Since its formation in 1947, Pakistan has been facing one crisis after another. The newborn State without sufficient resources had to face the great challenge of housing millions of immigrant families from India. Besides this, the Indian forces occupied Kashmir leading to a dispute that still remains unresolved. As if all this was not enough, the Founding Father, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, passed away leaving the nation leaderless at a crucial moment. Moreover, Pakistans constitution was framed after nine years in 1956. By then it was too late, since the democratic foundations of the country had been shaken by the civil-military establishment. Malik Ghulam Mohammed, Chaudhary Mohammed Ali and Sikander Mirza joined by General Ayub Khan, who was then Defence Minister, totally destroyed the fabric of democracy in Pakistan. Even today, the debate goes on whether the generals imposed martial law in the country to sabotage the political process for personal gains and interests or the politicians created a power vacuum that they filled. Despite several martial laws, the politicians have failed to explain why the overwhelming majority of people welcomed the military every time it took over the reins of civil government. For instance, the recent demand of calling the army to save the port city of Karachi is gaining ground among the masses as well as leadership of all the major political parties. There is no greater indictment of the current political system than the fact that the Supreme Court had to take suo motu notice of the violence in the city. The print and electronic media, too, have been highlighting not only the rise in street crimes, but also the warlords who are running their affairs in a state within a state manner. Pakistan is, unfortunately, gaining international attention due to the tragic events gripping its peace loving society. This has given rise to fears, especially in the West, that if lawlessness coupled with linguistic, provincial and sectarian conflicts remain unchecked in the country, our nuclear assets may fall in the wrong hands. In such an environment, it is unfortunate that democratic norms in the form of good governance have failed to flourish. Democracy certainly does not blossom in isolation. There are so many other factors that contribute to the promotion of democratic norms and states. Most of them lack in our case. After independence in 1947, successive governments in India and Pakistan had no other option, except to follow the system of government that their masters - the British - had left behind. Most of the elite had been educated in British institutions and, therefore, followed the old dictum: "The language of the King is the king of all languages, the dress of the King is the king of all dresses, and so are all the ways of life." Hence, the adoption of the British parliamentary form of government. Nevertheless, the experience of the past six decades has proved that the borrowed (British) parliamentary system has failed in Pakistan. We are two completely different people with different traditions, culture and historical background. We have the Islamic model of the State (Khilafat) to follow. And in trying to blend the two, we have already suffered enough. Now it is time we make up our minds to follow a system and amend the Constitution to suit what is more akin to our own rich heritage for democracy to flourish and bloom in the republic. Surely, democracy in Pakistan is in crisis. However, there is a solution: More and real democracy. A stronger democracy is the need of the hour. If that happens, Pakistan will become a viable and truly sovereign nation. There is definitely no need to lose hope The writer is President of the Pakistan National Forum. Email: ikramullahkhan1@yahoo.com