Malik M. Ashraf<\/p>\n
In regards to the election results that in\u00addicate split mandate, a sustained cam\u00adpaign has been triggered by some ex\u00adternal handles and also reinforced by internal social media suggesting that the majority of people have voted to express their dislike of the role of establishment in the elections and that the establishment did not understand the public sen\u00adtiment. This propaganda ostensi\u00adbly has two objectives. The first is to rub in the notion that the establishment is secluded and isolated. Secondly, the peo\u00adple at large have anti-establishment feel\u00adings. This is a very dangerous narrative from national perspective as it sends very wrong signals to the outside world.
\nThe inferences drawn in this propa\u00adganda need to be examined on the touch stone of reality and proper context. The reality check indicates that 48% vot\u00aders exercised their right while 52 % did not bother to come out of their houses. So against a wave of high voter turn out supporting PTI the overall turn out was less than 2018 elections. From the win\u00adning percentage it is clear that out these 48%, those who voted for PTI backed candidates could at best won 30-35 NA seats. Therefore the vote manipulative\u00adly taken as anti-establishment is techni\u00adcally and realistically wrong. Those who voted for PTI candidates voted for mul\u00adtiple reasons, including the impact of the anti-establishment rhetoric persistent\u00adly hammered without any credible evi\u00addence. Even where the PTI candidates won the margin of lead was not big mean\u00ading thereby that a substantial part of the people rejected the anti-establishment narrative of PTI. So logically speaking all those elements which have launched an\u00adti-establishment rhetoric with respect to election results,, have no credible basis to support their contention.
\nThe election results actually demol\u00adish the propaganda about establishment having any manipulative role. Had it been so then the PTI would not have won the National Assembly seats in large num\u00adbers that it and some of the heavy weight politicians of PML(N) and other parties would not have been defeated. PTI al\u00admost sweeping in KPK is yet another ir\u00adrefutable evidence of establishment al\u00adlowing the people to decide without any interference. These realities amply testi\u00adfy hands-off policy by the establishment rather than resorting to macro-manage\u00adment of the results.
\nThis propaganda by PTI is na\u00efve like the one it launched on the eve of filing of nomination papers for the elections persistently claiming that its candidates were being prevented from filing their papers. The falsehood of this contention was proven when it transpired that the number of candidates of PTI who filed their nomination papers was greater than candidates of any other party. It was quite embarrassing but the party and its social media stalwarts have not learnt their lessons. They are again repeating that mistake by trying to distort facts and building anti-establishment sentiments among the public.
\nThe establishment which is keen on focusing on fifth generational warfare should have anticipated the move by PTI to use Form 45 and initially exaggerat\u00aded results announced by paid and allied media channels combined with foreign handles and lobbyists. That is where es\u00adtablishment probably erred thinking that as the results would come in they would themselves showcase their im\u00adpartiality. In the permeating scenario it is therefore important that facts and ground realities are allowed to be heard and counted in regards to developing perceptions rather than letting biases and assumptions to govern them.
\nNow that the people have given split mandate it is responsibility of all the po\u00adlitical stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to according top priority to national interests and through their col\u00adlective wisdom find a perennial solution to keep political instability at bay to over\u00adcome the formidable challenges confront\u00ading the country in the domain of economy, security, climate change and governance. Although I do not like to use clich\u00e9s but I honestly feel and it is also an undisputed opinion of all the people that the country is really at the cross-roads. In a situation like this politicking can wait for better times.
\nIt is a now or never opportunity for the politicians to put the country back on track. There is an imperative need for construct a coalition government of all parties and drawing up long terms pol\u00adicies based on consensus in regards to preparations for successful engagement with IMF; how to control inflation that is badly affecting lives of the masses as well as creating job opportunities for the people and reducing poverty levels; how budgetary deficit can be pulled down and current and trade deficits can be man\u00adaged on perennial basis; how to reduce debt liabilities; what measures are need\u00aded to attract foreign direct investments; what tax reforms are required to gener\u00adate required revenues; how to deal with looming climate challenge; what role the political parties can play in strengthening efforts of the armed forces and law en\u00adforcing agencies to combat and eliminate the menace of terrorism and enhancing the capacity of LEAs especially police to counter terrorists effectively.
\nIn the backdrop of the foregoing it is really encouraging to note that as a re\u00adsult of post-election political engage\u00adments six parties including PML(N), PPP,PML(Q), IPP, MQM and BAP have agreed to form a coalition government at the centre. It is absolutely essential that these parties become the part of the co\u00adalition in the real sense and collectively share the responsibility of the policies that are adopted. It would have been an ideal situation if the PTI-backed inde\u00adpendent group had also shown the grace to rise up to the occasion by abandoning their policy of confrontation and persist\u00ading with its anti-establishment stance.
\nSince PTI is not likely to form govern\u00adment at the centre it should focus on KPK where it has clear mandate and let the le\u00adgal channels decide their grievances re\u00adgarding their rigging claims and avoid creating chaos and unrest in the country forcing the state to deal with the situa\u00adtion with iron hands.
\nLeaders are supposed to unite the na\u00adtion not divide it which unfortunately is a reality at the moment due to divisive and confrontational policies of PTI and im\u00adprovident behaviour of its founding chair\u00adman. The party needs to rethink its politi\u00adcal creed if it desires to remain relevant to the political landscape of the country.
\nThe writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Malik M. Ashraf In regards to the election results that in\u00addicate split mandate, a sustained cam\u00adpaign has been triggered by some ex\u00adternal handles and also reinforced by internal social media suggesting that the majority of people have voted to express their dislike of the role of establishment in the elections and that the establishment did […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3489],"class_list":{"0":"post-387553","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-malik-m-ashraf"},"yoast_head":"\n