THE word Hybrid refers to manipulating a system, from its original concept, to an adapted system which can be managed. In science Hybrid means an offspring of two plants, or animals of different species, such as the mule, which is a hybrid version of donkey and a horse. Similarly, Hybrid Democracy is not classical representative democracy, which MAJ had envisioned and what motivated Muslim majority to support creation of a modern democratic welfare state, with equal opportunities for all, each enjoying equal rights etc., as per Constitution. The First Constituent Assembly was established by MAJ on 11August 1947 for adoption of a “Constitution”, on which foundations of Pakistan were to be built. Unfortunately, he died and those who succeeded him were captive to their selfish interests. They succumbed to the intrigues of a few, like Iskandar Mirza, who were trained by Raj to serve them and not the people. The rest is history and we still suffer consequences of betraying MAJ’s vision.
While democracy is the right of people to decide who rules them within defined contours of the Constitution and laws, the Hybrid version is liable to be controlled through manipulation or projections, using modern tools that exist, such as social media, AI etc. Just like the established norm that Judges must speak through their judgments, political governments must speak through their performance. This can be achieved, provided they have credibility, earned trust of people by serving them.
Quaid-e-Azam managed to carve out from the subcontinent a separate homeland where Muslim majority could live in peace with members of other faiths, in a modern democratic welfare state. Unlike the Congress Party, the All-India Muslim League did not have support of mainstream media. Most of the media were either pro-Congress or anti-AIML, except few like Daily Mashnoor, official organ of League, which started as a weekly in 1938, and became a daily on 25 December 1944, while Dawn was brought out as a weekly on 19 October 1941 and became a daily on 12 October 1942. Quoting from ‘Plain Mr Jinnah” based on MAJ’s correspondence etc “Quaid himself was the sole Mutawalli” of both newspapers. There were others like Tribune or New Times, which were started before 1937 general elections, but were either shut down by Raj, or because of financial reasons.
Despite all these handicaps, it was the integrity of MAJ, his credibility and trust of the people, who believed in what he said that AIML managed to gain a foothold. There were no Social Media Platforms available and what existed was the “Word of Mouth”, and the only mode through which it could spread was credibility, integrity and commitment of the political leader who spoke. MAJ had all these qualities and so did others like Allama Iqbal etc. They managed to inspire Muslims of the subcontinent, despite all odds, and opposition of powerful individuals and the British Raj, which ruled through use of force and collaboration of individuals willing to serve them. While the Raj had lands and titles to buy loyalties of locals, MAJ and AIML only had their credibility, commitment and trust of the Muslims who believed in them. It was not just Muslims, but many Hindu Dalits from Bengal like Jogendranath Mandal, Christians, Zoroastrians who had faith in his leadership.
Just like nuclear technology which can be used for benefit of mankind, producing clean electricity generation, medicine, scientific research etc., it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction, if accessible to men without vision, intellect or conscience, captive to their fascist mindset, in the pursuit of power. Similarly, Social Media Platforms can be used for education, spread of useful information, emergency awareness and warnings etc. Its misuse, if fallen into hands of men like Modi in India or Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel etc., can create havoc and chaos, with fatalities of hundreds of thousands and distress for millions. Since the advent of numerous Social Media outlets, the accessibility of internet coverage and the smart phone androids, the whole ball game has changed. Unlike the print and electronic media, which can be regulated to work within some ethics and rules, these Social Media platforms are as yet, not under any regulations. In the race for ratings and making money, they do not have any work ethics, self-editorial checks, to ensure that what they project is truth, and not fallacies, nor promote hate and sow seeds of discord that can lead to chaos in a society. As if this was not enough, powerful state funded sensitive department, funded by taxpayers, indulged in what they called Fifth Generation Warfare, where state funds were used to rundown few political parties and promote others. In the process of experimenting with social media to achieve their political manoeuvring objectives, they have created yet another Frankenstein, as they had done in the past.
The so-called Fifth Generation Warfare strategy, which employed thousands of individuals at tax-payers funds, was deployed to project their favorite by manoeuvring established political process and install their own prodigy and version of hybrid democracy. This tool of “Social Media” with AI inputs has become a weapon for spread of disinformation, create chaos and unrest and it is like a beast unleashed on this nation. The events of 9 May are a direct product of this. We have witnessed how Modi, a narcist and fascist, has used this to spread hatred and play upon Extremist Hindu Supremacists, inspired by Shiv Sena, to win elections, instead of canvassing on his performance. In Israel we see Benjamin Netanyahu, despite having the most powerful army in the region, play upon the bogey of self-defense of his country, threatened by Palestinians, resisting the longest occupation. Wars can only be fought between two nations, each having their own army, navy and air-force and not with a people who are under occupation. He has killed over 38,000 Palestinians, including 26000 women and children, in his version of a Hybrid war which in reality is genocide.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
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