When the tumult and the shouting dies, will the Egyptian people find their promised land?
The demonstrations in Egypt this week brought back memories of the fall of the Berlin wall. But Egypt faces enormous challenges to meet the aspirations of its people, especially its youth and its middle class. Theirs will be a more difficult transition than that of Germany in 1989.
Compared with the problems of Pakistan, however, Egypt seems more likely to come through its demonstration of people power to a better future. Recent demonstrations in Pakistan have not been built on a strong middle-class base, do not propose a worthwhile future for the young and have ambivalent support from the army. More often than not demonstrators have supported jihadist causes.
The aftermath of the Egyptian uprising may be uncertain, but it has dealt a death blow to the old entrenched regime, which is very likely to impact on the Arab Muslim world in general. Unfortunately, however, it is not likely to provide a model for a better future for Pakistan.
The demonstrations in Egypt this week brought back memories of the fall of the Berlin wall. But Egypt faces enormous challenges to meet the aspirations of its people, especially its youth and its middle class. Theirs will be a more difficult transition than that of Germany in 1989.
Compared with the problems of Pakistan, however, Egypt seems more likely to come through its demonstration of people power to a better future. Recent demonstrations in Pakistan have not been built on a strong middle-class base, do not propose a worthwhile future for the young and have ambivalent support from the army. More often than not demonstrators have supported jihadist causes.
The aftermath of the Egyptian uprising may be uncertain, but it has dealt a death blow to the old entrenched regime, which is very likely to impact on the Arab Muslim world in general. Unfortunately, however, it is not likely to provide a model for a better future for Pakistan.
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