In milieu of the current political turmoil in Pakistan, the judiciary is one institution working unremittingly to seek viable solutions not limited to only the constitutional deadlocks but also the political pandemonium. Since the stalemate began, the judiciary has been in an overdrive mode. The irony is that the institution is constantly entangled in solving problems of the ruling elite vis-a-vis governance and authority tussle between different power players rather than taking up cases of ordinary public.
The unpleasant situation created by the PTI’s knee jerk reaction to its ouster from power has also engulfed the offices of President of Pakistan and Governor of Punjab, two idyllically neutral offices which symbolise unity of the republic.
After some dilly dallying, the president did exercise his constitutional responsibility up to some extent by administering oaths to some ministers, however, the governor remained unceasingly adamant not to administer oath to the newly elected chief minister of Punjab despite repeated orders and instruction by the honorable courts. The president could have directed the governor to move on with the oath administration but there was a complete muteness from that office of the president. Offices of the president and governors are considered apolitical positions, representing the state, regardless of who is in the driver’s seat as the prime minister.
Extraordinary to the normal and somewhat unprecedented circumstances, the authors of the constitution of Pakistan could not have envisaged this peculiar state of impasse and logjam, where people are refusing to carry out their constitutional duties on one pretext or the other.
Extraordinary to the normal and somewhat unprecedented circumstances, the authors of the constitution of Pakistan could not have envisaged this peculiar state of impasse and logjam, where people are refusing to carry out their constitutional duties on one pretext or the other.
The fragility of democratic environment in Pakistan is once again at stake. One understands what the PTI is up to by cashing into the populism they have acquired over the years, and how the politics of division would ensue in the backdrop of a perceived fight between good and evil, whereas by his own obstinate definition good being Imran Khan and evil is the rest.
Ostensibly, this behaviour of rigid discord certainly trickles down to the public and ordinary menfolk, and shows its colour on the streets of the country. What transpired in Medina a few days ago when the current prime minister and his entourage was attending Ramazan proceedings in Masjid-e-Nabvi is deplorable, and should be condemned by everyone, including the PTI leadership. This is only one facet of manifestation of the stark and divisive rhetoric which Khan is cooking relentlessly.
Everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of justice and law, and we do have an independent and free judicial system, which has not yet convicted anyone who shouted abuses in the city of peace, Medina. Reports suggested there were some arrests made by the Saudi government because this unruliness and disruptiveness occurred in one of holiest mosques of the world and there is no precedent from the past of this level of hooliganism occurring within the mosque limits.
The immediate need is for the leadership of political parties in general and the PTI in particular to inculcate some sanity among their followers.
Pakistan’s political landscape requires some fundamental change of behaviour if democracy is to strive and nourish. Economic wellbeing comes later.