Demise of PTI and aftermath
THE political storm unleashed by the tragic and gruesome happenings of 9th may is far from over.
The ferocious tidal wave generated by the PTI fanatics by attacking army establishments and monuments is still raging in all its ferocity and the PTI seems to be crumbling like a house of cards with some of its top leaders abandoning the party after a tearful press conference citing the same reasons for jumping ship. Most political parties in Pakistan have faced trials and tribulations but the PTI top tier leadership has shown surprising lack of loyalty with the party and their supreme leader Imran Khan. PPP, PMLN, ANP and the MQM have all been through a severe backlash and punitive measures by the establishment but none of their top leaders have deserted the party with such alacrity and speed.
Most PTI deserters have now joined the newly created political party called Istehkam-i-Pakistan party or IPP under the leadership of Jahangir Khan Tareen and Aleem Khan both past dissidents of the PTI. The party loyalists who gained fame and fortune by jumping onto the cult of Imran Khan should have displayed moral courage and integrity when faced with pressures and intimidation but they gave in quickly when faced with the prospects of facing incarceration during the hot summer months. Top leaders from the parties opposed to the PTI suffered harsh conditions and jail sentences for months and sometimes years on end but did not betray the party of their choice. It goes without saying that the party of Imran Khan that was put together hurriedly by the powerful establishment simply imploded when faced with adversity and pressures exerted by the powers that be.
This crackdown by the establishment on the PTI is definitely different from any past crackdown on a political party. Parties have been broken up before but none other has melted like snow on a sunny day but in the past there was no social media so it’s not really possible to gauge the happenings in 1977 when Zia ul Haque tried to destroy the PPP or in 1999 when the PMLN faced the wrath of another military dictator. The destruction of the PTI appears to be speedier because it’s happening as we speak and it’s happening to a party most people consider a brainchild of the establishment so it is said it is being destroyed by its own creators and it is a clash between the Frankenstein monster and the scientists who created it. In this raging inferno of politics Pakistan’s human rights record is again facing severe criticism because of the forced disappearances of human rights activists and liberals such as Jibran Nasir and Imran Riaz, Jibran is back home safe and sound but Imran Riaz is still missing.
What are politicians and political activists supposed to be? Should they be built like professional crooks and criminals? Why politics in Pakistan is become a game of violence, mayhem and murder? Are politicians not supposed to believe in human dignity fundamental rights, liberty, equality and fraternity? Youngsters and future politicians aspiring for public service should think not twice but many times before opting for a career in politics.
If politics becomes a threat to life and liberty the brightest minds of the nation will definitely stay out of this field leaving the arena for crooks and hardened criminals only. Politicians and political workers in other civilized democratic countries do not suffer such repression or persecution at the hands of the state authorities and the rule of freedom of speech and thought is sacrosanct for all stake holders in society.
There are no two opinions about the ugly scenes of horrors and shame witnessed on 9th May. It goes without saying that all those who unleashed this horror and violence on the country deserve the full application of the law to punish them for attacking and vandalizing military establishments and monuments. There is now no doubt about the fact that the uprising by the PTI workers was politically motivated and the PTI chairman himself has stated. “I didn’t make the threat; it’s the workers and party members,” as he claimed. Alongside the nuanced, conflicting statements emanating from him and his erstwhile top leaders on whodunit, Mr. Khan has also asked for an independent inquiry of the incidents of violence repeatedly. His statements reflect that he does not trust the inquiries being conducted by the police around the country. Though, as usual, he does not specify what would qualify as ‘independent’ inquiry for him. His track-record of earlier positions shows that he is very adept at changing the goalposts as he pleases.
Imran Khan has shamelessly incited violence and chaos but continues to deny any wrong doing in the present chaos. He wants fair and free elections but continues to blame the election Commission of Pakistan of being in league with the PMLN and this even after winning almost all the bye Elections after being ousted from power. He himself came to power with the blessings and support of the powerful military establishment but keeps shouting from the roof tops that the establishment is supporting the PDM coalition.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
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