Lack of an alternative — I

Two facts are that the military is not an alternative and political parties have not risen beyond patronage politics.


Ayesha Siddiqa October 30, 2010

Wherever you go, you can hear the buzz about the need for a political alternative in Pakistan. The two facts of Pakistan’s politics are that though the military is not an alternative, political parties have not really risen beyond patronage politics. And that there is a shortage of a visionary leadership and a vision for the state and its society. Leave aside the claim regarding the main political parties constantly struggling to survive the sword of a possible military takeover; the reality is that most lack the ability to take the country anywhere.

Just to cite the example of Karachi which is in the middle of another cycle of bloodshed. As the fight goes on amongst different parties and stakeholders for the control of the only genuine cosmopolitan and commercial capital of the state, battle lines are drawn on ethnic lines. For an average Karachi dweller, it is disappointing to see that parties such as the ANP, MQM, PPP and PML-N have not really managed to cut across ethnic lines and connect different communities. While not all muhajirs are part of the MQM, the party is essentially all-muhajir. The same applies for the ANP and the PPP. As for the PML-N, the problem is that its leadership does not even bother to go and establish itself in Karachi. Perhaps the party wants to eventually outsource Karachi to its political allies, such as Pir Pagara and others.

This sorry state of affairs does not suggest that the military leadership has better vision. The GHQ continues to use the same old colonial tactics of divide and rule. The upshot is that there seems to be no political alternative on the horizon. The issue with Imran Khan is that, despite his commitment to getting rid of corruption, he has not real vision for Pakistan. The state of political homosexuality hurts him. He is neither a liberal nor a conservative.

So why are we in such a condition? It is probably due to the death of politics, which is about a higher art of negotiating power and resources on the basis of a vision. In so many years, we have been psyched to believe that politics is bad. It is not a game for nice people to play. Furthermore, we are told that politics is only a game to be played by the educated. Between the two military regimes – those of Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf – society was gradually de-politicised. Zia’s clamping down on students unions and trade unions deprived the country of two major nurseries for producing political workers and leaders.

The political system, which emerged from Zia’s martial law, was characterised by more personalised control. The PPP, which comprised several schools of thought including the liberal-left, the Islamic-left and the traditional status-quo, emerged as a party controlled centrally by Benazir Bhutto. The choice was between pragmatism and political idealism. Our obsession with pragmatism has helped party structures to survive without their real spirit. PPP’s ideological demise was hurtful for the country, as the party was really the first organised political movement of Pakistan and was connected with the people. The Muslim League belonged to another generation.

The lack of a political alternative is also due to the death of the Left as an ideology. The PPP itself was a product of the ideological richness that existed during the 1960s and resulted in what comrade Lal Khan has described in his book as the 1968-69 revolution. A combination of factors such as the close linkage of left ideology with the Soviet Union, the demise of the Soviet state and the ascendency of capitalism and neo-liberal ideology created conditions in which politics cannot stay alive. Many of my friends, who at one time belonged to the Left, almost believe that Left politics is just about opposing the US. The Taliban and other militants are an alternative which will one day kill the capitalist state. The problem is that the victory of the religious right and their partners will also doom the region, as then oppression will seem to have God’s sanction.

Sadly, we are in an ideological and intellectual muddle which will pull us down even further. The ideological right is also neo-liberal. Without conceptual clarity, we won’t produce alternatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2010.

COMMENTS (18)

Syed NayyarUddin Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply Actually, in growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know without any doubt, that the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet. Foreign aid, can keep us afloat but won't allow us to swim. Biggest factor in any victory is self confidence. Anti thesis of terrorism is education coupled with economic emancipation. As such, the nation must embark upon the following agenda, without any further loss of time. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayment by Pakistan. 20% per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditure, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief to industry, commerce & trade. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.
Imran Owais Kazmi | 13 years ago | Reply Please OPEN your eyes, read http://changepakistannow.wordpress.com Options are created not sought, the writer's last para is a proof of how our "rich, educated, intellectuals think" and I repeat: "Sadly, we are in an ideological and intellectual muddle which will pull us down even further. The ideological right is also neo-liberal. Without conceptual clarity, we won’t produce alternatives." She should know that true leaders inspire masses with THEIR vision, it's not the other way round, the "leader's" she speaks of are merely the most popular crooners amongst the herd, they don't even deserve being called "leaders" We need to rise above HYPER ANALYZING the "SITUATION" in Pakistan and simply GET UP AND DO IT, I do whatever little I can in this regard, and I encourage my fellow Pakistanis to do the same, do what you CAN, DO NOT READ NEWSPAPERS OR WATCH TV OR SUCH INTELLECTUALS WHO WERE, ARE AND SHALL ALWAYS REMAIN FULL OF EMPTINESS INSIDE, FOR THEM, ITS' THE CAVIAR, THE COMPANY AND THE LIMELIGHT THAT'S IMPORTANT, BEING QUOTED BY FRIENDS "Oh did you see him or her on TV the other day? Or that article in Dawn" my foot....
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