Naya Pakistan: scripted illusion or true ‘inqilab’?

Faking a revolution?

As the citizens of Pakistan go through this uncomfortable political turmoil, democracy has failed this nation, stooges in the guise of revolutionaries have belittled the general population’s political citizenship, and politics has gone dirty, down to the level of hypocritical public rhetoric.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been ranting about ‘Naya Pakistan’ ever since the ‘boys’ put him back on the political radar by projecting a rather preposterous illusion of change. Meanwhile, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri shrieks over the microphone and chants a ludicrous version of his own ‘inqilab’.

People orchestrating this ‘contained revolution’ should not even contemplate the possibility of comparing this rhetorical entertainment show to the likes of the French revolution, which was essentially the only true revolution till date. It is absurd and a disgrace to their deceased souls if the likes of Mao and Marx were compared to such a stooge-led operation against the ruling government.

Repeating history, Khan has seldom made sensible political choices and his lack of political statesmanship has been evident ever since Musharraf’s regime, when he declined the offer of a meaningful political post. He has finally emerged as a political leader but he has yet to penetrate the wisdom of politics. He appears to be foolish to some while Machiavellian to several others, and a true leader to some, particularly the young-blooded.

This manufactured ‘containeristan’ has almost become an obstacle in restoring law and order in Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad, where people chant slogans under duress, while some take advantage of the ‘revolutionary’ festivities. Of what we have read and heard until recent times, it resembles the dharna, which was convened at Lalik Chowk Defence, Lahore, but the entertainment keeps getting better with time.

People orchestrating this ‘contained revolution’ should not even contemplate the possibility of comparing this rhetorical entertainment show to the likes of the French revolution, which was essentially the only true revolution till date

This whole revolution business that they keep talking about, the way they chant these slogans of freedom from dictatorship and change, the way they criticise the ruling government, the way they dehumanise political emotion by orchestrating public outrage, is commendable, but despicable. This ‘inqilabi’ revolution is far from the actual meaning of a revolution, which is as under:

Revolution

Noun

1. A forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system.

• (often the Revolution) (in Marxism) the class struggle that is expected to lead to political change.

Is it not ironic how these disguised revolutionary automatons, calling for genuine democracy and change, are essentially the ones who have been administratively associated with Pakistan’s most ruthless autocratic ruler in modern times, who belittled democracy by manipulating the system and the courts of law. These very men were assigned with important political portfolios under a certain authoritarian regime, but now they support the cause of the cricketer-turned politician, Imran Khan, whose own alliances arouse the nation’s suspicion at large.

The common man is not taking any sides but patiently waiting for it to be all over. People may not necessarily be against the ruling party or the protesting agents of change, but as the citizens of Pakistan, they have the right to be infuriated by the amount of political hypocrisy displayed by both the competing parties.

Overall, it’s time for ‘pack-up’ because the ‘boys’ have attained what they wanted, the people are weary, and the nation has officially become an example of political mockery and absurdity

Media, being the virtual fourth pillar of the state, has a lot of responsibility to report impartially and restrain itself from sensationalising news for pleasing its investors or to serve the covert hegemonic agenda of the ‘boys’.

Anchors on the payroll and constant advertisements continue to inject biased notions in to the minds of their fickle-minded minions. The subtle Facebook campaigns are an added bonus, which is a cheap way to engage social media by ravaging the matrix of information technology. The subtle Facebook campaigns via third party agents are an added bonus, which is a cheap alternative to spending money on actual advertisement.

Some say that these pages on Facebook and other social media are managed by people specialised in information warfare, while some deny this possibility, and unleash their verbal monster on social media to express their democratic opinion, which is of course in line with the Freedom of Expression, as ordained by the constitution of the ‘Islamic Republic’ of Pakistan.

It is a pity to see labourers suffering in rain and sometimes the sun, as they struggle to get back their national identity cards, in return for a meagre daily wage. Meanwhile, middle-aged women storm posh salons to get their make-up done, as they are in a hurry to get to ‘Azadi Square’.

Overall, it’s time for ‘pack-up’ because the ‘boys’ have attained what they wanted, the people are weary, and the nation has officially become an example of political mockery and absurdity. On the other hand, local body system of governance is coming, which essentially was the original agenda of this fiasco, because a coup was always out of the question, considering the wishes of their alien masters.