A case of ‘unevolving’ monkeys

Instead of uniting against forces of retrogression, our politicians are trying their best to be part of them.

Judging by the quality of national debates on the eve of fresh elections, one cannot help but wonder whether our distant ancestors made a horrible mistake in deciding to come down from the trees. Evolution, after all, works best on those who are serious in change and progress. We, on the other hand, have done nothing to prove that we deserve it.

Exactly at a time when the polarisation of society and the nefarious plans of the terrorists have brought the political class under pressure, instead of uniting against the forces of retrogression, our politicians are trying their best to be jolly part of them. Instead of giving a message of peace and prosperity, we are told what violence can be unleashed when an arrow, a tiger and a cricket bat are put together.

And if you were looking for solace elsewhere, pray, don’t even bother. There is an entire class bent on complicating the situation further. The grand showman from Canada came to stage a tamasha in front of the elected parliament, then announced his boycott of the elections threatening to sabotage the electoral process by staging sit-ins on polling day and has now declared the process un-Islamic. Next thing you know, he might issue an edict against the state of Pakistan.



Then, there is a class, shrinking but influential, that would have us focus solely on General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s return if it could help it. Since his return, this class has embarked on a vilification campaign against state institutions and the military, defending the former army chief. Hang on for a moment, sir. If he is that great an asset of the country, why did he return home to put more pressure on a state already teetering on the brink of oblivion?

And then there is the threat of the terrorists. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a ragtag band of petty thugs, keeps issuing threats to three major political parties, bringing their election campaigns to a grinding halt. And the funny thing is that we have not heard a word of sympathy from their political opponents. Forgive me, but this indicates some degree of complicity if not outright collusion. But does anyone honestly believe that three major political players can be defeated by just limiting their movement during the campaign process? This may even help rehabilitate their image before a people that have endured their bad governance for five years. Our voters are already known for their ability to defy the tricks of dictators. The only difference is that this time, the dictator sits not in a military uniform but in the middle of militant outfits.

And amid all this chaos, where is our federal interior minister? The man, instead of boring us with a list of his favourite candidates, should either tell us what exactly is being done to safeguard precious human lives or else resign. His careless statements have made him controversial already.

I am well aware that pontificating is one exercise gone quaint but our political and religious elite need to have mercy on its constituents. They are already reeling under the ungodly weight of hopelessness. This country can do with some more hope and less hate, especially when our soldiers and policemen are writing new tales of gallantry in order to protect what is left of this nation. Stop hate-mongering; you cannot build your own image by insulting someone else or by insulting the intelligence of your own voters. Better focus on your respective programmes instead.

And what about the elections? All this uncertainty should now abate and we should vow to ensure that the process will not be derailed. Whatever comes out of the elections, no matter how tampered, will be better than what we have right now.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2013.