting than its predecessor. The mortals amongst us — and who’ve associates to get together with — had barely recovered from New 12 months’s Eve when the US’s Nobel Peace Prize aspirant invaded a rustic and kidnapped its president.
Hardly new stuff for many who keep in mind Iraq, or Panama, or … the record will be slightly lengthy. Nevertheless it was a wee bit stunning, coming from a president who cannot cease itemizing the variety of wars he has stopped. What stopped journalists of their tracks was the president’s failure to invoke both the fruits of democracy or the freedoms of brown oppressed individuals, particularly girls. There have been no such useful diversions. The oil will assist the US, it was proclaimed. Now the place does that go away the likes of us who need to shake their heads in despair and clarify the restrictions of nation-building workout routines? The world and its craziness is forcing commentators out of a job quicker than one can say AI.
It’s no simpler in Pakistan.
How does one make sense of an authoritarian interlude by which no {dollars} are flowing in? In spite of everything, we’re skilled to investigate the ability flowing down the barrel of a gun that has greenback indicators painted on it. Nonetheless, with out the {dollars}, it appears a bit unsure and unstable (and it has been for fairly just a few years now), however it’s arduous to determine how lengthy it’ll final. The ten-year pendulum absolutely does not lower it anymore. However what prepared evaluation can change this? Nobody is aware of.
It appears as if all of the political cleaning soap opera plot twists have been completed, and talked about, to loss of life.
So the state is hardening and it guidelines with an iron glove. But it has not been capable of tame the individuals totally. The anger will not be expressed as loudly because it as soon as was, however nobody can ignore the simmering. Because of this, the PTI continues to be a drive and so is Imran Khan. On high of this, he refuses to enter exile. What a ache he’s as a result of if he left for international climes, it will be really easy to consider the khatam shud predictions of among the commentariat.
In different phrases, the nail-biting contest threatens to proceed in 2026 and people of us within the enterprise of study have little left to say. Actually. There are simply so many instances one can predict doom and gloom and ask everybody to speak for the better good. As a result of frankly, our management simply is not as sincere because the chap within the US; our lot claims to fret in regards to the individuals right here and it is a story that nobody buys now and but they proceed to inform it. They know that nobody buys it; We all know that they know that we all know they do not care and but the drama continues. And now nobody is listening.
It appears as if all of the political cleaning soap opera plot twists have been completed and talked about to loss of life. Take one other instance. The predictions in regards to the democratic DNA in Nawaz Sharif or Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari coming to the fore at the moment are additionally turning into much less widespread. It has been months since anybody has spoken of Sharif senior’s need to see Imran Khan free and virtually years since anybody has spoken of the tensions between father Zardari and son Bhutto-Zardari and the latter struggling to interrupt free. Nobody is now anticipating the true democrats to say “sufficient” and hiding their disappointment analysts converse of the alternatives in Pakistan being restricted to authoritarianism and fascism.
No completely different is all of the ‘sane’ speak about talks. It is about as promising because the MoUs Pakistan indicators every time a international chief meets a authorities official or the guarantees in regards to the economic system taking off. Nobody may even be bothered to argue about it. And neither does anybody assume 2026 will carry any change, so nice is the ‘paralysis’. Though I’ve realized that one can name it Jamood on the speak present.
Even the soothsayers or najoomis who have been known as to speak reveals whereas the remainder of us have been making New 12 months plans had nothing new to supply. They appear to sound no completely different from the political soothsayers who inform us of the greatness that awaits the nation in 2026. The king is in his counting home and the prime minister is having bread and honey. And the remaining are caught hanging out garments of their yard whereas the FBR is pecking noses and way more.
The purpose right here is that there’s nothing new to say in regards to the state of the nation, the society and what passes for politics. It’s now past us all, be it the najoomis or the analysts. And do not let anybody inform you in any other case. However as a result of we too must pay taxes after which the payments which have extra taxes inside them, this column needs to be written week after week.
So it’d simply occur that quickly this area turns into one thing slightly completely different. As a substitute of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan and others, it’d simply make sense to jot down on middle-age challenges similar to attempting to shed pounds or cope with acidity; cooking; the painful watching choices on Netflix; and even an agony aunt part. Something in the meanwhile appears extra potential than writing on politics. The latter, even politicians guarantee me, is finished and dusted. Which jogs my memory, what a few styling column for politicians? Lots of them, particularly the lads, can do with a makeover. What is that this love affair with Kala Kola, as an illustration? Why not go for stylish grey streaks?
If there are higher concepts on the market for what a weekly column will be about, recommendations are welcome. For I’ve taxes to pay earlier than I sleep. Miles of taxes … with apologies to Robert Frost.
The author is a journalist.
Revealed in Daybreak, January sixth, 2026
