Politics of false narrative
IMRAN Khan lacks the credentials of a visionary leader who has an unswerving commitment to prioritize national interests.
But he surely is a master in carving out false narratives and using them to his advantage at the cost of political stability in the country.
The constitutional step by the opposition to move a no-confidence motion against him and the successful culmination of the process, courtesy the intervention of the apex court, Imran Khan has come up with a conspiracy theory, allegedly the US hatched a plot to oust him from power.
Imran and his party leaders have also cast aspersions at the judiciary, besides accusing the establishment of facilitating the process by staying apolitical.
He is vociferously spreading his new narrative creating misunderstanding among the people regarding country’s constitutional institutions.
It is pertinent to point out that the National Security Council, in its two meetings, did not buy the idea of conspiracy.
The DG ISPR in a presser categorically denied that the military leadership subscribed to the conspiracy claim.
He also unequivocally rejected the contention that the US had asked for military bases in Pakistan.
In the light of the foregoing irrefutable revelations, the conspiracy narrative stands nullified.
But Imran Khan refuses to budge from his false narrative of conspiracy. The coalition government has announced plans to form an Inquiry Commission to clear the haze.
However, the PTI has immediately rejected the suggestion.
This rejection clearly implies that the judiciary is not independent at the moment. That makes matters really complicated and worrisome.
Imran Khan demanded immediate elections while the proposition is not likely to be accepted by the government which holds the view that elections without electoral reforms would be a meaningless/futile exercise.
That sounds quite reasonable as elections held without reforms and under the supervision of the Chief Election Commissioner, who the PTI has been targeting, would not resolve the political crisis.
There is every likelihood of the march on Islamabad taking an ugly turn. PTI leaders and former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed are on record to have hinted at that possibility.
I think the PTI has to look beyond its narrow political agenda and think in terms of bringing stability to the country.
That is only possible through a dialogue between all the political entities with the aim of carrying out electoral reforms enjoying consensus of all stakeholders.
Holding elections without it would further exacerbate political crisis and polarization, inimical to national interests.
Politics must be done in conformity with international democratic norms and within the confines of the Constitution.
The country needs incremental progression towards its destination rather than a revolution fraught with destructive thrust.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
