Images of healing in Pakistani politics have become a rarity in recent years. The past five years have been marked by increasing polarisation and division along partisan, ideological and even gendered, ethnic and religious lines. For those of us who wish to see a progressive and tolerant Pakistan, hope has been waning.
But yesterday, I saw an image that rekindled that hope. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited the injured Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah at a hospital in Karachi. Hamdullah had suffered severe injuries in a bomb attack a few days ago. This gesture and subsequent images of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari standing with someone who is technically a political opponent at a time of crisis carries massive symbolic weight - it offers a glimmer of hope in a fractured society and polity.
Over the past year, as a political worker, I have witnessed Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emerge as a persevering, genuinely progressive leader who remains calm, rational and tolerant even in such a historically polarising era. In such times, all political parties and their leaders have two options in front of them: we can either follow the wave of abuse, slander and negativity leading to hatred, or we can follow a path that carves the way towards tolerance and rationality. The path towards hatred is easy- it creates short-lived messiahs who leave massive dents for future generations to mend. But, the ability to withstand vitriol and slander from political opponents but still carry forward with dignity and spread messages of harmony requires strength and ideological prowess.
The Charter of Democracy is perhaps the biggest triumph of democratic politics in the last few decades. Not only did it require a belief in political consensus, but it also required massive reconciliation, forgiveness and the ability to look beyond egos
Over the past year, on numerous occasions, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has shunned the politics of polarisation prevalent in the country. He urged his party workers and followers to refrain from resorting to slander and instead focus on issues plaguing citizens and how they have addressed them. In this way, he chose to focus on the strides made by the Sindh government in the health sector or the commendable rehabilitation programme initiated under the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees. Due to this, as political workers, we have learned to highlight service delivery and ideological politics rather than be consumed by cycles of hatred online. At the height of polarisation, when others were busy sparring, he was the first national leader to turn the media’s attention, locally and internationally, to the devastation caused by the massive floods of 2022.
On the macro scale, he consistently urged political stakeholders to come together, just as they had done for the Charter of Democracy. The Charter of Democracy is perhaps the biggest triumph of democratic politics in the last few decades. Not only did it require a belief in political consensus, but it also required massive reconciliation, forgiveness and the ability to look beyond egos. As the heir to this legacy, it isn’t surprising that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has often advocated for long-term consensus-building processes rather than short-sighted infighting. The PPP took the lead in forming the committees, which were to initiate an all-parties dialogue process. Dialogue and reconciliation are the cornerstones of the democratic process.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is also fractured along other fault lines. Religious intolerance, bigotry and majoritarian impulses have engulfed us as a society. Last year, on National Minorities Day, Chairman Bilawal dedicated his speech to the immense contributions made by non-Muslim Pakistanis. He emphasised the need for fostering tolerance and highlighted the steps his party has taken to usher in meaningful inclusion of non-Muslim citizens in the party and reforms undertaken by his government.
When women were battered and slandered for marching, the PPP chairman publicly condemned it and reiterated that peaceful protest was the right of every citizen
When bigots began targeting the Khwajasirah community, the PPP stood by its conviction to include and protect the community. Furthermore, the PPP took two monumental steps to support the Khwajasirah community, first by including them in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and second, by introducing reserved seats for them in the local government. Many party workers supported and actively joined hands with civil society organisations working for the Khwajasirah community.
When women were battered and slandered for marching, the PPP chairman publicly condemned it and reiterated that peaceful protest was the right of every citizen. Furthermore, disrespect and slander for women politicians were shunned on multiple occasions. In fact, a code of conduct was designed for PPP digital media volunteers, which clearly states that we do not engage in derogatory speech, especially on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion. This is the type of leadership Pakistan needs.
As we stand (hopefully) at the cusp of elections, we must revisit these questions - what kind of Pakistan do we want for future generations? Today, we are consumed by hatred, violence and the threat of rising extremism. However, history has shown that Pakistani citizens have chosen peace and democracy when given a real chance. Our youth, which constitute a majority of the citizenry, must be given the opportunity to live in a progressive, peaceful and tolerant Pakistan where they have opportunities to grow and their voices aren’t censored. We must shun those who sell religious intolerance, misogyny, and authoritarianism couched as solutions to our ills.
Slogans of change must never be rooted in reactionary politics. For far too long, pseudo-messiahs have preached hatred and bigotry in the name of change. Real change, however, lies in healing and in leadership predicated upon empathy. We have been pitted against each other for too long; for too long, we have been sold narratives of prejudice. It is time to look past the adversity, for political opponents to not be rivals but to coexist, for a seat at the table for youth, women, and minorities and for narratives of hope and harmony. The best and only solution is healing.