Who loses eventually?
In my op-ed of June 16, 2014 I wrote, “Any democratic government coming to power through the will of the people just needs to do one thing; focus on delivering. Insecurity seeps in only when this basic objective is lost. The promotion of division lines by certain elements must be strongly ignored. The threat then to democracy comes; from democracy itself.”
If one zeroes in to the psyche of PML-N there one finds a cancer. The cancer is of fear, its stench unbearable. The cancer feeds on the fear of any diverse opinion, any criticism leveled against PML-N, its members and its policies. The only way PML-N knows of handling dissenting opinion is through heavy-handed tactics.
PML-N has ignored the needs of the common man, it has ignored even making a mediocre effort to improve their lot. Inflation has spiraled, electricity is unavailable, CNG shortages have hit the already down trodden man … PML-N in the meanwhile is busy playing with Metro bus scheme. Reminds me of the phase misattributed to Marie Antoinette, ‘Let them eat cake,’ uttered when told that the citizens of France were hungry with no bread to ward off their hunger.
PML-N ignored the PTI demand for recount of votes in four constituencies. After delaying to do anything, the prime minister casually offered to form a judicial commission to look into rigging allegations of elections 2013. It was in passing at the end of his speech of August 12, to make it seem like an after-thought. Well; almost.
The sad incident taking place in Model Town June 17 causing the death of many PAT workers and injuring nearly a hundred led to the removal of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ch Shafiq Gujjar, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) operations Rana Abdul Jabbar was also removed and made OSD as was SP Model Town division Tariq Aziz. (Local Newspaper Report June 17 2014) The question of who ordered the action remains unanswered.
PML-N ignored the PTI demand for recount of votes in four constituencies. After delaying to do anything, the prime minister casually offered to form a judicial commission to look into rigging allegations of elections 2013.
Tahir ul Qadri the Canadian home returning (Queen) Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) chief announced a ‘Revolution March’ onto Islamabad coinciding with PTI’s August 14 March. PML-N has the honour of achieving what no one else could achieve ; bringing Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri a team both having their own axes to grind on a common platform.
PTI, unfortunately, does not have much to show for its period of governance in ‘Naya KPK’. Delawar Jan a journalist based in Peshawar in his tweet of August 14 says, ‘Those who are participating in ‘Naya Pakistan’ march today must keep in mind that we are not happy in ‘Naya Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.’
PML-N has a short fuse when it comes to listening to any criticism no matter how well meaning. They create situations where a more diplomatic handling of the issue can easily help it diffuse. Whoever has advised the prime minister needs to be fired.
The same thread of heavy handedness continues as the government moves into August 14. ‘Containercracy” a new strategy used to block Islamabad and Rawalpindi; stopping the oncoming protestors to Islamabad.
The question that needs to be addressed is the fear in-built in the psyche of PML-N towards any dissenting voice. This approach is certainly undemocratic in character. One recalls not so long ago another march onto Islamabad with the PPP government in power, that was handled calmly and maturely, defusing a potentially inflammable situation.
Having said so, one will be unfair if one ignores what drives the opposing ‘marchers’. Is it in line with democratic norms to try unsettling a democratic government by repeated instances of confrontational politics especially where it leads to disruption in law and order situation? Interestingly one of the four point agenda agreed between PTI and PAT states, ‘The struggle by PTI and PAT would be constitutional.’ No says Article 19 Constitution of Pakistan 1973. Disturbing public peace and order in exercise of right to freedom of expression and speech is not allowed under the said Article. Incidentally disturbing the public peace is punishable under Section 153-A Pakistan Penal Code. In order to grasp what we are dealing with here, I quote from Chapter III of my book, ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media and Media Laws in Pakistan,” it says, ‘The term public order has reference to the maintenance of conditions where under the orderly functioning of the government can be carried on. It is the duty of the government to ensure that the lives, properties, and liberties of the citizens are not endangered. The term public order is wider than the term public safety and implies absence of internal order, rebellion, interference to the supply and distribution of essential commodities or services.’ (Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan published by PLD Publishers, 1996, by Justice Muhammad Munir, Formerly Chief Justice of Pakistan, Page 360)
Residents of the twin cities are suffering owing to disruption of facilities including being cut off from hospitals and necessary medical facilities in many a case.
PML-N has a short fuse when it comes to listening to any criticism no matter how well meaning. They create situations where a more diplomatic handling of the issue can easily help it diffuse.
The book goes on to say, ‘Public order seeks to minimise crimes like arson, murders, rape, targeted violence, striking fear in the hearts of people in their free movement. Lack of public order can be strikingly destabilising for economies creating fear, hatred between coexistence of ethnic groups and sub-groups and destroy the base of a peaceful society. Activities that are either politically motivated or criminally motivated, create a cascading effect of negativity, like kidnappings, misuse of power, illegal detentions, so on and so forth. In situations of breakdown of public order, people may be caught up in a rush, be trampled underfoot and in cases of shoot outs innocent bystanders may lose their lives.’
Enough said?
What is this if not a game of thrones?
To encourage division rather than unity across board among Pakistanis on August 14 is a cruel joke the political parties have played on the people flouting the words of our dear Quaid; ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline.’ Unity did he say? Touting self-serving words, our politicians sure did forget what the father of the nation told us! A tweet to me on August 14 says, ‘Divided Pak nation had only 14 Aug for solidarity from Karachi to Khyber but PTI/PAT snatched this event and handed party flags to nation! I cannot disagree with Syed Qasim Jafri here.
In my considered opinion, each player involved is responsible for creating a situation where Pakistan has become a joke on the international platform. Instead of pointing fingers, each one of them and their supporters must rise above party affiliations and understand a wrong as a wrong.
Irrespective of the outcome of the sit-in each player must share the blame of the present crisis created in the name of democracy. The big question is: do the protesting players have a strategy in place beyond protesting as an end line? With the army engaged against the Taliban on home ground, such adventurism is ill timed indeed. Leaders who leave their supporters to spend the night on roads as they sleep off their exhaustion in their comfortable abodes do not herald revolutions.
At the end of the day…the loser is Pakistan and her 180 million people.