Remember the sordid end of the infighting
In the 90s the PPP and PML-N got into a series of no-holds-barred fights. Forgetting that political parties have to treat each other as competitors rather than enemies they fought tooth and nail providing Musharraf an opportunity to stage a coup.
This time it is the PTI versus PML-N and PPP.
When in opposition Imran Khan pioneered the trend of employing coarse language as a major weapon against political rivals with the purpose to disgrace them. The posture adopted by Imran Khan was copied by his followers. With abusive terms becoming the new normal, engagement in rational discourse, arguing one’s position or conducting calm negotiations was supposed to be out of fashion. However, for democracy to survive, political leaders have to argue their case and learn to speak and behave politely.
PTI leaders have continued to vie with one another to demonise political opponents. After coming to power, the PTI needed to develop working relations with the opposition. But hostility towards the opposition continues to remain the hall mark of the ruling party’s policy. This can have a destabilising impact on the system.
Naeemul Haque’s most recent recourse to outrageously indecent language has made the likes of Fawad Chaudhry, Sheikh Raheed and Murad Saeed look tame by comparison. He has thus succumbed to the level of social media trolls who fan conflict through recourse to irresponsible language. After insulting Nawaz Sharif, Zardari and whosoever disagreed with the PTI’s style of politics almost on daily basis, it is ironical that the information minister demands that the opposition show respect while talking about prime minister Imran Khan.
The PML-N and PPP who have seen the outcome of the bloody battles of the 90’s owe it to the nation to respond to the PTI’s juvenile politics with a sense of responsibility. Shahbaz Sharif should have avoided demanding Imran Khan’s resignation and denigrating the Punjab CM the way he did it.
The more mature a politician the greater the responsibility on him to ensure that the system does not go down. The opposition needs to counter the PTI’s infantile politics by display of a greater sense of responsibility, more tactfulness and patience.