Sajjad Ahmad Khan
The lust for power has under thumbed both the parties and they are athirst for each other’s blood
Pakistan’s new emerging political landscape is more challenging, frightening and daunting in terms of consequences and implications for the entire democratic political vista. Whether you call it a wake-up call or something else, the reality is that the political tug-of-war between the government and the opposition is intensifying over time. Pakistan is currently passing through a critical period of time. Intense polarization in the country and hatred between the two major parties has brought the country to the brink of a civil war. The feud between the former ruling PTI and PML-N has turned into a personal bed-blood. The lust for power has under thumbed both the parties and they are athirst for each other’s blood. Calling each other bad names from the stage, challenging each other for a melee has become a part of the day so-called democratic politics. It seems as if the government in our country is no more than a game of musical chairs. The one who loses the election is always on the streets and is on call to take any kind of risk to get back into the saddle. In this tumultuous situation, the Election Commission of Pakistan looks like a disabled person sitting in a wheelchair, immovable. Due to weak democratic values and norms, the state’s institutions in Pakistan have been the bulls-eyes of political backtalk and buzz. Unfortunately, various institutions have been dragged into politics. The Institution of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been badly manipulated as a deathly instrument to settle old political scores. Our political history has remained very conducive for military interventions. Due to pernicious environment democracy couldn’t flourish and grow into a tall shady tree in Pakistan.
Although I am a true exponent of democracy, I cannot turn a blind eye to the reality. So the implication of the fact is that whenever democracy got derailed in our country, the political parties themselves had been largely the cause of it. But today the situation has reached another level as the leaders are humiliating one another and the guns are being pointed towards the institutions. The main stream political parties are bullying and intimidating judiciary and the army into bowing down to act as their buttress. The judiciary is being cracked down on for acting in accordance with the constitution while the army is chewed out for being neutral in the process of no confidence motion, openly speaking. When the leader of the PTI found out that he had claw marked his popularity among the people, he termed his unceremonious removal an international and national conspiracy. In public meetings, he began cursing the decision of the court and called the country’s most prestigious institution- the army- the mad and insane. In fact, they are challenging the military to abandon its non-political commitment and become part of the politics. The opposition’s (PTI’s) propaganda and open hostility is a powerful attempt to tarnish the image of the judiciary, which has also shocked the judges in toto. Eventually, the judiciary’s patience ran out and the judges reprimanded Khan to refrain from making such statements. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial expressed his displeasure that it was inappropriate for anyone to accuse the judiciary just because the verdict was not in his or her favour. When political parties in the country use systematic and modern methods of propaganda to criticize the sensitive institutions of the country, such an attempt should never be taken lightly but it is tantamount to undermining the political system.
We need to keep in mind that when state institutions are weak, the non-state elements will naturally be much stronger. Moreover, the country is economically hypoxic and has been admitted to the ICU ward . For the survival of the country, it is inevitable to put the wheel of the country on the path of economic development. In my opinion, elections are not the solution to the growing political and economic crisis in the country since whatever the outcome, the loser will refuse it. What will be the significance of an election results where the court decisions are not honoured. It would be better if the incumbent government completes its constitutional term and in the meantime introduce fundamental electoral and other required reforms. The politics of sit-ins and demonstrations at D-Chowk should be thrown cold water on. Because at this time our country needs economic oxygen to gain well-being and constitution. The need of the hour is to hold fast to the cordage of unity so that the ship of the country can be pulled out of the whirlpool of hot water. Politicians, regardless of which political party they belong to, should think about Pakistan and its prosperity. If the axis of our decisions and politics continues to revolve around our personal interests, then Pakistan could face a great danger. The jeopardy will be in the shape of a tornado that will sweep away the tents of both the opposition and government. Again, It is highly alarming that the military and the judiciary both are being ensnared in the No-Go areas, while they are hanging back to step forward. If this practice is not abandoned immediately, it will only increase general unrest, besides abrading public confidence in the institutions. The scene that will emerge as a result of these circumstances would be ghastly and irreversible. We must remember, when people do not trust the judiciary then every nook and corner of the country will be a court and every person will call himself a judge. And so if the image of the army is tarnished, our own walls will become the borders of the enemy . This situation can be improved if political leaders promote peaceful and civilized politics within the framework of the constitution.
