Clearing up misconceptions

Majority of people did not give credence to rigging claims of Imran Khan, felt that PML-N had won the elections fairly

My motivation to contribute this write-up stems from the article by Hussain Nadim titled “The PML-N’s Dilemma” (September 5). One can hardly take issue with his observation that in this age of information, perceptions matter more than actual performance. What this implies is that while a government or a political party may be pursuing well thought-out policies to change the economic and political profile of a country, it is important that those initiatives are perceived and accepted by the masses or the outside world in the same perspective and with unqualified credibility. However, I tend to disagree with his other assertion that the PML-N government, despite some tangible achievements, has failed to project its success stories in an effective manner and create a positive perception among the people, which was probably attributable to an inept and below-par performance by the information ministry and its attached departments, under the stewardship of Information Minister Pervez Rasheed. This reflects the writer’s complete disconnect with the ground realities in Pakistan.

His remarks are understandable in the backdrop of the reality that incumbent governments all over the world face the disadvantage of incumbency and people find it very convenient to have a swipe at them or denigrate their achievements for a variety of reasons including belittling government performance for political reasons, creating political polarisation or a polarised media, or to foster cynicism. People may also lack the ability to have a proper understanding of the issues involved. The PML-N is no exception to this sordid reality. Certain sections of the media and opposition parties, particularly the PTI, have been very vociferous in trying to discredit the PML-N and even challenging its credentials as a legitimate representative of the mandate of the people by leveling allegations of rigging in elections. Other than the diehard supporters of PTI, however, the majority of the people perceive the PML-N positively, which is reinforced by the stamp of authentication affixed by the verdict of the judicial commission.

The credit for engraving this perception on the minds of the people goes to the information minister. His robust handling of the political crisis fomented by the PTI-PAT sit-ins in Islamabad has been beyond reproach. His strategy to allow unfettered live coverage of the sits-ins, the daily rants of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, unravelled the true face of self-styled revolutionaries and their clandestine moves to destabilise the government. Those indiscretions of Imran Khan did not endear him to the people. Timely initiatives of the information minister to counter Imran Khan’s fulminations and project the government’s perspective on the issues was successful.

As a freelance journalist, having no connections with any interest group, I have been trying to assess the impact of the political crisis and the perception that the people have on the entire episode. As stated previously, except for diehard PTI supporters, the majority of the people did not give credence to the rigging claims of Imran Khan and felt that the PML-N had won the elections fairly and that the PTI leader was acting like a sore loser. The impact of the efforts to neutralise him was quite visible in the results of the by-elections for National Assembly seats in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. I have also been travelling abroad and meeting with journalists and the Pakistani diaspora. I found a majority of them appreciative of the way the government handled this crisis. In addition, Pakistan’s international image of being the epicentre of terrorism has been replaced by one of a flag-bearer of the fight against global terrorism. Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the implementation of the National Action Plan and rising above political expediencies and initiatives to restore peace in Karachi and Balochistan have not only won laurels on the home front but have also been acknowledged by the international community. The media has also been supportive of these initiatives and views them as steps in the right direction, though there have been some differences of opinion on the methods used in achieving these objectives. The credit for the success of these unprecedented measures goes to the government and the security establishment. The commitment to choreographing strategies to deal with the challenges confronting the country through consensus, consulting the military leadership on security issues and working in an environment of partnership with state institutions is commendable. In the ultimate analysis, the honours are equally shared by the government and the security establishment.

Similarly, the achievements of the government in reviving the economy and attempts to tide over the energy crisis have been endorsed by international lending and credit rating agencies and corroborated by the international as well as the Pakistani media. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative of the PML-N government is a game changer and its implementation will usher in an era of unlimited economic prosperity besides helping overcome the energy crisis. The government’s credibility has been enhanced because of these developments. The information ministry has, undoubtedly, contributed to the government enjoying this enhanced credibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th,  2015.

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