Politics of Populism

Even after seventy three years of its creations, Pakistan has yet to find honest, well-groomed and responsible politicians who can work together for the socio-economic and political stability of the country. In contrast, most politicians are adept in demagoguery and make a concerted effort to remain in the limelight mainly by playing provincial, lingual and religious cards without considering its consequences for communal harmony and national unity. Though the country's political leadership time and time again proclaims its loyalty to the state, most political gurus and head-honchos go the extra mile to acquire offshore assets and are mostly found abroad when deprived of governing power.

Pitting the masses against each other, the politician's lot operates as populist leaders. They shamelessly exploit public concerns to win their sympathy and to build a heroic image in the public to the extent of establishing a personality cult. The masses, on the other hand, never hold them accountable for the non-implementation of their promises and manifestos and of their unrestrained greed, rampant corruption and a shameless deviation from the moral path.

Making the most of populism and rabble-rousing, the public opinion is blatantly influenced by ear-splitting chants and slogans about such fond hopes as new dams, new provinces and an overnight change (tabdeeli), while the military establishment is by design dragged into political such affairs as the formation of the government by the so-called democratically-elected representatives. It is always the civil administration and politicians who approach the military establishment to get their assistance during the elections, natural calamities, internal security crisis and the rest of the man-made emergencies.

For instance, it was not a long time before when the peace of Karachi was ruined at the hands of opportunist politicians and their affiliated gangers. The City of Lights became known for extortions, robbery, murder and for a host of street crimes. Again, the Sindh Rangers rose to the occasion to restore the lost peace of the Karachi city as well as the entire Sindh province.

Led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the tabdeeli sarkar, or the harbinger of change arrested some important characters in the on-going drive aimed against corrupt politicians and treasury looters, who exerted their every effort to get an NRO through their local agents and foreign masters, but in vain. The creation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is their last resort to secure immunity from accountability and to regain political power even at the cost of state interests. Staged at the PDM platform, the political rally in Karachi and the follow-up acts of the PDM leadership, namely Maryam Safdar Awan and Captain retired Safdar Awan and that too at the sacred Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, crossed all the limits of political decency and the rule of law. The ensuing acts of the concerned authorities were in accordance with the law and were well under their assigned mandate.

Boasting of a populist rhetoric, the corrupt political mafia and their cohorts will always bite the dust in their clandestine efforts to divert public attention from their unbridled corruption, while the affinity between the armed forces and the nation will always remain strong and intact. Pakistan will strengthen with every passing day through the eradication of corrupt politicians as well as a tainted political system.