Politics of vendetta

The government by cracking down on its political opponents in cases primarily booked on vendetta is drawing ire

Political instability is evidently loud and clear. The government by cracking down on its political opponents in cases primarily booked on figment of imagination or vendetta is drawing ire. The arrest of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, former federal minister and a seasoned politician, is the latest addition in the list of alleged witch-hunt that the coalition dispensation has opted for. Earlier, the arrest, detention, remand and subsequent release of Fawad Chaudhry, another PTI stalwart, on charges of sedition has drawn flak. The point is that such acts of victimisation against political adversaries — whether the charges are substantial or not — go on to breed discontent and further push society towards polarisation.

Sheikh Rasheed’s arrest was, nonetheless, on the cards as the government wanted to nail him down for his pro-PTI stance and bewildered comments. Such intention was exhibited by the ruling party gurus tongue-in-cheek, time and again. Sheikh’s arrest is unwarranted, to say the least, and that too on a political jibe that he had talked of by implicating former president Asif Zardari in an alleged conspiracy plot. Politics is all about misgivings and a sense of diatribe wherein people play to the gallery by airing their views — it is not necessary that it is qualified or not. With an exemption to anti-state remarks, and that too on record by purpose, local administrations should look the other way round when there is a deluge of political mudslinging. It is not the job of the government to go on to quick-fix its adversaries for their criticism. But unfortunately, the tendency to opt for a knee-jerk reaction jeopardises harmony and social cohesion.

Pakistan is on the verge of electioneering. All that is needed at this point of time is stability and a sense of direction to consolidate the dipping economy. The sequel of arrests and intimidation is undesired, and the government would be better advised to adopt a hands-off policy. Level-playing field in politics is a must to ensure tranquility.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2023.

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