The battle is on

Change vs status quo

On August 28, 2013, ‘Kaptan’ will open a new innings for change in Pakistan. Perhaps it is the defining moment for the chairman and his party. The battle lines are clearly drawn between the forces of change and status-quo. In the words of the Supreme Court bench, ‘Imran Khan is a national leader and his words carry weight’.

In the May 2013 elections, the comrades of change had aligned themselves with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the trend was very similar to the 1970 elections. Awami League in East and Peoples Party in West won the ballot on an anti-establishment agenda of change. Yahya’s evil empire was comfortable with both Mujib and Bhutto so the ballot was not tampered. After the landslide victories both political leaders could not be contained and Quaid’s Pakistan was dismembered. Since then the forces of status quo decided to manipulate the ballot to suit their own interests as winners of free and fair elections became fearless and could not be dictated.

Somehow after the ordeal of the Sharif brothers at the hands of the establishment it was widely believed that the sanctity of the ballot would be respected. Change through a free and fair election is a civilised approach to move forward. Kaptan’s call for change was accepted by the un-tainted youth and comrades of change. Three institutions were relied upon: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and the Media. Unfortunately, none of them played their role when the elections were robbed. There was spontaneous reaction from the youth who felt cheated. PTI decided to pursue institutional relief which was denied.

Comrades of change are both angry and confused as the way forward has become murky because the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off by the champions of status quo. Change in Pakistan is inevitable as status quo has driven the country to the brink of disaster. The relentless struggle of the comrades has to be recognised. Despite several crackdowns the spirit is still alive. In the words of ‘Baba-e-Change’, Dr Mubashir Hassan, ‘Change will come but the question is who will lead it?’ The leadership of change is at stake.

The struggle for change in Pakistan has been relentless. Since 1958 when the evil empire took control of the country and its institutions, nation building was halted and empire building started. The torture cells in the Lahore Fort, also called ‘Shahi Qila’, were packed to capacity. Even death through torture was permitted. Not all voices of dissent could be silenced. Renderings of Habib Jalib stand out. The tyrannical regime of Ayub Khan finally came to an end in 1969 but the damage to the very fabric of the nation had been inflicted. Quaid’s Pakistan was dismembered in 1971.

The interim 1972 and then the permanent 1973 constitution returned what was left of Pakistan to constitutional democracy. Since then there have been two Khaki invasions of the country. Ironically, in both cases the constitution was disfigured with the connivance of the judiciary and lotacracy. It was widely believed that the struggle for restoration of the judges will usher in a new area of rule of law and much needed change. There were attempts at restoring the 1973 document in its original form with devolution of power to the provinces.

Rule of law for the common man means expeditious dispensation of justice which has not been achieved. Suo motu jurisdiction has been invoked for several public interest issues which have been identified by the superior judiciary. The Lahore bench summoned WASA for flooding of road in front of their building. On getting the standard reply that it will not happen again as the sewerage lines have been cleaned the matter was settled. Also an amount of Rs3.4 billion was demanded for revamping of the entire drainage system of the city. The fact of the matter is that underground sewerage lines have not been desilted for over four decades. When water flowed in open drains there was no flooding as nothing could be concealed.

As the first generation of Pakistan, we have seen both the rise and fall of our own country mainly because of the imposed third rate leadership. In the sixties we went looking for flooded streets to wade through on bikes and could only find them in Sanda and Shadbagh areas, now after spending billions the entire city chokes with rain water which has been visible to the judges. In the sixties we took to the streets to topple the first military dictator. My first experience of lathi charge was in 1968 outside the GPO on the Mall, I was 14 years old then. Most of us believed that we will not have to come out again but the struggle continued and most battles were fought and won on the streets including the restoration of the judges.

After over forty to fifty years of activation our mission of change remains unaccomplished. The forces of status quo are well entrenched like the choked gutters of Lahore. Those who want to preserve the existing system represent more of the same and have to be taken on for bringing real change in the country. The Chief Election Commissioner has gone, the Chief Justice and Army Chief will retire later this year and so will Zardari. Main Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has been left behind to defend the fortress of the status quo and stagnation.

It is time the comrades of change who are currently scattered all over the world to regroup and fight the final battle for change in Pakistan. ‘Kaptan’ has an opportunity to lead or get out of the way as the days of status quo are numbered. Pakistan and its institutions have to be rebuilt all over again for stalled nation building to start. We are back from where the journey had started on august 14, 1947, and derailed in 1958, 1969, 1977 and 1999. The message is simple, change or perish.

The writer is former Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: [email protected].