Those Who Collapsed the System Cannot Fix It, Says Khawaja Saad Rafique
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that those who caused the collapse of the existing system cannot be expected to repair it, stressing that public trust, free and fair elections, and an end to interference are essential for putting the country back on track.
Speaking at a ceremony, Rafique said the ruling elite often acted hypocritically, remembering democratic principles only when facing pressure and forgetting them once that pressure subsided.
“We remember principles when we are being beaten, but when the pressure stops, we also forget democracy and its principles,” he remarked.
Referring to Pakistan’s constitutional history, Rafique said the 1956 Constitution was adopted and subsequently abrogated. He added that the party responsible for framing the 1973 Constitution had also initiated a process of undermining it that had continued to this day.
He said some constitutional amendments had been beneficial, while others had introduced serious distortions into the constitutional framework. According to him, attempts to govern the country without adhering to constitutional principles had persisted since before 1956.
Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the former minister questioned who was responsible for worsening conditions in Balochistan and whether the armed groups operating in KP had been formed by politicians.
جنہوں نے اس سسٹم کو کولیپس کیا ہے وہ اس سسٹم کو ٹھیک نہیں کرسکتے، یہ آپ کو عوام اور قوم پر اعتماد کرنا پڑے گا، مڈل کلاس کے پڑھے لکھے لوگ اسمبلیوں میں آئیں، الیکشن میں دھاندلی اور الیکشن کمیشن میں مٹی کے باوے بٹھانے کے بجائے ،مداخلت بند کرنی ہوگی، خواجہ سعد رفیق#QOM #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/UDOta6NNi0
— QOM Pakistan (@qompakistan) October 3, 2026
“We did not create these armed groups, yet the entire nation is paying the price and sacrificing lives,” he said, adding that political parties remained silent due to political expediency despite being aware of the facts.
Rafique argued that restoring the system required placing trust in the people and bringing educated, middle-class representatives into the assemblies.
He called for an end to electoral rigging and external interference, saying the Election Commission should be allowed to function without undue influence. He used the phrase “clay puppets” to criticise those appointed to positions within the electoral system.
“The people’s mandate must be respected. Repeatedly insulting the public’s decisions cannot save the country from major tragedies,” he said.
