Pot Calling the Kettle Black

The PDM, led by Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman, started its anti-government protest campaign and held public meetings in a number of cities. While all leaders alleged that the PTI was put in power by the establishment and the opposition was being victimized in the name of accountability, the PTI had failed to govern the country and was starving the masses with escalating prices. Nawaz Sharif addressed PDM’s Gujranwala and Quetta gatherings on-line from London and made serious allegations against the Chief of Army Staff and DG ISI, by blaming them for being responsible for ousting the previous PM, for installing the Imran Khan government and for all ills of the government. He also incited the lower ranks of the Army to rise against the senior command.

Nawaz Sharif’s anti-army speech at the Gujranwala public gathering drew a negative response from the PPP, many PML (N) and JUI leaders and the general public. The PPP leadership openly differed with Nawaz Sharif on blaming the COAS and the DG ISI by name. Retired Lt. Gen. Qadir and Sana Ullah Zehri exited from the PML (N) in protest. Even Shahbaz Sharif differed and said, he preferred consultation over confrontation. Hafiz Hussein Ahmed of the JUI criticized Nawaz Sharif on his anti-Army narrative. There was also wide resentment of Nawaz’s anti-Army narrative among the people.

However, Nawaz Sharif was still sticking to his anti-army narrative and Maryam Nawaz, Khakan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sana Ullah and Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman were also supporting him. It is quite clear that fissures had developed in the PDM and it had lost its purpose. Cracks already existed in the PML (N), as Nawaz had refused to nominate Shahbaz Sharif as the next PM, if the PTI were to be ousted; he wanted to prop up Maryam Nawaz instead.

It is quite clear that Nawaz’s self-centred party politics and his anti Army narrative undercut the PDM before it could pick up momentum. Due to these reasons and the fact that the PTI government had also succeeded in controlling prices to some extent, through utility stores and Sahulat Bazaars, it seemed the PDM was not likely to draw much popular public support. The PTI’s success in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections also indicated that its relative popularity still prevailed.

In terms of language and taboos, it had been observed that against past traditions, some politicians were using uncalled-for language by crossing all limits of courtesy and official protocol. For example, some opposition leaders have frequently described the PM, the administration, government officials and even ex-officials, as incompetent and corrupt. Likewise, such language was also being used by some PTI politicians in response to the opposition politicians’ statements.

Moreover, making speeches in public against senior Army command by name and blaming them for interference in national politics, criticizing the judiciary for its decisions, the NAB for its anti-corruption drive, the election commission for being party to rigging elections and comments on sensitive security related matters was and is a practice being followed by many opposition leaders as a norm. This amounts to crossing the red lines laid down by the country’s law as well as the official Secrets Act.

The opposition’s outcry against the government and state institutions may be a result of its frustration due to NAB-initiated corruption cases against them, but as everything is being done under the provisions of the Constitution and the Supreme Court, to ensure that nobody is wronged by the NAB, the affected opposition leaders should have more patience.

To build a strong democratic society in Pakistan, it is better that the government and the opposition hold a dialogue to adopt a Charter of Democracy based on the principles suggested by Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and published by the Nazria-I-Pakistan Trust on its website. The Constitution of Pakistan should be of a democratic nature, embodying the essential principles of Islam, which teach us democracy, the equality of men, justice and fairplay, fraternity and liberty. Corruption must be uprooted and provincialism and sectarianism shunned. The ministers and officials are the servants of the people and they should serve the people, especially the poor masses. The armed forces of Pakistan, besides guarding the nation’s frontiers, must stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and equality at all times.