ABDULLAH MUSTAFVI
Now that we have democracy in country, under the leadership of an experienced leader of the house, expectations are likely to be more than usually high. Winning elections for three times is not childs’ play. In Pakistan, election is a cut throat competition with no holds barred. Strange is the fact that one may loose the honor and credibility during the course of campaign even after winning the contest. Equally strange is the fact, that unlike the well established democracies of the world, a party’s stance or take on important national issues matters least as compared to the impressions prevailing in the masses. Spreading an impression, positive or negative, and side by side building an image , good or bad, is a tricky craft. And we have plenty of the craftsmen lined up busy in the job 24/7. Outcome is the sheer confusion which largely targets the common masses. Media, to a great extent, has proved itself as an essential tool of tricky craft of image or impression building. Well, exceptions are always there and we too have just as much as the salt in the flour. This undesired practice in our politics has engraved a very dangerous tendency in society that top political leadership cannot be hold answerable for any of their act or decision. Leaving aside the accountability issues related to legendary tales of corruption, here we focus upon exclusively on the deteriorated rather non-existent culture of being answerable to the masses. By the way, it is equally non-existent in the ranks and files of opposition and the ruling regime. A cursory view of few major developments portray a disappointing picture. In a democratic system, a government is bound to be answerable to the parliament. In our case, the most experienced leader of the house, persistently remained absent from the floor of house for most of the time and has all the rights to earn the title of a ‘missing person’. Following his footsteps, most of the ministers never felt pushed about the parliament proceedings. Recently, a stage came once Chairman Senate left the house with his famous tears in eyes loudly complaining about irreversible lack of interest on part of the ministers. Complain was the same that ‘worthy ministers’ were not turning up in the house to respond to the usual queries raised by the opposition members. Definitely, ministers were busy in matters more important than the parliamentary proceedings. Few meters away from parliament, we saw most of the cabinet members attending the ‘Panama Case’ hearings and thereafter lined up for sensational verbosity game. So this was the affair more important than parliamentary proceedings. We can call it unmatchable loyalty, but by standard of any definition, it is not democracy. This tendency has given birth to another ill practice that ruling circles never bother to come out with a clear stance on sensitive issues. At times this practice turns extremely mysterious and equally dubious. Arrest of Indian spy Khal Bhoshan Jadahev is one such significant example in this case. A strange silence is being observed by PM, who happens to be our Foreign minister too, on this issue which has gradually taken the shape of a crisis after recent ICJ episode. Strange handling of this matter from the outset is being interpreted as an act of downplay by opposition and few media circles. Fingers were raised upon the PM for having a soft corner for India. Such cheap practices specially character assassination of opponents have become an acceptable norm and this all takes place with the connivance of respective leaders. Ruling regime can not raise a forceful voice against these allegations and indecent campaigning as this trend was pioneered and perfected by few of its own craftsmen during 80s and 90s. In most of the civilized democracies, political parties depute professional experts to formulate workable policies. Here, our political parties reportedly own social media cells deputed for character assassination, indecent satire and highly objectionable propaganda campaigns. Self adopted mysterious inaction or cold shoulder response to certain sensitive issues have provided enough space for such negative tendencies. What all is surfacing on social media with reference to Khal Bhoshan Jadhev’s case is largely the outcome of inappropriate handling by the government. Everything related to security has been left for military establishment, as evident from Khal Bhoshan Jadhev case. Apparently, army’s job is over after court martial and award of death sentence. The most required response could be the coordinated input from defence, Foreign, interior and law ministries. As usual, it was no where. Most expected ‘stay order’ from ICJ is being portrayed as Pakistan’s defeat. Opposition and media is not doing any service to the nation except adding to uncertainty and confusion. There is an obvious method to this madness. Opposition and government both have largely disappointed the nation by proving their utter failures in respective spheres. Nation expects a clear and bold response from the “three times elected most experienced” leader of the house on some important issues. Silence will not do any good in these circumstances. Voters carry serious reservations on some of the issues easily exploitable by any determined opponent through emotional overcharging. The mysterious ways of ruling regime about Indian sponsored terrorism, Dawan Leaks, CPEC deals / accords with China, stance on Islamic coalition force, dubious back channeling with rivals like India and Afghanistan have sufficiently spoiled her image and provided enough exploitable ground to the equally irresponsible opposition. It is worth mentioning that a vast portion of our simple and religious minded population is extremely annoyed upon government’s biased approach on Blasphemy issue and doubt her credibility in large for accepting western influence against the wishes of the public. Swift execution of ‘Mumtaz Qadri’ coupled with media boycott of grand gathering of his funeral prayer and ‘meaningful pause’ on Asia Masih case have sufficient potential to spoil the right wing image of PML (N) specially with the kind of opposition coming after her tail. It will not be an injustice to say that honorable PM’s claims about converting Pakistan into a ‘ liberal’ society and interpreting his party’s electoral victory as sign of public trust to his ‘self styled one sided’ urge to build a friendship with ‘Modi led India’ may also prove unbearable burden. Silence will not do any good, so government should better come out with a clear stance on these sensitive issues. After all, we have the honor of being led by the most experienced one !
