Pakistan is passing through a difficult and sensitive period in its history. Political uncertainty, economic pressures, institutional challenges and growing public frustration have created an atmosphere in which many citizens are increasingly concerned about the direction in which the country is moving. At such a time, the views of people who have spent their lives observing the workings of the state and its institutions naturally carry special significance.

It is in this context that the social media appearances and candid discussions of retired Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu deserve serious attention.

In an age when social media is flooded with political statements, personal attacks, competing narratives and carefully constructed opinions, Justice Pannu appears to speak in a different manner. His words often reflect directness, emotion and personal conviction. Whether one agrees with all his views or not is a separate matter. But it is difficult to ignore the sincerity with which he expresses his concerns about society, national affairs, institutions and the future of Pakistan.

There is an important difference between speaking merely to be heard and speaking because one genuinely feels that something needs to be said. The latter carries a different weight. It comes from experience, observation and, at times, from the pain of watching one’s society struggle with problems that continue to remain unresolved.

Pakistan does not suffer merely from a shortage of resources or technical expertise. One of its major challenges is the absence of sufficiently honest and meaningful national dialogue. Every day, the people hear political speeches, official explanations and endless debates. Yet many of the country’s fundamental problems remain unaddressed.

Too often, public discussion revolves around personalities rather than principles, political advantage rather than national interest, and temporary arrangements rather than long-term solutions.
The result is that the nation hears a great deal but often learns very little.
This is why an experienced voice that speaks openly can attract public attention.

A person who has spent years within the legal and judicial system understands that the strength of a state does not depend merely upon the existence of laws, courts and institutions. The real strength of a country lies in the credibility of those institutions, the equal application of the law, respect for constitutional principles and the confidence of the people.
Public trust is one of the most valuable assets of any state.

A country can survive political differences. It can overcome economic crises and recover from external challenges. But when ordinary citizens begin to lose confidence in the fairness, effectiveness or independence of institutions, the consequences can be far more serious.

Trust, once weakened, is not easily restored.
For this reason, difficult questions should not automatically be treated as dangerous questions.

A healthy society must have the courage to ask whether institutions are performing their responsibilities effectively, whether decisions are being taken in the larger public interest, whether constitutional principles are being respected and whether mistakes, when they occur, are being honestly acknowledged and corrected.

Such questions do not weaken a country. They are necessary for its improvement.
Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu’s social media discussions appear to resonate with many people because he speaks in a language that is direct and understandable. He does not seem interested merely in presenting a polished narrative. Rather, his words often give the impression of a person sharing his personal observations and concerns about the state of affairs.

Of course, no individual is beyond disagreement. In a democratic and intellectually mature society, differences of opinion are both natural and necessary. One may agree with some of his views and disagree with others. But disagreement should not prevent us from appreciating sincerity, courage and the willingness to discuss issues that others may prefer to avoid.
Unfortunately, we have developed a tendency to judge every opinion 😎 according to the political or institutional identity of the person expressing it. Instead of discussing the substance of an argument, we often attempt to classify the speaker.

This approach must change.
Pakistan needs a culture of mature and responsible debate. We need fewer personal attacks and more discussion about the issues that genuinely affect the future of the country. We need to move beyond slogans and ask why the same problems repeatedly return in different forms.
Why are reforms announced but not implemented?

Why does public confidence in institutions repeatedly become a subject of concern?
Why do we often address the symptoms of a national problem while ignoring its deeper causes?
These are questions that deserve serious discussion.

The role of experienced retired judges, senior civil servants, academics and other public figures can be particularly important in this regard. During their active service, they are bound by the discipline and limitations of their offices. After retirement, however, their experience can become a valuable national resource if it is used responsibly and in the larger public interest.

Social media has provided such individuals with a direct channel of communication with the public. It allows them to share their experiences and observations without depending entirely on conventional media platforms. At the same time, this freedom requires responsibility, particularly when sensitive issues involving national institutions and constitutional matters are being discussed.

