The ongoing political turbulence in Sindh casts an ominous shadow on the democratic transition that Pakistan has been experiencing during the last one decade. The PTI government, which is barely four months old, is risking more political instability for the sake of short-term gains. The statements by PTI leaders to the effect that they could engineer a massive change in Sindh’s political landscape are alarming – to say the very least. The fact is that voters in that province gave a clear mandate to the PPP in the July general elections. The principle of democratic politics is very clear: the majority party has the legitimate right to rule for the term prescribed in the Constitution. The PTI draws its own authority from the same principle.
There is no question that the top leadership of the PPP is in thick soup, for the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has made some startling revelations on how a ring of politicians, bankers, middle-men and public officials have been illegally laundering large sums of money. There are allegations that these transfers of funds can be traced back to public money and this has caused much consternation amongst the general public as well as watchers of Pakistan’s democracy at home and abroad. That the leadership of a national party is alleged to be involved in such activities calls for a thorough inquiry and effective prosecution so that such malfeasance can be plugged and corrected.
However, a JIT report is a mere compilation of preliminary investigations that require a rigorous judicial review and a much higher quality of evidence before any lasting conclusions can be drawn. Sadly such basic principles of legal prudence have been dispensed with, in favour of a populist narrative and a ratings-hungry media. Together, these two factors are playing havoc with the process of establishing the rule of law in the country. There are even allegations that all of this may be happening at the behest of extra-constitutional forces that may have a political axe to grind with Mr. Zardari. At least the rhetoric by the PPP leadership testifies to this. Such matters are difficult to prove and allegations will remain allegations until sufficient evidence is brought before the public. For now, one can only hope that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the courts will act impartially, fairly and in a neutral manner so as to dispel the impression of bias against the PPP. The enthusiastic and highly vocal members of the cabinet would also do well to exercise a modicum of caution – and not speak on behalf of a supposedly autonomous NAB.
With Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother already in the dock, the impending jail-terms for senior PPP leaders are pointing towards a sorry situation that may turn Pakistan into a one-party state. This will be inimical to the idea of parliamentary democracy and competitive politics. And above all, it will exert undue stress upon the structural integrity of Pakistan’s federation. We hope that such fears are totally misplaced and that better sense will prevail amongst the judicial authorities of the country – who will not let an accountability process turn into a witch-hunt.
The idea of democracy embodies the vital role of a thriving opposition which not only keeps the government under check but also presents a credible alternative in the eyes of the electorate. The PTI leadership should remember the experience of the 1990s, when such witch-hunts led to a systemic breakdown and frequent changes of government – turning the electoral exercise into a near farce. Pakistan cannot afford a repeat of that decade. It is also important to remember that the dire economic challenges that we are currently facing will only be exacerbated by continuing political instability.
