POLITICS in Pakistan has entered a new and disturbing pattern that is launching street agitation and protest politics overlooking a policy of dialogue and debate. This is the moment when this country is in desperate and immediate need of political stability and mature politics. The recent happenings in the country have taken the nation to the brink of a constitutional crisis because of the intense confrontational approach adopted both by the govt. and the main opposition party in the country.
The Govt. does not engage with the opposition to start a parliamentary dialogue and debate and the opposition on the other hand believes firmly in the tactics of street agitation and inflammatory speeches and toxic use of the social media to launch a hate campaign against the state institutions.
The policy adopted by both sides is igniting political polarization and posing a grave threat to the very existence and stability of the nation. A democratic and peaceful society can survive only by political dialogue and policy of compromise and no matter how serious the political differences they can only be solved by firmly established democratic institutions that is the nation’s parliament. No other state institution can do any good if the parliament is bypassed and attempts are made to solve political differences by unparliamentarily methods and tactics. The refusal of the opposition to engage with the govt. and keep on accusing them of corruption and undeserving to govern or illegal occupants of the govt. house makes any meaningful dialogue almost impossible.
Corruption no doubt is a serious and disturbing concern but it can only be eliminated by sensible legislation, enforcement of laws and public awareness and not by accusations and violent street agitation. The demands of the PTI are the immediate release of their leader, end of the 26th constitutional amendment and the return of their stolen mandate and they leave no room for any compromise, negotiation or dialogue. There appears to be total refusal for any give and take and this casts serious doubts on the democratic credibility of the party.
The final call of 24th November has taken the lives of four rangers, two policemen and numerous injuries to other personnel of law enforcing agencies and the national capital became a battleground between the Govt. and the opposition party. The Govt. side resorted to heavy tear gas shelling and use of brute force without realizing that violence and street agitation destroy democratic norms, public trust is damaged and the rule of law suffers serious damage.
Such protests and frequent street agitations tarnish the country’s international image and the recent visit of a delegation of Belorussia led by its president is the latest example of how are image is shattered in the eyes of foreign countries and prospective investors. Foreign relations must be nurtured and maintained very carefully and political statements like alleging the role of Saudi Arabia in the removal of the PTI govt. do nothing but damage our relations with a very friendly and important country.
Those who criticize others for involving family members in politics are now in the forefront of such politics. They should refrain from dynastic politics and give more attention to their style of governance and accountability.Opposition parties in the system are a must for any democratic dispensation. The opposition is a watchdog that keeps an eye on the doings of the Govt. hold the govt. responsible and provides different alternatives. The policy of showing street power and engaging in violent protests does not auger well for the future of democracy in this country. During the recent protest march of the PTI Islamabad witnessed scenes of pitched battles between the police and the PTI protesters that ended in a sudden and quick retreat of the party leaders from the red zone of the capital.
The Govt. officials are now rejoicing that they were successful in evicting the protesters from Islamabad but they refuse to see the damage done to the country to achieve victory over the protesters.
The entire province of Punjab was locked down in a tight water proof vice the likes of which have never been seen. The wheels of the economy came to a grinding halt. Industry was paralyzed, transport came to a halt, educational institutions were closed and life came to a standstill throughout the province of Punjab and Islamabad.
Such scenes of mayhem were first seen on the streets of Dhaka in 1971to secure the streets of the capital. Extra stringent measures were used to completely isolate Islamabad from the rest of the country and the victory achieved by the state forces has come at a very heavy cost to the nation.
All political parties including the PTI must realize that strengthening and improving parliamentary democracy is in the interest of everybody. A strong democracy is the only way to remove the influence of unconstitutional forces and protect the country from another rule by dictatorial elements. True democratic strength lies in robust institutions, accountable governance and a culture of dialogue.
Politics of street agitation and mobocracy is getting more popular and violent. The size of the mobs is increasing and becoming more unruly and destructive. The popularity of the opposition is increasing because their supporters do not believe that their leaders can do no wrong and it is the Govt. that is to be blamed for all that is happening.
The opposition makes very good use of Fake news and gets its strength from the news dished out by the social media based on sensational disinformation and it appears that the Govt. is now faced with a definite lost battle. In a democratic modern civil society the foremost duty of the ruling party and its leaders is to provide employment, safety food and shelter to the people they have been elected to govern.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
