Let’s cast a glance at the current state of our affairs. Pakistan has been on the brink of default for a considerable period of time, with hyperinflation continuing to crush the common man’s purchasing power. Two provinces are en route to being governed by interim governments longer than their constitutional mandate, leading towards yet another constitutional crisis in a democratic set-up. A major portion of our country is still recovering from the aftermath of the floods. A new wave of terrorism lurks around the other. Not to mention, an endless queue of human capital restlessly standing in line, hoping to better utilize their talents in a foreign land.
What we see, in response, is a dysfunctional Parliament, a divided judiciary, and a hostile executive advancing political scores. The working class is fighting for its survival, while the privileged are compelled to find amusement in the ongoing political circus.
Pakistan’s history is witness that those holding power do not seem to have learned any lesson … or perhaps don’t want to.
In this power battle, some players can be seen clinging on to whatever is available, while the “wiser” ones are sitting tight, waiting to benefit from the vacuum left by the ones who fall. This endless battle has further pushed the country into polarization and chaos, ultimately to the point where control is all but lost.
While this isn’t a new phenomenon, the evolution of democratic process brought with it an underlying hope of some level of maturity, or that the gravity of the crises would oblige a redirection towards the important issues. Yet, the real issues still remain on the sidelines. In fact, what we keep hearing or reading is the same language tossing around from one side to another.
Practices of dictatorial regimes are now being played by politicians - the same politicians who still boast about their struggles for democracy.
The entire state machinery is being used to silence the opposition, from dozens of new cases being registered each day, to deliberations on declaring a political party as a terrorist outfit. All in all, while the common man is left on the roads fighting against the writ of state, the very state designed to safeguard them.
Important political decisions are being dumped onto the courts. Their resources being redirected from a backlog of countless genuine disputes, to deciding politically motivated cases. What we see, in turn, is harsh criticism against and within the judiciary, along with open defiance of court decisions to gain political mileage. How are we then expected to ensure due process or rule of law in such an environment?
Let’s hope better sense prevails.
The answer to these questions cannot be found in our overshadowing savior complex. It is high time we realize that not one person or institution can potentially have the solution to the deep-rooted problems surrounding us. It is, instead, through consultation and conciliation, that we can collectively find solutions or a direction towards it.
This recourse, though challenging, is not unprecedented. A recollection of the recent past shows that despite being engulfed in a highly charged up political climate, concerned players sat down together to legislate on the extension of the then Army Chief. Similarly, not very long ago, all stakeholders collectively came forward with the National Action Plan to counter terrorism. Enactment of the 18th Constitutional Amendment by major political parties is another feather in this cap.
This time, perhaps more than ever, there is a glaring need for all the stakeholders to reach a consensus and come up with a way forward on key issues, such as the economic roadmap, matters of foreign policy and accountability as well as the role of institutions in politics, in order to bring cohesion and consistency in our policy decisions.
Let’s hope better sense prevails. Realization takes its course before it is outlived. Let’s hope we don’t leave behind the same trodden lessons in history for our future generations, but instead take these crises as an opportunity to initiate dialogue, discourse and translate that into collective action for a way forward.