A one-versus-all political turmoil backed by active propagandists was a show of muscles to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by two popular public figures, not two popular political leaders.
The joint parliamentary session coupled with strong revelations from the PTI-dissident Javed Hashmi took the adventurers back to square one and they have failed to dispel the deep negative public perception about the long march and sit-in in front of the Parliament. The situation has now turned into all-against-one from earlier one-versus-all situation. Accordingly, the allegation of massive rigging in polls has lost its ground to some extent.
There was a serious effort to form a grand opposition alliance back in May. But it couldn’t work. Therefore, the idea of a grand opposition alliance was replaced with a grand media maneuvering against the government. But repeated calls of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri to the nation for joining the sit-ins through TV channels failed to muster the required public support. It means the people may follow the TV anchors and analysts but they don’t believe in them.
Since the people of Pakistan do not believe in change of the attitude of political leadership of the country yet, therefore the prevalent uncertainty is looming large. There is no doubt that the political leadership had already shown maturity and no clear indication of joining the PTI-led long march to Islamabad was in place. So much so, Imran Khan had also praised Co-Chairman PPP Asif Zardari in one of his press talks, which raised many eyebrows across the board. Further, Sheikh Rasheed was also predicting of carrying support of MQM and PPP for the long march and he had hinted at various occasions that both parties will join the long march soon.
However, sanity prevailed and both the PPP and the MQM leadership restrained themselves time and again. The visit of Asif Zardari to Raiwind, followed by his unstinting support to democracy and Parliament disappointed many. But it consolidated democracy in Pakistan by and large. This democratic consolidation will lead to economic consolidation of Pakistan. We should not lose hope on democracy.
HAMID WALEED
Lahore
Democracy or plutocracy?! I don’t particularly like the captain or the fiery cleric but for sure they know their opponent and have made certain very true and valid points. MNS has more money than the pakistani treasury – theres no democracy in this government.
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