Outside his cult, Qadri will find few takers
Qadri is back, again for a while, from his cool and luxurious pastures in Canada to hector ignorant Pakistanis on what awaits them for turning their back on him. While a number of politicians have forsaken their foreign nationality to contest the elections, Qadri preferred to maintain loyalty sworn to the British Queen to receive the benefits that ensue. On his return he has told the ignorant natives that they are a lost tribe. According to him, May 11 polls would neither change the system nor the faces. Qadri had particularly grim premonitions reserved for the PTI and the MQM who decided to go for the elections – leaving him high and dry. ‘Champions of change’ would be hanging their heads in regret over the treachery practiced on them as the polls-to-come would be neither free nor transparent, he thundered. Even worse lies in store for them, predicted the prophet of doom, as full scale horse-trading will take place in the name of alliances when it comes to the formation of the next government. The cleric then posed the rhetorical question, “What a government that is a manifestation of corruption will be like”?
The people of Pakistan believe in change through the power of ballot. The country is therefore fully engaged in the election campaign caring little for what a foreign visitor might think about the activity. The three parties which are facing deadly attacks launched by the TTP and the Baloch nationalists and Hazaras who are being targeted daily by terrorists are courageously standing up to the gruesome challenge. A new generation of voters which had been mostly apolitical is out canvassing for the party of its choice. The election results would pass a judgment on the performance of the governments that ruled at the center and the provinces during the last five years. This would be a lesson for the newcomers.
The electoral system has undergone major reforms. The exercise is being supervised by an independent and powerful ECP and overseen by a consensus caretaker setup. Yes, there still are shortcomings in the system but these will hopefully be removed by the next Parliament. This is how democracy slowly broadens its scope, opening up new possibilities precedent by precedent. Tahrul Qadri is striking a discordant note which few would care to pay heed to. Outside his cult he will find few supporters. People facing problems listen to the leaders who share the weal and woe with them rather than to those who jump the ship in difficult situations. On the day of the election, Qadri’s proposed protests are likely to go unnoticed.
