TWO separate developments on Sunday further strengthened apprehensions that the nation was plunging into deep division and chaos and the situation could take a serious and ugly turn if timely measures were not taken to address the challenge.
Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, a PTI representative, created obstacles in the process of oath-taking of the newly elected Chief Minister of the province Hamza Shehbaz, prompting the Prime Minister to sack the Governor but the latter challenged the authority of the former to remove him claiming that only the President has the discretionary powers to do so.
In a separate development, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, during his Lahore visit, warned that misinformation and propaganda threatened the state’s integrity and required timely and unified response to effectively counter speculations and rumours.
The constitutional and legal crises that one is witnessing ever since filing of no-confidence motion against the former Prime Minister bears testimony to the fact that the society is moving towards bitter differences and extreme intolerance due to myopic attitude of some political parties and their leadership.
The division is so sharp that even the constitutional offices have become highly controversial because of the partisan conduct of their incumbents.
These offices are considered to be symbols and strength of the federation but these are being used to advance self-centered party interests.
Dangerous precedents are being set by declining to administer oath to the PM, his cabinet and the Chief Minister, which serves no other purpose but to poison the political environment further.
Election of the Chief Minister was held in accordance with the guidelines of the Lahore High Court (LHC) but attempts are being made to make the election result controversial on flimsy grounds.
As proceedings of the house were watched live by the entire nation, everyone knows who created the mess and for what as the Deputy Speaker was manhandled, opposition and dissident MPAs were attacked and personnel of police force who tried to salvage the situation were mercilessly beaten.
However, the Governor has sought a report on the situation not from the Deputy Speaker who chaired the session but from the Speaker who himself was a candidate and, therefore, a party and the Secretary of the Assembly whose conduct was highly partisan.
Ultimately, the courts might settle all these issues as per law and Constitution but the damage has been done to the societal fabric.
Similarly, we must listen to what the COAS has said as the tendency of maligning national institutions has devastating consequences.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean spread of fake news and making institutions controversial for political gains and, therefore, a prompt and strong action is required against hate mongers irrespective of their political affiliations.
