In Pakistan, the popularity of PTI speaks volumes of the wave of populism in the country
SHIKARPUR: Major scourges such as corruption, terrorism and famine have been on the rise in the world. To get rid of the prevailing state of affairs, people are supporting the role of populism. The populist groups claim that the present state of affairs is not keeping its promises and perceive that the system is not sincere enough to eliminate the issues present in society.
During the US election it was not the defeat of Hillary Clinton but the defeat of the status quo because she formed similar policies as former President Barack Obama, while citizens wanted change through a populist party and elected Donald Trump. Similarly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected through populism. People in India were sick of hereditary political system and its policies, thus, they chose a populist party. So did France by electing Emmanuel Macron and defeating the status quo.
The wave of populism has also been witnessed in Brexit. In Pakistan too, the popularity of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf speaks volumes of the wave of populism in the country.
However, on the contrary, the opposing parties claim that the populist groups are only upstaging the public opinions for achieving their own interests. They state that such communities are violating human rights. But the agenda of populism is to change the image of the world into prosperity.
Wajahat Abro
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2017.
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