THE 8 February elections have given a split mandate, with no single political party having a simple majority, to form a government, or be capable to take decisions for much needed political and economic stability. Pakistan faces a grave economic crisis, which must be tackled with. Failure to do so will impact national security and sovereignty. The State must raise its revenues through direct taxation and bridge the deficit. Austerity measures must be adopted starting from the top. Subsidies should only be targeted for those living below poverty line and not the affluent elite. Investment in development of human resources is very vital to keep in pace with technological advances.
Agriculture yield per acre must be increased to meet the growing demand of an ever-increasing population, which must be curtailed. This cannot be achieved if total tilled acreage keeps on shrinking. There should be a complete ban on converting green agriculture pastures and fruit orchards into concrete jungles by the land mafia. Revenues from export must increase, which can only be achieved if we have political stability and Tax-GDP ratio, that can sustain it. Targeted subsidies to the poor can only be in the form of withdrawing indirect taxes on basic food items and electricity consumers of less than 200/300 units. Without increasing revenues through direct taxation, even this is not achievable.
Total Voter Turnout in 2024 was only 48%, as compared to 51% in 2018 and 54% in 2013. The highest voter turnout was 63% in 1970. The manner in which a tin-pot dictator made an attempt not to honour the clear and decisive mandate given to majority party in former East Pakistan had a devastated impact on this country. Thereafter, voter turnout is in decline, going below even 50%. It reflects upon growing dissatisfaction of electorate. Sanctity of their vote has been flouted so often, not just by supra constitutional interventions, but by the political leaderships that have emerged, who failed to deliver. Pakistan was created to be a modern democratic welfare state with a constitution as supreme law. The Founding Fathers never wanted Pakistan to be a theocracy, or a cantonment state, nor a country captive to an elitist culture and neither a cult. Those who do not agree with this must remember that MAJ’s choice as First Law Minister of Pakistan was a Hindu Dalit, Jogendra Nath Mandal. As Law Minister, he was tasked by the Quaid to ensure that a Constitution is drafted and adopted at the earliest.
Quaid believed that the majority Muslim population would incorporate Islamic concept of jurisprudence with equality, justice and tolerance for members of other faiths. The Quaid is on record that “Islam came in the world to establish democracy, peace and justice; to safeguard the rights of the oppressed. It brought to humanity the message of equality of the rich and the poor, of the high and the low. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) fought for these ideals for the major part of his life”. Unfortunately, Jinnah’s vision was trampled upon by men captive to their own vested interests and intrigues of civil and uniformed bureaucracy, which Pakistan inherited from Colonial Raj. This bureaucracy was trained by Colonial Raj to serve British Empire, and not the citizens of undivided India. Like all colonialists the British indulged in “Divide and Rule” strategy. They sowed seeds of discord by exploiting their religious biases. This strategy is also adopted by dictators. The intrigues and ambitions of the likes of Iskandar Mirza derailed Jinnah’s vision. Pakistan has suffered and it is time, we collectively realize that survival and welfare of Pakistan is wedded to the vision of a modern democratic welfare state with fruits of democracy and freedom trickling down to masses and not just an elite group.
The ground reality is that the 2024 elections have not given a clear majority to any single political party. In democracy, politicians must interact with adversaries. Democracy thrives when politicians sit together in times of crisis, such as the split mandate given in just concluded elections. A lot of controversies have risen. However, political sanity and sagacity must prevail. Failure to form a government is not an option, because that means another election. For the first time in the checkered political history of Pakistan, after a party-based elections, the number of elected independents, outnumber seats won by any single party. This situation has arisen after PTI was deprived of its election symbol, for their failure to hold intra-party elections as per their own constitution. They did decide to hold intra-party elections on 5 February, but then decided to postpone it and focus on the general election. PTI’s problems started because of their alleged involvement in unfortunate 9th May incidents and violent protests after their government was removed through a no-confidence motion and a series of events. It is an established norm in a democracy that resorting to violence as a tool for political protests unconstitutional, thus unacceptable.
However, it must be kept in mind, that had the 126-day violent siege of Red Zone, involving PTI and Tahir-ul-Qadri not been facilitated by powerful quarters in 2014, the 9th May events would in all probability not have occurred. PTI alone should not be held responsible for the gross irregularities which finally led to 9 May events. However, the fact remains that their political leadership failed to tread the more constitutional and civil mode of protests to voice their grievances. In 2017, there occurred another violent 26-day protest by TLP, which was also facilitated by rogue elements in certain quarters. It is also a fact that a judge of SC has in a judgment declared this TLP Dharna as illegal and ordered action against those involved. This judgement was not implemented and it is quite possible that this inculcated within PTI, a sense of encouragement to resort to violence in politics. Both PMLN and PPP need introspection and look beyond their families and change economic czars.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
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