India, Sept. 27 -- A protest by citizens is not an abnormal thing for any country. It is a part of the people-government interaction. But the case of Pakistan is unique. No country on this globe may have witnessed as many mass protests and that too on such varied issues as Pakistan has in the past one decade.

From political and religious movements to women's rights, ethnic grievances, economic hardships, electoral and regional demands, Pakistani people have repeatedly taken to the streets. They have shaken the nation, disrupted normal life and made international news.

Protest is a universal political phenomenon and a basic right. But why do Pakistani people from all walks of life so often find themselves on the streets? Pakistan's stree...