Humans have an inherent desire for order and a natural antipathy towards chaos. Chaos does not necessarily mean an apocalyptic break down of society like the one we see in movies. Rather, chaos is borne from within, stemming from a feeling of not being seen.
In society, chaos can take on many shapes. Among them is deprivation. When those who are deprived cannot see a future where they may have more than they have now, that deprivation turns into hopelessness. If that hopelessness is left unaddressed, it can quickly turn into agitation. Agitation on a broad scale can then simmer into protests, demonstrations and even revolts.
In Pakistan, there is a movement, spanning all sections of society, to stand up to the West. Infiltrations of Western culture are associated with a breakdown of our own values and traditions. Pakistan’s interests are also closely guarded and any attempts by the West to undermine the country’s sovereignty are met with condemnations.
Chaos can lead to the breakdown of society. There are individuals who understand this phenomenon and capitalize on it. They present themselves as someone who can bring order back, and fashion their rhetoric in such a way that addresses all the agitations that exist in society. One such ‘agent of order’ was presented to Pakistan in the form of Imran Khan. Khan played this game by the book from the beginning. Understanding the unease that existed in Pakistani society at the time, he promised to make the country a welfare state, bring back ‘looted wealth’ and lift people up by enhancing employment and income levels.
Hypocrisy aside, he cashed in on nationalistic pride by adopting an anti-West stance and vowing not to take dictation by any foreign forces. He even played the religion card by proclaiming his struggle as one for the advancement of the Muslim ummah. Khan presented his rhetoric in carefully and attractively packaged solutions and sold them to the public in large who saw in him the only way out. He gave them hope, for prosperity and order, and promised to protect their dignity at home and abroad. So, back in 2018, the country boarded Niazi Express in hope that he will guide them to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
However, in society, order is determined by strong policies and legislation, strength and respect for institutions and the rule of law. Only when the aforementioned factors are present does the country prosper politically, economically, externally, and socially. There is no magic wand that one single person can wave and make all the problems go away. Any promises to the contrary are nothing but empty rhetoric presented under the guise of hope. But as stated before, humans desire order and they cling on to leaders who vow to pull them out of the chaotic abyss. For a leader like Imran Khan, who combined populism and charisma as well as he did, selling magic beans to the public came easy.
Order is determined by strong policies and legislation, strength and respect for institutions and the rule of law. Only when the aforementioned factors are present does the country prosper politically, economically, externally, and socially.
It is only when the ‘agents of order’ come into power that their empty rhetoric is exposed. After nearly four years of PTI rule, the country has never been more polarized. The two factors that finally gave the public some hope were both premised on strong institutions and supremacy of the rule of law. Supreme Court’s decision to declare unconstitutional actions taken by the deputy speaker to throw out the no-confidence motion were celebrated not just at home but across the world. Pakistan’s Supreme Court was praised for upholding the rule of law, not just in letter but also in spirit. And the no-confidence motion, as messy as it was, and fraught with the then government trying to blockade it at every level, was an organic display of democracy taking its due course in a country where it has never been allowed to flourish.
We are already seeing signs of recovery. The stock exchange and dollar exchange rate have shown an uptick, and with the country’s external ties improving in the upcoming months, it is expected that the economy will rebound. Events of the last few days show that order in society can never be guaranteed by individuals. The rule of law and institutions outlive all. It is only when they are strengthened and protected does the society move from a chaotic state to an orderly one. If we keep chasing ‘agents of order’ we will keep falling into the chaotic abyss. Now that the country has gone through a tumultuous period, it is hoped that the coming months will be defined by healing and recovery. The Pakistani public desperately needs it.