It has assumed control, is calling shots and creating hype
The persistence of the two Islamabad dharnas has confounded everyone in Pakistan and all others elsewhere in the world that may have some interest in our politics. In an amazing display of how to use street power to throw a credible challenge to the authority of an elected government, Mr Imran Khan (IK) and Allama Tahirul Qadri (TuQ) have introduced a fresh guide for the future to all our political and militant dissidents.
The recipe is: nerves of steel, adequate supply of funds, media backing and a sizeable starry-eyed following ready to believe and respond to catchy slogans and pipedreams. And surely you can bring a legitimate government to its knees and unilaterally award yourself a license to violate the sanctity of state institutions, hurl insults and frivolous charges without the formality of providing proof and announce decrees – all with no fear of reprisals.
To add further to the confusion, each of the confronting parties claims to be the real voice of the 190 million people of Pakistan. Each liberally claims to be the sole flag-bearer of democracy, its protector and promoters. The protestors claim their struggle is to rid the people of corrupt politicians, a rigged Parliament and to uphold democratic values, freedom and revolutionise the political system. From the other side, the ruling party and the entire elected Parliament unanimously declares the same resistance to be unlawful and a threat to democracy.
One thing is as clear as daylight though. One side wants to throw out the incumbent government and grab power by hook or by crook while the other is loath to throw in the towel and relinquish power. In what would appear as personal feuds, both IK and TuQ will settle for nothing less than the Prime Minister’s head. The stand-off advances towards a stalemate as all parties have stuck to their guns.
Democracy is said to be based on three pillars: legislature, judiciary and executive. Some define the pillars of democracy to be justice, equity, freedoms and representation. In our country we have added a fourth pillar: the media. While all the three original pillars have become increasingly fragile in all their definitions, this fourth pillar has consistently grown in strength.
The news channels discovered their real influence first during the lawyers’ campaign for the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. They also discovered that controversy is a bestseller for the viewers. The race for better rating has since necessitated promoting glib talkers and negativity that has been the chief instrument spreading dissatisfaction and despondency in all sections of our society. The nagging of these prophets of doom made the viewers wonder if there was anything good at all happening in our country.
The Azadi and Revolution marches, with their own distinct brands but selling near identical products, were further God-sent opportunities. The thunderous speeches, the glitter of the affluent VIPs and the gatherings of beautiful people around containers made attractive exhibitions day in and day out. The slaughter of decent language, unproven accusations and unlawful demands aside, the shows kept the audience glued to their seats. The cost to the news channels for round the clock projection: negligible. The returns: enormous.
A number of conspiracy theories like the London plan, involvement of overseas agencies and the finger of the legendary third umpire are doing the rounds among the people that have become addicted to spicy material. Many suspect the protests could not be held at such a scale without outside support and signals from the mighty quarters.
The only certain fact is that none of these shows could achieve this level of success without the undivided cooperation of the fourth pillar. The non-stop live coverage by the news channels took the events into every home, near and far, and touched the hearts of the young and old, rich and poor alike. No matter how much IK and TuQ may take credit for their popularity or their rhetoric, bulk of the credit is due to the media that cast the protestors as heroes and victims and the elected body as villains and usurpers in their script.
The considerable resources at the disposal of the government, the parliamentary show of strength and the endless parleys all failed to strike a compromise agreement or to disperse the determined protesters. The fourth pillar assumed control, called the shots and created the hype.
Meanwhile, the functions of the central government were practically paralysed. Whatever little progress and stability was achieved during the last few years has become hostage to empty slogans and a power struggle. The ultimate losers will not be the affluent that stand on all sides but the poor of our country that appear destined to further economic hardships and lawlessness.
The media has transformed the protests into an obsession. IK and TuQ have kept the awam intoxicated with emotional and confrontational politics and are busy setting records of sit-ins and turnouts. No one is educating the public on any programme that will miraculously save our country that is galloping towards bankruptcy and becoming ungovernable? The public is in dire need of motivation, not disintegration.
Unfortunately, the perception of the three pillars of democracy has systematically been rendered over the years as near toothless. The legislature is accused of passing laws that have been routinely flouted or have been custom-made to serve particular interests. The judiciary and the executive have been politicised and maligned to the extent that both have lost their credibility and the will to take important decisions. The machinery to implement these decisions is rusted and coordination between the three pillars is non-existent.
The inherent weaknesses of the state institutions have allowed the electronic news media to assume the role of investigator, prosecutor, judge and jury all at the same time. As its reach and power to influence and sway public opinion has grown, the compatible responsibility has not evolved. Nor has the government set any guidelines and limitations on what cannot be aired in public interest. Consequently, the media acts practically like a free spirit and its anchors now carry more capacity to influence than any other enforcement agency.
Our dream of becoming a successful democracy cannot be fulfilled until we develop a responsibility for our actions. In addition, we must learn to have the grace to accept defeat.