Sajjad
Political turmoil, uncertainty and
chaotic situation persists in capital city of Islamabad, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
led by Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) by Dr. Tahirul Qadri
continue AZADI (Freedom) and INQILAB
(Revolution) long marches after having converted their protests into sit-ins (DHARNAs)
have placed tough conditions, demanding resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif of
PML (N) and top ministers. The protesters
have virtually brought life to stand still in Islamabad after implementing
their rebuking slogans to move into Red Zone where security has further been
tightened.
The stakes appear to be getting high
with every passing day, because, on the one hand, the protesting groups are
getting edgy, impatient and vibrant, hoping that more people will join them. On
the other hand, delayed strategy of the ruling party, PML (N) to
accept the demands of PTI and PAT resulted
into loss of precious time and failure to bring a peaceful political solution
through dialogue. Commissions and Committees launched at such a belated stage
are finding it difficult to create and manage a thaw in the tension ridden
situation.
In
this regard, leaders of the political parties like PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM
including some other prominent political figures and government’s top officials
have tried to defuse the tension through dialogue, emphasizing both the rival
parties to show flexibility to reach some peace agreement, but could not yet
succeeded. A hope was again created when PPP’s co-chairman and former president
Asif Ali Zardari met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and
leaders of various political parties, but his efforts also produced no results.
While
the Imran Khan displayed a greater flexibility when he altered his demand of
prime minister’s resignation, saying, the PM Nawaz can hold his post after a
month, once the investigation of poll’s rigging is completed. But the ruling
party rejected the demand, remaining stern to its stance. Meanwhile, the
National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution, demanding supremacy of the
constitution and law, rejecting the unconstitutional demands of PTI and PAT
including the resignation of the Prime Minister Nawaz and the dissolution of
the National Assembly. In their fierce speeches, leaders of PML (N), PPP and
ANP including other ones, also said that they would oppose any move which could
derail democracy in the country.
Although
impartial politicians are still hopeful, and continue talks between the ruling
party and the leaders of the long marchers, yet no breakthrough seems to occur.
In these tense circumstances, some politicians and most of the media anchors
have continuously been misguiding the general masses by pointing out that the
ongoing system of democracy can be derailed, and martial law can be imposed in
the country.
Unfortunately, certain media houses,
analysts and commentators played a very negative role in projecting the entire
gamut of political standoff between the government and the protesting parties.
Instead of acting as a redeemer, allowing the public to take a sigh of relief,
media took clear positions to support the wishes and promoting the agenda of
their employers, while creating sensationalism, giving biased comments and
remaining unruly, noisy and rowdy in their overall conduct. The viewers were at
pains to see these media analysts, offering their comments and favoring their
sponsoring agencies and influencing authorities. Their obvious and slanted
views enabled the viewers to quickly understand that they were trying to
payback to their sponsors. This is nothing, but selling one’s intellect for few
pennies or for other petty gains of personal advancement and fame.
By manipulating the political
turmoil, created by the politicians, particularly media anchors, especially
those working with Geo/JANG Group insinuate that Pakistan’s Armed Forces and
intelligence agency, ISI are behind Tahir-ul-Qadari and Imran Khan’s long
marches, and sit-ins in Islamabad. The commentators and reporters like Asma
Jehangir, Ansar Abbasi, Tariq Butt, Wasim Abbas and Ahmed Noorani appear to
have ganged up against Army and ISI, and are trying to score points against
these security agencies by accusing these esteemed national institutions
without any evidence. However, while speaking in the tone of foreign entities, such
elements are hostile to Army and ISI, and leave no stone unturned in depicting
these security agencies in bad light.
Undoubtedly,
democracy has displayed its success in the west, but, it has proved to be
fruitless in Pakistan. Therefore, it is generally said that “any instrument can
be misused.” Pakistan’s politicians and media have always claimed that they
nourish democratic ideals, but, we could not establish this system on a strong
footing due to irresponsible approach of our political entities and media.
Past
experience proves that our political parties have worked on undemocratic
principles like hostility for the sake of hostility, formation of alliances and
counter-alliances to win the elections. Much time is wasted in retaliation
against the previous government instead of fulfilling the promises, made with
the voters during election campaign. So, they forget the real aim of public
mandate by resolving the economic and social problems of the masses. In this
context, they also misguide the general masses by forming extreme opinion among
them towards their opponents. In fact, concentration of wealth in few hands has
created a privileged class of landowners and industrialists who contest
elections winning the same against each other again and again.
It
is noteworthy that in 2011, during the
Memogate case, some political entities and media commentators were saying that
martial law will be imposed in the country. The then Chief of Army Staff
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani stated, “The
Pakistan Army has and will continue to support democratic process in the country.”
As Army was acting upon the principle of non-interference in political affairs,
therefore, the previous government completed its tenure.
At
this critical juncture, Pakistan is facing multi-faceted crises. And our Armed
Forces are successfully obtaining their objectives in North Waziristan Agency
(NWA) through military operation Zarb-e-Azb
against the terrorists who had challenged the writ of the state, and had
frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. So Armed Forces are already committed in Zarb-e-Azb and have
no intention to get involved in political issues. Political disputes need
political solutions or political compromises with give and take. They sincerely
desire political stability and economic viability in Pakistan. They support all
peaceful efforts to resolve internal conflicts and condemn violence as well as
acrimonious propaganda against them.
In this connection, taking note of
the ongoing crisis and rumors, DG of Inter-Service Public Relations, Major
General Asim Bajwa impartially stated on August 20, “The buildings in the Red
Zone (Islamabad) are symbols of state and must be respected. He, also added, “All
issues should be resolved through dialogue…all the stakeholders to hold
result-oriented dialogue in the interest of the country and its people.”
Nonetheless, the protesting groups
have challenged the moral authority of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Now, the
premier has to show political acumen to handle the situation and prove his
worth as a leader. In this respect, Pak Army and ISI fully support the
government by openly rejecting the baseless allegations that the prevailing
political mess has been orchestrated by the former. Therefore, sense must
prevail upon those who tend to shift the blame on Army and ISI, as and when
they fail in resolving the serious issues.
Now, situation in Islamabad is
getting serious and so is the case of political temperature. According to
latest reports, stalemate has deepened between the PTI-PAT and the rulers, and
they remains firm on their stands—after the PTI launched movement of civil
disobedience, and presented resignations of its members (Parliamentarians) in
the National Assembly.
Time is running out. Hence, in wake
of this unresolved crisis, demonstrating
patience and tolerance, the rival parties should find out the solution in national
interest with meaningful negotiations. And media has a great
responsibility to remain neutral by offering balanced views, ensuring objective
reporting and making efforts to show maturity, while commenting, analyzing and
reporting high profile issues and matters, having involving national stakes. Instead of showing media biases against the
security agencies by exploiting the political turmoil, our media must
realize its responsibilities, especially when the country is faced with an
extra-ordinary challenge like the one, being experienced in Islamabad.
