The numbers at the sit-in location don’t count any more, neither does the location itself. So, even if the current sit-in location is given up as has been ordered by the Supreme Court the political campaign of the two parties — the PTI and the PAT are not likely to suffer any reverses. Indeed, as long as the 24/7 TV channel cameras continue to telecast live, round the clock, suitably stimulating frames of the sit-ins and equally uplifting perorations by Qadri and Imran packed with intimidating ultimatums and thunderous deadlines, the intended message would continue to reach the drawing rooms of most Pakistanis inside the country and abroad.
Together, the news and views channels, using a rule of thumb, are estimated to cover almost 80 per cent of the population. The talk shows that punctuate the pronouncements of the two leaders attempt to give on a daily basis a meaning to the message of the day but without succeeding in any significant way in changing the mind of the viewers. By now, the viewers have categorised each talk-show anchor by the way he conducts the show, selects his guests and guides the arguments. So they listen to only those anchors that they believe promote their side of the argument.
Clearly, the broadcast media has added an entirely new dimension to political campaigning in the country. That the PTI sit-ins are being replicated in major Pakistani cities and that its reverberations are being heard even in London, makes it abundantly clear that Imran’s media campaign is meeting a measure of success. That so far, Qadri has not been able to do much on this front could mean that perhaps his sit-in crowd is all that he has got.
Imran wants Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign and offers himself to be investigated by a Supreme Court Commission on charges of being allegedly involved in rigging the 2013 general elections. Qadri wants the system itself to be wrapped up and rulers arrested and proceeded against in courts of law for their alleged plunder of the country.
Notwithstanding the fact that both these particular demands are unconstitutional, illegal and morally untenable, one cannot but discern a universal appeal in the rest of the demands of the two. Imran is so right when he says that rich are becoming richer and the poor, poorer. And also, it is impossible not to agree with Qadri that the system has failed to deliver all these 67 years.
And who would disagree with Imran’s demands for investigating the alleged rigging of the last polls under the auspicious of a Supreme Court Commission, reconstitution of the election commission and electoral reforms? Qadri’s demands appear even more compelling: he wants the culprits responsible for killing 14 of his supporters on June 17 to be brought to book; he also wants to establish an egalitarian society as promised by founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; complete alleviation of poverty; provision of basic necessities; free education; justice; health facilities; rights to workers and farmers; eradication of rich and poor gap; accountability of all kinds of corruption and its elimination from the society to improve system, society and governance; reforms in political, electoral and socio-economic system so that Articles 62 and 63 could be implemented in letter and in spirit; no martial law; eradication of all kinds of terrorism from the country; devolution of powers as practised in America, Canada and European countries; more provinces; all necessary rights to the minorities; Gilgit-Baltistan be made a province; and provision of rights to women.
Even the staunchest of Nawaz supporters in their hearts of hearts, one would like to believe, would find it impossible to disagree with these demands. Perhaps, even the Sharifs would not be averse to any of these demands. In fact, all of those 11 or so parliamentary parties which have passed a resolution condemning the demand of Imran and Qadri the PM’s resignation and for the system to be packed up may find the rest of the demands of the two very much in accordance with their own aspirations. So, how does one pursue this national objective without the PM having to resign and the system getting packed up? Of course, not by quarrelling but by consensus.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (11)
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@nadeem: Your frail accusation of IK being sponsored by those in Khaki becomes baseless when they don't intervene for 14 long days. The champions of democracy on the other hand derive power in their argument that army supports 'them' at the mean time its behind IK and TUQ.
It is surprising as to how Qadri can demand provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan. Gilgit-Baltistan is part of the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir and hence as per Maharaja Hari Singh's accession to the Indian Union, now a part of the Indian Union. Any attempt to give it the status of a province will invite Indian military action regardless of any nuclear threat that Pakistan may throw. Just goes to show his naivety in international affairs.
I look around the world and it becomes quite apparent that the problems Pakistan is facing are endemic everywhere, The basic differences are that Pakistan inherited severe economic problems from the British Raj, and an unfortunate military situation due to Kashmir and complicated Taliban type militancy. However, ignoring the differences, it does appear that politicians everywhere seem unable to solve even simple problems, and refuse to negotiate at a reasonable level. For, example, if one looks at the Western countries it is obvious that rather than solving problems they are routinely creating them. Instead of Pakistan learning from the older democracies, it appears to have taken on board all the bad habits, and I do not think we should expect improvement any time soon. However, one thing Pakistanis can be absolutely sure of is that the vast majority of their politicians, and the countries corporate leadership will look after themselves first, and the vast majority of the population will trail a distant second.
@Ahmed: Demanding resignation is not unconstitutional. However PM having to resign based on street protest is. The only constitutional way for government to bow out is if a vote of no confidence passes in the lower house.
That has not happened and is not going to. To require resignation without the condition for resignation being met is unconstitutional.
Demanding resignation is not unconstitutional Sir, please consult a lawyer. Morality of the matter is a separate question. Protesting is not unconstitutional either.
Healthy political competition, not pathetic consensus, gives rise to change. The medieval ways of doing things handed down by generations of corrupt politicians do not fit into the modern world.
We need to have a merit based system where there is a clear differentiation between right and wrong, public and private and past and future. It is not Azadi Square but the current system that stinks!
Full speed ahead Imran!
But his sponsors in 'Pindi are not concerned about this fact. They will not allow Prime Minister Imran Khan to bring reforms for equitable distribution of wealth - because they will be the first ones to lose their wealth (and business empire) if the system is genuinely reformed
if you want to change a system, you should be inside the system and change. not being outside of it.
If you are inside the system, you know what are the good things and what are the bad things. If you are outside, you come to know of deficiancies only because the positive things in the system would be taken for granted.
Sane advice from a wise man, but those who make calls to expats to send money through Hundi are less likely to heed to words of wisdom, especially when they have support of script writers
Consensus? All those demands require shift of powers away from the ruling elite; and they're not going to give up that status quo with consensus. No love for PAT or PTI, but political solutions aren't going to work in Pakistan.
I do agree with the overall article except the end. I dont think the matter should resolve by consensus. Consensus will just bring the same government with modification no relief will be provided to the masses.