Towards mobocracy

When leaders are more interested in mob politics than parliamentary business

The PTI’s impatience to grab power could lead the country towards mob rule. The party seeks the redressal of its election complaints in a way that can only create chaos and provide the army an excuse to step in. It is facetious to claim that by launching a million march on Islamabad the PTI would in fact be strengthening the system. When instead of using the parliamentary platform, political parties decide to settle their differences through display of street power, they weaken the system. Orderly debate and discussion are replaced by fiery harangues, the mob is worked up and often goes out of the leaders’ control.

Political parties have a right to protest. The right also entails responsibilities. The problem arises when politicians start giving more importance to protests than to the parliament. In recent months the PTI has held four public meetings and several marches in Islamabad. Add to these other public meetings addressed by Imran Khan over the last twelve months and compare them with the number of times he has attended national assembly sittings. It will become clear that he has shown less interest in parliamentary business than public meetings and protest marches.

Pakistan was visualised as a modern democracy by Jinnah. The founding father was regarded a great parliamentarian in British India by all and sundry. Among other things he wanted Pakistan to adhere to the rule of law. When it comes to working in the parliament, Imran Khan turns out to be a round peg in square hole. During the last one year he has made no significant contribution in any parliamentary debate. His ideas about democratic governance are simply outlandish. At times he wants to run Pakistan as he did his world cup winning cricket team, at others administer the country on the pattern of Shaukat Khanum Hospital. He idealises the outdated jirga system in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

When it comes to working in the parliament, Imran Khan turns out to be a round peg in square hole. During the last one year he has made no significant contribution in any parliamentary debate. His ideas about democratic governance are simply outlandish.

Imran Khan feels easier in his role as a demagogue rather than as a parliamentarian. He was told by party enthusiasts that he was going to win the 2013 election. Khan believed them. Ever since then he is not willing to play any role other that of the prime minister. He is not contented with being the chief of the third largest party in the national assembly and the ruling party in KP. He thinks he was born to play a much bigger role. Imran Khan feels as uncomfortable as a whale made to live in a fishpond.

There is no shortage of lawyers in the PTI. They must have told the party chief that according to the constitution none other than the election commission is responsible for holding free and fair elections. He complains that he has knocked at the doors of the commission and courts but failed to get his complaints regarding the four constituencies resolved in a years’ time. The election tribunals should have given a verdict in four months, he insists. He believes the delay is a conclusive proof that there is a conspiracy against him. Didn’t his legal advisers tell him that delay in justice is the hallmark of Pakistan’s judicial system? Further, that there is no way to ensure speedy justice other than legislative reforms combined with increase in the number of judges.

Imran Khan however cannot wait. He is an impatient person who wants immediate solutions to his problems. Like many others in Pakistan he looks for short cuts and quick fixes. He must have what he desires by hook or by crook. The constitution matters to Imran Khan only if it helps him. According to the constitution the Supreme Court can step in only after the election tribunals have delivered their verdict. This does not suit Imran Khan. Barking up the wrong tree, he calls upon the apex court to intervene in the matter. A three member bench has to be formed under the CJ and deliver judgment within two weeks otherwise there will be a million march on August 14. Isn’t it an attempt to pressurise the apex court?

Khan lacks elasticity which is the basic ingredient of a democratic mindset that resolves issues through give and take, knowing that the outcome may not be ideal but could be further improved over time. The PTI chief cares little for the travails of a common petitioner. What he wants is an urgent solution of his own problem.

Khan is not willing to constitute a PTI committee to work out reforms to make judiciary deliver timely justice. He would not hold talks with other parties in the opposition for speedy justice. The brassbound Khan may not like even to talk to some of them. He had vowed that if he was elected prime minister he would refuse to be sworn in by Zardari, constitution or no constitution. Khan lacks elasticity which is the basic ingredient of a democratic mindset that resolves issues through give and take, knowing that the outcome may not be ideal but could be further improved over time. The PTI chief cares little for the travails of a common petitioner. What he wants is an urgent solution of his own problem. For this he demands special treatment. If this is not queue jumping what else is?

For North Korea’s dictator Kim Il-sung Juche was the mantra to resolve all problems; for Imran Khan it is Tsunami.

The long march is an untimely move. Even Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI’s coalition partner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has declined to join in what is bound to turn out a misadventure. The people, the government, the military and the media are all focused on Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Not only the future of Pakistan but that of the entire region depends on the outcome of the operation. And here we have Imran Khan who wants the solution of the dispute over four constituencies before anything else. The man is simply out of sync and out of touch.

The PTI chief should cancel the march. The only rational way to resolve the issues related to the elections is electoral reforms. For this PTI leadership need to have brainstorming sessions instead of marches, prepare a new draft law and take it to the national assembly where many others are likely to support them. Pioneering legislation on electoral reforms would be long remembered as a contribution by Imran Khan. Meanwhile he should avoid the road that leads to mobocracy.