Alarming polarisation of society

Seldom, if ever, was Pakistani society as polarised as it is today. With the economy on a ventilator, debt burden unbearable, default looming, cost of living soaring, poverty level rising and people’s anger at its peak, political leaders would be expected to conduct themselves to lessen the despondency and frustration in the masses. Instead some are igniting passions. Some, having lost the ability to project into the future, are trying to deepen the divisions, hatred and hostility. With little foresight, such so-called politicians are providing fuel to the tense stand-off between the ruling coalition and the opposition. This is a potentially hazardous approach to problem solving.

The latest outburst by PTI chairman Imran Khan is yet another ominous sign of the efforts to cast aspersion on the role of institutions in a moment of great uncertainty and to sow the seeds of further discontent and despair. In a statement on June 1, the PTI chief has asserted that if the ‘Establishment’ does not act now to stem the rot, the institution of military would face destruction. He ‘sees’ Pakistan breaking up if the sitting government is ‘allowed’ to continue in office. He has been dogmatic and emphatic ‘predicting’ a break-up of the country into ‘three’ parts if the change he desires does not take place. In their endeavours to seek a safe passage for the party’s upcoming rallies, Supreme Court’s intervention has been sought. This is the first time that a political party is seeking to obtain a ‘permit’ from a court prior to staging a rally — as if the court is a party to the ongoing game of politics in the country. Imran Khan has also warned that the nuclear assets of the country are in grave danger of being captured by hostile enemies.

These are stunning ‘revelations’ from a politician who has remained the country’s Prime Minister though with limited authority because of a total lack of experience at governance. To create suspicions about the future of the Army in any imaginary collapse of order is not only a serious error of judgement but also a highly risky and unwarranted miscalculation. The Army as an institution would continue to perform its role as a defender of the borders of Pakistan and a guarantor of its unity and stability. That is a sacred task which requires not only a deep commitment but an abiding motivation. Giving such statements amounts to creating doubts about the viability of an institution that has guaranteed the sovereignty of the country under difficult conditions.

A three-way split of the country is another bombshell thrown by the PTI chief. This preposterous assumption raises many questions. Is the country really on an edge? Has the situation reached a stage where the unity of the country and its continuing viability is in danger? Does it appear likely that Pakistan will face acute uncertainty if the current dispensation were to continue? How and why would the situation change for the better and all these hazards avoided if the PTI returns to power?

There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from the provocative statements coming from the leadership of the PTI. The party just cannot accept its defeat in a no-trust motion in the parliament. This is intriguing because the PTI after all ruled the country for more three and a half years. Firstly many would question the very rationale or moral, legal justification of the PTI to rule the country because the 2018 general election is widely believed to have been manipulated. Imran Khan’s party was not a clear winner in the election and had therefore no moral or legal right to form a government. Secondly its government never showed any real interest in promoting progress and prosperity. Issues like poverty, illiteracy, pollution, climate change, unemployment, water scarcity, exports, debt reduction, etc were not part of its priorities. There was one, overriding commitment that it never shied away from filing cases of corruption, apprehending those involved in malpractices in the family of Sharifs and Zardaris. There was an unwavering and uncompromising stance on punishing the two families for whatever they may or may not have done. Not a day would pass when in any assembly of guests an attack would not be launched against the wrong doings of the two families — as if the fate of Pakistan hung on a swift punishment of the culprits of the two houses. This was such an obsession as if the country’s future depended on the amount of penalties awarded to those found guilty.

But it underscores another important dimension of the campaign of vilification. With all the state agencies under its control and all material and resources available, did anyone in the house of Sharifs found guilty? The last time a guilty verdict was given in 2017 against the Sharif family was Mr Nawaz Sharif had not received salary from his son’s company! Are there any parallels in judicial history where a father is held guilty for not accepting to receive ‘salary’ from his own son?

If after nearly four years of intensive investigation, lengthy inquiries, mobilisation of all state resources, no conviction of any member of the Sharif family could be possible, that would mean the cases are fundamentally weak in substance and are the outcome of a relentless and insatiable vendetta. What was the blunder that was committed? The government should have left all such cases to the institutions rather than the Prime Minster personally supervising such a drive. The government should have been addressing the issues that the country faces — some of which have been highlighted above. Nowhere in the world would a head of the government be showing such commitment to punish his predecessor, ignoring all other vital functions. Nowhere would a Prime Minister be engaged in an unending tirade of abuses against opponents at the cost of all other activities that he has the mandate to carry out.

There is still time to pause, to reflect. Dividing the country and the society is no service to humanity. Uniting a nation of 225 million for eradication of poverty, for equality, for justice, and for progress and prosperity is a noble cause. That must be pursued with a passion and devotion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2022.

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