Has PDM anything to do with public issues?

Ever since the holding of the All Parties Conference (APC) in Islamabad on September 20, and the issuance of the 26-point Charter of Demand, a barrage of politician bashing from different sides reflect a dangerous situation in the country. The hard-hitting speech by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif assailing the “role of the establishment in destabilising elected governments” and the APC’s clear stance to target forces responsible for “imposing” Imran Khan’s regime following the 2018 elections, clearly draws the battle lines in Pakistan’s prevailing dangerous power struggle.

Are politicians to be squarely blamed for bad governance, economic malaise, corruption and nepotism in the country? Is the APC and the launch of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) merely an attempt to reach the corridors of power through the backdoor while its agenda has nothing to do with real issues faced by the people of Pakistan?

Pakistan has a history of political instability and the failure of politicians to play a leadership role in strengthening the country’s governance, economy, rule of law and justice system. Since the early 1950s, most political parties and their leaders neither possess the capability nor integrity to run the affairs of the country because of their mediocre and below mediocre calibre. The feudal and tribal characteristics of Pakistan along with ethnic, religious and sectarian fault-lines failed to eradicate dynastic politics which periodically led to the rupture of political process. Following the disintegration of Pakistan in December 1971, there was a wishful thinking that the country will learn lessons from military’s interference in the mode of governance and the failure of politicians to run the country professionally.

The post-1971 Pakistan again drifted to authoritarian mode of governance with the imposition of the longest martial law on July 5, 1977, and the military coup of October 12, 1999. No major political party succeeded in strengthening the democratic process, ensuring good governance, rule of law, justice system and an independent foreign policy. As a result, one can again observe the peak of political polarisation between the PML-N-led opposition and the PTI-led government, whereas the former for the first in Pakistan’s political history accused the military establishment of making and breaking political parties and manipulating elections by imposing their favourites on the seat of power.

One can contest the opposition’s accusation of the military’s direct and indirect role in politics and governance but there are four major realities which one needs to consider in order to determine who is to be held responsible for the periodic rupture of Pakistan’s democratic process and why politicians lack the calibre, capability and credibility to effectively run the affairs of the country.

First, to a large extent, politicians in Pakistan lack the grooming, training, competence, and integrity because in most cases they have not read politics and their knowledge about the socio-economic and strategic landscape of Pakistan and the world is rudimentary in nature. Tribal and feudal culture of Pakistan, including religious dogmatism and fanaticism, further moulds their mindset which lacks clarity and strategic vision. Along with the politicians, political parties are non-professional and lack accountability in their rank and file. Unlike political parties in the developed countries where the cream of students studies history, political science, international relations, sociology, law, philosophy and public policy because they have to join politics, contest elections and join government, in Pakistan it is just the opposite. Mediocre and below mediocre staff with low caliber is patronised as politicians, which is incompatible with the required leadership qualities.

Second, to large extent politicians in Pakistan once in power, consider themselves above the law and are least reluctant to engage themselves in corruption and nepotism. Their lust for power and wealth is reflected whenever politicians win elections and their first target is to betray their voter who has elected them. They fail to give respect and power to their voters. If the people of Pakistan and voters are humiliated, betrayed and looked down by the majority of politicians upon reaching the corridors of power, in that case they are not to be blamed but those who have elected them are. When a common person in Pakistan lacks the courage to make politicians accountable for their corruption, misuse of power and nepotism, it means the people of this country are to be held responsible for being let down by politicians. If politicians compromise on democracy and the upholding of civilian supremacy, it has to do with their weaknesses and mediocre and below mediocre calibre because they are unable to take a stand against those who want to keep the political parties at bay and subservient to the interests of the ‘real’ establishment.

Third, in most post-colonial states, if democracy has not been able to flourish, it has to do with the fragility of political parties and politicians. If Pakistani politicians belonging to opposition parties blamed the military establishment for weakening democracy and the political process, the fault lies with those who claim to represent the people and their voters. Since 1950s, no major political party can claim not to be influenced by the military establishment and its agencies. The inferiority complex of majority of politicians because of their lack of leadership qualities, acumen, education and training caused a great havoc to the country’s democratic process. The periodic rupture of democracy has much to do with the lust for power, privileges and wealth of politicians than the men in uniform. While in power, politicians disown their voters, focus on loot and plunder of the country’s resources and then blame bureaucracy and military of not allowing them to govern.

Finally, the seriousness of the APC and their Charter of Demand can be gauged from the fact that no reference was made about Karachi and the ordeals of its citizens because of infrastructure destruction, water, electricity, waste garbage disposal along with tanker mafia, land mafia and the absence of public transport. It means Pakistan’s biggest city which contributes to 65% of federal and 90% of Sindh revenue doesn’t matter for the opposition, particularly the PML-N and the PPP.

The opposition’s moment of truth has arrived. If it wants to challenge the military establishment of what it calls “blatant interference in politics and governance by toppling elected governments; making and breaking political parties”, then it must rise above contradictions, put its own house in order, and not play politics from its comfort zones. Unfortunately, opportunistic politics of politicians and political parties has not only cost their credibility but also deprived Pakistan of a viable democratic process. By holding the APC in a five-star hotel in Islamabad, the opposition is least concerned about the plight of the people. In this scenario, people, politicians and political parties are to be blamed for the country’s predicament.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2020.

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