Disagree with PTI, but don’t dismantle its government
A hunch for shortcuts on the part of the ruling elite has done a lot to vitiate the political culture. The dismissal of several provincial governments by the center within years of the creation of Pakistan sowed the seeds of discontent in the federating units. Several constitutional changes under ZAB were motivated by expediency. Bhutto would have won the 1977 elections hands down if those more loyal to the king than the king himself had not gone for rigging in several constituencies. The tendency under subsequently elected governments to pack the courts with political loyalists, pressurise judiciary or appoint blue eyed boys to key administrative posts were indicative of the same malaise. Democratic institutions take time to grow and need patient nurturing. The urge to get the desired goals in the shortest period frequently leads to interference in the working of the system causing deformities in it.
The first ever peaceful and orderly transition of power from one elected government to another would not have been possible without a modicum of patience that political parties have developed for one another over time. The trend needs to be further strengthened. For this both the opposition and the government have to curb the undemocratic itch to demolish the other. In case the opposition does not agree with government policies, it should take up the matter in the National Assembly instead of issuing calls for agitation as some of the opposition parties are fond of. Similarly the federal government should bear with the provincial set ups even if it has reservations about any. There are, however, indications of the growth of intolerance on both sides. A news report tells of JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman offering his services to Nawaz Sharif to oust the PTI government in KP and replace it with a PML-N and JUI-F coalition. According to the report, Sharif has referred the matter to interior minister for consideration. Irrespective of how one looks at the policies of the KP administration, the PTI government’s right to complete its tenure must not be violated.
That scores of politicians have been disqualified for possession of fake degrees, Sumaira Malik being the latest, indicates the level of degradation in the political elite. Quite a few of them were habitual turncoats. That virtually every political party in quest of ‘electable’ candidates was willing to accept them in its fold brings no credit to the parties. The prestige of the parliament is bound to undergo serious slippage if its members are seen to be cheats and swindlers.