But responsibility should not mean complete silence.
Silence can sometimes be convenient, especially for those who have retired from public office and no longer carry an official responsibility. Yet when a person with experience sees developments that genuinely cause concern, sharing those concerns with society can itself become an act of responsibility.

This is perhaps the aspect of Justice Pannu’s social media presence that deserves greater attention.
Behind his words, one can feel not merely criticism but concern.

One can sense the uneasiness of a person who has seen the system from close quarters and who appears deeply troubled by the prevailing national situation. His observations seem to come from a desire to see Pakistan emerge from uncertainty, institutional tension, political division and repeated crises.
There is a difference between speaking against a system and speaking out of pain for a system that one wants to see improved.

This distinction is important.
The impression one receives from Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu’s candid discussions is that his criticism is rooted in concern rather than hostility.

His loyalty appears to be directed not towards any temporary political arrangement, personality or individual interest, but towards Pakistan, its people, its constitutional order and its future.

That concern gives emotional strength to his words.
Pakistan today needs citizens who are not indifferent to what is happening around them. It needs people who can rise above personal interests and consider the larger consequences of national decisions. It needs experienced voices that are prepared to remind society that institutions are strengthened through self-correction, accountability, fairness and adherence to constitutional principles.

The younger generation, in particular, deserves an honest national conversation. Young Pakistanis are not merely looking for political slogans.

They are concerned about their future, employment, education, justice, economic stability and the direction of the country. They want to know whether those entrusted with responsibility are genuinely addressing the challenges before the nation.

The concerns expressed by experienced individuals should therefore be listened to carefully—even where there is disagreement.
No society can progress if it creates an environment in which only convenient opinions are welcomed. Progress requires the ability to listen to uncomfortable truths, to examine criticism objectively and to correct mistakes without treating every question as an attack.

Pakistan’s challenges are serious, but they are not beyond solution. The country possesses enormous human potential, natural resources and a young population. What is required is a stronger commitment to constitutionalism, institutional responsibility, transparent governance, justice and long-term national planning.

The first step towards solving any problem, however, is to acknowledge that it exists.
A doctor cannot treat a patient without a correct diagnosis. In the same way, a nation cannot address its weaknesses by pretending that everything is satisfactory.

Recognising a problem is not pessimism. It is the beginning of reform.
Perhaps this is why Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu’s heartfelt presence on social media has attracted attention. People appear to see in his words something more than another political commentary. They see the concern of an experienced individual who has not become detached from the pain of society after retirement.

When he speaks about the prevailing situation, one can sense his concern for the people of Pakistan.
When he raises difficult questions, one can sense his desire to see institutions become stronger and more credible.

And when he expresses his views with emotion, one can sense the pain of a person who does not want to remain indifferent while his country passes through difficult circumstances.

His words may not always be comfortable. They may not always be universally accepted. But that is not the purpose of an honest national conversation.

The purpose is to make us think.
Pakistan today does not need more noise, manufactured narratives or blind loyalty to personalities. It needs sincerity, courage and a genuine commitment to the national interest. It needs people who can disagree without hatred, criticise without malice and speak openly without abandoning responsibility.

Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu’s social media discussions serve as a reminder that experience has little value if it is never shared and that knowledge serves little purpose if it remains silent when society is passing through difficult times.

Above all, what appears most clearly in his words is his concern for society, his loyalty to Pakistan and his pain over the prevailing situation in the country.
He speaks because he appears to care.
He speaks because the condition of society causes him concern.

And perhaps he speaks because his loyalty to Pakistan and his pain for its present circumstances do not allow him to remain indifferent.
At this critical stage in our national history, Pakistan needs not only powerful voices but also sincere hearts.

It needs people who look beyond personal interests and speak with honesty, courage and a genuine sense of responsibility.

Whether one agrees with Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu on every issue or not, his heartfelt expression of concern deserves to be heard and considered with seriousness. For behind his words, one can feel the concern of a citizen, the loyalty of a Pakistani and the pain of a person deeply troubled by the circumstances through which his society and country are passing.

Dr. Alamdar Hussain Malik
Advisor Academics, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Swat.
Former Financial Adviser, Finance Division, Government of Pakistan