- Selfishness in politics
Although after the assurances extended by the COAS in regards to army supporting democracy, his reiteration on the need for institutions working within their own sphere of power and the passage of the stalled Delimitation Bill by the Senate all apprehensions about derailment of democracy and elections occurring on time have been cleared. But the country is faced with the prospect of yet another ‘dharna’ by Allama Tahir ul Qadri, the inventor of this culture, supported by the mainstream political parties though for their own reasons and political motives. Many political analysts and commentators view this as a possible threat to the system or a harbinger of political instability before the elections if the events take an ugly turn like the Model Town incident that challenged the writ of the state and the government.
I am sure the biggest democrat and constitutionalist like the Quaid must be turning in his grave to see non-state actors having the better of the writ of the state and dictating terms to it and the sitting governments for the implementation of their hidden agendas. These non-state actors have not only maligned the great religion of Islam and brought a bad name to the state of Pakistan but also continue to pose a serious threat to the writ of the state and the system of governance on the internal front, to the chagrin of the 90pc of the population who are wondering as to where we are head to?
The ‘dharna’ of 2014 when the state institutions were attacked with impunity, watched live by the entire world, and the one executed by Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi at Faizabad, Islamabad leading to the resignation of a federal minister are the ranting examples of the challenges posed to the writ of the state by non-state actors and religious extremists. Irrespective of the fact from where they derive their strength, ability or finances to carry out their detestable activities one thing is certain that they have had their ascendency over the state and the government and if they were not checked in their tracks, god forbid, this country has no future at all.
The ‘dharna’ of 2014 when the state institutions were attacked with impunity, watched live by the entire world, and the one executed by Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi at Faizabad, Islamabad leading to the resignation of a federal minister are the ranting examples of the challenges posed to the writ of the state by non-state actors
It is a shame that the mainstream political parties like the PTI and PPP who have though voted reluctantly for the passage of the delimitation bill have thrown their weight behind Qadri just to settle score with the PML-N and causing embarrassment for it just before the elections for taking advantage of it during the coming elections. That exposes the hollowness of their democratic credentials and honesty of purpose.
Honestly speaking these self-styled Allamas have no significance in terms of their political worth but unfortunately can create political chaos in the country through the violence of their die-hard followers. We witnessed it during the 2014 ‘dharna’ and I am sure the perpetrators of this mayhem would have been in jails for life in a civilised and democratic entity. The Model Town tragedy was very unfortunate to say the least but one should not forget that it was also a sequel to the challenge to the writ of the state and the government. Governments all over the world take administrative action to stop illegal and unconstitutional activities of individuals and groups and use force to control unruly crowds to protect the rights of the majority to live in peaceful conditions. And nowhere in the world FIRs are lodged against the government for taking action against the unruly crowds even when the encounters lead to killing of the defiant demonstrators. The saner and apolitical majority within the country firmly believes that what the PAT was doing was not right in view of the fact that the case regarding Model Town was in the courts which should be allowed to decide it on merit.
Allama Qadri surely has a hidden agenda that he was trying to implement through his off and on ‘dharnas’ because he and his supporters were fully conscious of the fact that they could never ever win the franchise of the people through ballot. They were therefore trying to take benefit of their nuisance value for the attainment of whatever agenda they have.
These Allamas have unfortunately been given out of proportion coverage by the polarised media which under normal circumstance is supposed to support the democratic causes and discourage such adventurists. Allama Qadri is followed by the media wherever he goes and enjoys the highest ever coverage given to any genuine political leader or ruler of the country. That is really shameful. It is even more shameful for the major political parties who in their enmity with their political opponent are encouraging such adventurists and enemies of democracy to have a sway over the writ of the state and the government, not realising that the encouragement given to them could also haunt them when they come into power.
It is really mind boggling to note that Qadri against whom so many cases are registered including the one under terrorism act and whom the anti-terrorist court has declared a proclaimed offender and ordered attachment of his property for non appearance before the court, moves around to foment chaos and anarchy in the country and nobody dares to arrest him to face the law. He comes, creates trouble and then leaves the country. Majority of the country is of the view that it was right time to put these trouble makers and ill-wishers of the country on the leash.
There is also an imperative need to cut to size elements which are on the look out to exploit religion and articles of faith and generating controversies on issues on which there exists no difference of opinion at all. Praise to Allah, Pakistan is a Muslim majority country and the people belonging to any religious sect firmly believe in the pillars of the Islamic faith including finality of the prophet-hood. There was no justification for a ‘dharna’ by a foul mouthing and hitherto unknown commodity like Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi after the government had rectified the mistake in the Electoral Reforms Bill. They way the state’s writ was pummeled under the gaze of all the state institutions who are supposed to prevent and discourage such detestable indiscretions is really a very worrying development. Irrespective of the fact which party is in power it is their collective responsibility to make sure that the miscreants and saboteurs are not allowed to destroy peace and harmony. Our politicians and political parties also must look at their own conduct and start thinking in terms national interests rather than feverishly pursuing their own narrow political ends.