PML-N won the fiercely fought contest in the recent by-election of NA120. A few weeks earlier, PTI had won a significant battle. Nawaz Sharif was forced to exit as Prime Minister through a disqualification by the Supreme Court appointed judicial inquiry leading to an unfavorable court verdict. A further humiliation was added to injury by the apex court order to NAB to re-open decade’s old cases of the Sharif family and submit the report within six months.
It was the accomplishment of the PTI mission that the party had perused and resolutely struggled for four years. The entire media had faithfully followed its chairman Imran Khan in all the dhanas, interviews, challenges and disruptions, rendering full cooperation by providing non-stop television coverage of all PTI events, interviews and press conferences.
The power of the media and the charisma, appeal and inexhaustible onslaught of Imran Khan succeeded in creating an environment in which the Supreme Court eventually decided to take the matters in its own hands over and above all state institutions. A quick verdict sealed the fate of Mian Nawaz Sharif.
NA120 by-election was now cited as a test case for gauging the public opinion subsequent to the court ruling. The PML-N forecast a landslide victory and thus a no confidence in the court judgment ensuing from sympathy for an ‘unjust’ ouster of an elected popular leader. PTI on the other hand, claimed the election result will be an endorsement of the corruption of the first family. The result, however, endorsed neither. The voting pattern indicated no significant change from the 2013 general election.
That should have been the end of a long acrimonious episode. The court orders were executed and a new Prime Minister was installed in a graceful democratic manner. It was time to move on. But alas it doesn’t happen that way in our country. Here, we split hairs and the aggrieved party spends all its energy to undo what is done.
At the same time, this unprecedented success proved insufficient for Imran Khan’s penchant to obliterate all competition. His denial mode to dismantle all that is in place has persisted that would appear like intent to subvert the system. His latest shot at replacing the leader of opposition by his own man has created further political turmoil though it is destined to be an exercise in futility. Likewise, Election bill 2017 is being made controversial despite being passed by a majority of parliamentarians that is the voice of the people in a democracy.
Meanwhile, heavy doses of negativity and slander continue to be fed on television and in the press under pretensions of battles of good against evil (read power struggles). The medium of television news channels commands the authority to impregnate the minds of the viewers and to form public opinion. Its excess, monotony, biases and speculative reporting (or wish lists) lacking substance have gradually diluted its authenticity. ‘Fake news’ are routinely circulated without verification and then quietly withdrawn without any recourse to the damage done to the morale of the nation.
Positive and good news seldom filter through the system. When they do, they are generally received with undisguised traces of incredulity – as if how can it happen in Pakistan. This is the unfortunate consequence of a general atmosphere of gloom and doom and despondency that has set in the minds of our public – created by the consistent hammering of negative reporting. All exchanges in drawing rooms, on the roadsides or in seminars both within the country and abroad commence with juicy conspiracy theories and end with a note of resignation to a dark future.
A third force termed ‘social media’, a product of internet revolution, has recently entered the arena of information that has emerged to be more powerful and expedient than the former two. Google, a search engine for unlimited information on any subject under the sun, defines Social media as “the collective of online communications channels dedicated to community based input, interaction, contest sharing and collaboration through websites or applications”.
The title is the reflection of the usage of this medium, which is what you see or listen or exchange on your mobile phone or computer through facebook, whatsapp, twitter, Linkedin and numerous other applications. Messages designed in attractive visual and audio forms are transmitted instantly among multiple recipients in short and focused dispatches at a higher frequency with great ease and at no cost.
Social media has thus become an integral part of one’s daily life and the most effective medium of information and social interaction. Friends can form groups and can practically converse (with the option of facial recognition) undisturbed, multitasking at the same time. Facts and rumors can become viral in a matter of seconds. Information is assimilated quickly due to its accessibility to the recipient, moment to moment at all hours of day and night.
While electronic and print media are subject to state regulations, social media is a free for all and totally outside the control of any agencies (except the creator). These mighty internet mediums now determine the perception of events with an unprecedented speed and ferocity. The social media is broad based ranging from social gossip, valuable worldwide publications, scientific inventions and opinions to slander and pornography. It is a double edged sword!
The political parties, in particular their younger activists, have been quick to put this medium to its full use. Events and news are regularly uploaded just as they occur. Unfortunately, yet once again our inherent defect of negativity has come into play. Political exchanges have become mostly a vehicle of hurling insults, derogatory statements, ridicule and spreading false information.
The noble notions of freedom of expression and democracy are being tainted in our country by the opinion makers, our leaders and public alike. Our constitution has all checks and balances and the institutions to implement them. The proactive judiciary is inundated with frivolous petitions while thousands of cases of importance and direct impact to the lives of common people stay pending. Bureaucracy is reluctant to take bold decisions fearing unjustified court cases.
Despite this, a lot of good is happening in the country indicative of the resilience of our nation. Terrorist have been repulsed from the tribal areas they had controlled and terrorized for decades. Suicide attacks are down to a minimum. Karachi is peaceful. Power stations have been completed in record times and load-shedding is expected to be eliminated by next year. Massive road works, gas pipelines and Gawadar sea port are under construction through CEPAC at a breakneck speed. Tourism in northern areas is flourishing. Investment in health and education sectors has also started. Foreign investment (though mostly Chinese) is finding its way in industrial projects.
It is imperative to take a breather from our political circus and count our blessings. This cannot be achieved without the conventional media and the social media users transforming their attitude into the positive mode. They must direct the nation to way forward and stop bemoaning the past. Our pygmy leaders do not have the stomach to go against them and the public follows what they hear and see. Faith is needed to be restored in the viability of the nation and the supremacy of the Parliament.