A marked degree of divergence of opinion is seen among major political parties in Pakistan. It has created policy gaps, obstructed good governance and impeded policy implementation in the country. Instead of using the platform of parliament to resolve key issues, it is often preferred to stage protest and use strategy of agitation in order to coerce the government for their demands. In fact, in democracies everyone has the right to assembly and protest, it must not aim to dismantle the edifice of democracy through agitation. The parliament, not streets, should be used as the venue for resolving political tangle.
The trend of egoistic politics and populism leads to zealotry and radicalism in society that propels political polarization in a country. In the political discourse of Pakistan, there is a visible tendency of intolerance and division on partisan basis and common people are dangerously turning against the elite as they perceive the political elite responsible for their depravity and misfortune. Paddling the narrative of ‘us versus them’ or ‘poor versus elite’ has brought the citizens and the government on the brink of direct collision. The state institutions appear to be the primary target because populist narrative against political elite has inadvertently turned against the powerful institution of the state, thereby creating social fissure and deteriorating state-society relation.
The foremost cause of political polarization in the country is lack of political accord among major national parties. The more political parties find themselves at daggers drawn, the greater chances of allowing non-democratic forces to encroach democratic space and intrude into the governance ambit. It certainly shrinks space for democratic norms which may compromise democratic institutions in the country. The government and the opposition are engaged in trading barbs instead showing genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Unless political discontents are resolved through peaceful means, violence will be the ultimate arbitrator, further augmenting political fissure in the country.
Along with political discontent among national parties, sectarianism, religious fanaticism, ethnic and linguistic diversity, maladministration, corruption, economic inequality, gross deviation from public issues and ubiquitous fake news on social media are the major factors behind polarization and intolerance. Polarization has almost made the country ‘ungovernable ‘as there is no unified aspiration for common national goals such as inclusive governance, quality education, human resource development, economic sustainability, national security and environmental protection. A divided society and a fractured polity have shifted focus from key national issues, but the government, meanwhile, is struggling to deflect winds of opposition, channelizing the energy to create a ‘safety valve’ for itself.
As a consequence, political division has created problems for democracy. The government has started to throttle social media through various measures in order to dilute public opposition because social media has become the battlegrounds for political colloquies. In one or the other way, freedom of speech has been curtailed. Moreover, crackdown on opposition and incarceration of the leaderships of major political parties and their supporters further pushed democracy on the verge of derailment. Even though key institutions like the judiciary are indispensable for protecting the fundamental rights and balancing power among various organs of the state in a democratic system, the recent constitutional amendment has shifted power balance in favour of the parliament, an important pillar of democracy.
Apparently, political turmoil has made it harder for institutions to work in their best capacity. It has contributed to bad governance and poor service delivery. With growing population, the country is facing serious economic crisis like macro-economic instability, low foreign reserves, balance-of-payment crisis, colossal debts, fiscal deficit, high inflation, poverty and unemployment. These issues led to deep-seated grievances among low-income people as they believe that they are the victim of rigged political system. Recent protests and social movements show the outburst of public anger against the exploitive system. Even many people have termed the growing public agitation as the dawn of ‘revolution’ in Pakistan.
However, it is argued by many scholars like Anatol Lieven in the book “Pakistan: A Hard Country” that revolution is unimaginable in Pakistan because it hosts different ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups who cannot “unite behind a revolution” because they cannot “unite behind anything”. Or, at least, it is impossible in this polarized environment. But common hatred for the existing system may bring people together for the time being as what Anton Chekhov said, “Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” Therefore, it is indispensable to resolve all major political issues through dialogue for the greater interest of the country before a perceived calamity because the state appears to be fast losing the battle of narrative in this information age.
—The writer is a strategic affairs and foreign policy analyst, based in Islamabad.
