Qadri and Co

Amalgamation of religion and politics in Pakistan

Dr Qadri is known for his unique viewpoint on traditional Islamic concept of governance while, at the same time, making sure Islam looked like a progressive religion. This unique ability to explore both religion and politics made him an ideal candidate for the pro-establishment forces in Pakistan. The same is being applied in the current scenario. Dr Qadri is intent on using his expertise on both religion and politics to stage a coup d’état against the current civilian government. The return of Dr Qadri – the self-proclaimed “Riasat Saviour” – in the present atmosphere is not surprising. Unlike his predecessors, he brings pro-establishment qualities in a single package. Qadri seems to be doing what Imran Khan could not do.

Dr Qadri began his political career in 1989 when he founded the Pakistan Awami Tehreek and soon got elected as Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from his constituency of Lahore. He worked for many years as an opposition leader and ultimately submitted his resignation from the assembly in 2004. His resignation came with a critique of the Pakistani political system and said that the legislature in Pakistan did not perform its role in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan and there was an evident lack of sovereignty in the working of Pakistan’s political setup. Dr Qadri has always observed Islam as a functioning system and has proposed a system which is closer to theology. However, Dr Qadri has observed Islamic theology to be fundamentally different from Western theology.

Apparently, Dr Qadri came to Pakistan with a defined agenda of bringing reforms in the country. His proposed plan has gone through certain changes and will keep going through further changes in the days to come. Arguing about the demands put forward by Dr Qadri will have to wait, as these demands will keep changing. His return to Pakistan and long march towards Islamabad has provided sufficient amusement to Pakistani media and political parties. The stance taken by Dr Qadri has brought him back to the surface of Pakistani politics. But why now? And what if his revolution does translate into reality? Who comes next?

A revolution is considered an overthrow or repudiation and a thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed and so far Dr Qadri and his followers have shown no intention of using force or pressure to remove the current government. Dr Qadri may have found the right conditions to apply his religious-cum-political agenda in Pakistan. The federal government has suffered embarrassment on the Quetta massacre. The decision of Supreme Court in the rental power plants case has added salt to the injuries for the government, metaphorically speaking. The scenario in Islamabad is going through drastic changes. Army is facing hot zones on both eastern and western front. Political parties are busy in preparing for the coming elections. So, yes, the conditions are right for Dr Qadri and his revolution. But time, it seems, may yet not be right for Dr Qadri to seek the practicality of his concepts.

But what he has not taken into account is the political class, civil society and the masses who are lot more aware of their political rights than ever. The political parties in Pakistan, including those in power and opposition, have made a joint effort to pull through the last five years democratically without any bumps from external or internal factors. And this sure is something to upset the establishment. Maybe the establishment has realised that the political elite of the country are learning fast to survive without it, while the next logical step for the politicians would be to size them up. Dr Tahirul Qadri has remained part and parcel of Pakistan’s political and religious strategy for many years and his religious following is huge. His united stand with Muttahidda Qaumi Movement and other pro-establishment parties did make a sense as a combination of religion and politics seems to be ideal for the establishment, but this is also where he has failed.

The intentions of Dr Qadri have been observed rather suspiciously by almost all the stakeholders and Dr Qadri has failed to receive the desired overwhelming response for his proposed agenda. It is high time that all the stakeholders in Pakistan contributed in providing a permanent solution to the problems of this country. The solution to the problems of Pakistan lies in the continuity of the democratic setup. The political parties of Pakistan seem to have realised this fact. This realisation is one of the major reasons for the non-participation of many political forces in Dr Qadri’s now failed long march. The socio-political scenario never stays the same. We may have a failed government, a partially successful government, or a highly successful government in the future but the real achievement lies in the continuity of democratic system in the country.

The writer can be reached at [email protected]